Here we are, three hours into the read-a-thon already, embarking on hour four. My how time flies! So far things are going along nice and easy. Bookman has gone off to work and I sat in my nest with both Waldo and Dickens piled on top of me. We were a cozy group. But one must get up and stretch the legs now and then much to the cats’ displeasure.
Since my first post, I finished off reading Jose Saramgo’s Death with Interruptions. I was almost done with it anyway, had about 20-30 pages left to go until the end. It was hard to not rush through it. Saramago encourages rushing since his periods and paragraphing are scarce and his sentences, including dialogue are all run together with commas. His writing must make grammarians cringe. I can imagine red ink everywhere, “comma splice!” and “run on sentence!” But I didn’t rush. What a beautiful book it is. I will have a proper write up of it in the next several days. It also makes my fourth RIP book.
After Saramago, I had to pause for a few minutes and let it all gently sink in. Then I picked up A New Literary History of America and read an essay about the first wood block printed in America sometime around 1675. The print is of Richard Mather, father of Increase and grandfather of Cotton. Not only was the essay about the print, but it was also about the Puritans and their use of portraiture and their belief in God stamping his image on a person’s heart. Interesting stuff!
Back to the books now. Or in a few minutes as I am going to go check in to see how others are doing in this read-a-thon. I believe I will not keep posting new posts as updates so as not to fill people’s feed readers, but just add updates to this one and when this has gotten too long, then start a fresh post.
Update: 5 hours and counting
Still going strong. I began reading the second half of episode 15 in Ulysses. Goodness! I was not expecting scenes involving masochism! Just finished an early lunch of whole wheat pita bread (locally made) and homemade hummus. Yum. While I ate I read several book review articles in Bookforum. Now I have books to add to my TBR list, as if I needed more! Books that are going on the list: Lightning Rods by Helen Dewitt, a trilogy of novels by Jean-Philippe Toussaint the newest of the three being The Truth About Marie, and Ghost Lights by Lydia Millet.
I’ll be returning to Ulysses at least for a little while. I do need to finish the chapter this weekend but I also don’t want to wear myself out because there is still a long way to go.
Ulysses on my lap, Dickens on my knees
I have been reading Ulysses and progressing pretty well. But it is time to take a break from that and read something else for a bit. It is also time for a snack!
Update: 10 1/2 + hours (almost 11) and counting
All is going well here. Waldo and Dickens switched places for a bit. Tag team cats. I also had a snack, vegan brownies that are made with blueberry jelly. Yum yum. And a big cup of coffee. The cats got a snack too.
snacks for me and the cats
The audio went for longer than I rode by about 20 minutes or so. I kept listening while I got the mail and played with the cats. Then I took a break from words and ate dinner in silence. Dinner was simple, homemade vegan hot dog with organic corn chips and a cup of soymilk. All American! Heh.
Now I am feeling refreshed and will start reading Margaret Atwood’s latest, In Other Worlds. Keeping this varied here to keep my energy up!
Update: 13 hours and counting
Have been reading In Other Worlds by Margaret Atwood. Most excellent! Had a small snack of peanut butter, apple and graham crackers. Brain food. Bookman is home and I have taken a little reading break to watch The Black Adder Christmas Carol. Sort of literary, right? Will get back to the reading shortly. Still going pretty well. Starting to feel tired but not ready to give up yet!
Update: 15 hours and this girl is done
Started reading Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Steeped in 1980s pop culture, a mystery/thriller set in 2041 or there abouts. Kept me going through three chapters. But now my eyes grow tired and I am yawning every few minutes so it’s time to throw in the bookmark. I must say this has been a most fun day. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by. Cheerleaders rock! For those who make it the full 24 hours, I will have to check out your tips and secrets in order to ready myself for next time. Good night all! Happy reading and sweet dreams.
Hope it’s going well. Great names for the cats – much better than my boring old Thomas….
R! E! A! D!
Any book that you can see!
OH, so glad you liked Death with Interruptions! I loved that one, my first Saramago. He’s a wonderful writer. Enjoy the rest of the readathon!
I know, the day is going to by way too fast! I’m in awe that your readathon book is Ulysses. I hope you enjoy whatever you decide to pick up next.
Sounds like you’re having a good day, and it’s so nice of Dickens to join you! My Sophie seems to be boycotting the readathon this year. She sat with me for a bit this morning and I haven’t seen her since.
sounds like it’s going great
is the Atwood book the one where she desperately tries to prove that she doesn’t write science fiction?
Oh, that new Margaret Atwood. I soooo wanted one of the ones that were printed on straw. She’s awesome. And I like the sound of your brownies; I bet the blueberry jelly keeps them nice and moist (where a vegan brownie sometimes falls down). Yum. Could you pass the plate, please?
Hope the rest of your read-a-thon-ing goes well. Good reading!
Cheering for you from Team Trix
Sounds like a super successful day! I’m sure Waldo and Dickens enjoyed helping you.
I did a readathon of sorts myself although I forgot about the official readathon… been reading a great RIP book all day, along with magazines and an NYRB.
You did so well! Having an audio book in the middle of it all seemed like a great idea, and I confess I was fascinated to hear the details of your diet. When Mister Litlove wrote me letters (he was on a summer job in France when we were dating) he used to describe all his meals to me. I was nonplussed because I was sort of hoping for love letters. When we were back together, he said they WERE love letters – he loved me, they were letters, what could possibly be lacking? He’d told me all the most interesting bits of his day. So there it is. Who says Englishmen don’t know the meaning of romance…? Ummm… But I guess somewhere in my mind it remains a loving gesture to recount the day’s food intake!
Louise, thanks! Husband and I spent a long time figuring out what to name the cats and weirdly, their names suit them.
Erin, love your cheer! Thanks!
alitareads, I am determined to get through Ulysses and I have been reading it every Saturday since June so it fit in nicely with read-a-thon.
Teresa, that cats played tag team most of the day. I hope Sophie came to her senses at some point an spent some time snuggles up with you!
DamnedConjuror, heh, now I think that was Writing with Intent? This one is a whole book on scifi. She must have gotten a lot of blowback from saying she didn’t write scifi because she has an elaborate explanation in her introduction.
BuriedinPrint, printed on stray? Seriously? I had not heard of that. Cool. The blueberry jam in the brownies do keep them nice and moist plus you can say the brownies are sort of nutritious
Daphne, Waldo and Dickens enjoyed helping me very much.
Litlove, glad you enjoyed hearing about my food. It wasn’t a completely typical day given it was a special occasion. How funny about Mr. Litlove’s letters being filled with so much food. I suppose when we are away from home attention to food takes up more space. I know when I go visit my family and Bookman isn’t with me food is a large part of our conversations on the phone. Funny, that.
just checked and it is In Other Worlds. I think Atwood is a good writer but I’ve never read someone who is so desperate not to be associated with SF
I had to just say those brownies look de-lish! And I bet you made your cats very happy, too. It’s always nice to laze in company!