I "read" for 24 hours and it was not what I expected
I have this thing where I get older, but just never wiser / Midnights become my afternoons
I read for 24 hours and it did not go as expected.
My best friend/roommate and I decided it would be fun to do a 24 hour read-a-thon! Because what screams HOT GIRL SUMMER more than reading for 24 hours?
I’m glad we did it. I wouldn’t say it was “a great time,” but I would definitely do it again.
For me it really went downhill when we got back to the apartment around 9PM and then just went to our separate rooms and read for the next 15 hours.
I reverted right back to my summer reading habits of adolescents when my parents would send me to my room to “read my summer assignments” for a couple hours a day and I’d basically do anything but. Then you rush to pick up the book and look like you’re reading when they walk in… just me? Okay cool.
Belinda literally walked by my room once and said “are you asleep?” and I said “no.” THEN REALIZED I HAD TOTALLY FALLEN ASLEEP ON MY SIDE HOLDING MY KINDLE AND I JUST HAPPENED TO OPEN MY EYES WHEN SHE ASKED AND I HAD NO IDEA.
At least in 2008 I would clean my room, make up choreography, or really sneak read Twilight instead of Fever 1793. (I just had to google that to see what year it was… did you read it? Do you remember ANYTHING about it? Tbh I just remember reading it around the same time I was reading about Edward’s mom dying from the Spanish Influenza (spoiler alert? Nah bish!) and that’s the only historical fiction pandemic that sunk into the deep memory portion of my brain for the summer of 2008.)
I digress [often], but yeah. I read in the coffee shop, the park, and the bar, but once I finished my first book I definitely checked out.
I think Belinda had fun! And she was basically able to read ACOMAF cover-to-cover. Unlike me, once we nested at home, she was able to soar! Meanwhile I was in the other room getting bed sores and browsing the internet. Worth noting we entered the chrysalis portion of the programming when her book was picking up and I was fresh off a finish at the bar and would have to start fresh.
In the end I got to say “I finished two books” and she technically didn’t finish any in the 24 hour window. But that girl is the CHAMP! She started on PAGE ONE of A Court of Mist and Fury and then finished it the next day after a little recovery nap. I finished one arc and one audiobook (both of which I was about 80% into at the start of the clock).
Here’s what worked:
The partner in crime! Belinda is one of my all time favorite people to spend time with, and we have a similar silly/delusional humor, so I think that’s what helped it be such a great experience. Find friends who match your sense of adventure!
The locations! We started at our first coffee shop, and did we spend the first hour catching up (we’ve both had crazy conflicting schedules) and eating? Yes! But did it set the tone? Also yes! We took some cute photos, fueled up on caffeine, and had our favorite Chorizo Egg Sandwich from Maya & Camilla Café in Brooklyn.
(Side note: we love the owner and staff and space! This is where I hang out and read/work between jobs. Belinda grabs coffee there after Pilates.)
Perusing bookshops after coffee (iykyk).
Here’s what I’d do differently:
Communicate with my reading buddy about our expectations for the day beforehand. Belinda had always imagined hopping around for the first portion and I was caught off guard. Ironically I wound up LOVING that part and she wished it had had more structure.
Playing off of that, I’d create an itinerary! It can be as loose or as specific as we feel at the time. But I would like to know the plan. And scheduling meal breaks and bathroom stops. And for the overnight, I would want to do something every 2 hours. To get me out of my room but also hold me accountable. This can be stretches, dance parties, or even making a caramel apple snack. (real ones would go up and down the stairs in our walk up to wake up, but like our friendly neighbors to the north say, “know your limit; stay within it.”)
Go in with books I am excited to read! I decided to treat this as a “knock books off my currently reading shelf” assignment and that was not the mood. These books are the reason I was in a slump. Once I finished the fun one it felt like summer reading, I was forcing my way through it and avoiding or drifting off. We did do this the weekend before Leather & Lark came out, and I think that would have been the perfect one.
I think buddy-reading a book would be fun.
Throw in some books of poetry to balance and get the count up!
Throw in a solid YA/Middle Grade read for easy-breezy, entertaining reading.
Give myself permission to switch to audio earlier. I was able to finish that audiobook because I was so tired I figured “Hey, let’s knock it out and play some games on your phone.” And honestly that was the best. It woke up my brain and eyes and I actually really ended up enjoying the end of that book.
We have other friends who have expressed interest in doing this. We could make it a bigger slumber party situation, or even schedule in facetimes and reading sprints. I think that could be the break activity too. Shout out to Nancy who read a lot in Chicago in solidarity with us! <3
0/10 would recommend having a chiropractor appointment 1 hour after the finish line… can someone say “de-lu-lu”
Is this something you would do? Would you do it solo or with friends? Have you done it before? GIVE ME ALL YOUR TIPS!!!
What we read:
THE NEXT BEST FLING by Gabriella Gamez
My Rating: 3.5 stars
I loved the plus size rep and the insecurities and experiences our FMC had. I loved the big hunky football player falling first and falling HARD for our curvy & nerdy librarian. Mainly I really enjoyed Gabriella Gamez's voice. Her sense of humor and bookish references were on point. (and her spicy scenes were HOTTOGO)
However, the story was not my favorite thing. A lot of the drama and conflicts felt overly dramatic, juvenile, and unrealistic. A lot of drama, descriptions, and internal monologues were stretched out and repetitive to the point that I put this book down multiple times (it took me 4 months to finish it). (the first third I plowed through like cotton candy - I eat cotton candy really fast).
While this did not end up being my favorite book, I am excited to read the next book from Gabriella Gomez. I mean she had me falling for a blond man. Theo really scratched that itch of "I'm looking for a man in love with my body, who is tall, buys me books"
Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES by Tracy Dobmeier & Wendy Katzman
My rating: 3 stars | Audiobook
My Atlanta book club read this book and I wasn’t able to complete it in time for the club, but after hearing everyone rave about the ending, I had to finish it!
By the end of the book I was ON BOARD! However, the first half was kind of painful. It's not because it's bad, it's just not my genre. If you like mama-drama and the college admissions antics at a cut-throat private school, you'll love this! Honestly, it just disgusted me.
But it was fun and most of the second half I did not want to stop!
A COURT OF MIST AND FURY by Sarah J. Maas
Belinda’s Rating: FOUR STARS | [My Previous Review: FIVE STARS]
Belinda’s Review: I enjoyed it, but still not sure if it’s worth the page count. I know fantasies require more world building etc., but not sure I’m seeing the benefits of enduring through so much of that yet. Maybe it’ll come later in the series.
If it weren’t for our 24hr readathon this weekend, this probably would have taken me over a month to read. With that said, warning: some of this review may not make sense cause I’m running on no sleep while writing this but I just had to get all my thoughts out now.
to see Belinda’s full review (with spoilers) check it out on her goodreads!
Hyper-fixation du jour…
Honestly, it’s substack, but I’ll come up with something better…
It’s got to be ABC’s hit mystery show Castle!
This spring I’ve gotten sucked back into a procedural kick. I think it all started with my parents getting me into the new season of Will Trent and Astrid et Raphaëlle when I was home in January. And it’s spiraled.
First I binged all 12 seasons of Bones (I have thoughts). Then I watched the third and final season of Lie to Me because I finally had access (crummy ending - clearly canceled). And now I’ve made my way to the 8th (and final season) of Castle.
I was surprised to realize that Castle is a much better written show than Bones. I’m not sure why, maybe it was the prestige of the the science, but in my head canon, Bones was the superior series. WRONG! While Castle is cheesier, more light-hearted, and all around brighter, the formula they follow for the mysteries is stronger! There are more twists and reveals in each episode, and it really does have the satisfaction of reading a mystery novel.
Don’t get me wrong, Booth and Brennan will always be the superior romance to the one forced between Kate and Rick, but I’m still glad it happened. While the side characters of Bones hold a dearer place in my heart, the ensemble of the New York City Detective show is more flushed out, realistic, and less frustratingly flat.
The other thing the DC forensic anthropologists have going for them is the season-long stories. The serial killers and villains in Bones were more interesting and fun to follow as opposed to cabals of corrupt cops and politicians.
I was thinking I would do NCIS next (my old FAVORITE) or Rizzoli and Isles, but I need to watch current tv for my tv writing course (oh yeah, I started a tv writing course), so maybe Elsbeth? Do you have any recs? Help me!
I actually really want to do a 24 hour readathon too 😂 but in my head I just envisioned sitting on the couch for 24 hours so I like the idea of moving around to different places!