The Wrap up-Questionaire And...

I was sooo too tired to do this last night. I didn't get to visit half the blogs I wanted to:( Besides the fact that I couldn't find the page/link with the list of everyone with a mini-challenge:( I got the page up at one point. I swear! My original plan was to do every mini-challenge and read in-between. Instead I got to see the aftermath:( Oh well? Next time I guess. And I am really looking forward to next time. I don't know If I will be a host next time but I will definitely participate in as many if not all challenges. That's my goal. But I am proud of the fact that I got both my books as my goal done. Which None Can shut (for review) and I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced (reading for fun). I got a good start on Freedom Writers. It goes back tomorrow though.

Anyway, here is the wrap up questionnaire ( and my answers):

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

The very end of it. I really wanted to finish to the end but I was getting so tired. But I did it! I just didn't do this post last night.
 

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
 Sure! 

Orange is the new black: My year in a women's prison by Piper Kerman

You'll Never Nanny in this Town Again: The True Adventures of a Hollywood Nanny by Suzanne Hensen

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung  Ung

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

No I don't. Though I don't think I am the right person to ask since this was my first time all around.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
 All of it. Great way to get reading dun, have fun, meet other bloggers and find more favorite bloggers. I know I did.

5. How many books did you read?
2 1/3

6. What were the names of the books you read?
 Which None Can Shut by Reema Goode

I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali and Delphine Minoui

The Freedom Writers by Erin Gruwell- didn't finish it though

7. Which book did you enjoy most?
 All three!

8. Which did you enjoy least?
 None, thank goodness.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
 Wasn't, so no.

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

Definitely yes! I don't know. Maybe host again but definitely participate in as many mini-challenges and be a reader!

And...the winner of my mini challenge is also being announced on the main site, but I though I would mention it here as well; the winner of the book Sizzling 16 by Janet Evanovich, dark chocolates, an assortment of three coffees, and a box of tea is:

                                             Lisa at The Little Reader!
Congrats Lisa! If you could please email me at BIGLucyFan@yahoo.com with your mailing addy I will send that out asap!

Thanks again to all who came by and participated. I really enjoyed it all:) 

It's Late

I really wanted to do my wrap up post with the questionnaire, but I am much too tired. Will do so tomorrow. Thank you all for stopping by and commenting, cheering me on and participating in my blog. You made it a blast and I look forward to the next. Good night all!

Dewey Read-A-Thon-Memoirs/True Stories Mini Challenge

                                      CLOSED

This is my first Dewey Read-A-Thon AND my first time hosting, or co-hosting! I am so excited and hope I get it right. I am a little nervous and a lot excited. 

I am going to try to go to every blogger/participant and try to comment on as many posts as possible. We'll see how it goes:)

For my mini challenge this year I am all about memoirs and true stories. They are one of my favorite reads. I haven't been disappointed by one yet.
I love finding out about books that are Based on true stories. Like The Diary of Anne Frank (can you believe that's a banned book?! I know!)I also like movies that are based on true stories/true events. Then after I find out it was based off a book first! Oh boy!  Like Julie & Julia or The Freedom Writers Diary.


I plan on finishing two books so far during this marathon:

• Which None Can Shut by Reema Goode. It has 164 pages and I am on page 63.

• I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui. It has 188 pages and I am on page 52.
• Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

I'll keep you updated.


Anyways...

There is a list of questions below plus a bonus question for my giveaway and there is my list of memoirs and true stories I have read, in the middle of reading and want to read. My list of memoir/true stories TBR will go for more than just today but I will have a *star* next to the ones I am planning to read during the marathon. 


Questionnaire:
1. Have you ever read a memoir/true story (Or book 'based on true events'?)

2. If so, what was the title/author?

3. What what it about?

4. Did you like it? Would you recommend it?

5. How many have you read?

6. Why or what made you want to read it?

7. What was the saddest/scariest one you read? 

8. Did it have a 'happy ending'?

9. When choosing a memoir/true story, do you look for a certain kind? ( i.e. historical diary, inspirational like The Freedom Writer's Diary, Christian, non Christian)


10. Bonus question(s-it's in parts:) for my giveaway: Have you read 3 or more memoirs/true stories? Title/Author, would you recommend them?If you were to win the giveaway prize, would you want the book, (Sizzling 16 by Janet Evanovich) and would you prefer the coffee or tea? or both?


Memoirs I have read:
1. If I Am Missing or Dead: A Sister's story of Love, Murder and Liberation by Janine Latus
2. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
3. Loose Girl: A Memoir of Promiscuity by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann
4.


In The Middle of Reading:
1. I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui*
2. Which None Can Shut: Remarkable True Stories of God's Miraculous Work in the Muslim World by Reema Goode*
3. Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
4. The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell


Want to Read:
1. Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide by Peter Allison
2. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
3.The Real Memoirs of a Geisha by Mineko Iwasaki and  R. Brown
4.The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James
5. Survival in Auschwitz and The Real Awakening Two Memoirs by Primo Levi and Stuart Woolf 
6. Alicia: Memoirs of a Survivor by Alicia Appleman_Jurman 
7. Columbine by Dave Cullen

I also have a giveaway/prize: dark chocolates, an assortment of three coffees, a box of tea, and a book by Janet Evanovich, Sizzling 16.

How to Enter:
Leave a comment here about my list of books; whether you like them, or have read them or if they're on your TBR.

Bonus Entries: 
If you add a book to my TBR and tell me why that is a good book, another entry.
'Tweet' about my mini challenge/giveaway, another entry-let me know in (separate)comment
Put a post on your Facebook, another entry.-Let me know in (separate) comment.
Answer the bonus question-two more entries.

Mid-Event Survey

Mid-Event Survey

I know I'm a little late, but first of all, better late than never! Right? And I got side-tract with making dinner, then I continues with reading.

So far I have finished: 

• I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui (I wonder what Nujood's name means..?) Total Pages:178. Time spent reading: 2 hrs
• Which None Can Shut by Reema Goode. Total Pages: 164. Total time spent reading: 1 hr 40 minutes

Total pages: 342      Total time spent reading: 3 hrs and 40 minutes

Next I am working on Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. I am on page 52. I finally got it back from the library so hopefully I can finish before it goes back...unlike last time!


I had a list from the Dewey Read-a-Thon post of all the mini-challenge host people so I could visit at lease some of the blogs, comment and part take in other challenges and for some reason, I'm not finding that list...:( Can someone help me out with that? I know there isn't much time left, but I do want to participate a little bit more before it ends. I feel I screwed up here.


Anyway, onto the Mid_Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?
Julie and Julia by Julie Powell


2. How many books have you reads so far?
2 and on my third:)


3. I guess I would have to say The Freedom Writers by Erin Gruwell. I really wanted to read, Whatever You Do, Don't Run by Peter Allsion and The Memoir of a Geisha by Mineko Iwasaki but I didn't get them from the Library soon enough:(


4. Nah I don't think so. I may take a break after this to do some cleanup in the kitchen from dinner before continuing my reading. I can't read/relax when I know there is a mess to clean up somewhere ( Abbie's toys, dishes, laundry, vacuuming, etc.) But I should have planned dinner ahead of time and got the supplies already so I didn't have to worry about it. Oh well...


5. Did I have many interruptions? How did I deal with those? 
Well, I am married with a 13month old and it is Hubby's(Robert) day off from work. So I have the typical "mothering duties/house wife duties" to attend to. Hubby was a sweaty and took Abbie out for a while for daddy/daughter time so I could read but they had to come back early because it started to rain (They were at the park). I just need to be flexible and work with whatever comes my way. No point in getting mad or upset or irritated over it.


6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon so far?
That people can participate so much yet they get so much reading done. How do they do it? Share the secret so I can do it to please!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Honestly? No. Especially since I am a first timer all around, I am not the person to be asking. I think it is great how it is. But that's me.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
Prep better. Seriously. Think ahead.

9. Are you getting tired yet?
Not at all! ;) I'm a mama of a young one. I'm always tired ;) I'm good. I have my coffee, and wait for it... mini eclairs. Mmmmm:) Then I am going to have Pepsi with Lays sour cream and onion chips for a change later. Let's keep going!


10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?
No but I would love some tips...? Anyone?

My Date With Dewey!

I recently volunteered  to be one of the hosts for the Dewey 24hr-read-a-thon:))

So here is the main info:
My post will be up on October 10th. I am hosting from 12am to 3am (PST) and at the end of that three hours (or so) I will name a winner. The winner we be announced on the Dewey's Read-A-Thon Website.
The (mini) challenge will be a Memoir/True Story theme. And there will be a prize or two, and possibly a book based on the theme.
Also, I was thinking, since I love love love my coffee and chocolates, I have an assortment of coffees and specialty dark chocolates for the prize. And like I said, a possible book. I am also thinking about adding on an assortment of teas or at least a box of teas because I know there are people out there who prefer tea, like my husband. We are both avid reader but I have to have either my Pepsi or coffee while reading. He has to have either Mountain Dew or tea (with honey and lemon-especially when he doesn't feel good). So if you win and you would prefer one over the other let me know; or both!

How to Enter for the Prize 


Just leave a comment on my Dewey Read-A-Thon post about the memoirs/ true stories I have listed or that you have read.

Bonus Entries


If you leave a comment recommending a book to read, another entry.
If you tweet about my Dewey 24hr Read-A_Thon Memoir/True Story Mini-Challenge, another entry.
If you mention the Dewey 24Hr Read-a-Thon  Memoir/True Story Mini-Challenge along with the date on your Facebook, another entry.

There will be a bonus question as well for the giveaway:)


I will announce a winner at the end of the three hours using Random.org. I will announce the winner in my blog and on the main site for the Dewey Read-A-Thon, I will leave my email address at the top of the blog post so you can email me your information.


If you have any question or comments, please let me know! Have a great day!