Ruby Loves Adventure

1. What are you reading right now?
2. How many books have you read so far?
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

APRIL 9, HOUR 22 of the FFP Readathon | 1 HOUR BEFORE DEWEY READATHON. 

Might as well post an update. So far, I've read 30 pages of Take That - Take One, 5 pages of Shane Lynch's the Chancer, and 5 pages of The 39 Clues # 9 - Storm Warning.


I'm not entirely sure that I could go online at around 9PM Manila time [GMT+8] but I sure hope so! I'm off to watch When In Rome now in Star Movies. It's not everyday that I get to watch movies at home and is a good pick me up. Of course during the commercials, I'll read :) I'll also be off for most of the day tomorrow - I'm going on an out of town trip with my mum! But I'll try my best to make the most of the readathon by reading whenever I can!

Off now, update in a bit! [hopefully]



APRIL 9, HOUR 15 of the FFP Readathon, I've done the following:

- Read a few pages of Take That - Take One and The 39 Clues # 9: Storm Warning.
- Updated the blog - scheduled a review for the 39 Clues # 8: The Emperor's Code


After that, I'll be reading more of Take That - Take One, and 39 Clues # 9. I'm going for lunch now and would be back to update the blog a little bit more. Note to self: I should really take note of the pages I've read within the hour too so I could update the blog more accurately.

Read.Read.Read.

Apologies for the lack of updates recently. Everything in my life has been hectic, even my social life! Ha Ha! This is my only semi-free Saturday - I just got a new puppy today and I'm spending time at home trying to get him settled in and doing other stuff around the house :)

So, I'm joining both the FFP one [running from April 8th, 9PM-April 9th, 9PM Manila time] and the Dewey one [running from 7PM April 9th to 7pm April 10th].

I can't say that I'll be awake for the whole 40+ hours. I've only just started bits and bobs of reading for the FFP readathon last night from 9PM to 11PM then fell asleep and only woke up at 11AM! Ha Ha!

Here's the books that I'm going to read during the two readathons:

1. Take That - Take One. I finally got my copy and read a few pages of it this morning! Here's to me finishing the whole book :)

2. The 39 Clues # 9: Storm Warning by Linda Sue Park. Because I'm lagging behind on the 39 Clues.

3. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. Woohoo. Rick Riordan <3

4. The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King. My default book. I always include it on my readathons :)

5. DK Sightseeing Guides: Rome. Because my mom wanted me to read it.

6. Time Out Guides: London. Just because :)

I'll also try to update the blog with scheduled posts and reviews! I've really been lagging behind!

So, off to the readathon. I'm excited!!!

**Scroll down for earlier hour updates**

HOUR 24
I can't believe the Readathon is nearly over. As I type this, there's 9 more minutes left before the end... oh my gosh....

So, what are my stats?
Only managed to read two books out of the four I've posted... Finished books? Zero. Managed to finish half of The Dust of 100 Dogs, and uh.. until Chapter 8 of The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle. No idea how many pages I've read in The Sign of Four tho!

Hours spent reading/blogging/joining mini challenges/looking at other blogs: 10.

See you on the next readathon! :) I'll mark the date on my calendar now!


HOUR 21:

Just gone online again... wanted to take a little break and join in yet another mini-challenge =) It's about memoirs/true stories. Hmm... they all count as autobiographies, right? Off to answer the questionnaire:

Have you ever read a memoir/true story (Or book 'based on true events'?)
Yes, quite a few, actually

2. If so, what was the title/author?
Ronan Keating - Life is a Rollercoaster
Belle de Jour - The Unlikely Diary of a London Call Girl
Mitch Albom - Tuesdays with Morrie
Westlife - Our Story


3. What what it about?
Mostly biographies about the life of the authors I've been reading.

4. Did you like it? Would you recommend it?
I like most of the books -- definitely will recommend Tuesdays with Morrie to anyone. All the rest? Well, I guess fans of them would definitely enjoy it but it's not for everyday reading.

5. How many have you read?
4

6. Why or what made you want to read it?
I'm either a) a fan of the band or person I want to read the book [case of Westlife and Ronan Keating] or b) I've seen a tv series/movie based on the book and wanted to check if the adaptation is same or almost close to the book [like Belle de Jour] or c) I needed some lessons in life [case of Tuesdays with Morrie]

7. What was the saddest/scariest one you read? 
Tuesdays with Morrie, definitely

8. Did it have a 'happy ending'?
Not really.

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)
I normally just look for inspirational stuff for people or shows I'm not normally a fan of.


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?
Yes, I've read three or more memoirs/true stories; Title/Authors listed are same as the list above; would I recommend them? YES,; and if I were to win a giveaway prize, I'd get Sizzling 16. 
Ronan Keating - Life is a Rollercoaster
Belle de Jour - The Unlikely Diary of a London Call Girl
Mitch Albom - Tuesdays with Morrie
Westlife - Our Story



HOUR 18:
Yay!! I just won a prize from the Readathon from the mid-event meme !
Thank you sooo much!! Anyway, on to more mini-challenges to distract myself from reading. I am getting a wee bit sleepy [Gaahhhh my body is reacting to me reading! It thinks that it's already evening and I'm set to sleep for a new day ahead! I should program myself next time that there's a readathon to stay up!]

I am making good progress on The Sign of Four by Sherlock Holmes [I think I'm about to finish Chapter 8 but no clue on the whole progress/page count since I'm using a Kindle for iPhone to read the ebook] and I'm on page 122 of The Dust of 100 Dogs by AS King already! It's a re-read but I looove this book!

Anyway, Part of a mini-challenge for Dewey's 24-Hour readathon is hosted by Midnight Book Girl: It is to present a book and why it should be banned. It doesn't matter if the book is already part of the banned book list or is not, you just have to market it to her!

So, going back to my comfort book, The Dust of 100 Dogs by AS King, I am going to present why it should be banned:

The Dust of 100 Dogs lets you inside the world of Emer, a female pirate. Hmm... pirate books in itself should be banned as there are also loads of Somali pirates [real life ones, in fact] that are kidnapping sailors and boatnapping ships alike! Also, this book should definitely be banned given that the main character always imagines sadistic, hurtful things to other people who pissed her off. Hmm.. that, and violence around the home is also being discussed in the book. Now, would you also like your kids to imagine that they could remember their past lives, if ever? I wouldn't think so. So, ban this book [although banning certain books would be certain to make the sales go up higher] and protest against pirates, boatnapping, kidnapping and violence against the home!!!

And so it's 9:37AM here in Manila as I type this. I've just spent 20 minutes trying to connect on my wireless internet. Gaah. Unpredictable internet speed. I've just gone from mass and had my sleep so it's time to start anew. Oh, and it's 10.10.10!

So, gotta complete some mini challenges now:

Hiya everyone! This will be the place I'll be posting my updates relating to the 24 hour readathon. This year is a bit different for me since I did not sign up to be a cheerleader. For the past two readathons, I was a cheerleader but realized I need to concentrate on reading this time.

Okay, on to the updates and mini-challenge posts over the next few hours.

First up, the books I am going to read during the duration of the readathon:

1. The Further Adventures of a London Call Girl - Belle De Jour
2. City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
3. The Dust of 100 Dogs - A.S. King
4. The Sign of Four - Sherlock Holmes

HOUR TWO
Okay guys, I'm logging off the internet and my computer now. My mum only has two electric sockets in her room for now, where I've plugged in my external hard drive and the other, I alternate between an electric fan and the laptop. I'm dizzy because it's really hot whenever I unplug the fan to charge the laptop's batteries, it's bloody bloody hot in Manila right now!

I'll go back online tomorrow, where I would blog and stay online during the duration of the readathon -- will probably schedule some book reviews as well.

So, good night everyone. Sorry to be logging off this early in the readathon and I hope I'll get to visit some of your blogs tomorrow! 10.10.10! whee.

HOUR ONE: 
**Dewey Readathon meme**

Where are you reading from today?  my house.
3 facts about me … i have a dog named goofy, am a really slow reader, and have 7 pets.
How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 3. But doubt I'd ever get to finish any of them unless some sort of miracle happens.
Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? Nothing particular, just read as much as I can and join in as many mini challenges as I can.
If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? I'm not really a veteran but keep on reading and don't forget to take breaks! This is supposed to be a fun activity, after all.

It's that time of the year again! The second 24-hour readathon would start this Saturday, October 9th, 8pm Manila time and end on October 10th, 8pm Manila time as well.
TIt's a great time to start reading some TBR books, and to finish reading some other books as well!

This is my second year to participate and although I do not read very quickly, it is a fun way of meeting other book bloggers and also join in some of the other mini challenges!

To join and learn more info on the readathon, visit their website: http://24hourreadathon.com

Hiya Everyone!

Sorry wasn't able to update the blog yesterday during the readathon. Well, as I was typing yesterday's blog, my mum and I had a row and so I kept to myself most of the time in my room, trying to complete the 24 hours reading The Hunger Games. I had a headache from sleeping and trying to read too!

So, final stats:

- Read 65 pages of the Hunger Games
- Read 100+ pages of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

And that's about it. Kinda slow, huh?

There was a massive bookshelf organization project that I also did yesterday which took up most of my time, and I cheated. I watched some TV too. I can't help it! =)

How was your readathon, guys? Hope your readathon was much more productive than mine! Until the October run!

Good morning everyone! I was kicked out by hour 5 last night from my mom's room where I had no internet nor computer so I just stayed in my room, relaxed, and read the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I was making some progress until I got sleepy.

The sandman eventually got me at 1:30AM my time [1:30PM EST] and I woke up at 9AM my time [9PM EST]. What a riot. I forgot to turn on my alarm clock for 6:30AM. Oh well.

Anyway, I finally found some internet time now, after eating breakfast and relaxing a bit by watching telly so off I go to do my updates and also join in the mini-challenges and cheerlead a bit. I'm also converting some shows into mp4 format to put into my iPod and uploading photos and videos from a book launch I went to yesterday. Multitasking much?


MINI-CHALLENGE from The Lost Entwife

This mini-challenge asks us if our favourite book has been made into a movie and if not, to cast an actor/actress for our favourite character. Easy?

For me, my favourite book before was Confessions of a Shopaholic. I was more than stoked when I found out they were going to make a movie out of it, and lo and behold! Hugh Dancy was cast as Luke Brandon.

As I was reading the book before, I kinda pictured Luke to be the quintessential gorgeous British dude. And thank goodness they had cast Hugh Dancy into the role. Who could've been more perfect? If not him, I would also settle for Henry Cavill [The Tudors. Yum Yum].

Whee! I love these mini-challenges and I do try to partake in each and every one of them whenever possible :)

So, here's another mini-challenge hosted by Till We Read Again for Hour Three.

Its nominating our favourites in the books we've read. Excellent, yes?

Favorite Female Character in a book: For now, its Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Favorite Male Character in a book: Luke Brandon from Confessions of a Shopaholic.
Favorite Side Kick in a book: Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter series.
Favorite Couple in a Book: Rebecca Bloomwood and Luke Brandon from the Shopaholic Series [Sophie Kinsella]. I just love the both of them!
Favorite Book Series: Hmmmm...... Tough. For now, I'd have to say The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling.
Favorite Author: For now, Dan Brown.
Favorite Book Cover: The Luxe by Anna Godbersen. I love the gown!
Favorite Book of 2009: Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Hello everyone, it's another 24-hour readathon. This is the second time I've joined such an event, given that I had so much fun the last time :)

I've signed up for both a cheerleader and a reader this time so thank goodness for audiobooks.

The below are my updates. I'll continue to edit this post as we go from hour to hour so I'll only have one permalink up. Having too many can be confusing.

Now, I've just gone from a recent book launch so that post will have to wait until I could get all my readathon updates done! So, on to the updates. 

So, here's my list of books to read:
1. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
2. Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - JK Rowling
3. The Girl Made of Cool - Alan Fox

HOUR ONE

Okay, I have a confession. I thought that the readathon was supposed to start at 9pm my time. But I forgot that DST is now finished so we're only 12 hours ahead instead of the usual 13. Anyway, I managed to get a bit of reading done, via an audiobook of course.


HOUR ONE MEME MINI CHALLENGE

Where are you reading from today?

  - At the moment I am reading from my mum's bedroom where there's a good wifi signal. After 11pm our time [11AM EST], I'm gonna be kicked out and will read from my room.

3 facts about me …

- I love boybands. Absolutely positively love boybands.
- I am a hoarder
- I love to travel.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

- I currently have three for now. Which I'm not sure if I would finish at least one of them. 

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

- Nothing in particular, just trying to read as much as I can. 

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?

- Just enjoy and remember, the point of the readathon is to have fun, fun fun!

HOUR TWO

I've joined a few mini challenges now and I'm getting super stoked about them! I'm concentrating on Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire but I haven't kept track of the number of pages i've read! eeeep!


HOUR THREE

My mum is currently reading Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. I swear she now reads faster than I do. My gosh. I've joined yet another mini challenge. My back is now aching like crazy! Still reading Harry Potter & Goblet of Fire! I've cheered on a few participants from my assignment.

HOUR FOUR

Right. My mum has now gone off to bed so I'm gonna be kicked out a few minutes from now. I wouldn't be able to provide updates until the morning [our time] then. I'm gonna be reading the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins as soon as my mp4 file conversion is done and I need to move back to my room. I'm gonna wish you all a good night a few minutes from now. :)

I think it's better to post one collective post rather than many so below is my update for the New Year Readathon hosted by Bookworming in the 21st Century

So I've joined in another 24 hour readathon on www.dreadlockgirl.com. It was slated from December 5th, 7pm [Manila time] to December 6th [Manila time]

Unfortunately my internet was acting up yesterday evening so I wasn't able to update at around 9pm Manila time and only got online today.

I love readathons, they give me a chance to cut down some of my Mt TBR list and interact with fellow bloggers out there :)

Unfortunately, with this December 5th readathon, I only found out a few hours before, and my weekend plans have been taken! I've been to watch New Moon at the movie theatre and a bit of shopping on the 5th and watch a local musical production of Sweeney Todd on the 6th.

In the past Dewey readathon last October, I managed to save at least an entire day for the readathon.

Sad to say, my stats for this readathon were dismal. Finished around 10 pages in total inthe books I'm reading *blushes*. I didn't stay up late to read any books, but got tempted and saw three episodes of Gossip Girl season 2, slept, and went to the shows I've mentioned above.

Not that I mind reading, but I've just had a very busy month-end at work so I took a very easy weekend off.

For those of you who entered this readathon, how was it for you? Was it more successful and productive compared to me? :P

So, the readathon officially ended an hour and a half ago.

Now I'm trolling around the internet, trying to find something else to do. Lol. How pathetic am I? :P

It was my first time to do the readathon, and I was surprised it was so much fun! And here I thought it was going to be all stressful as I try to read page after page of books, and trying to "compete" with other readers in trying to read books but it didn't turn out that way at all.

I enjoyed being a cheerleader -- I managed to visit some websites that I didn't know about and also getting a peek in how other readers were progressing in the readathon. I managed to find out books that I had no clue existed in the first place, and also take a peek at some upcoming releases in the latter part of 2009 and in 2010. Amazing.

I also managed to take part in some of the mini-challenges. I love the way my heart thumps faster than normal as I try to post in my answers in the fastest time possible to get back to reader and/or cheerleading. It was fun stress! lol.

So, here are my final stats from the readathon. I'll look forward for the April leg, I just hope that I would be free on the day they schedule it.


Pages read - Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer - 36

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone - JK Rowling - 124

Kissing Games of the World - Sandi Kahn Shelton - 6

Pride & Prejudice - 2

Total number of pages read - 168 [hmm... okay then. others have read 1000+ pages but to each their own. I am a really slow reader anyway]

Mini challenges completed - 14

Prize won - One! A random cheerlead prize. Wheeee!!! My first prize ever from the readathon -- and since I've started cheering as well! teehee.

Number of other sites visited/cheered on - 31, I think? I don't really remember since I've only kept track during the third hour! teehee. *blush*



Overall, the readathon has been a success for me. Wheeee!!!

It's nearing the last few hours of the readathon and I am now in the mood for some mini-challenges! :) Having done my errands for the night, I am free until 8PM Manila time to read like crazy [cramming] and also participating in last-minute mini-challenges.

This is hosted by Princess Bookie and I should jot down 8 of my favourite things. Here goes.

1. My mum <3
2. Goofy, my little doggie, whom I treat like my own baby
3. Money, money, money, and lots of money.
4. My house. I <3 it. I grew up in it, and houses all my stuff, my mum, and my baby Goofy as well.
5. Our car. It's old now, but I still <3 it.
6. Travelling. [Not a thing? Hmm... maybe different countries then?]
7. Concerts and events. I really, really love them.
8. My laptop! What else? :)

** Could the list go infinitely? I would put in my mobile phone, dvds, music, and so much more ***

READATHON DAY 2                                              

** my other blog is getting long so I decided to create another one for this occassion.

First off, if you want to win a book, please comment on this link below:
http://rubylovesadventure.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-giveaway-kissing-games-of-world.html

Click on the read more link below to see all the contents!

PRE-READATHON POST:                                              

Gah.

My internet is such a pain right now. It keeps on disconnecting for some reason or another! Othertimes, its dialup speed slow. Ugh.

Anyhow, I'm posting this in preparation for the 24hour readathon tonight [its nearly 3pm here in Manila so 5 more hours to go before the readathon]

I'm well rested [sort of] and ready to go. My book list is ready as well.

Will edit this post with every hour that I am in the readathon. :D

Oh by the way, if you happen to pass by my blog, you live in the US and want to win a FREE book, please do so by leaving a comment here:
http://rubylovesadventure.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-giveaway-kissing-games-of-world.html

THE READATHON                                                                           

***CLICK ON THE READ MORE TO SEE THE POST...***
~This is a long, comprehensive post of all the hours I'd stayed up for the readathon~

Finally! This post was going to be posted a few days ago but I was having difficulty editing my blogger post!

After my last depressing blog entry, I decided to post a more happier one -- The 24 hour readathon! It's going to be next Saturday, from 24th of October 8pm Manila time till the 25th of October, 8pm.

I will be reading from 8pm-12mn [possibly even 1am], then from 9am till the evening. [minus a few other personal time as well]

Below is a list of books I hope to be reading during the whole readathon:

1. Cleopatra's Daughter - Michelle Moran
2. Angels & Demons - Dan Brown
3. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer

My backup pile:
1. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone - JK Rowling
2. Me & Mr Darcy - Alexandra Potter

It is quite a short list, given that I read very, very slow.

I will be posting updates through my blog or through my twitter account @rubyreads every hour, will be joining the mini-challenges & also cheering the other readers on *phew*

That's it for now! :)