Read-A-Thon Update: Onward Through Hour 7

It's now 11:00 and I'm entering into Hour 7.

My girls have both joined me in the Read-a-Thon, but right now are now playing a board game to take a break.  I am delighted they chose to play a board game versus turn on the TV or a video game.  

• Randi is reading Eragon by Christopher Paolini, and has now decided she would like a baby dragon.
• Sydney is reading Rotten School:The Big Blueberry Barf-Off by R.L. Stine.  I have a feeling this book may be a little easy for her reading level, but at least she's reading!
• Jennifer has informed me that my 4-month old granddaughter Leighton has also joined me the Read-A-Thon.  She sent me a picture to my phone, and once I figure out how to get it on here I will post!  Too cute, my little reader!  

My updates:

I finished Alice I Have Been.  I really enjoyed this book and will have to write a review on it later.  It brought me to tears and further ignited my obsessive interest in all things Charles L. Dodgson (aka. Lewis Carroll).  What an interesting, interesting man.   And this book wasn't even focused oh him, but he fills in the cracks and whispers to be figured out.  

Currently Reading:

The Canterbury Tales as retold by Peter Ackroyd, and

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder, interchangeably.

Most likely I will probably grab other books to read in their midsts as well!

So far: 

135 pages read cumulatively.  I haven't been keeping track of time...all I know is, I would be reading a lot more if I wasn't stopping to do mini challenges and blog.  But it's so fun to do so! 

I've participated in 4 mini challenges and really wish I had time to do every single one.  So far, my favorite challenge was the Six Word Celebration, hosted by Estella at Estella's Revenge.  If I had more time I know I could come up with something better, but here are my 6 words to celebrate the read-a-thon:

~ Turn pages toward better understanding.  Read! ~

Back to reading!

Cheers!

ReadAThon Hour 2 Mini Challenge

Mini Challenge hosted by Elizabeth over at Miss Wisabus

TOP 3 Children's Stories

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak ~ I love it so much I can't see the movie, as I am afraid it will ruin the original.


Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech ~ I read this in college and LOVED it.  I wonder how I would've reacted differently if I would've read it as as a child.  I just related to the story on so many different levels and it brought tears, which is always an indication to me of a good book!

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien ~ I don't remember what I loved most about this story because I read it as a child.  I definitely need to revisit it as an adult!  I just know it has stuck with me all these years and I always have the urge to pick it up and read it again.

ReadAThon Hour 1

Woke up a little late.  It's 5:48 right now and I haven't yet started reading.  Brewed up some coffee, going to answer the Hour 1 questions here, and then I will get reading.

Challenge 1: Hour 1 Questions

Where are you reading from today?  home sweet home, and probably mostly on my couch, on my bed and at my desk.

3 facts about me …
I'm a stay-at-home mom
I am a young grandma
I love to read, write, play guitar and listen to music

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 
Six, one of which I have already read three-quarters of the way through

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?  
not to stress how much/or how little I am reading!  I want to enjoy the day. I would like to get through at least 3 of my books though.


If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
I am by no means a veteran as this is only my 2nd read-a-thon.  The only suggestion I have is to keep track of your reading somehow.  It can be so much easier if you have some sort of  a spreadsheet or template to use.  I picked one up at Fyrefly's Book Blog.  Should make things a whole lot easier!

On to reading!  Good luck to everyone participating.

24 Hour Read-A-Thon

Getting ready for my second read-a-thon, and I have my stack of library books ready to read.  It's after 10:00 and if I really want to do this right, I must get up early so I can be ready to read by 5 A.M.  I need to get to bed soon!  

I am really excited to get started, especially since I know more of what to expect this time around.  I will probably blog every 3-6 hours instead of trying to blog every hour.  I will do mini challenges but I won't try to do every one.  It takes up too much reading time. 

I am already three-quarters of the way through Alice I Have Been, so I will most likely work on finishing up that book first in the morning with my cup of coffee.  

I'm off to sleep for an early wake up!

Happy Reading!

Writing Goal #1: POEM Slide

Here's my writing for the day! 

Slide
Back to my hometown
to the park where
I used to play ~

I remember
a particular slide:
silver steps,
a chute of blue rollers,
my size dwarfed
in comparison.

Today,
as I revisit
this old friend,
nostalgia lurks
in my chest
as I search for
the neanderthal
reminder of my youth.

First and second glances,
third and fourth
uncover a small slide
I don't remember.
My childhood,
rotted in time
along with this slide.
I used to climb
to the top
and scream with glee
as the rollers carried me,
long haired
and tender
down that slide,
with only a single care
for that moment.

Now,
my cares laid bare
to find the slide's location
like a cobweb
in freshly painted room,
and I ached
when I found it was
not the same
as I left it
so many years ago.

Trip to Library and Writing Goal #1: POEM Haiku for Leighton

Took a trip to the library yesterday, and as usual, left with a hefty stack of books.  Not sure how long it will take me to read these bad boys, as I'm not putting a time limit on myself, but I will have plenty to read for the upcoming Oct. 9th Read-A-Thon  (More on this in another post.  And I hope some of you will join me!) 

The list:

Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer retold by Peter Ackroyd

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

The Immortal: Book 3 of the Cronus Chronicles by Anne Ursu

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells

All In One Place by Carolyne Aarsen

Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon

I read the Canterbury Tales in college but found them extremely difficult to get through without the helpful translation of my professor.  I loved the stories though, (and wrote one myself as an assignment - I'll have to post that to share soon) so here's a retelling that I can read and hopefully enjoy in modern day English!  I can't wait to revisit the tales of the The Knight, The Wife of Bath, The Cook, The Friar, etc.  They were actually hilarious tales that were "a mirror for medieval society."

Also in college literature classes I became fascinated with Charles Dodgson, better known to most as Lewis Carroll, the infamous author of Alice in Wonderland.  So when I heard about Alice I Have Been, a historical fiction novel based on the original Alice who inspired Mr. Dodgson to spin his legendary tale, I knew I had to get my hands on it fast!

The Immortal Fire is the third book in a series that I started reading when my daughter brought home the first book, The Shadow Thieves.  She never got around to reading it so I, being the book raptor that I am, snatched it up and read it in a couple days.  What fun it turned out to be!  I love children's novels that spark the imagination and tell a story with such rich description and believable characters.  So I read The Siren Song next and the mythological fun pulled me towards the 3rd installment in the series.  Can't wait to get back into the adventures of cousins Zee and Charlotte!  

Rebecca Wells had me with The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.  So much so, that I read both follow-ups: Ya Yas in Bloom and Little Altars Everywhere pronto upon completion.  My love for all three of these fantastic novels makes reading The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder a no-brainer, regardless of an entirely new set of characters.  Rebecca Wells paints worlds where you want to be, and I can't wait to enter another of her worlds again soon!

All in One Place and Dismantled are both random picks.  I like to surprise myself by pulling something off the shelf I've never heard of before.  Let's hope they deliver! 

***********************************************

So because of my lack of blog posts, I'm really behind.  Behind on book reviews, (keeping up to date on Goodreads), reading challenges, goal updates, etc.  So for the next few days and weeks I am going to work my tush off trying to get caught up.  I have a lot of reviews to write and I finished so many of these books months ago!  I hope I can remember enough to write worthwhile reviews!  I will do my best, and that is all I can promise.

On to my writing of the day!  It's a short one, but written with love for my granddaughter, Leighton, who visited me this weekend.  I wrote it as we went on an afternoon walk.

Haiku for Leighton

Leighton loves her walks

The shady trees smile and wave

Cheers!  Leighton is here!

Writing Goal #1: POEM Never and Always

I have never made a specific writing goal before, and producing a piece of writing everyday is hard work!  I think it's so worth it though! 

Good or bad, here's my piece for today:

Never and Always

You always

say I can't!

You never

let me do

what I want!

You always

tell me no!

You never

seem to understand!

You always

embarrass me

in front of 

my friends!

You never 

believe I am

where I say I'll be!

I know.  

I never, 

and I always.

I never 

want you hurt or lost;

I always 

want you safe.

I never 

want misunderstandings

about the amount

of love

my heart

holds for you.

I always 

need to know 

where you are

when you're not home.

I never 

want you to forget

how precious

you are to me.

I always 

cherish you 

in my heart

and I will still 

when you are old.

But you never!

And you always!

Yes, I never.

And yes, I always.

I will never 

leave your side

as long as you shall live,

and I will always 

see to it that you

are truthful, honest, kind.

I never 

want you sad, mistaken, doubtful.

I always 

want you to do your best.

I never 

want you giving up

on life's

oh so many tests.

I always 

hope it is my arms

that comfort you

when you need.

I never 

want you to feel

you cannot come to me.

I always 

want what's best for you

and sometimes

I may seem mean,

but I never 

want to see you cry

if poor decisions 

you have made.

I always 

want you to know

you never

have to worry

for I will always,

yes, I will always

be your protector, mother, friend.

© Patricia Beline Barton

October 2, 2010