Hour 15 -Rachel Noel – Reading During Readathon

I’m gonna level with y’all, I have done almost no reading during the entire isolation. I know, shocker. Actually, given how many people I’ve talked to, it’s not so shocking. A lot of us are feeling disoriented, agitated and just all around unable to focus. I tried to participate in the 24in48 readathon a while back, but barely read a chapter. 

Well, today is a chance to change that! Today we can set aside everything else, turn off the news, select a hashtag to follow on social media and nothing else, and just read. It’s us, our books, our book buddies, and our coffee (or tea if you prefer)!

Of course, if you can’t participate the whole time, don’t worry, you don’t have to. There is no set requirement for Readathon. You can stay off social media, you can read just one chapter, you can listen to audiobooks while playing video games (not gonna lie, I have done that last one). We live in stressful times and even just reclaiming a minute of our lives for ourselves is important. It’s okay to take a break from everything and take care of yourself. You are important.

OOPS! Note from Heather and Andi…we forgot to include the mid-event survey in Hour 12 for the first time in 7.5 years. LOL! Here it is!

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?
2. How many books have you read so far?
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Check out the mini-challenges ANY TIME YOU WANT! 

Cheer your fellow readers!

Join our Goodreads or Facebook groups!

Watch for posts and stories on our Instagram!

Tag your posts with #readathon on all your social channels

Hour 14 – Rachel Noel – Readathon Support

Readathon is not a solo sport. Whether it’s supporting each other in our reading, or getting support from loved ones (yes, this includes #readathonpets) it’s very helpful to have a good #ReadathonSupport team. Something as little as reminding you to get up and move around can be a serious life saver. I’ll never forget, my first Readathon, I sat too long, foot went numb, and I tripped trying to get to the bathroom!

If you find yourself struggling this Readathon, feel free to reach out for some #ReadathonSupport and we’ll be there. If you have a good #ReadathonSupport team at home, remember to shout them out. Whether it’s a pet reminding you to get some movement and feed them, a child reminding you that you need to eat, a significant other making you coffee (or tea), or even a houseplant reminding you the importance of staying hydrated, be sure to shout them out.

Never forget, self-care is important. This is a long event and it’s only really enjoyable if you’re making sure to take care of yourself. Reading late at night loses its luster if you’re also starving. Reading throughout the day gets difficult if you forget to drink some water and “overdose” on caffeine. And if you need a nap, need to call it a day/night, you do so. Your health matters. And if you even need some encouragement, just let us know. One of my favorite parts of Readathon is cheering on others. 

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Check out the mini-challenges ANY TIME YOU WANT! 

Cheer your fellow readers!

Join our Goodreads or Facebook groups!

Watch for posts and stories on our Instagram!

Tag your posts with #readathon on all your social channels

Hour 13 – Rachel Noel – 1st Readathon Memories

I’ve been participating in Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-A-Thon since October 2013. I came across it when I just starting to watch BookTubers and one of them talked about her plans for the Readathon. I thought it sounded fun, intriguing even, and signed up right away. About a day before the event was scheduled to happen. Didn’t even think about it, just signed up. Without a plan. Or a thought. Or a dedicated reading spot. Yeah, I was definitely a newbie.

But I made it through all 24 hours. Barely, but I made it! And I loved it. All of it. While I was hesitant to talk to anyone, I thoroughly enjoyed cheering on other readers, whether it was on their Twitter, Blog or YouTube channel. It’s honestly the biggest part of why I’ve been coming back for almost 7 years. As much fun as it is to stay up 24 hours and just read, it’s so much more fun when you can share jokes, support, recommendations and more with other readers.

So, Andi, Heather, thank you both so much for getting this community going. Thank you for giving me a chance to volunteer and get involved. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for #Readathon.

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Check out the mini-challenges ANY TIME YOU WANT! 

Cheer your fellow readers!

Join our Goodreads or Facebook groups!

Watch for posts and stories on our Instagram!

Tag your posts with #readathon on all your social channels

Hour 12 – Who are You Reading With?

Welcome to hour 12 readers, I’m Paula ( @kneadyreader ) back with you for this last hour before the halfway point.

Crazy time to be alive, isn’t it?

Even for those of us who are homebody introverts, this is starting to seem like a little TOO much alone time.

Are you reading all by yourself today? Is there anyone else at home, reading or not, keeping you company? Are you trying to connect with other readers, via social media, talk, text or video chat?

My readathon buddy

Here at my place, it is just me and November, the kitty. She isn’t much of a conversationalist, really doesn’t respond to questions or care if I wax poetic about my reading material, but she does her part to keep my lap warm and protected.

Who are you reading with today? Who do you WISH you were reading with today? Who do you WISH wasn’t at home with you during quarantine so you could just read in peace? Let me know in the comments and at the end of the readathon I will choose a random comment and contact you about a prize.

For now, move around a little, get the blood pumping and get back to your reading.

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Check out the mini-challenges ANY TIME YOU WANT! 

Cheer your fellow readers!

Join our Goodreads or Facebook groups!

Watch for posts and stories on our Instagram!

Tag your posts with #readathon on all your social channels

Hour 11 – Early Bookish Memories

Hello Fair Readers! I’m Paula ( @kneadyreader ), and I will be joining you from Long Beach, Washington, USA for the next couple of hours.

Did you have books you loved as a kid? Books that fed your love of reading? Books that evoke strong memories?

My Aunt Kathy was a librarian, then a school teacher and used to send me and my sister the greatest books every year for Christmas. Great books, with lovely illustrations, that made me love the written word. Here are some photos of the ones I remember the most.

Those gifts from her inspired me to give gifts of literature to my godson, who, in turn, has become an avid reader. Her gifts helped create generations of readers in our family.

What books you made you into the reader you are today? Tell me in the comments, and I will choose one of you at random for a little prize. Once you have finished this walk down your bookish memory lane, hydrate, get a little snack, and jump back into your current read. I’ll see your for hour 12!

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Check out the mini-challenges ANY TIME YOU WANT! 

Cheer your fellow readers!

Join our Goodreads or Facebook groups!

Watch for posts and stories on our Instagram!

Tag your posts with #readathon on all your social channels

Hour 10 – You CAN Do It!

Hello readers! It’s Courtney @StiletoStrytime here with you for my last hour. It’s now Hour 10 and I hope you are chugging along just fine. No matter what your pace is your pace and you CAN do this. Much like life, this readathon is a marathon not a sprint. Plus it is different this year because the world we live in is different. How has your readathon changed?

I know for me I have been kindling it so no beautifully stacked pile of physical books from my beloved libraries. My snacks might not be exactly what I would usually choose because I had to send my husband out due to being on immunotherapy and considered high risk. Plus I am definitely more stressed even though it’s the weekend because now doing remote learning as a first grade teacher I feel like I teach 24/7. Home and work boundaries have absolutely disappeared. Let’s be honest. It’s different. For all of us. So how is this readathon different for you? How are you feeling?

Sending happy reading vibes to each and every one of you beautiful bookish people. I have loved my time with you as always. Keep in touch on Twitter and have an amazing readathon. You are almost half way there!

And inquiring minds (mine for sure) really want to know if you have any Kindle and Kindle Unlimited recommendations?!? You can share below and on any of your social media. Please remember to #readathon #deweymemories or @readathon on Twitter.

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Check out the mini-challenges ANY TIME YOU WANT! 

Cheer your fellow readers!

Join our Goodreads or Facebook groups!

Watch for posts and stories on our Instagram!

Tag your posts with #readathon on all your social channels

Hour 9 – A Decade of Dewey

Hello readers! It’s Courtney @StiletoStrytime coming in to spend the next two hours immersed in all things books with you. It feels like readathon hours always fly by. It’s Hour 9 already! Can you believe it? When I think back at the over a decade of readathons that I have been a reader and co-host (yikes, I might be feeling a little old over here)…it has all seemed to fly by. There was a time when it really just us hardcore book bloggers and now it’s readers from all over the world. As a librarian I love me a big stack of books so I decided to go back over the years and pull some of my TBR readathon piles. It’s amazing how all kinds of memories came flooding back. I can remember so much about each of those readathons by the books I read.

It’s been the best of times- the time I read 15.5 hours and the highest page total at 3,756 pages. And it’s been the worst of times- the time I co-hosted for four hours straight in the middle of the night and ended up at the eye doctor from poking a hole in my cornea. I never did find out how I did that one but it was implied we were all kinda crazy for even attempting to do this let alone twice a year! But above all it’s been a blast. This is where readers feel among their own. It’s the time when we come together and celebrate. So remember to have fun! THAT is what it is all about.

Do you have a best or most challenging readathon memory to share? How about an old TBR pile that brings back memories? We would love to have you share below or on any of our social media. Please remember to #readathon or @readathon on Twitter. You can also use #deweymemories Happy Reading!

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Check out the mini-challenges ANY TIME YOU WANT! 

Cheer your fellow readers!

Join our Goodreads or Facebook groups!

Watch for posts and stories on our Instagram!

Tag your posts with #readathon on all your social channels

Hour 8 – The Fun Continues

a blue number eight with googly eyes

Hello again! It’s me, Cass. Welcome to hour eight. You’ve already made it so far. Go you.

I want to extend a major thank you, thank you, thank you to Andi and Heather for all their hard-work and dedication to readers and the readathon all these years. You have done such a service to Dewey’s memory. Thank you!

Enjoy the rest of the readathon, everyone. May your books always be five-stars and your snacks always be delicious.

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Check out the mini-challenges ANY TIME YOU WANT! 

Cheer your fellow readers!

Join our Goodreads or Facebook groups!

Watch for posts and stories on our Instagram!

Tag your posts with #readathon on all your social channels

Hour 7 – The Joy of the Readathon

Hello! It’s me, Cass. Welcome to hour seven!

I don’t know about you, but I’m thrilled to be participating in a favorite event that I would have stayed inside for anyway. Not only that, but someone counts the hours for you and reminds you that time actually has meaning. Can you believe it? How luxurious.

Like many of you, I’ve often spent time preparing for the readathon: going to the library (or two or three), preparing snacks, and finding the right playlist to listen to while I read. April 2020–for me at least–calls for an approach that’s a bit more relaxed. So today I’ve gotten up, I’ve had coffee, I’ve read a little bit, and I’m just happy to be here with all of you. How are you finding moments of joy today?

Enjoy the readathon!

And come hang out with me on the Readathon twitter!

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Check out the mini-challenges ANY TIME YOU WANT! 

Cheer your fellow readers!

Join our Goodreads or Facebook groups!

Watch for posts and stories on our Instagram!

Tag your posts with #readathon on all your social channels

Hour 6 – Meme Me Up

Dana back again with my favorite post to do for Dewey’s….funny memes and gifs.

Hit me with your best! The funniest. The cutest. Your very best!

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Check out the mini-challenges ANY TIME YOU WANT! 

Cheer your fellow readers!

Join our Goodreads or Facebook groups!

Watch for posts and stories on our Instagram!

Tag your posts with #readathon on all your social channels