Graphic Novel Readathon Starting Line & Updates

It's January 3rd, which means that it's time to begin the Graphic Novel Readathon!

The sign-up list is below, but since there's only one person signed up (hi Logan), I will have to cancel the giveaways unless more people choose to participate.



Everyone is welcome to sign up at any point in the readathon, and even if you're not readathoning with us, please enjoy the fun features going on in the next few days.

The first of the mini-challenges will be posted today. Unfortunately, I do not plan to have a giveaway for the winner, but if there are enough entries I will absolutely have that giveaway. There will be two more mini-challenges in the coming days, and on Sunday, Nathan Hale will be stopping by for an interview.

My Reading List:

• Bone by Jeff Smith
• Uglies: Shay's Story and Uglies: Cutters by Scott Westerfeld (Read 3 January)
• Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack by Shannon, Dean, and Nathan Hale
• Anya's Ghost by Vera Brogsol (Read 4 January)

I expect Bone to take up a lot of readathoning time, but it's also the book I'm most looking forward to.

DAY ONE
january 3
Today I read Uglies: Shay's Story and Uglies: Cutters. I really liked Shay's Story, perhaps even more than I had the first time I read it, but I was ambivalent about Cutters. I liked the metaphor-story about the ranger that was not included in the book, but I felt like a graphic novel format was not the best way to tell the story, and that if I hadn't already known what was going on from reading Pretties, I would have been lost for a lot of the book. Tomorrow I'd like to start Bone, but I might read Anya's Ghost instead. I'm planning to finish the readathon with Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack, since I love those two so much.

DAY TWO
january 4
Today I did not read much, but I did get through Anya's Ghost, which was just as good as I remembered.

DAY THREE
january 5
Again I did not read much today. I read so many graphic novels in December to prepare for this readathon that I am not feeling so motivated to read now that the readathon is actually happening. I hope tomorrow Rapunzel's Revenge will get me out of the graphic novel slump.

DAY FOUR
january 6
xx

Happy Readathoning!

What are you reading?

The Oh-My-Word Readathon: 2012 Edition

Hello, readers!

I am participating yet again in Squeaky Books' annual year-end readathon: the Oh-My-Word-The-Year-Is-Over-And-I-Haven't-Reached-My-Goal Readathon. Last year I actually had reached my goal at this time so I was causally readathoning, but this year I have been speeding through books for the last few days to try to reach my goal of 200 books by January 1st.

Although I've been readathoning on my own for a few days, at the official start of this readathon, I have 6 books to go in order to reach my goal, and 5 days in which to read. I'm going to be crazy busy and/or out of town until New Year's Eve, but if I can time it right, I just might be able to make this happen.

Because it is going to be such a close shot to finish enough books in time for New Year's, I am extending the readathon an extra two days, until December 31.

Reading List:

• Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
• Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill
• Renegade Magic by Stephanie Burgis (Read 26 Dec)
• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (Read 26 Dec)
• Instead of Three Wishes by Megan Whalen Turner (Read 27 Dec)
• Book of Enchantments by Patricia C. Wrede (Read 30-31 Dec)
• Tales from the Brothers Grimm and Sisters Weird by Vivian Vande Velde
• Fathomless by Jackson Pearce (Read 28-29 Dec)

I tried to choose a mix of long and short books, and included three short story anthologies because they're both fun and quick. I am especially looking forward to Seraphina, Iron Hearted Violet, and Fathomless.

DAY ONE
december 27
Yesterday I read Renegade Magic, which was fun and light and exactly as I expected it to be. I really liked it but preferred Kat, Incorrigible. I still would like to see what comes next for Kat. Then I read Stargirl which was amazing and totally surprised me; I had read it on a friend's recommendation, which next to no idea what I was getting myself into. I absolutely loved it.

Today I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to read, but managed to finish Instead of Three Wishes, which I'd forgotten how much I liked. I really enjoyed it and it certainly made me excited to reread some of MWT's other works. I'll have to revisit Gen next year.

DAY TWO
december 28
I meant to read a lot more than I did today. I had time to read during the day but did not have a book with me until the evening, when I read the first 200 pages of Fathomless. I wanted to read much more, but unfortunately didn't have the time. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

DAY THREE
december 29

Today was a really good reading day. I finished Fathomless, which ended up being very exciting, and also started two more books. I visited a bookstore and found a fantastic gift for my English teacher: The Annotated Alice. This particular teacher is my favorite English teacher I've ever had, and he taught a semester of Through the Looking Glass two years ago (which I took, and loved) so I thought he would enjoy this annotated edition. And I'm hoping he won't mind if I take a peek at it first, since the annotations are actually quite interesting. I've read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass many times (I have a well-loved copy on my shelves) and the notes in this addition add a whole new layer to a story I already love. I finished Alice in Wonderland tonight, and will read Through the Looking Glass tomorrow. I also read the first two stories in Book of Enchantments, both of which I enjoyed quite a bit. As with Instead of Three Wishes, I'd forgotten how much I liked these stories.

DAY FOUR
december 30
Today I visited the bookstore where I bought my beloved copy of Howl's Moving Castle, and found a copy of Robot Dreams, a graphic novel that I read nearly two years ago and was never able to find again. I reread it in the store along with Sarah Varon's new book Bake Sale, which brings me so close to finishing my 200-book goal. I also read a few more chapters in The Annotated Alice and a bit in Book of Enchantments, but overall did not read much. Tomorrow I am going to finish my challenge, and it will be New Year's Eve Day!

DAY FIVE
december 31
Today I finished Book of Enchantments and The Annotated Alice, and finished my challenge. Happy New Year!

Happy reading!

Announcing the Graphic Novel Readathon

I am happy to announce an event I've been hoping to host for a while: The Graphic Novel Readathon! This January, I will be hosting four days full of the wonderfulness that is the graphic novel.

<a href="http://picareads.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Graphic Novel Readathon" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cKfHJB-O0oQmIshEpB_il-zp4pIGo6Ax5DY9GjEzI1ONFhfJbD5bh2krAMSjbr0Qye_MrirLukLSM7FqvcLG482EXy2iwOHCgWb6uc68NJZ457b83knlHVur0TFyj4zZHExx0rdssSk/s320/Graphic+Novel+Readathon+Button.jpg"/></a>

I will be hosting mini-challenges and giveaways, and gushing about my favorite graphic novels, AND we will be having a fantastic interview with one of my very favorite author/illustrators. Sound good?

Please fill in this form if you are interested in hosting a mini-challenge or writing a guest post.


To sign up for the readathon (whether or not you want to host), use the linky below:



And don't forget to comment with your favorite graphic novels! I will be posting a list soon of some of my favorites, and I am always excited to learn about new ones.

Fairy Tale Readathon Wrap-Up

All in all, I finished six novels in the six days of the readathon, which was exactly my target.

I also read Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack as an extra treat at the very end of the readathon. I love these books and it was the perfect end to the readathon.

I didn't end up reading any more of my Tales from Grimm and Andersen book, which I had kind of expected but hoped I'd be wrong about. I think it's time to put it away for now. I read most of it, and I have been working through the stories since last August. I'm willing to say I got through it.

I also did not read The Near Witch, because I chose to read In a Glass Grimmly instead, since it was based on fairy tales rather than just having a fairy tale-esque feel.

Additionally, I wrote a discussion post on Fairy Tales and Disney, about how the Disney versions of classic fairy tale characters are now many people's only versions of those characters.

I didn't keep track of the hours I spent reading, but I read a total of 2,106 pages. The shortest books were Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack, each 144 pages. The shortest novel-length book was In A Glass Grimmly, at 252 pages, and the longest was Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, at 336 pages.

I tried to comment on the blogs of everyone else participating in the readathon,  to cheer them on, but even if I missed your blog (whoops), Congratulations!

Happy reading to everyone,

Fairy Tale Readathon Updates

DAY ONE (October 17)

Beginning the readathon: Tonight (night of Oct 16-17), I am starting Sisters Red. I don't really want to stay up late tonight to finish it, since I have to be awake for the rest of the week, but I am going to try to make a dent. I expect my best reading days will be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

4pm: I just finished Sisters Red, which was a great read and a perfect start to this readathon. I am very excited to read Sweetly, but next I am going to start on an old favorite - Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. I loved Sun and Moon last time I read it (links to my review from way back in 2010), and I am looking forward to diving back into this beautiful retelling.

Later: I just finished Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow in the wee hours of the night tonight (and I am falling asleep as write this). It was lovely and beautiful, just as I had remembered. Tomorrow I won't have much time for reading, but I am going to begin A Tale Dark and Grimm and see how far I get. Dark and Grimm is one of the shorter books I'm reading this week, so I might be able to finish it in one night, but if not, I will at least have begun it. I know very little about Dark and Grimm, other than it's a retelling and in a narrative style I think I will love.

DAY TWO (October 18)

Today was a great day, but I got literally zero reading done. I was at school from 8am until 9:30pm, and when I got home, I had enough energy to eat dinner, do my homework, write this update, and fall into bed. Tomorrow I will have more time to read.

Well, maybe I can read just one chapter... or three.

DAY THREE (October 19)

I finished A Tale Dark and Grimm, which was great, but it was also a surprisingly packed evening, with very little time for reading. Tomorrow I will try to save more time for this readathon. However, despite the fact that the last two nights I haven't had much time to read, I am really enjoying this readathon. I can't wait for the next three days.

DAY FOUR (October 20)

I spent today not reading much - yet again. I finished the first half of Sweetly, but put it aside to hang out with my brother. What can I say? Family trumps even readathoning.

DAY FIVE (October 21)

Today I finally got back into the reading mood and not only finished Sweetly (which was excellent) but also started In A Glass Grimmly, which wasn't on my original readathon TBR, but when I finished A Tale Dark and Grimm, I had to run out and immediately buy the next volume.

Tomorrow is the last day of the readathon! Good luck, everyone!

DAY SIX (October 22)

I finished In A Glass Grimmly late last night, and I really liked it. I enjoyed the narrator's comments even more in the second book, although I preferred the story of A Tale Dark and Grimm. Today I would like to begin the Sisters Grimm books I have set aside. I don't know if I will have time to finish even the first book, since I won't be able to stay up all night (or at least, I shouldn't stay up all night). Nevertheless, I am excited to race to the finish line.

Fairy Tale Readathon

For the next week, I will be participating in the Fairy Tale Readathon hosted by Debz Bookshelf. I am really excited and I have a whole bunch of books I want to read. My list is a little bit ambitious, but that is the fun of readathons. My TBR for this readathon is:

1. Sisters Red, by Jackson Pearce
2. Sweetly, by Jackson Pearce
3. Sisters Grimm (series), by Michael Buckley
4. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, by Jessica Day George
5. The Near Witch, by Victoria Schwab
6. A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz

Also, I have been slowly making my way through my copy of Tales from Grimm and Andersen for a little more than a year. I want to make a lot of progress in that book as well during this readathon. I can't wait to begin!

The Oh-My-Word... Readathon: Final Tally

The readathon is over! It was so much fun, and I'm glad I participated.

Total Books Read: 3

• Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini
• The Coming of the Dragon, by Rebecca Barnhouse
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor

Although the number of books finished wasn't too high this time around, I think it was the perfect amount of reading for right now. I read the second half of Inheritance, the last two-thirds of The Coming of the Dragon, and all of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I also made significant progress in but did not finish Tales of Grimm and Andersen. I spent a lot of time reading, but I never felt like I was overwhelmed by too much reading (yes, there is such a thing). After I finished Smoke and Bone I had a couple of hours left before the readathon ended, but I didn't pick anything else up because it was a wonderful book to end the year with.

See you in 2012,

The Oh-My-Word... Readathon!

The readathon has officially begun! Somehow, life tends to get in the way of reading on the specific dates that readathons are scheduled for, but I'll at least keep a book on hand throughout the next two days.

I will probably not be updating my progress much, but I will have a final tally up on January 1st.

What I want to finish:
I have several books that I have gotten about halfway through and that I'd like to finish in the next day or so, or at least make significant progress on:

• Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini
• The Coming of the Dragon, by Rebecca Barnhouse
• Tales of Grimm and Andersen, by The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen

I don't have many goals beyond that, as I can tell those three will be quite a bit of reading on their own, but I have a ton of books stacked up by my bed (my regular TBR shelf  and  the temporarily commandeered "helper shelf" are both full and have additional books stacked on top of them) that I would love to begin, including but not limited to:

• Shatter Me, by Tareh Mafi
• The Princess Curse, by Merrie Haskell
• Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, by Jonathan Auxier
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor
• Liesl and Po, by Lauren Oliver
• Well Witched, by Frances Hardinge
• Spindle's End, by Robin McKinley
• Wither, by Lauren DeStephano
• Birthmarked, by Caragh O'Brien

And as if those and several large handfuls more were not enough (because you can never have too much with books), I have a few by my bed that I've been itching to reread for a while now:

• Enna Burning, by Shannon Hale
• River Secrets, by Shannon Hale
• Forest Born, by Shannon Hale
• Dragon Flight, by Jessica Day George
• Dragon Spear, by Jessica Day George
• East, by Edith Pattou

I have no intention of getting through these lists, but they're much of my selection. And the books that I don't get to now will be the one's I'll be reading in the next few weeks, or more likely, months.

Are you participating in the Oh-My-Word... Readathon? Have you read any of the books above? What should I read first? Let me know in the comments!