Eclectic Readers discussion

Welcome to the discussion thread for the June 2017 Eclectic Readathon, which will be held from 8:00pm EST Friday, June 23- 8:00 EST Saturday, June 24th.

Read as much as you can in the way of books. You can read audiobooks, ebooks, print books. Adult, children’s, YA, doesn’t matter. They do have to be books, though. Magazines, newspapers, fanfic are beautiful and beloved by us all, but making it about books evens out the playing field of challenges for everyone.

Track the amount of time you’re reading. (Use your phone's stopwatch app. This will be important later.)

We'll be posting check-in questions/challenges every two hours during the Readathon, as well as providing a bookish scavenger hunt for things to find in the books you're reading, or to do while you're reading. (We won't release the scavenger hunt until right when the Readathon begins to keep you guessing!)

Each check-in question you complete will be worth two (2) points, and each scavenger hunt item will be worth varied amounts of points, but the total amount of scavenger hunt points you can earn is 42 (nerdy much?), which means you're trying to earn a total of 66 points. And if you miss a check-in when it's first posted you can always catch up and post your answer later on.

What are the points for, you ask? For an amazing prize, of course!! If you end up with the most points at the end of the Readathon you'll win a one-month Uppercase subscription box! If there's multiple readers that end up with the same amount of points, all of their names will be entered into a drawing for the prize. (Uppercase only ships to the U.S. and Canada, so if the winner lives somewhere else, they'll receive a different prize.)

We'll also be posting the check-in questions on our Eclectic Readers Litsy page, (and other social media with hastag #EclecticReadathon) and we hope you'll join in the conversation there and use the hashtag on your own posts, but in order for your points to count towards the prize, you MUST log your check-in answers and scavenger hunt points in this thread! If it ain't here, it don't count!

We're also giving away a prize for the most time read, so make sure to use the stopwatch app on your phone to track your reading time, because at the end of the Readathon we'll ask you to take a screenshot of your stopwatch and post it to your social media of choice (Litsy, Instagram, Twitter, etc) and copy the link of that post to this thread. (Again, if more than one person reads the same amount, we'll have a drawing for the prize.)

Alright, I think that pretty much covers everything. Let us know if you have any questions and we'll see you right here on Friday at 8:00pm EST!

Audiobooks? Yay or nay for counting towards reading time? I have to walk my merry band of mutts, and audiobooks are my jam during those times.

Can't wait!

Erin wrote: "Audiobooks? Yay or nay for counting towards reading time? I have to walk my merry band of mutts, and audiobooks are my jam during those times."

Audiobooks definitely count! I just updated the description for clarity :)

What Meredith said!

Just a few hours!

Probably a stupid question... but how do you a post a link on here to your Litsy or Instagram post? Or how do you post a picture in the comments, if you're only using your phone? I'm not great with tech, haha.

Hey, Erin! The only stupid question is "should I be reading?" Because the answer is, of course, yes. To share a Litsy post, you hit the arrow at the bottom of your Litsy post and copy the link to your clipboard. Then you can paste it here!

Great! Thanks Jeanette! Going to the store to stock up on reading snacks now :-)

Here's the list you have been waiting for! The Scavenger Hunt for the Eclectic Readathon. Anytime come across one of the items, let us know in this thread so we can keep track of your points!

ECLECTIC READATHON SCAVENGER HUNT Points

A book that has a twist you didn't expect 3

A book with a spunky female character 2

A book that takes place in or goes to a city that you want to visit 2

Read a book that is the end of a series 1

Children's book that has a sneaky grown up joke (does not have to be dirty) 3

A book by an author you've never read before 1

A book by an author who is gay or lesbian 2

A book with a character who has a disability 2

Reading while exercising 2

Reading an adult book in one day, start to finish 3

A book with a quote you had to highlight/write down/save 2

A book in which the protagonist is a person of color 2

Reading with a cold beverage (because it's summer!) 1

Reading a book out of your comfort zone 2

A book which contains a protagonist with two parents 2

A book which made you cry 3

Reading with friends 3

A book that references another book 2

Reading a book while eating 2

Share a photo of your current book 2

Total Points 42

Hmmm is it just me, or can no one else see the list image?

Erin wrote: "Hmmm is it just me, or can no one else see the list image?"
It's not just you, Erin, Sue's trying again

Ok, Sorry about the technical difficulty. I was trying to get it loaded before dinner. So until then, here is a list and we'll get a pretty one loaded as soon as we can. But we will be putting it up on the social medias.

Sue wrote: "Ok, Sorry about the technical difficulty. I was trying to get it loaded before dinner. So until then, here is a list and we'll get a pretty one loaded as soon as we can. But we will be putting it u..."

Thanks Sue!

To clarify, do we actually have to be reading the books we use for the Scavenger Hunt or can we find these things in other books, even if we aren't actively reading them today?

Hi guys! Welcome to the #EclecticReadathon! I hope you all are ready to read! How's everyone doing?

So for our first check in, tell me where you are, what are you reading, and what is your readathon strategy!

Good luck Readers! -Tara

Check in one: I'm reading Lord of Shadows, by Cassandra Claire, in Atlanta Ga, and my strategy is to read as many different books as I can!

I'm in China. It's 8am Saturday here, and I'm currently engrossed in The Marriage Pact. My strategy for today, READ! lol

Rebekah wrote: "To clarify, do we actually have to be reading the books we use for the Scavenger Hunt or can we find these things in other books, even if we aren't actively reading them today?"

Yes, the hunt will be from the books that you are reading during the Readathon

Hi all! Recent discoverer of Eclectic Readers here. I'm reading in Southern Ontario in Canada. My strategy for readathons is to always have an audio to switch to when I'm starting to feel restless. This time's audio is The Magicians, which I'll follow up with the podcast episode for it. I'll be hanging out on Litsy where I've posted my stack for the readathon:
http://litsy.com/p/c2twYkhaRjc4

Check in #1: Hello! I'm in West Palm Beach, FL, reading The Joy Luck Club at the moment. My strategy is to dip in and out of several different books in various formats. I have two kids, so I won't make the full 24, but I'll squeeze in whatever reading I can!

Scavenger hunt:
A book with a twist I didn't expect (3) — House of Leaves; no spoilers, but every ten pages reveals a twist I didn't expect. I have my suspicions about some things, though.
Protagonist is a person of color (2) — The Joy Luck Club
Protagonist with two parents (2) — Purple Hibiscus
By an author you've never read before (1) — Mark Z. Danielewski
Out of your comfort zone (2) — House of Leaves
A book that references another book (2) — House of Leaves only does this about a thousand times
Reading a book while eating (2) — I've done this twice already today!
Photo of my current book (2) — http://litsy.com/p/YXdiWWxCeWhN

Tara wrote: "Hi guys! Welcome to the #EclecticReadathon! I hope you all are ready to read! How's everyone doing?

So for our first check in, tell me where you are, what are you reading, and what is your readat..."

First check-in:
Hi everyone! I'm currently reading A Court of Wings and Ruin by the Sarah J. Maas. I live in Kotzebue, Alaska, up above the arctic circle, so its only 4pm here. My strategy is to try and stay up as long as I can tonight, and read a lot of books that have been on my TBR list for awhile :-) Have fun everyone!!
-Erin

Rebekah wrote: "To clarify, do we actually have to be reading the books we use for the Scavenger Hunt or can we find these things in other books, even if we aren't actively reading them today?"

Hi! You will need to find these scavenger hunt items in the books you're actively reading during the Readathon.

I'd recommend taking a screen shot of the scavenger hunt items so you don't have to keep scrolling through the thread! Once we start chatting it up it'll be a lot of scrolling to find it again :)

Sue wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "To clarify, do we actually have to be reading the books we use for the Scavenger Hunt or can we find these things in other books, even if we aren't actively reading them today?"

Ye..."
Thanks for the clarification!

I am from Kitchener, On. I am reading the Hangman's Daughter by oliver potzsch. My strategy is to reading in my bed and stay cool.

Hi everyone! I'm Carmen. I'm from Michigan where I'll be reading mostly from my living room and my bed. Getting cozy and have snacks and drinks on hand! I have no reading strategy, just hoping to get in as much reading as possible with my two boys running wild around the house!

Let me be a pain one more time (SORRY!) ... Can we accumulate multiple finds/points from the same book?

Check in #1

Hi, I'm Meredith, one of the co-hosts on the podcast, and I'm reading on my couch (or bed, or balcony) in Arlington, VA. My strategy is to finish my ER Madlibs choices and have an audiobook on-hand in case I need to get up and do things!

Rebekah wrote: "Let me be a pain one more time (SORRY!) ... Can we accumulate multiple finds/points from the same book?"

Of course! Sure got super lucky once and got 10 points from one book!

Rebekah wrote: "Let me be a pain one more time (SORRY!) ... Can we accumulate multiple finds/points from the same book?"

No, these are good questions! :) Yes, can earn multiple scavenger hunt points from the same book!

Tara wrote: "Hi guys! Welcome to the #EclecticReadathon! I hope you all are ready to read! How's everyone doing?

So for our first check in, tell me where you are, what are you reading, and what is your readat..."

Hello everyone! My name is Cyan, and I'm from Orange Park, Florida. I'll be reading Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. I also have an audiobook ready: Americanah by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie. I'm super excited! My readathon strategy is to have different genres of books picked out so I never get bored.

Question about the stop watch deal... do I hit stop when I get up to go pee or grab a cup of coffee or post on here? I've never used it before so I don't know if it restarts again? Or do I just take a screen shot each time I stop it? Yikes, sorry for all the mundane questions!!

Hi guys! I actually got to NY today to visit my parents so I'm going to try to read here and there when I can, hopefully get some reading in the sun tomorrow! I'm currently reading Reconstructing Amelia which has been on my TBR list for awhile!

Getting in my first scavenger hunt item in early! Finishing up Queen of Shadows and it definitely fits "book with a twist you didn't see coming"

http://litsy.com/p/dHlDN29MNElX

Erin wrote: "Question about the stop watch deal... do I hit stop when I get up to go pee or grab a cup of coffee or post on here? I've never used it before so I don't know if it restarts again? Or do I just tak..."

We go by the honor system. We trust you Erin!

Oh nice! If we can combine, I'm also submitting Queen of Shadows for "book with a spunky female character". There are several in this one, Aelin, Manon, Lysandra...

http://litsy.com/p/dHlDN29MNElX

Erin wrote: "Question about the stop watch deal... do I hit stop when I get up to go pee or grab a cup of coffee or post on here? I've never used it before so I don't know if it restarts again? Or do I just tak..."

Yes, you should pause your stopwatch if you're not actually reading, but I mean if you get up to get a drink and forget to pause it we won't hold it against you ;) Do you have an iPhone? My iPhone stopwatch app lets me stop but still keeps what I've logged, just as long as I don't hit reset or kill the app (I did that once halfway into a Readathon and wanted to cry lol)

Hi guys! So excited for this! I'm reading in Ohio and am currently reading White Teeth. My strategy is to read whenever the baby is asleep lol

Meredith wrote: "Erin wrote: "Question about the stop watch deal... do I hit stop when I get up to go pee or grab a cup of coffee or post on here? I've never used it before so I don't know if it restarts again? Or ..."

Yes, I have an iPhone, thank you! I wasn't sure what would happen if I hit stop, so I've been sitting here reading, when I really wanted to go grab a cup of coffee :-)

Hi! I'm in Blacksburg, VA (Go Hokies!) and I'm currently reading Stars of Fortune. My strategy is to pretend all of my phone besides Litsy and Goodreads doesn't exist, so I don't get distracted and forget to read. Also, to read fast so I have more time to find the scavenger hunt items. Wish me luck!

Hi all! So happy to be readathoning with you. I'm in my cozy bed in Oceanside, California. And I'm now reading a very sultry book: Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations. And I must say, she is one spunky female character! 😁👍🏻

I'm in Raleigh, NC. I'll be reading in my chair or in bed and when running errands I'll be listening to audiobooks. I'm currently reading 4 books so I can switch it up as we progress.

I'm reading Camino Island by John Grisham in Massachusetts 😊

Check in #1: I'm in Chicago. Currently not reading anything, but plan to start Wallbangers by Alice Clayton for this Readathon. I have a few books sitting in my "need to finish" pile so those will get some attention in the next 24 hours. I wish I had a strategy but I'll just dip in and out of books so that I can rack up my scavenger hunt points. :)

Tara wrote: "Hi guys! Welcome to the #EclecticReadathon! I hope you all are ready to read! How's everyone doing?

So for our first check in, tell me where you are, what are you reading, and what is your readat..."

Hey! So if you're a listener, you might know that I'm Jeannette, one of the Eclectic Readers' original members and podcast co-host.

I'm in Virginia outside of DC, and I'm so excited! Today was the last day of school, guys, and this is the perfect way to celebrate! I have 400 pages between two books that I want to get done over the Readathon so that I can also finish my ER MadLibs. Baby was extra tired tonight (lucky Mommy!), so my strategy is to get as much as I can done in my longer, but faster-paced book tonight (His Majesty's Dragon), and do my dense one (The Left Hand of Darkness) in the morning when Husband has promised to take lead parenting duties.

Good luck and happy reading to everyone!

Two scavenger hunt items down already: A Court of Wings and Ruin covers: book with a spunky female character (Feyre! 🖤) and last book in a series (correct me if I'm wrong on this, friends!)
It's such a cold, dreary day here (40 degrees F! Perfect!) ... my FAVORITE for binge reading!

photo of current book http://litsy.com/p/ZUFBdnU4RFpx

Hi fellow readathoners! I'm currently reading on my couch in Cherokee Village, Arkansas. My 90-yo Mom is reading on her Kindle in her chair next to me. I'm reading a hardcover that I can't name because it's a book that will be passed on in a Litsy #GameOfTomes book exchange and I'm sure people in my group are also on here. Don't want to spoil the surprise for them. My strategy is to go put this phone in another room so I can only check Litsy & GoodReads on official breaks. Otherwise I'll get no reading done! So setting my stop watch app now and leaving this iPhone in the bedroom.😬

Hi, everyone! I'm reading from Iowa, USA... finishing up my last ERMadLiba book first. My strategy was to get my shopping and adulting done before we started, and to use audiobooks whenever I can't sit and read. Here's a link to my current read: sprainedbrain's post on Litsy
http://litsy.com/p/bm1KTndyVFJ6

Check in! Hi, everyone! I'm Erin from Silver Spring, MD! I'm currently reading Gone With the Wind and hoping to make a huge dent and/or finish part 4 of this book (over 300 pages!) and start a new book (probably Midnight at the Electric).

Here's a picture of my current read:
http://litsy.com/p/YjduYmFlZGQw

Scavenger hunt:
Spunky female character: Scarlett O'Hara (3)
Author I've never read before: Margaret Mitchell (1)
Reading with friends: Currently reading this as part of the #gwtwreadalong on Litsy! (3)