Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope your week went well and that your weekend looks slightly different than your week did (unless every day is Saturday for you?). I thought we could check in on those goals as we move into the weekend.

A few questions for you:
How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
What challenges and distractions have you faced?
What is your favorite book so far?
What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?

Now is also a great time to go in and update your Individual Tracking, the Miles of Pages, and the Community Spreadsheet with your reading progress!

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
- Isolation is not great, but it could be worse, I guess. My husband is still working in the office, so I at least have him coming home every night to look forward to. I've gone through reading phases... I read only 4 books all of March, but I'm on track to finish 10 or 11 in April, which brings me back to my average for the year.

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
- I'm still teaching remotely, so I have classes from 9 AM to 1:30 PM every day. Plus the grading and lesson planning... So that's definitely been a distraction. Also, my phone keeps tempting me to play mindless games on it.

What is your favorite book so far?
- I've only finished The Sweeney Sisters, and I'm midway through The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, but both are spectacular. Sweeney Sisters was a Goodreads giveaway that publishes next week, and it was the perfect blend of lighthearted and a strong plot and characters. Exactly what I needed to read at that point. Elizabeth Frankenstein is our book club book for the month, and I'm FLYING through it. I read Frankenstein with my class last year, so I'm familiar with the story, but I'm loving this spin on it.

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
- I'm on track to finish 2 books and start another, so I feel like I'm really accomplishing a good push for the end of the month.

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?
- Read read read! And put my phone down lol

A few questions for you:
How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less? Less since January. I read 7 books in March.3 books in April so far.
What challenges and distractions have you faced? Distractions, I have finished 1 jigsaw puzzle & started a new one. I have finished watching 3 series & started a new one. Challenges, not doing jigsaw puzzles & watching series.
What is your favorite book so far? I have 2 favorite books since March. My Dear Hamilton:A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie. The Mirror & The Light (Thomas Cromwell Trilogy #3) by Hilary Mantel.
What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon? I have completed 2 books & read over 400 pages.I have also started a new series.
What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon? Finish
The First Mrs.Rothschild by Sara Aharoni, Yardenne Greenspan (Translator). I'm reading this for World Book Day & downloaded it free from Amazon. I will start a new book before the end of the read-a-thon not sure I'll finish it.

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
I've been working from home so don't have any extra reading time, and at the weekends I've felt like completely switching off my brain and playing games instead. I'm still on track on my challenges but only because I had got ahead pre-lockdown.

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
Work and partner/dog wanting my attention because we're now each other's entire world. I feel a bit mean going off to read for hours.

What is your favorite book so far?
I've only finished one! But actually I loved it so it would probably be my favourite anyway, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
Finished one book (yay!) and listened to most of an audiobook.

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?
I'm also doing Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon this weekend so I hope to add another 3 or 4 finished books to my pile. The household respects Dewey time! My partner even tells me off if he sees me not reading.

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
I'm doing ok. My life is much more hectic with my grandson home full-time and my daughter here most of the time. The weather has been really nice so we are doing a lot of walking. I've been reading less.

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
Distractions: My grandson, genealogy research, playing Casino with my husband and daughter, walking, and watching the news and following on FB (although I'm doing less now).

What is your favorite book so far?
The Night Circus - Halfway through and loving it!

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
Half-way through one book. My reading time has been increasing each day.

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?
Read at least an average of 100 pages/day. Finish Night Circus and continue with another book I've started.

Ellie, I need to hear more about this Dewey's Read-a-Thon!

Emily wrote: "Ellie, I need to hear more about this Dewey's Read-a-Thon!"

Here you go: http://www.24hourreadathon.com/

There's usually over a thousand people taking part, everyone interacting on social media, doing mini-challenges (though I think the organisers haven't had time to arrange much for this one) and snacks. It has been held twice a year but is transferring hands after this one so we'll see. I've been doing it since 2011 and love it though never managed the full 24 hours (I think 21 was my best shot).

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
I feel like I am reading less, certainly reading for shorter intervals.

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
1. Too much time watching and reading news
2. My husband is always home and wants some attention at least. Although we are both retired, he used to be gone during the week for various activities.
3. No driving, which is partly when I used to listen to audiobooks.
4. Worries about isolated family members
5. Worries about my own health, not symptoms of virus but have had mysterious aches and pains - likely related to not exercising, stretching, etc., staying in one position too much, etc. but still makes me nervous in case anything develops as I don't want to go to a clinic at this time. Trying to remind myself of times in the past when I was worried about a mysterious symptom that turned out to be nothing.

What is your favorite book so far?
This was before the readathon but favorite recent books are
No Stopping Us Now: A History of Older Women in America and The Lost Man

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
I finished the book I was reading and completed another very short one, now on a third.

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon? Complete the book I am reading (In Our Prime: How Older Women Are Reinventing the Road Ahead) - purchased specifically because it goes with No Stopping Us Now mentioned above. I hope to create a talk out of the two. Also finish the audiobook I am listening to, A Quiet Life In The Country. It is ok but the mystery is predictable and the characters haven't grabbed me enough for me to continue the series.

The best thing about the readathon has been the wonderful travelogue on the Miles of Pages thread!

Robin wrote: "The best thing about the readathon has been the wonderful travelogue on the Miles of Pages thread!"

OMG *blushing*

Thank you!

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
I'm definitely reading less and I find myself reaching for shorter lighter reads and avoiding anything that looks heavy (physically or figuratively).

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
Animal Crossing, lol. My house and island are starting to get real cute though. Trying to breed some fun flower colors.

What is your favorite book so far?
Probably Along the Tapajós; it was just a sweet picture book about kids who live in the Amazon rainforest. Honestly I was going to try to have our Miles of Pages have an overnight at a riverside village like in the book, but y'all read too much.

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
I have not given up, and that's good.

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?
I'd like to read books for the next two prompts on the ATY list: set in a global city and set in a rural area.

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
Once I cut down on my news watching I've picked back up. I have been reading more humor and books with happy endings during this time.

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
I can't concentrate sometimes and end up playing Words With Friends instead of reading.

What is your favorite book so far?
I loved Lab Girl by Hope Jahren.

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
I've finished three books (I only had 150 pages left in one of them) and 900 pages.
Lab Girl
Before I Go to Sleep
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?
Finish Death in Berlin and Leave It to Psmith.

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
Hmmm...depends on the day. Pretty lonely, but I still have a job (working from home), so trying to stay grateful. I've been listening more (walks, dishes, cooking, any possible break during the day I throw on an audiobook even if just for a few minutes), but reading fewer words on the "page" (kindle). I've definitely been reading more happy books and young adult.

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
Netflix. I sometimes get a little zoomed out and just need to do nothing. Also, finding it difficult to dig into the denser stuff (even if not that dense) that I usually read much more of.

What is your favorite book so far?
One Plus One

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
Finished 2 books, will finish one more on audio today or tomorrow.

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?
Finish at least one more audio book.
I'm planning to start The Bone People. It's been staring at me for 5 or 6 weeks, but it looks big and like it might be hard to read right now.

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less? I'm doing well, working at home with the company of my dog and the virtual company of my coworkers. Walking Cassie has been a life-saver. I am reading more, but a lot of it is rereading old favorites. Spending time with characters and settings I remember fondly.
What challenges and distractions have you faced? Biggest challenge is being 2000 miles from my mother, who really wants us to be together.
What is your favorite book so far? Dark Mountain by C.B. Pratt
What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon? Finished one audiobook of poetry and have started a second. Finished 2 books and have 2 in process (both rereads)
What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon? Finish the books I am reading (1 print, 1 ebook, 1 audiobook) and start at least one new book.

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
My day program has switched over to online programming, so I'm still working from about 10:30 until 2:30 or 3 every day, so it still feels like mostly regular work days. I feel like I've somehow been reading both more and less at the same time. I've been using the time to read some of the longer books and series so I can actually devote the time to them, but there are also quite a few days where I just can't focus on reading. That's for the quarantine in general though, not specifically the readathon.

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
A general lack of motivation this week. I feel like I'm reading things slower than I expect.

What is your favorite book so far?
I've only read three things this week so far and none have been 5 stars, but I guess my favourite is Small Admissions. I especially loved the last third.

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
I've read three books, and will likely finish a fourth tonight. To be fair though, one was a graphic novel, and another was the remaining two hours of an audiobook I'd already started.

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?
Read, or at least start, Call Down the Hawk! I didn't really set goals for the readathon goal because I had no idea it was happening until the day before. I've been really bad at keeping up with the boards lately.

Another Kathy

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
I'm doing fine with it. Since I retired for the second time at the end of January, this has been my life, pretty much. I miss going to see my kids, grandkids, mom, and siblings when I want to. (The closest kid is about 90 miles away, the furthest is about 1600 miles. All others in between, but mostly at least 3 or more hours away). My reading is probably about the same. I am on a committee to choose Notable books for 2019 in my state (retired librarian...), so we have ZOOM meetings periodically.

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
Once again, about the same as usual. I often jump from reading to computer to phone, to something else I should do... repeat. I have been reading more news concerning the whole COVID-19 situation, which is a time suck.

What is your favorite book so far?
Peter F. Hamilton's Great North Road. Science fiction/mysteries/police procedural. However, it's about 950 pages long and it seems like I'm slogging along (only about 250 to go!). I do this every time I read his books, but I keep coming back for more.

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
I've finished two print books, reading the ebook above, listening to a romance, and reading a print non-fiction. One of the finished and the non-fiction are for my committee reading.

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?I'm feeling that I'm in the home stretch reading my three current titles, so I hope to have them done, for sure.

Ellie's mentioned 24-hour read-a-thon sounds fun for the weekend.

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
About the same, actually. I'm doing less of a lot of other activities, obviously, that normally take up time I could be spending reading, but I live with my mom who isn't working and is bored, so I'm spending a lot more time doing things like playing games and watching tv with her. So it kind of ends up evening out. I'm doing okay as far as everything else goes, I know I have loads of privilege and good fortune as far as where I live, so, just carrying on. And trying not to think too hard about how much I miss my young nephews & niece, frankly.

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
Kind of answered this above, oops. Plus the main challenge that I normally get most of my books from libraries, which obviously are closed for physical checkouts, and while I can - and do - and always have done - get ebooks from them, a) I don't want to ALWAYS and ONLY read digitally, and b) the hold waits are so much longer for ebooks now that everyone's turned to digital collections. So while I'm not lacking for reading material as a whole, it has been a little more challenging to get access to the exact book I want to read at a given moment, especially new releases.

What is your favorite book so far?
I've only finished two books so far during this readathon, and neither of them was amazing, but I'm quite enjoying one of the ones I'm still reading, Moon Over Soho; the audio reader is particularly good.

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
I finished two books, and I'm just chugging along.

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?
I'd like to actually finish at least one more book, ideally something that fits a tag before all the ones that suit my reading are claimed! Mostly wanting to finish some library books before they're due, since, like I said, everything has so many people waiting on hold for them and I have slightly too many checked out at once, lol! I'm going to participate in the Dewey's 24-hour readathon this weekend, so I should get a lot of pages/hours read for that. I finished my OWLs earlier this month, so I guess I'm just reading... without specific prompts in mind? Or something? ;)

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less? Reading a lot less.

What challenges and distractions have you faced? Husband started to work again this week, from home, and that's been distracting/changing our new routine. We're also dealing with a personal situation that's been difficult-lots of phone calls, discussions etc. At this point we're having to make some decisions and may lose friendships over what's going on, which is really hard to deal with in the midst of everything else going on. It's also affecting our kids, which I'm pretty upset about. The whole thing has been very distracting/time consuming/stressful. Very happy my husband is back at work (and we have a paycheck again!), but otherwise the week has been pretty crappy :/

What is your favorite book so far? I've only read one so far, The Sun Down Motel and it was a 5 star read for me!

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon? 1 book read, out of my goal of 2 books.

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon? To read 1 more book. The one I had originally wanted to read doesn't really fit the leftover tags though, so I need to go through my pile and see if anything I have on hand will work with the leftover tags.
eta: I have The Governess Game in my library bag and that fits several tags so I'm going to try and get it read by tomorrow night (almost 400 pages so we'll see!).

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less?
For the Isolation period in general, I have been reading a lot less than normal.

What challenges and distractions have you faced?
With everything going on it's been hard to focus on reading. Even when I did read, I wasn't enjoying what I read. This read-a-thon however, has been great to get me back into reading for enjoyment. I chose a lot of short, fun books and I look forward to picking up a book every day again.

What is your favorite book so far?
I think My favorite so far this week has been When You Find My Body: The Disappearance of Geraldine Largay on the Appalachian Trail. I knew I would probably like it as I live near where this happened and followed the events closely in the paper over the years. I ended up enjoying a lot. I appreciated how well the author did covering every aspect of Gerry's life and the case surrounding her disappearance. A lot of questions that were left hanging were finally answered. Highly recommended.

What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon?
I have read 5 books; 2 middle grade, 1 graphic novel, a lyrical fiction and one non-fiction. It's been quite a variety actually!

What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon?
I don't really have any goals per say. As I finish one book, I just want to pick up the next and keep going hopefully even after the end of the read-a-thon.

How are you doing during this isolation period? Have you been reading more or less? It's been off and on. This week we have been doing more family activities so less this week.
What challenges and distractions have you faced? Thankfully I'm still working and with the layoffs I've picked up more tasks so I've been busy with that.
What is your favorite book so far? Have only read The Fifth Risk so far.
What have you accomplished so far in this read-a-thon? I've listened to the The Fifth Risk
What are your goals for the remainder of the read-a-thon? I'm deciding if I should do a book you can read in a day to give me more of an accomplishment for this read-a-thon....