Update #7: Hour 24 at the Finishing Line, 11 a.m. GMT
Pages Read: 447
Books Read: 3 (The Beggars’ Strike, We Never Make Mistakes, The Chase)
Total Reading Time: 17 hrs
Current Book: I finished reading The Chase.
Snack: Tea with toast for breakfast
Other: Well, the read-a-thon is over. I managed to finish 3 books. It’s been a lot of fun. My reading slump is over :).
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Update #6: Hour 19, 6 a.m GMT
Pages Read: 326
Books Read: 2 (The Beggars’ Strike, We Never Make Mistakes)
Total Reading Time: 13 hrs
Current Book: I’m still reading The Chase.
Snack: None
Other: Half an hour after update 5, I fell asleep! I just could not resist sleep any longer. I’m up after dozing for 3 hours and will continue to read and cheer till the read-a-thon ends.
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Update #5: Hour 14, 2 a.m GMT
Pages Read: 313
Books Read: 2 (The Beggars’ Strike, We Never Make Mistakes)
Total Reading Time: 12 hrs
Current Book: I finished the second story in Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s We Never Make Mistakes. The two stories are connected by the railways. Apart from that, they are completely different. I enjoyed the book. I’m sticking with novellas. This time, I’ve selected The Chase (1956) by the Cuban novelist Alejo Carpentier. He is among the early founders of magical realism. His more famous work, The Kingdom of this World, is a stunning portrayal of Haiti during its colonial period.
Snack: Sticking with tea and water. I fear that any solid food will send me straight to bed!
Other: I’ve completed my first round of cheerleading. I’m going to try and stay up till at least Hour 18.
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Update #4: Hour 11, 11 pm. GMT
Pages Read: 262
Books Read: 1 (The Beggars’ Strike)
Total Reading Time: 10 hrs
Current Book: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s We Never Make Mistakes is a collection of two novellas. I’ve finished reading the first one, which is set in a World War II rail junction in Russia. A very well-written story.
Snack: I had dinner at my mother’s earlier in the evening. I took a couple of teabags of Mango-flavored pure Ceylon tea. The tea is strong and fruity!
Other: After the dinner break of two hours, I came back to my house to read. I was feeling a bit drowsy but have since perked up after the cuppa tea. I’m off to give some cheer for an hour. Also, I posted the second poem. This one is written by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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Update #3: Hour 7, 6 pm. GMT
Pages Read: 175
Books Read: 1 (The Beggars’ Strike)
Total Reading Time: 7hrs
Current Book: I’m abandoning love in the kingdom of oil after reading 75 pages out of 137. The surrealism is proving too much for me this early Saturday evening. My next selection is Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s We Never Make Mistakes: Two Short Novels.
Snack: Had another cup of tea. I’m going over to my mother’s for dinner.
Other: I posted a poem by Emily Dickinson for readers. See below.
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Update #2: Hour 4, 3 pm. GMT
Pages Read: 101
Books Read: 1 (The Beggars’ Strike)
Total Reading Time: 4hrs
Current Book: I’ve selected love in the kingdom of oil by Nawal el Saadawi as my next book.
Snack: Ate cream crackers, drank a bottle of soda, water.
Other: I really enjoyed The Beggars’ Strike so hoping my reading luck continues.
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Update #1: The Starting Line, 11 a.m. GMT
Pages Read: 0
Books Read: 0
Total Reading Time: 0
Starting Book: I’m starting this read-a-thon with The Beggar’s Strike by Senegalese writer Aminata Sow Fall. It’s a novella of 99 pages. I first read the book in my teens and loved it. I attempted a rereading last month but had to put it aside not because I was not enjoying it; I think I got distracted.
Snack: I’ve had my breakfast of toast and tea. I’m having a second cup of tea now. I really like strong breakfast teas.
Other: I’ve selected a number of poems to accompany us through this read-a-thon. The theme, of course, is books and reading. Drop by, if you are reading for the read-a-thon or if you are not, for a well-deserved poetry break!
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Kinna Reads 
Thanks to everyone for encouraging me. I urge all who can to participate in the 24 read-a-thon at least once. It’s a lot of fun.
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[…] and context might have contributed to this change; I attempted to read the book during the October 24 hour read-a-thon. The limits and pressure of the read-a-thon translated into an unwillingness to nurse and […]
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Congratulations, Kinna. You were impressive. I missed it this Ocotober probably because I missed reading it on the site. I will certainly participate in April 2012. I hope to take my annual leave then.
Yes, Beggars Strike is lovely and humorous, tells a story though. I read it for my Englsih major at the University. .
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I’m impressed that you only slept for a little more than three hours: such stamina! I’m sure the tea helped, but the true secret is in the brute bookishness! Congrats on your finish!
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Congratulations on completing the readathon! You read some really fun and interesting sounding book, sorry to hear the Saadawi wasn’t the right one for you though.
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Congratulations!! 3 books – that’s a lot! Hope you had lots of fun! 🙂
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17 hours is fantastic!! I didn’t do as much as I usually do this October, but I’m still happy I participated. Thanks for stopping by, too!
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Hey, we both read for 17 hours!! But, you completed more pages than I. 🙂 Glad you had fun!
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May I offer a poem to cheer you?
Books are awesome
Books are great
Congratulations on reading so much
You’re first rate!
(borrowed from Softdrink) APPLAUSE for all you accomplished this readathon.
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I’m here to cheer! Naps are cheer-worthy, too! Cool that you’re finishing strong.
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Yay! You’ve been doing so well! (I will be taking my own little nap after I head around to a couple of more blogs – hopefully THIS time I will wake up when the alarm clock goes off and not sleep past the rest of the read-a-thon)
Rah! Rah! Shish! Boom! Bah! Reading books will take you far!
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Good to read you are back! Are you enjoying your current read? Sounds interesting!
Happy reading.
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I hope you’ll reach the goal of 18 hours! 🙂 You’re awesome ;))
Happy reading!
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I love different kinds of teas as well. 😀 Thank you for the cheers and keep up the reading. I especially loved the poems that you posted.
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I guess you are the first blogger I see reading Solzhenitsyn during the read-a-thon. Wow! Keep up the reading, a cup of tea and enjoy!
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The Solzhenitsyn was fun reading. Thanks for coming by.
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Stopping by to say hello and offer you a cheer: YAY!!! Enjoy the second half, Kinna. 😉
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Thanks, Jillian. I hope the second half will be at least as good as the first. Barring sleep, of course.
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You’re doing so well 😀
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Thank you 🙂
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Good for you, Kinna, and I’m impressed that you have time to post poetry too! I guess you’ve finished now, or are finishing soon, but hope you enjoyed the day!
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You know how I get with poetry 🙂 I’m still here, trying to read through to hour 18. Thanks for coming by.
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Books are a uniquely portable magic. ~Stephen King
You’re doing great! 🙂
Enjoy you’re reading!
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Thank you for the cheer.
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Hope the reading is still going strong, Kinna. I think you’re roughly in my time zone. It’s 10pm here now and I’m a little tired but still happily reading.
Have fun!
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I’m hanging in there, Judith. On my third book now. Struggling to stay awake. Thanks for dropping by.
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Tea sounds like a great idea right about now…
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It does! I hope your readathon is going well.
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Decided to take a break from my usual lurking to cheer on all my favorite bloggers during the Read-a-Thon. So, enjoy! And thanks for the mini-posts!
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Thank you so much. It is nice to do the mini-posts just to see one’s progress on paper.
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Not participating myself, but here to cheer you on Kinna! Looks like you’ve chosen interesting books so far 🙂
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Thank you for the cheers. My books are short and interesting. Just the kind to see me through so many hours of reading!
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I love a good strong breakfast tea, too! It’s good to hear your read-a-thon is going well so far. Enjoy the rest!
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Yes, I’m enjoying the readathon and pacing myself. I hope I can make it to Hour 18. Thanks.
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Mmmmm, I love good tea! I hope you have a wonderful readathon 🙂
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Thank you Erin. Tea is the best and I;m drinking lots of it at the moment.
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I didn’t know this and couldn’t have participated even if I’d known. I am on a marathon review. I am supporting you.
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I’m surprised you did not hear about this earlier. Anyway, the next one will be April 2012. I have a pile of stuff to review as well. Thanks for the support.
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Lovely to see the tradition of Dewey’s Read-a-Thon maintained. Hope you have a great day, Kinna, and good luck!
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Yes, it is a lovely tradition. And thank you!
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