Readathon Day 5 check-in: Declutter the Blog

My check-in basically says I finished Little Leap Forward before going to bed this morning, then read the entirety of How Oliver Olson Changed the World (which was excellent), THEN read the Twilight graphic novel volume 1 (which I will have to write an entire post on), then went to bed.  In the morning I got up and started Almost Astronauts (which I am loving, by the way).  That's about as far as I got today, as I spent the day playing with my kids and enjoying the crummy weather -- which is to say napping in my easy chair -- then sorted my daughter's craft supplies, and finally went to dinner at my neighbor's house for her fabulous monthly fundraiser.  Truly an excellent day.  I will attempt to finish Almost Astronauts before I fall asleep in a wine-induced haze.

Minichallenge #5: Declutter the Blog tells me to come up with some way to reorganize things at my blog.

1. I'm only following through on one meme (Nonfiction Mondays) and that only occasionally.  My goal here is to find some memes I'm willing to follow on a weekly or semi-weekly basis, to induce me to post more.
2. My challenges are being met, but only some of them.  I think I got a bit overzealous in the number of books I can read at a time.  In particular my YA challenge is not being met.  My goal is to read more in my YA books, even if they are not library books.
3. I only read one or maybe two books a day with my fabulous kids.  I would like to read more.  My goal here is to read one book in the morning with each child and at least one at night before going to bed. 
4. From an organizational standpoint, I'm not happy with the way I'm sharing my status with each challenge.  My goal is to investigate how I can portray this and do a better job of it.
5. Finally, my goal is to read each other blogger's goal and to learn something from it.  

Readathon Day 4 check-in: Clear Out the Pack Rat Mentality AND the TBR

No check-ins today -- I was too busy playing with my kids and (squeee!) seeing Chris Van Allsburg speak.  I'll write a blog entry tomorrow about it with pictures and everything, but I'm just too darn tired tonight.  I did get some good reading done while standing in line for autographs, though.

Here are the questions from tonight's minichallenge:

1.) Is there at least one book on your growing TBR that has been there forever and (if you were honest) you could give up without to much trauma?

Since my goal has been to read all those books I've had out of the library for way too long, it's hard to say.  I've enjoyed every single one of the books I've read this weekend.  Looking at what's left, I suppose I would say Home on the Range, the biography about John Lomax.  I'm only so-so about biographies in general.  I'm sure it will be good, but I wouldn't miss it if I never read it.  Of course, it's short, so I'm sure it'll be no trouble at all.

2.) What is your latest "Gotta Have It" book? (that you can get once you've given up that one in question #1)

Ohhhh, I guess my next really wanna read is Ash by Malinda Lo.  I had to send that one back to the library already once, so I put it on my "read at least some of" pile for Saturday's 24-Hour Readathon.

3.) What are your classics - your 'comfort books' that you never want to give up?

If you mean those books I could read over and over again, I would include Watership Down (my #1 all time favorite book), Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books (like Twilight with telepathic horses), Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series (the best dialogue in SF ever), the Liaden series by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (the absolute best mix of romance, science fiction and fantastic writing), Robin McKinley's Sunshine (closest thing to Buffy in a book) and Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game (depressing, sure, but such great world building).  I read the Liaden and Bujold books again last year.  Looks like Watership Down and Ender's Game are up for a re-read soon!  

4.) What are your best tips for keeping that TBR in check?


You're asking ME?  Um.  I don't think I'm qualified to answer, since I own well over over a hundred books I've never read.  This year I've gotten good at putting things I don't need to read RIGHT NOW on my Goodreads list instead of checking them out of the library.  It's been helpful to help me prioritize.  

Readathon Day 3 check-in: Share the Blog Love

Oh this is a hard one.  There are so many fantastic blogs out there.  I never have time to read them all.  I try to make time, but it seldom works out that way.

I'm also a fairly new blogger, and I haven't put a ton of energy into finding the best, #1 blogs, since I barely have time to read the ones I've already found... see above.

Mostly I appreciate it when people come to visit me, and stick around.  So here are three blogs I have discovered by visiting blogs of people who've become my followers.

Peaceful Reader.  She's a thoughtful YA reviewer with a nice mix of memes, reviews and discussion about work, life and kids.  What's not to like?  Definitely worth a look.  http://peacefulreader.blogspot.com/

This Purple Crayon.  You'll be hard pressed to find a more stylish blog.  Natalie is an enthusiastic elementary media specialist with a new job, so it's fun to hear her discuss her classes.  http://thispurplecrayon.blogspot.com/

Lost Between the Pages.  I've seen Miss Martini most recently on Nonfiction Mondays, but she also has some snappy posts about teaching.  http://lostbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/

Readathon Day 3 check-in

2am: Just finished Lost and Found by Andrew Clements.  Awesome!  Time for bed - more in the morning.

12 noon: Working my way through Melonhead. falling asleep as I do.  Hilarious!  Husband took Ivy to the doctor for checkup.

5pm: Loving Melonhead even more.  Husband picked up some books from the library and I am trying not to read the Twilight graphic novel.  I did read a book with Ivy (Musical Beds) and read my email, and am importing Inkdeath into the iPhone.

10pm: Somehow I let Ivy talk me into taking us all out for sushi again tonight.  Kids are finally both asleep and I'm ready to read read read!  First, though, to check on the minichallenge for tonight...

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon! (April 10, 2010)

In the midst of this week-long Clear Away the Clutter Readathon, I will be participating as a Reader in the Dewey 24-Hour Read-A-Thon.  This biannual challenge is something I tried last year and mostly failed miserably.  I'm guaranteed to do better this year.  =)


I'll also be offering a minichallenge in the afternoon, and I think it will be really fun!  I'm offering three prizes for participation.  Watch the Dewey blog for more information, or stop by at 1pm EST to participate in the minichallenge.  


I won't even be starting my Readathon until 1pm because I have a workshop that morning, but I will try to go strong after that. To reiterate my goals, they are:

1. reading at least 20 picture books off my to-read shelf, and writing mini-reviews of them (eventually)
2. reading at least 5 nonfiction books off to-read shelf and writing mini-reviews
3. reading at least part of one book for each of my reading challenges
4. reading to both my children
5. reading at least some of every hour of the day I am awake, starting 1pm EST

To preserve some spontaneity, I don't think I'll choose the picture books or nonfiction books, but I sure have plenty to choose from.  The books from the reading challenges are as follows:

YA Through the Decades: I Capture the Castle

Take Another Chance: The London Eye Mystery

Finish That Series: Inkdeath (audiobook)

GLBT Challenge: Ash

Clover, Bee and Reverie: Grow

Hogwarts: A History of Witchcraft

Readathon Day 2 check in #2 - Review-A-Thon

Here's Readathon activity #2: Review-A-Thon.

In an effort to be efficient and feel like I've actually accomplished something during this 'Thon, I'm going to post mini-reviews of every book I've read here.  I'm taking notes on each book, but most of the reviews will be short.

In addition, there are a few reviews I started but never finished.  I'll be posting those tomorrow:

1. Less Than Half, More Than Whole
2. The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis

Finally, I read a bunch of books for various challenges, primarily for the LBGT and poetry challenges, but haven't reviewed them.  My goal is to have these finished and posted by Friday:

Readathon Day 2 check in

2pm: I started the day by reading to my son in bed.  How sweet is that? I read some of Raw Milk Revolution over breakfast, also caught up on email and read some blog posts.  Husband took the kids to grandma's, leaving me free to read!  Hooray.  I read lots of email and blog posts, and finished Raw Milk Revolution while doing a load of laundry at the common house.  I have 2 more hours of unfettered reading.   Time to get started on that TBR pile!

3pm: Finished lunch and Who's Jim Hines?  On to Sassy...

10:30pm: Read a bit then fell asleep in the chair... husband came home with kids and went to the gym.  I took them outside and read while they played.  It's very hard to get any reading done while watching a 1.5 year old who has a tendency to run into the parking lot.  They finally fell asleep just before 10.  Finished Sassy -- ready for some Andrew Clements!

Readathon Day 1 check in #3 - Activity #1 (Clutter and Hoarding Rehab)

Okay.  I do have a hoarding problem.  As noted in my original Readathon post, I have some books from the public library I've renewed more than ten times.  Er.  Some many more than that.  So, I've admitted it.  Now, to the challenge!

Here's a picture of my TBR shelf:

Note that the top shelf is, indeed, two deep:

And, so as not to be outdone, here is Ivy's TBR pile (she's only 4, so she is allowed to make hers easier to reach):

Part two... my plan.  As I said in my intro post, my goal is to read those books I have renewed ten times or more.  I have other goals as well, but that's my central focus.  There are 12 books, and here they are:

1. How Oliver Olson Changed the World
2. Sassy: Little Sister is Not My Name
3. Almost Astronauts
4. Little Leap Forward: A Boy in Beijing
5. Who's Jim Hines?
6. A Chair for Always (I have actually read this one but will write a review)
7. One Beetle Too Many
8. Home on the Range: John A. Lomax and His Cowboy Songs
9. Lost and Found (Clements)
10. Yuki and the 1000 Carriers
11. Bird (already read it, ditto review)
12. Melonhead

(I also have What Will Fat Cat Sit On? which has been renewed 17 times, but that's because I'm sure I have already returned it.  I'm hoping the library finds it any day now.)

Here's a picture of those 12 books to prove I am organized enough to find them all and put them in one place: 

Additional books will be added if I am thinking I'm getting close to finishing any of these.  I also need to finish Raw Milk Revolution and Simplicity Parenting, as they are due Friday and can't be renewed, but I've already started on these.

Part Three... work my plan.  Well, thankfully, my dear husband will take the kids tomorrow to Grandma's house and leave me alone to read blissfully from morning until about 4pm.  I can put a good dent in these books tomorrow.

So!  I feel better already.  None of those are super chunky.  I can do it!  I think I'll tackle a short fiction book after reading the two nonfic ones I'm finishing, then Almost Astronauts.  

Readathon Day 1 check in #2

3pm... finished my appointment (ordered some excellent glasses) and did some grocery shopping; enjoyed audiobooks almost the whole time.  Finished Lighting Their Fires, Rafe Esquith's third book on teaching, and am most of the way through The Golden Hoard.  Also stopped at the mall to view the new iPad.  It's cool, folks!!

Made lunch for myself and the kids. Catching up on email (that's reading, right??).  Next: gardening and more audiobooks.  Husband is at the gym and then we're off to dinner & Avenue Q... that will be a bit of a reading break, but well worth it!  Tonight: I'll finish Raw Milk Revolution and read some more in Simplicity Parenting, which is due back on Friday.

Clear Away the Clutter Readathon: April 5-11

Just in time for Spring Break!!  It's the Clear Away the Clutter Readathon, hosted by the Neverending Shelf, where the goal is to chip away at that ol' TBR shelf.  I can tell you, the public library will be very happy to get some of its books back.

Let's see... here are some reasonable goals:

1. Read a little bit each hour I am awake.  (Can I count reading blog posts?)
2. Read all the books I've renewed 10 or more times.  (13 books, I'm sorry to say.)
3. Read at least 5 books every day with my children.
4. Write notes on every book so I can write mini-reviews of all of them.
5. Finish reading ALL the poetry books I've checked out so I'm prepared for Poetry Month.  

How about one unreasonable goal?

1. Read one entire novel every day.

This will also overlap with the Dewey 24 Hour Readathon on Saturday/Sunday, so I'll be doing a lot of concentrated reading that day, although I also have a commitment in the morning that Saturday.  

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon! (April 10, 2010)

The Read-A-Thon is coming up in about a month.  They're looking for volunteers if you can help out.

In some ways it's an excellent day, being a Saturday and all, and I don't have any community meetings.  It's the end of my Spring Break.  But I also have a conflict resolution workshop that morning, and that will take a big chunk out of my day.  Oh, well.

My goals include:

• reading at least 20 picture books off my to-read shelf, and writing mini-reviews of them
• reading at least 5 nonfiction books off to-read shelf and writing mini-reviews
• reading at least part of one book for each of my reading challenges
• reading to both my children
• reading at least some of every hour of the day

Do you plan to participate in the Dewey Read-A-Thon this April?  If so, what will you read?