24-hour Read-a-thon on the 24th!

October 19, 2009 by Vishy

My fellow book bloggers Michelle and Emily are participating in the Read-a-thon this year. I decided that I will do that too. It is scheduled for the coming Saturday (Oct 24). There seems to be a symmetry to it – a 24-hour read-a-thon on the 24th 🙂 I don’t know whether I will be able to read for 24 hours straight. I have not done an all-nighter in years. I will probably get up early and read till late, have lots of coffee in between, and have a short lunch and dinner and lock myself up in my room for the whole day and avoid all distractions. I don’t know whether it will work, but I am going to try. While I am reading, I will try to post my favourite lines from the book I am reading. I will also try to cheer fellow bloggers as they embark on this read-a-thon. The following are the books that I have chosen to read during the read-a-thon.

Read-A-Thon Book Covers

Read-A-Thon Book Spines

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula Le Guin
- (Note : Heard about Ursula Le Guin when I saw the movie version of ‘The Jane Austen Book Club’. She seems to be an interesting science fiction writer)
Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini
- (Note : A swashbuckling adventure story with pirates and gold in the Alexander Dumas tradition! Have been wanting to read it for years, but could get hold of a copy only now)
The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work by Alain De Botton
- (Note : Alain De Botton is an interesting commentator on contemporary life. Looking forward to reading what he says about work).
And God Created Cricket by Simon Hughes
- (Note : A history of cricket written in an easy conversational style).
Being a Scot by Sean Connery
- (Note : Sean Connery’s biography + his take on Scottish culture and history)

I will probably start with Ursula Le Guin’s ‘The Lathe of Heaven’ (it is the thinnest) and then read Simon Hughes’ ‘And God Created Cricket’ (I am hoping that it will be an easy read :)) If I still have time after this, I am planning to tackle one of the other three.

If I finish

One book – I will be satisfied
Two books – I will be happy
Three books – I will be thrilled
3+ books – I will be <insert all superlatives of thrilled here> 🙂

Please pray for me 🙂

If you want to participate in the read-a-thon, you can register here.

15 Responses

on October 19, 2009 at 8:54 PM | Reply Michelle

Looks like an interesting list – lots of variety to suit your mood. I was a little interested in Ursula Le Guin after JABC (just like I thought about reading the Mysteries of Udolpho which I never realized was real) so I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts.

Happy reading!
on October 19, 2009 at 11:57 PM | Reply vishytheknight

Thanks for your wishes!

I hadn’t heard of Ursula Le Guin before reading JABC 🙂 I am looking forward to reading ‘The Lathe of Heaven’.

‘Mysteries of Udolpho’ sounds quite interesting too! I searched for it online, and it seems to be available as an Oxford world classics edition and also in Gutenberg.
on October 20, 2009 at 7:52 AM | Reply Dominique

I was interested in Le Guin too after The JABC movie, let me know how you like it! Good luck with the challenge! I’m still debating doing it or not… lol.
on October 20, 2009 at 9:07 AM | Reply vishytheknight

Thanks for your wishes Dominique! Will let you know about the Le Guin.

Hope you are able to join in the read-a-thon challenge too 🙂
on October 20, 2009 at 11:38 AM | Reply resurfacer

Great List… This is my first time and I am terribly excited about the event..

Good luck with the reading !
- on October 20, 2009 at 12:23 PM | Reply Vishy
  
  Thanks for stopping by and the wishes! Good luck with your reading too!
on October 21, 2009 at 12:34 AM | Reply Ronnica

I’m amazed at how many of the book lists have no titles I recognize on them…there really is a diverse bunch of readers!
- on October 21, 2009 at 11:01 AM | Reply Vishy
  
  Thanks for stopping by! Good luck with your reading during the read-a-thon!
on October 21, 2009 at 8:48 AM | Reply Dana

good luck! Looks like a good mix!
- on October 21, 2009 at 11:02 AM | Reply Vishy
  
  Thanks for the wishes! Good luck with your reading during the read-a-thon!
on October 21, 2009 at 5:24 PM | Reply chowmeyow

Great list Vishy!

I have been very curious about The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work by Alain de Botton. I read his “How Proust Can Change Your Life” and really enjoyed it. I’ve wanted to read more of his work, especially The Architecture of Happiness.

I have also wanted to read some le Guin since watching The Jane Austen Book Club. 🙂 I’ll be interested to hear what you think!
- on October 21, 2009 at 6:27 PM | Reply Vishy
  
  Nice to know that you found the list interesting, Emily!
  
  I have read bits and pieces of Alain De Botton’s books before, and so I am really looking forward to read a full book of his.
  
  I am looking forward to reading the Le Guin book too. Hoping to finish atleast the Le Guin on Read-a-thon day 🙂
on October 24, 2009 at 9:56 PM | Reply CeeCee

Have fun reading.
- on October 24, 2009 at 10:13 PM | Reply Vishy
  
  Thanks for stopping by and for the encouragement! Hope you are having a wonderful read-a-thon too!
on October 24, 2009 at 10:02 PM | Reply Read-a-thon update! « Vishy’s Blog

[…] October 24, 2009 by Vishy The Read-a-thon day has started beautifully! This is the first time that I am doing the Read-a-thon and it is very exciting! It was tempting for me to change my planned book-list for the read-a-thon and include a YA book, a thriller and a graphic novel I resisted the temptation though and stayed with my original list. […]