Christmas Readathon - Social Distancing #301 - December 24 - 28
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2025
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1SilverWolf28
Merry Christmas and welcome to the Christmas readathon!
We'll run from Wednesday through Sunday .
Here are some things to track throughout the weekend, if you choose:
Books read from:
Books finished:
Time reading:
Time posting:
Snacks:
Thoughts:
Non-book activities:
Total books finished:
Total read from:
Total time reading:
Who is participating -
1. SilverWolf (SilverWolf28) -- Tennessee, USA
We'll run from Wednesday through Sunday .
Here are some things to track throughout the weekend, if you choose:
Books read from:
Books finished:
Time reading:
Time posting:
Snacks:
Thoughts:
Non-book activities:
Total books finished:
Total read from:
Total time reading:
Who is participating -
1. SilverWolf (SilverWolf28) -- Tennessee, USA
2avatiakh
I'm in, Kerry from Auckland, New Zealand.
It's already 5.30pm Christmas Eve and I've been reading The Seventh Well by Fred Wander and listening to Exodus: the Archimedes Engine by Peter F. Hamilton
I have a moussaka baking in the oven and other food prep all done.
It's already 5.30pm Christmas Eve and I've been reading The Seventh Well by Fred Wander and listening to Exodus: the Archimedes Engine by Peter F. Hamilton
I have a moussaka baking in the oven and other food prep all done.
3benitastrnad
I am in. I am at work and it is about 8:30 AM at the Munden, Kansas Post Office. We are open and delivering mail today. It turns out that neither rain nor snow, nor dark of night can keep these couriers from their appointed rounds. We will be closed tomorrow and I plan on sleeping in and reading. And I will bake a gingerbread cake or two to give away. I don't think I will have time to bake them today - so it will be baking and reading tomorrow. Then on Friday and Saturday it will be back to work.
4Chatterbox
I'll jump in. Suzanne in Providence, RI. Miraculously, I have two days off as well as Christmas and plan to spend much of it reading (unless I go to see the film version of Hamnet today or tomorrow. Or I could read the book??
Right now I'm listening to The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan and reading Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk. Then will move on to the audiobook of The Secret Hours by Mick Herron and a just-borrowed library copy of That Librarian by Amanda Jones.
Right now I'm listening to The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan and reading Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk. Then will move on to the audiobook of The Secret Hours by Mick Herron and a just-borrowed library copy of That Librarian by Amanda Jones.
5The_Hibernator
Rachel of Twin Cities, Minnesota. My family is on vacation without me, and I was supposed to have vacation, so have nothing scheduled. Perfect time to read!
Media read from:
The History of the Ancient World, by Susan Wise Bauer 57 minutes
The Great Hunt, by Robert Jordan 34 minutes
Determined: Life without Free Will, by Robert Sapolsky 28 minutes
Treasure of the Golden Dragon, by Tracey West 46 minutes
Media finished: none
Time reading: 165 minutes
I didn't get as much reading done as I wished because dad wanted to watch a movie
Media read from:
The History of the Ancient World, by Susan Wise Bauer 57 minutes
The Great Hunt, by Robert Jordan 34 minutes
Determined: Life without Free Will, by Robert Sapolsky 28 minutes
Treasure of the Golden Dragon, by Tracey West 46 minutes
Media finished: none
Time reading: 165 minutes
I didn't get as much reading done as I wished because dad wanted to watch a movie
6alcottacre
I am in as much as I can be. Lots of Christmas stuff going on, but I am hoping to get some reading in too!
7nrmay
Holiday greetings from Nancy in NC where it is sunny 🌞 and a mild 68F/20C.
Books:
Just finished TILT by Emma Pattee, a novel about the aftermath of an earthquake in Portland OR.
Now reading NORTH: A NOVEL by Brad Kessler.
Books:
Just finished TILT by Emma Pattee, a novel about the aftermath of an earthquake in Portland OR.
Now reading NORTH: A NOVEL by Brad Kessler.
8ChrisG1
Of course I'm in. Probably not much reading today, but then, here we go. Currently reading Sharpe's Storm by Bernard Cornwell.
9Chatterbox
Books read from: The Secret Library by Jenny Colgan, A Map of Future Ruins by Lauren Markham
Books finished: None yet
Time reading: 4 hours, 3 hours in the audiobook, and 30 pages of the non-fiction tome
Time posting: none
Snacks: Dinner -- sausage, mashed potatoes, baked beans
Thoughts: Relieved to have time off
Non-book activities: Thought I might go see a movie but ended up trying to relax instead. My hip/spine are v. painful today, but I did manage to kind of sort of organize part of my kitchen, which is good. Now watching some TV.
Total books finished: none
Total read from: 2
Total time reading: 4 hours
Books finished: None yet
Time reading: 4 hours, 3 hours in the audiobook, and 30 pages of the non-fiction tome
Time posting: none
Snacks: Dinner -- sausage, mashed potatoes, baked beans
Thoughts: Relieved to have time off
Non-book activities: Thought I might go see a movie but ended up trying to relax instead. My hip/spine are v. painful today, but I did manage to kind of sort of organize part of my kitchen, which is good. Now watching some TV.
Total books finished: none
Total read from: 2
Total time reading: 4 hours
10alcottacre
Christmas Eve Update:
Books read from: Connections in Death by J. D. Robb (audiobook), The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford, The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, The Brothers: The Road to an American Tragedy by Masha Gessen, Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher, and Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman
Books finished: 2, The Man Who Invented Christmas and The Brothers: The Road to an American Tragedy
Time reading: 3.35 hours + listening to audiobookand
Total books finished: 2
Total read from: 6
Total time reading: 3.35 hours + listening to audiobook
Books read from: Connections in Death by J. D. Robb (audiobook), The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford, The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, The Brothers: The Road to an American Tragedy by Masha Gessen, Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher, and Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman
Books finished: 2, The Man Who Invented Christmas and The Brothers: The Road to an American Tragedy
Time reading: 3.35 hours + listening to audiobookand
Total books finished: 2
Total read from: 6
Total time reading: 3.35 hours + listening to audiobook
11avatiakh
Christmas Day 9pm
Books read from: The Seventh Well by Fred Wander, Exodus: the Archimedes engine 9aufio) by Peter F Hamilton, Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan Orga
Books finished: The Seventh Well
Snacks: Breakfast: nachos / Lunch: macaroni cheese dinner: beef & guiness pie & tiramisu. Numerous drinks through the day - son was making cocktails
Thoughts: Full of food at least
Non-book activities: Been watching some Brokenwood episodes
Total books finished: 1
Total read from: 3
Books read from: The Seventh Well by Fred Wander, Exodus: the Archimedes engine 9aufio) by Peter F Hamilton, Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan Orga
Books finished: The Seventh Well
Snacks: Breakfast: nachos / Lunch: macaroni cheese dinner: beef & guiness pie & tiramisu. Numerous drinks through the day - son was making cocktails
Thoughts: Full of food at least
Non-book activities: Been watching some Brokenwood episodes
Total books finished: 1
Total read from: 3
12Chatterbox
Books read from: The Secret Library by Jenny Colgan, Cicero by Anthony Everitt (both audiobooks); Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, Avenue of the Dead by Evelyn Anthony
Books finished: 3, still re-reading the suspense novel by Evelyn Anthony
Time reading: 12 hours total, including about 9 hours of audiobooks
Time posting: 5 minutes?
Snacks: Dinner -- Late breakfast -- toast with bacon. Contemplating what to have for dinner.
Thoughts: Hoping that after my cortisone epidural on Jan 6th I will be in less pain. Have had a bad week or so.
Non-book activities: Watched the first two episodes of The Night Manager on Apple TV; sleeping
Total books finished: 3
Total read from: 5 (including A Map of Future Ruins by Lauren Markham
Total time reading: 16 hours
Books finished: 3, still re-reading the suspense novel by Evelyn Anthony
Time reading: 12 hours total, including about 9 hours of audiobooks
Time posting: 5 minutes?
Snacks: Dinner -- Late breakfast -- toast with bacon. Contemplating what to have for dinner.
Thoughts: Hoping that after my cortisone epidural on Jan 6th I will be in less pain. Have had a bad week or so.
Non-book activities: Watched the first two episodes of The Night Manager on Apple TV; sleeping
Total books finished: 3
Total read from: 5 (including A Map of Future Ruins by Lauren Markham
Total time reading: 16 hours
13benitastrnad
Christmas Read-a-thon start up
Books read from: I am reading West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Red Widow by Alma Katsu. My continuous reading book is Katharine Graham's Washington by Katharine Graham. I started a new computer book - Walking It Off by Doug Peacock. I am listening to American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.
Books finished: West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Book Thoughts: I finally finished the interminable West With Giraffes earlier this morning. There were kernels of this book that I liked, but it was overly long and way too melodramatic. The entire parts about the Texas Panhandle could have been left out of the story and it would not have hurt the novel. I read it for a real life book discussion group at my local public library and the ladies in the group loved it. I started reading one of the books that I got from my Secret Santa and read 50 pages in it. It is a spy thriller and perfect for a read-a-thon.
Activities: I baked two gingerbread cakes today and will try to get another one baked tomorrow. I am late with my Christmas letter and with my Christmas baking. The weather is wet and foggy and it is a good thing that Santa had Rudolph. As foggy as it has been he really needed that red nose to guide his sleigh. The good thing about the weather is that it is warm. Record warm. That is not good, but being able to go outside without a coat in December is nice.
Reading Time Today: 2 hours
Time listening:
Time posting:
Food: I had tamales for lunch and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I also had some of my gourmet Chex Mix and then kept munching on it while I baked the gingerbread cakes. I should feel guilty, but don't because Christmas calories don't count.
Total books finished since the Read-A-Thon Began: 557
Total Time Reading since the Social Distancing read-a-thon began: 1709 hours since I started doing the weekend Read-A-TIhon starting in April of 2020.
Books read from: I am reading West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Red Widow by Alma Katsu. My continuous reading book is Katharine Graham's Washington by Katharine Graham. I started a new computer book - Walking It Off by Doug Peacock. I am listening to American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.
Books finished: West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Book Thoughts: I finally finished the interminable West With Giraffes earlier this morning. There were kernels of this book that I liked, but it was overly long and way too melodramatic. The entire parts about the Texas Panhandle could have been left out of the story and it would not have hurt the novel. I read it for a real life book discussion group at my local public library and the ladies in the group loved it. I started reading one of the books that I got from my Secret Santa and read 50 pages in it. It is a spy thriller and perfect for a read-a-thon.
Activities: I baked two gingerbread cakes today and will try to get another one baked tomorrow. I am late with my Christmas letter and with my Christmas baking. The weather is wet and foggy and it is a good thing that Santa had Rudolph. As foggy as it has been he really needed that red nose to guide his sleigh. The good thing about the weather is that it is warm. Record warm. That is not good, but being able to go outside without a coat in December is nice.
Reading Time Today: 2 hours
Time listening:
Time posting:
Food: I had tamales for lunch and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I also had some of my gourmet Chex Mix and then kept munching on it while I baked the gingerbread cakes. I should feel guilty, but don't because Christmas calories don't count.
Total books finished since the Read-A-Thon Began: 557
Total Time Reading since the Social Distancing read-a-thon began: 1709 hours since I started doing the weekend Read-A-TIhon starting in April of 2020.
14alcottacre
Christmas Day Update:
Books read from: Connections in Death by J. D. Robb (audiobook), , The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher, Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman, When Did You Last See Your Father? by Jodi Taylor, Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan, and The Art of the Jewish Family by Laura Arnold Leibman
Books finished: 2, Thornhedge and When Did You Last See Your Father?
Time reading: 3.9 hours + listening to audiobookand
Total books finished: 4
Total read from: 9
Total time reading: 7.25 hours + listening to audiobook
Quite a bit more reading today than I had anticipated, mainly because I read while watching football with my hubby. . .
Books read from: Connections in Death by J. D. Robb (audiobook), , The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher, Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman, When Did You Last See Your Father? by Jodi Taylor, Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan, and The Art of the Jewish Family by Laura Arnold Leibman
Books finished: 2, Thornhedge and When Did You Last See Your Father?
Time reading: 3.9 hours + listening to audiobookand
Total books finished: 4
Total read from: 9
Total time reading: 7.25 hours + listening to audiobook
Quite a bit more reading today than I had anticipated, mainly because I read while watching football with my hubby. . .
15Chatterbox
Books read from: Avenue of the Dead by Evelyn Anthony, the audiobook of Jodi Taylor's Christmas novella, Murder at Martingale Manor and A Map of Future Ruins by Lauren Markham
Books finished: 2
Time reading: about 2.5 hours for the audiobook, then 3 hours of reading
Time posting: 5 minutes?
Snacks: Dinner -- Whole foods prepared meal of BBQ pulled pork, macaroni cheese and greens -- meh. Cranberry orange muffin -- delish.
Thoughts: So glad I still have three days off before I need to return to work. Hoping to recharge my batteries.
Non-book activities: Watched a bit of the Downtown Abbey grand finale on streaming, another nap.
Total books finished: 5 The Secret Library by Jenny Colgan, Cicero by Anthony Everitt and the Jodi Taylor St. Mary's novella (all audiobooks); Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, Avenue of the Dead by Evelyn Anthony
Total read from: 6
Total time reading: 21.5 hours
Books finished: 2
Time reading: about 2.5 hours for the audiobook, then 3 hours of reading
Time posting: 5 minutes?
Snacks: Dinner -- Whole foods prepared meal of BBQ pulled pork, macaroni cheese and greens -- meh. Cranberry orange muffin -- delish.
Thoughts: So glad I still have three days off before I need to return to work. Hoping to recharge my batteries.
Non-book activities: Watched a bit of the Downtown Abbey grand finale on streaming, another nap.
Total books finished: 5 The Secret Library by Jenny Colgan, Cicero by Anthony Everitt and the Jodi Taylor St. Mary's novella (all audiobooks); Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, Avenue of the Dead by Evelyn Anthony
Total read from: 6
Total time reading: 21.5 hours
16The_Hibernator
Christmas Eve
Media read from:
Treasure of the Gold Dragon, by Tracey West 10 minutes
The Frozen Menace, by Ursula Vernon 73 minutes
Media finished:
Treasure of the Gold Dragon, by Tracey West
Time reading: 83 minutes
Christmas Day
Media read from:
One Piece Volume 13-15, by Eiichiro Oda 32 minutes
Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle 60 minutes
Determined: Life Without Free Will, by Robert Sapolsky 25 minutes
The Great Hunt, by Robert Jordan 70 minutes
Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel 33 minutes
The Frozen Menace, by Ursula Vernon 77 minutes
Media finished:
The Frozen Menace, by Ursula Vernon
Time reading: 297 minutes
Media read from:
Treasure of the Gold Dragon, by Tracey West 10 minutes
The Frozen Menace, by Ursula Vernon 73 minutes
Media finished:
Treasure of the Gold Dragon, by Tracey West
Time reading: 83 minutes
Christmas Day
Media read from:
One Piece Volume 13-15, by Eiichiro Oda 32 minutes
Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle 60 minutes
Determined: Life Without Free Will, by Robert Sapolsky 25 minutes
The Great Hunt, by Robert Jordan 70 minutes
Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel 33 minutes
The Frozen Menace, by Ursula Vernon 77 minutes
Media finished:
The Frozen Menace, by Ursula Vernon
Time reading: 297 minutes
17drneutron
By the way, there's a new place to hang out! Come join me... https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/25017/75-Books-Challenge-for-2026
18Chatterbox
Books read from: That Librarian by Amanda Jones, all about book banning
Books finished: none since last update
Time reading: about 3 hours
Time posting: 5 minutes?
Snacks: ordered a poke bowl via Grubhub; raw salmon/tuna/rice/edamame/seaweed salad, mango, cucumber. Yum.
Thoughts: The lumbar stenosis triggered a fall ten days ago and. my bruises are finally at a point where I can think about going out in public -- though I'm still worried about mobility and a repeat fall, and the pain just walking from one room in my small apartment to another. Frustrating.
Non-book activities: Tried to sleep; kept waking up in pain. Finally listened to some Mozart to relax
Total books finished: 5; The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan, Cicero by Anthony Everitt and Murder at Martingale Manor (all audiobooks); Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, Avenue of the Dead by Evelyn Anthony
Total read from: 7, the above plus A Map of Future Ruins by Lauren Markham and That Librarian.
Total time reading: 24.5 hours
Basically, I'm not doing much other than reading! I do want to get my apartment in a bit more orderly state, though, and either tomorrow or Sunday need to go and pick up a new prescription.
Books finished: none since last update
Time reading: about 3 hours
Time posting: 5 minutes?
Snacks: ordered a poke bowl via Grubhub; raw salmon/tuna/rice/edamame/seaweed salad, mango, cucumber. Yum.
Thoughts: The lumbar stenosis triggered a fall ten days ago and. my bruises are finally at a point where I can think about going out in public -- though I'm still worried about mobility and a repeat fall, and the pain just walking from one room in my small apartment to another. Frustrating.
Non-book activities: Tried to sleep; kept waking up in pain. Finally listened to some Mozart to relax
Total books finished: 5; The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan, Cicero by Anthony Everitt and Murder at Martingale Manor (all audiobooks); Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, Avenue of the Dead by Evelyn Anthony
Total read from: 7, the above plus A Map of Future Ruins by Lauren Markham and That Librarian.
Total time reading: 24.5 hours
Basically, I'm not doing much other than reading! I do want to get my apartment in a bit more orderly state, though, and either tomorrow or Sunday need to go and pick up a new prescription.
19avatiakh
Saturday 9am
Books read from: Exodus: the Archimedes engine (audio) by Peter F Hamilton, Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan Orga, The Persian by David McCloskey
Books finished: none
Snacks: Less than the day before. Flat white / nectarines / moussaka
Thoughts: Not really in a reading mood
Non-book activities: continuing to watch some Brokenwood episodes
Total books finished: 1 The Seventh Well
Total read from: 3
Books read from: Exodus: the Archimedes engine (audio) by Peter F Hamilton, Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan Orga, The Persian by David McCloskey
Books finished: none
Snacks: Less than the day before. Flat white / nectarines / moussaka
Thoughts: Not really in a reading mood
Non-book activities: continuing to watch some Brokenwood episodes
Total books finished: 1 The Seventh Well
Total read from: 3
20benitastrnad
Christmas Readathon
Books read from: I am reading Red Widow by Alma Katsu. My continuous reading book is Katharine Graham's Washington by Katharine Graham. I started a new computer book - Walking It Off by Doug Peacock. I am listening to American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.
Books finished: West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Book Thoughts: I am deep into the spy thriller that my 75'ers Christmas Swap brought me. It has captured my attention and makes good reading in between baking my Christmas gingerbread cakes.
Activities: I baked another Gingerbread cake today and did laundry. I watched the Call the Midwife Christmas special last night and it was perfect Christmas viewing. It made me cry, so can a movie get more perfect than that?
Reading Time Today: 2 hours
Time listening:
Time posting:
Food: I had tamales for lunch - again. I also had some of my gourmet Chex Mix and then kept munching on it while I baked the gingerbread cakes.
Total books finished since the Read-A-Thon Began: 557
Total Time Reading since the Social Distancing read-a-thon began: 1711 hours since I started doing the weekend Read-A-TIhon starting in April of 2020.
Books read from: I am reading Red Widow by Alma Katsu. My continuous reading book is Katharine Graham's Washington by Katharine Graham. I started a new computer book - Walking It Off by Doug Peacock. I am listening to American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.
Books finished: West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Book Thoughts: I am deep into the spy thriller that my 75'ers Christmas Swap brought me. It has captured my attention and makes good reading in between baking my Christmas gingerbread cakes.
Activities: I baked another Gingerbread cake today and did laundry. I watched the Call the Midwife Christmas special last night and it was perfect Christmas viewing. It made me cry, so can a movie get more perfect than that?
Reading Time Today: 2 hours
Time listening:
Time posting:
Food: I had tamales for lunch - again. I also had some of my gourmet Chex Mix and then kept munching on it while I baked the gingerbread cakes.
Total books finished since the Read-A-Thon Began: 557
Total Time Reading since the Social Distancing read-a-thon began: 1711 hours since I started doing the weekend Read-A-TIhon starting in April of 2020.
21alcottacre
Boxing Day Update:
Books read from: Connections in Death by J. D. Robb (audiobook), The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman, and Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan
Books finished: 2, Connections in Death and Last Night at the Lobster
Time reading: ~2.5 hours + listening to audiobook
Total books finished: 6
Total read from: 9
Total time reading: ~9.75 hours + listening to audiobook
Books read from: Connections in Death by J. D. Robb (audiobook), The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman, and Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan
Books finished: 2, Connections in Death and Last Night at the Lobster
Time reading: ~2.5 hours + listening to audiobook
Total books finished: 6
Total read from: 9
Total time reading: ~9.75 hours + listening to audiobook
22ulmannc
This looks like a good place to jump in since I have been not "booking" much lately due to medical issues (Mary Ann and me, our former neighbors) and museum stuff. I'll start making notes and update this:
Merry Christmas and welcome to the Christmas readathon!
We'll run from Wednesday through Sunday .
Here are some things to track throughout the weekend, if you choose:
Books read from: On The Footplate, A. J. Cresswell, Rule Book 1933. (Reprinted 1945.) by Great Western Railway, and Rule Book 1950., British Railways
Books finished:3
Time reading:90 minutes
Time posting:
Snacks:
Thoughts:
Non-book activities: Can't really go anyplace as there is ice all over the place, still below freezing and I hope I can get out to play "trains" tonight. Sunday: I was hoping to read more but the museum got in the way.
Total books finished: 3
Total read from:
Total time reading:
Who is participating - Chuck in West Chester PA
Merry Christmas and welcome to the Christmas readathon!
We'll run from Wednesday through Sunday .
Here are some things to track throughout the weekend, if you choose:
Books read from: On The Footplate, A. J. Cresswell, Rule Book 1933. (Reprinted 1945.) by Great Western Railway, and Rule Book 1950., British Railways
Books finished:3
Time reading:90 minutes
Time posting:
Snacks:
Thoughts:
Non-book activities: Can't really go anyplace as there is ice all over the place, still below freezing and I hope I can get out to play "trains" tonight. Sunday: I was hoping to read more but the museum got in the way.
Total books finished: 3
Total read from:
Total time reading:
Who is participating - Chuck in West Chester PA
23nrmay
Sunday afternoon
Books:
NORTH: A NOVEL
by Brad Kessler.
I’m well into it and it’s good and intriguing. Happy about that since l sent it to 2 different people for Christmas. I’m sure it was an LT book bullet.
Next up -
THE GHOSTWRITER
by Julie Clark
Lunch:
Leftover shrimp & grits. It’s a Southern thing. My nephew gave us a fancy bag of grits for Christmas along with other holiday goodies.
Other:
My nephew and his wife brought dinner over on Christmas Day. He’s an adventurous cook. He made buffalo stew, kasespatzle, and a chocolate/pumpkin/pecan pie.
In the evening we did a Christmas jigsaw puzzle and watched the original MIRACLE ON 34TH ST (1947). Neither of them had ever seen it.
Sunny and warm here - 68F/20C
Books:
NORTH: A NOVEL
by Brad Kessler.
I’m well into it and it’s good and intriguing. Happy about that since l sent it to 2 different people for Christmas. I’m sure it was an LT book bullet.
Next up -
THE GHOSTWRITER
by Julie Clark
Lunch:
Leftover shrimp & grits. It’s a Southern thing. My nephew gave us a fancy bag of grits for Christmas along with other holiday goodies.
Other:
My nephew and his wife brought dinner over on Christmas Day. He’s an adventurous cook. He made buffalo stew, kasespatzle, and a chocolate/pumpkin/pecan pie.
In the evening we did a Christmas jigsaw puzzle and watched the original MIRACLE ON 34TH ST (1947). Neither of them had ever seen it.
Sunny and warm here - 68F/20C
24alcottacre
Saturday Update:
Books read from: Vendetta in Death by J. D. Robb (audiobook), The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman, The Art of the Jewish Family by Laura Arnold Leibman and The Negro Novel in America by Robert A. Bone
Books finished: 1, Prayers for the Dead
Time reading: 3 hours + listening to audiobook
Total books finished: 7
Total read from: 11
Total time reading: ~12.75 hours + listening to audiobook
Books read from: Vendetta in Death by J. D. Robb (audiobook), The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman, The Art of the Jewish Family by Laura Arnold Leibman and The Negro Novel in America by Robert A. Bone
Books finished: 1, Prayers for the Dead
Time reading: 3 hours + listening to audiobook
Total books finished: 7
Total read from: 11
Total time reading: ~12.75 hours + listening to audiobook
25avatiakh
Monday 10.30am
Books read from: Exodus: the Archimedes engine (audio) by Peter F Hamilton, Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan Orga, The Persian by David McCloskey, Premlata and the Festival of Lights by Rumer Godden, Ruptured: Jewish Women in Australia Reflect on Life Post-October 7 by Lee Kofman
Books finished: none
Snacks: Flat white / toasted sandwich / ratatouille
Thoughts: What to prioritise in early January reading
Non-book activities: Finished watching Brokenwood S6, food prep
Total books finished: 1 The Seventh Well
Total read from: 5
I should finish my scifi audio today, Portrait of a Turkish Family is almost done too. The Persian will be done by tomorrow. Chance to finish a couple of others if I keep at it.
Books read from: Exodus: the Archimedes engine (audio) by Peter F Hamilton, Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan Orga, The Persian by David McCloskey, Premlata and the Festival of Lights by Rumer Godden, Ruptured: Jewish Women in Australia Reflect on Life Post-October 7 by Lee Kofman
Books finished: none
Snacks: Flat white / toasted sandwich / ratatouille
Thoughts: What to prioritise in early January reading
Non-book activities: Finished watching Brokenwood S6, food prep
Total books finished: 1 The Seventh Well
Total read from: 5
I should finish my scifi audio today, Portrait of a Turkish Family is almost done too. The Persian will be done by tomorrow. Chance to finish a couple of others if I keep at it.
26Chatterbox
Playing catchup here; got sidelined with a migraine yesterday...
Books read from: That Librarian by Amanda Jones, all about book banning, Battle of the Brothers by Robert Lacey (Freebie audiobook, William and Harry), A Map of Future Ruins by Lauren Markham and a bit of Albatross by Evelyn Anthony
Books finished: 3 since last update
Time reading: reading and listening, about 20 hours?
Time posting: 1.5 hours, to set up 2026 thread
Snacks: Orange Club biscuits (it's an English thing.) About to make myself a turkey sandwich with dressing and cranberry sauce.
Thoughts: My five-day hiatus from real life is over. Sigh
Non-book activities: Finished watching the miniseries of "The Night Manager" -- excellent.
Total books finished: 8; the three above plus The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan, Cicero by Anthony Everitt and Murder at Martingale Manor (all audiobooks); Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, Avenue of the Dead by Evelyn Anthony
Total read from: 9, the above plus a bit of Albatross by Evelyn Anthony
Total time reading: 44.5 hours
I'm about to start reading the Award by Matthew Pearl and pick up where I left off in The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
Books read from: That Librarian by Amanda Jones, all about book banning, Battle of the Brothers by Robert Lacey (Freebie audiobook, William and Harry), A Map of Future Ruins by Lauren Markham and a bit of Albatross by Evelyn Anthony
Books finished: 3 since last update
Time reading: reading and listening, about 20 hours?
Time posting: 1.5 hours, to set up 2026 thread
Snacks: Orange Club biscuits (it's an English thing.) About to make myself a turkey sandwich with dressing and cranberry sauce.
Thoughts: My five-day hiatus from real life is over. Sigh
Non-book activities: Finished watching the miniseries of "The Night Manager" -- excellent.
Total books finished: 8; the three above plus The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan, Cicero by Anthony Everitt and Murder at Martingale Manor (all audiobooks); Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, Avenue of the Dead by Evelyn Anthony
Total read from: 9, the above plus a bit of Albatross by Evelyn Anthony
Total time reading: 44.5 hours
I'm about to start reading the Award by Matthew Pearl and pick up where I left off in The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
27ChrisG1
Weekend Summary:
Books read from: Sharpe's Storm by Bernard Cornwell, The Fix by David Baldacci, Hunter's Run by George RR Martin, Gardner Dozois & Daniel Abraham, World Without End by Ken Follett
Books Finished: Sharpe's Storm, The Fix and Hunter's Run
Pages read: 900-ish
Our holiday activities mostly ended Christmas Eve, so I had plenty of reading time & took advantage of it. I'm just starting World Without End, which will take me into the new year. I've completed 151 books this year, which is easily my highest ever. I hope everyone had a great holiday!
Books read from: Sharpe's Storm by Bernard Cornwell, The Fix by David Baldacci, Hunter's Run by George RR Martin, Gardner Dozois & Daniel Abraham, World Without End by Ken Follett
Books Finished: Sharpe's Storm, The Fix and Hunter's Run
Pages read: 900-ish
Our holiday activities mostly ended Christmas Eve, so I had plenty of reading time & took advantage of it. I'm just starting World Without End, which will take me into the new year. I've completed 151 books this year, which is easily my highest ever. I hope everyone had a great holiday!
28alcottacre
Sunday Update:
Books read from: Vendetta in Death by J. D. Robb (audiobook), The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, The Art of the Jewish Family by Laura Arnold Leibman, The Negro Novel in America by Robert A. Bone, The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths, and Chasing the King of Hearts by Hanna Krall
Books finished: 1, The Remembered Soldier
Time reading: 3.5 hours + listening to audiobook
Total books finished: 8
Total read from: 13
Total time reading: ~16.25 hours + listening to audiobook
Books read from: Vendetta in Death by J. D. Robb (audiobook), The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, The Art of the Jewish Family by Laura Arnold Leibman, The Negro Novel in America by Robert A. Bone, The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths, and Chasing the King of Hearts by Hanna Krall
Books finished: 1, The Remembered Soldier
Time reading: 3.5 hours + listening to audiobook
Total books finished: 8
Total read from: 13
Total time reading: ~16.25 hours + listening to audiobook
29benitastrnad
Christmas Readathon Wrapup
Books read from: I am reading Red Widow by Alma Katsu. My continuous reading book is Katharine Graham's Washington by Katharine Graham. I started a new computer book - Walking It Off by Doug Peacock. I am listening to American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.
Books finished: Red Widow by Alma Katsu. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Book Thoughts: It took me three days to read Red Widow, and I enjoyed every minute of this cerebral spy thriller featuring two women working at CIA headquarters trying to find a mole. It was great cold weather cozy reading.
Activities: I attended my Aunt's 95th birthday party yesterday and enjoyed it greatly. However, I wonder why people are in such a hurry to clean up after the party. None of us had anywhere to go last night since church was cancelled. People need to linger longer and talk more. There were relatives there who I haven't seen in a long time, and they had no time to talk to me because they were busy cleaning up and then bugged out as soon as the clock struck 4 PM. How do I know they didn't have anywhere to go? It's a small town and their cars were all parked at another cousin's house. Clearly a post-event event (an after party?) to which the rest of us were not invited.
Reading Time Today: 3 hours
Time listening:
Time posting:
Food: breakfast was fresh texas grapefruit and a croissant and coffee.
Total books finished since the Read-A-Thon Began: 558
Total Time Reading since the Social Distancing read-a-thon began: 1714 hours since I started doing the weekend Read-A-TIhon starting in April of 2020.
Books read from: I am reading Red Widow by Alma Katsu. My continuous reading book is Katharine Graham's Washington by Katharine Graham. I started a new computer book - Walking It Off by Doug Peacock. I am listening to American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.
Books finished: Red Widow by Alma Katsu. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Book Thoughts: It took me three days to read Red Widow, and I enjoyed every minute of this cerebral spy thriller featuring two women working at CIA headquarters trying to find a mole. It was great cold weather cozy reading.
Activities: I attended my Aunt's 95th birthday party yesterday and enjoyed it greatly. However, I wonder why people are in such a hurry to clean up after the party. None of us had anywhere to go last night since church was cancelled. People need to linger longer and talk more. There were relatives there who I haven't seen in a long time, and they had no time to talk to me because they were busy cleaning up and then bugged out as soon as the clock struck 4 PM. How do I know they didn't have anywhere to go? It's a small town and their cars were all parked at another cousin's house. Clearly a post-event event (an after party?) to which the rest of us were not invited.
Reading Time Today: 3 hours
Time listening:
Time posting:
Food: breakfast was fresh texas grapefruit and a croissant and coffee.
Total books finished since the Read-A-Thon Began: 558
Total Time Reading since the Social Distancing read-a-thon began: 1714 hours since I started doing the weekend Read-A-TIhon starting in April of 2020.
30nrmay
Weekend final report
Books:
Finished
NORTH : A NOVEL, B Kessler.
Now reading
A COLD DAY FOR MURDER, Edgar winner, set in Alaska.
And
REGARDING THE FOUNTAIN, a re-read of an amusing book I’m planning to send to my granddaughter.
Dinner:
swordfish & vegetables. Now thinking of dessert…
I chose my 5 favorite novels of 2025 for another thread.
They are -
THE CORRESPONDENT, V Evans
FINDING FLORA, E Florence
HEARTWOOD, A Gaige
THE GOD OF THE WOODS, L Moore
BROKEN COUNTRY, C Hall
Books:
Finished
NORTH : A NOVEL, B Kessler.
Now reading
A COLD DAY FOR MURDER, Edgar winner, set in Alaska.
And
REGARDING THE FOUNTAIN, a re-read of an amusing book I’m planning to send to my granddaughter.
Dinner:
swordfish & vegetables. Now thinking of dessert…
I chose my 5 favorite novels of 2025 for another thread.
They are -
THE CORRESPONDENT, V Evans
FINDING FLORA, E Florence
HEARTWOOD, A Gaige
THE GOD OF THE WOODS, L Moore
BROKEN COUNTRY, C Hall
31alcottacre
>30 nrmay: Those are some great novels to recommend, Nancy! I have not heard of Finding Flora so I am going to have to look into that one. Thanks for the list.
