Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon is named for Dewey, a much-loved book blogger who hosted the first one in 2007. Unfortunately, Dewey died in late 2008, but the Read-a-Thon continues every April and October. Beginning this Saturday, October 24, 2009, at 8:00 a.m., book bloggers everywhere will read and blog about reading for 24 hours straight. There will also mini-challenges hosted by Cheerleaders, whose are also responsible for encouraging Readers.Having never participated in a Read-a-Thon before, I don't really plan on doing much other than read. (The website has all kinds of suggestions and stuff about spreadsheets, prizes, and charity. Apparently some people are really into this.) But who knows - once I get into the swing of things maybe I'll see a mini-challenge that looks like fun. Or maybe I'll get bored. I'll probably just let things unfold as they go, since I don't really have any particular goals in mind.
Quick, light fare is recommended but I've decided to focus on short stories, poetry, and essays. Below is my list of books which I'll be reading and writing about on Saturday, along with their opening sentences, an idea I got from Claire:
T.S. Eliot - The Complete Poems and Plays 1909-1950
Let us go then, you and I,
Thomas Mann - Death in Venice and Seven Other Stories
It was seven minutes to twelve.
Thomas Nashe - The Unfortunate Traveller and Other Works
Faith, I am very sorry, sir.
Sylvia Plath - The Collected Poems
Through the portico of my elegant house you stalk
Wallace Stevens - The Palm at the End of the Mind: Selected Poems and a Play
Look at the terrible mirror in the sky
Alexis de Tocqueville - Democracy in America and Two Essays on America
Of all the novel things which attracted my attention during my stay in the United States, none struck me more forcibly than the equality of social conditions.
I think that should hold me over. I'll probably focus on the essays and short stories, with the poetry as filler.
I'm not sure if I'll be able to read for 24 hours straight, but I will certainly try.
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6 comments:
Good luck! That looks like a lovely collection. I think I'm the only book blogger in existence for whom the readathon idea holds NO appeal at all - I love my sleep too much! :-) But hopefully I can stop by some blogs and cheer some folks on.
Yeah, I'm still a bit ambivalent about it too. I tend to avoid big group activities. But we'll see how it turns out!
The read-a-thon sounds like fun, but we'll be out of town tomorrow. I do plan to give it a try in the spring though. Your choices look interesting interesting. I had an Italian theme for the 'summer vacation' reading challenge and started Death in Venice. It turned out to be a little heavier than my summer mood, so I set it aside, but do plan to return to it this winter. Good luck!
A great selection of books. I'm not sure why I'm so excited about this event. I guess it's about sharing a love of books and reading with so many people in so many places.
I'm stealing one of your book ideas and adding T.S. Eliot to my pile.
Good luck!! My reading pile is INSANE. I have a billion books so that I don't get bored :/
I'm hosting a mini-challenge at 6:00 Central Time, but other than that I'm not sure how often I'll stop reading to check other challenges.
Tara SG
www.25hourbooks.com
Thanks for your comments, everyone. Today is Read-a-Thon day and I'm just getting started. Good luck to all!
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