I decided to do a post that I would update throughout the readathon with books completed, snacks eaten, thoughts, insights, whatever. I will be updating this post throughout the readathon, so if you’re reading it early in the event, please stop back by and check out the post for updates as the event progresses. My goal is to post every 3-4 hours, but if I get really caught up in a book (or fall asleep) that might alter things a bit. I will also have a separate wrap up post that will go live Monday.

So without further ado, here we go!

Starting Book: Crucial Conversations
Local Start Time: 5pm
Reading Location: Ashland, Oregon

Opening Survey!

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Ashland, Oregon
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? That’s hard to say, I’m looking forward to completing a few books that I’ve been reading for work, but as far as for work… if I can get to Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz I’ll be really happy
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? A slice of Devil Dog cake (chocolate cake with whipped cream and maraschino cherries). My local bakery never has it, but I found it where I’m staying.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I live in western Oregon and am a mid-level manager for a non-profit. I recently decided to start making my readathons something even more grand, so I have started traveling to different areas of Oregon and staying in a hotel for the event. This time around it’s Ashford in southern Oregon, known for it’s Shakespeare Festival.
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? This time I’m staying in a hotel rather than trying to ignore the distractions at home. And I have more healthier snack options.

Hour 1

Read:
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan & Al Switzler pgs 208-230 (physical). Complete
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 51%-53% (digital)

Ate:
Lay’s BBQ Chips

Drank:
Water

Feeling:
Irritated at the hotel for issues that I’ll discuss in my recap, but happy to be reading.

Hour 2

Read:
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 53%-59% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 1 24:30- 1:04:43 (audio)

Ate:
Green Olives with Olive Oil, Garlic & Thyme
Reser’s Raspberry Parfait

Drank:
Water
Cherry Coke

Feeling:
Hungry!

Hour 3

Read:
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 59%-62% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 1 1:04:43- Part 2 9:23 (audio)
The Way Through by Lara Palay pgs 51-64 (physical)

Ate:
Oberto Beef Jerky

Drank:
Cherry Coke
Water

Feeling:
I feel like I’m in a pretty good groove now. I know some people have a hard time switching between books, but I find that moving between the formats (and therefore books) helps me to focus better. And the audio breaks help me to avoid eye strain (as we get later in the readathon, my audio time will most likely increase).

Hour 4

Read:
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 62%-64% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 2 9:23- 24:38 (audio)
The Way Through by Lara Palay pgs 65-82 (physical)

Ate:
Nothing

Drank:
Water

Feeling:
Still feeling good. It has started getting dark, so I feel myself slowing down (even though I have every light in my hotel room turned on).

Hour 5

Read:
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 64%-67% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 2 24:38- 51:22 (audio)
The Way Through by Lara Palay pgs 82- 87 (physical)

Ate:
Slice of Devil Dog Cake

Drank:
Water
Dr Pepper

Feeling:
I’m starting to slow down a little, but still awake and still pushing through. As we close out hour 5, it’s 10pm in my time zone. I should be good for at least a couple more hours before I need to get some sleep.

Hour 6

Read:
The Way Through by Lara Palay pgs 87- 96 (physical)
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 67%- 70% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 2 51:22- Part 3 22:22 (audio)

Ate:
Nothing

Drank:
Water
Dr Pepper

Feeling:
Thinking that there should be some content warnings on A Man Called Ove, because that book hits you hard in the feels.

Hour 7

Read:
The Way Through by Lara Palay pgs 97- 106 (physical) Complete
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 70%- 73% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 3 22:22- 44:03 (audio)

Ate:
Nothing

Drank:
Water
Dr Pepper

Feeling:
I’m starting to get pretty tired, so I will probably grab some sleep here pretty soon

Hour 8

Read:
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 73%- 79% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 3 44:03- Part 4 00:08 (audio)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 201- 204 (physical)

Ate:
Nothing

Drank:
Water
Dr Pepper

Feeling:
Definitely time for some sleep!

Hour 9 & Hour 10

Slept

Hour 11

Read:
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 4 00:08- 36:05 (audio)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 204- 208 (physical)

Ate:
Nothing

Drank:
Water

Feeling:
Irritated again and trying to remind myself to let it go. The hour started at 3am. I slept for maybe an hour and a half, I’m not sure, because I feel like I was really just tossing and turning. I woke up to go to the bathroom and then the toilet kept running (it’s fixed itself now), so I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I just started reading again. I’ll probably try to sleep again in a bit, but I’m awake for now.

Hour 12

Read:
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 79%- 84%  (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 4 36:05- 1:10:58 (audio)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 209- 216 (physical)

Ate:
Parmesan Goldfish Crackers

Drank:
Water

Feeling:
Hungry again.

Mid-Event Survey!

• What are you reading right now? Something I Need, A Man Called Ove & Eat Pray Love
• How many books have you read so far? I’ve finished 2 books
• What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the readathon? As I mentioned in my opening survey, if I can get to Untouchable, I’ll be happy (it’s the next audio in line)
• Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? No real interruptions, except the running toilet, loud people in the hallway, and needing some sleep. I got a little irritated in the moment, but basically just rolled with it.
• What surprises you most about the readathon, so far? Nothing really… not anymore.

Hour 13

Read:
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 84%-88%  (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 4 1:10:58- Part 5 16:10 (audio)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 216-222 (physical)

Ate:
Nothing

Drank:
Water

Feeling:
I got to watch the sun rise over the hills outside my hotel window. Beautiful. And now I really need some sleep.

Hour 14 & 15

Slept

Hour 16

Read:
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 222-225 (physical)
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 88%-91%  (digital)

Ate:
Nothing

Drank:
Water

Feeling:
I was asleep for part of this hour and woke up pretty groggy, but I wanted to dive right back in to reading. I also woke up with a sore throat. I really hope it’s from the recycled air and air conditioning. I just had COVID at the beginning of June and do not want it again.

Hour 17

Read:
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 5 16:10-37:26 (audio)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 225-231 (physical)
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 91%- 96%  (digital)

Ate:
Cantaloupe
Frosted Flakes

Drank:
Water
Evolution Vital Berry Juice

Feeling:
Pretty good. The sore throat hasn’t gone completely away yet, but it does feel a bit better. I should finish my Kindle book during the next hour, so I’m excited about that.

Hour 18

Read:
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 5 37:26- 59:45 (audio)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 231-236 (physical)
Something I Need by Lena Lowe 96%- 100%  (digital) Complete
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl 3%- 4% (digital)

Ate:
Nothing

Drank:
Water
Evolution Vital Berry Juice

Feeling:
Feeling wide awake and hopefully that I can stay awake until the end. I might need to take a nap before I get there though… we’ll see.

Hour 19

Read:
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 5 59:45- Part 6 05:28 (audio)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 236-239 (physical)
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl 4%- 8%  (digital)

Ate:
Cheese & Salami with Pretzel Crisps

Drank:
Water
Dr Pepper

Feeling:
A little tired, but I think I can make it all the way.

Hour 20

Read:
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 6 05:28- 28:14 (audio)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 239- 246 (physical)
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl 8%-11%  (digital)

Ate:
Parmesan Goldfish Crackers

Drank:
Water
Dr Pepper

Feeling:
Angsty, but I think that it’s more that I’m picking it up from my current reads. In Ruins is pretty angsty so far.

Hour 21

Read:
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl 11%- 15% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 6 28:14- 58:14 (audio)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 246-253 (physical)

Ate:
None

Drank:
Water

Feeling:
The hours are flying by right now. And my eyes are starting to droop.

Hour 22

Read:
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl 15%-22% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 6 58:14- Part 7 13:56 (audio)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 253- 254 (physical)

Ate:
Veggies with Ranch Dip
Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds

Drank:
Water
Squirt

Feeling:
Nothing specific, just focusing on reading

Hour 23

Read:
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 254-259 (physical)
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl 22%-26% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 7 13:56- 25:49 (audio)

Ate:
Chocolate-covered Cream Puff

Drank:
Water
Squirt

Feeling:
Nothing specific, just focusing on reading. I have no idea where I lost an hour today.

Hour 24

Read:
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read) pgs 259-263 (physical)
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl 26%- 30% (digital)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Part 7 25:49- 56:00 (audio)

Ate:
Nothing

Drank:
Water
Squirt

Feeling:
I think this was a pretty successful readathon, even though I lost an hour somewhere today and have absolutely no idea when! Edited to add: I found my missing hour- I had 2 hour 16’s lol

Closing Survey!

1. 1. How would you assess your reading overall? My reading was great. I completed 3 books that I’ve been working on and made significant progress 3 others.
   2. Did you have a stategy, and if so, did you stick to it? For the most part yes. My strategy was to rotate between formats and that is pretty much what I did.
   3. What was your favorite snack? A Chocolate-covered Cream Puff
   4. Wanna volunteer for our next event? Stay tuned for the recap post! I have volunteered in the past, but find I do better, just as a participant.