The Sunday Salon – Closing the Books on Dewey’s Read-a-Thon
Hey everyone! Well I’m somewhat well rested now after retiring early last night for the Read-a-Thon. I fell asleep about 3 hours before it was done…and woke up an hour late :p So I had a 20 hour read-a-thon! I want to thank Nymeth, Trish, and Hannah for doing such an incredible job with this read-a-thon. I mentioned throughout the day yesterday how it just didn’t feel the same/it was an emotional rollercoaster, but that has NOTHING to do with you three wonderful ladies. You couldn’t have done a better job. I was just missing Dewey…that’s all.
I’m pretty proud of my stats, though of course they could’ve been better. All in all, I read 5 book and half of a 6th, I read for a total of 11 hours and 25 minutes with the rest of the time spent blogging and blog hopping, I knocked out 1,053 pages, and raised $105.30 for charity!! I’m actually going to donate $150 to Free Arts for Abused Children though. I ate WAY too much junk food and drank too much caffeine which may explain the headache that I have today, but it was nice to indulge 
I had so much fun following everyone’s progress!!! I feel like I did more blog-hopping than I usually do. Most of all I want to thank everyone who came by my blog to visit/comment/check on me/lurk. That’s what really kept me going! I’ve had 1,286 hits to my blog in the last 24 hours!!! That’s incredible. It blows my past best day out of the water which was when Neil Gaiman linked to my review of Odd and the Frost Giants. Seriously people, you’re all incredible!
End of Event Survey:
1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
DEFINITELY The wee hours of the morning…probably around 2-3 AM it got really bad! That would be hours 19-20.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
Skim by Mariko Tamaki and Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix were really engaging!
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Nope!
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
The amount of support and the cheerleaders that kept coming by to visit and our lovely hostesses dedication!
5. How many books did you read?
5 and half of a 6th
6. What were the names of the books you read?
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix, The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, Skim by Mariko Tamaki, Silk by Alessandro Baricco, Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork, and half of The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
Probably Skim by Mariko Tamaki
8. Which did you enjoy least?
It was good, but probably Silk by Alessandro Baricco.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
Didn’t cheerlead, but did visit people!
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
I’ll probably participate again next time…as a reader again, though right now I can’t even think of doing it again!! lol.
It was fun, but a little bittersweet at the same time, I thought. Dewey would have got a kick out of all the people involved, I think.
Good going with the reading!
Congratulations again, Chris! I’m going to match your $150 donation for the Free Arts for Abused Children! I won’t try to match your junk food and caffeine consumption, though. I’d be wired for a week!
Aww, hush. I’m sure the hosting ladies will understand what you mean, Chris! *offers hug all the same*
Congratulations (again ^-~) on your reading totals. I think that’s utterly fantastic! And the donation which I’ll happily hammer on for a while yet. That’s just so awesome of you. And of Robin who’s matching your donation. You two are made of some truly amazing stuff!
Do be proud of your stats! Do! You’ve every right and reason to be! *is still a little hyped up from the Read-a-Thon andrenaline*
Great job getting all that reading done!
I spent more time on the computer this time, too…I think it was part of the hole left by Dewey’s absence, feeling like staying connected was all the more important or something.
And what are you talking about…your stats kicked butt!!! And just think, between you and Robin…$300 for Free Arts…how awesome is that?!!
Get a good night’s sleep tonight, and wake up feeling refreshed and good as new!
Glad to see you up and about, Chris! It really sounds like you made the most of the day and I’m glad you enjoyed yourself despite the ups and downs of missing Dewey. I’m sure we’ll all be well rested and ready to go come October!!!
Awesome job, Chris! Congratulations! 5 books (plus part of a 6th) is a tremendous accomplishment and even more important, you were able to make a nice donation to a very worthy-sounding cause. You’ve done Dewey proud.
Chris, congratulations! I’m going to be a reader next time around. It was so exciting visiting everyone and watching them post as the day went along.
Congrats on finishing 5.5 books. That’s seriously impressive; it’s one of the highest numbers I’ve seen.
Maree, Thanks! I think Dewey would’ve gotten a kick out of it too
Robin, Thank you so much!!! You’re such an incredible person
It’s a true honor to be able to call you my friend 
And yeah…I don’t advise anybody to model their consumption habits after my own :p
Shanra, thanks for the wonderful comment
Robin is incredible, isn’t she? There’s no way I’m still hyped after yesterday :p I’m just kinda dead right now, lol.
Jessi, Thanks!
Debi, I think you’re 100% right about why we stayed on the computer longer this time around. It did fill a gap a little bit. I’ll definitely sleep good tonight! Like I did last night..or today, I should say :p Have you and Annie caught up on sleep yet? I’m happy with my totals…I just know that it could’ve been more. And when I see the $300, it makes me so happy!!! Think of all the art supplies we’ll buy for those kids
Carl, I’ll definitely be ready to go come October…just can’t even think about it right now. I really did have a great time! Glad you joined along!
Betty and Boo’s Mommy, Thanks! I was happy with my titles..I’d love to be able to really put a dent in my TBR pile though! It’s so out of control, lol.
Gavin, Thanks! Glad to hear that you’re going to be a reader next time around! It really is a lot of fun, despite it being trying at times :p
Christina, Thanks! The numbers are misleading, lol. I read shorter books, but I’m still happy with how much I got read!
Congrats on all the reading you got done! Very, very nice. I was happy with how the read-a-thon went, and it seemed to go well for you as well
You guys did such an amazing job!
I am hoping to get my husband to participate with me for the next one, but he usually reads in bed before sleeping so he may not last the distance (light weight!). You have great stats and did a gerat job. I didn’t do much blog hopping during the read-a-thon sadly, hopefully next time I will be more involved with other readers.
I moved ‘Silk’ from my list to my holds list at the library! I figure if you considered it your favorite, I will probably like it too!
congrats! Thanks for cheering for me.
yesterday was my biggest day ever, too. And the June 08 Read-a-thon is now my second biggest day ever. (I don’t know what happened in October?!)
Thanks everybody!!
Chris you did so amazing! Great job reading, and it must have been all the more enjoyable knowing that you were reading for such a fantastic cause! Robin and you are making such a difference for some very lucky children.