Travel the World in Books Readathon Day 1, September 2014
Welcome to the first day of our Travel the World in Books Readathon! Lost in Books, Savvy Working Gal and I are so excited to have you join us in our journey around the world in books.
If you are just joining us, this is what the Readathon is about:
Explore countries other than the one you live in. Read as much as you can of books set in a different country or by an author from a different country. Read for your own pleasure or learning, read with your kids or both. Travel the world from the comfort of your own home and learn about different cultures. Expand your horizons and show publishers that #WeNeedDiverseBooks to promote cultural understanding and diversity in our reading. Support diverse authors and books. #TraveltheWorldinBooksRAT
Today, our Readathon starts bright and early at 12:00am EST. Grab your books, your coffee or tea, some snacks and a comfy reading spot and get read to read! If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up, link up your goals and check out our event schedule, which will continue to be updated with our fabulous author interviews and creative guest posts.
Introductions
Since it’s our first day, I thought it would be a great time to get to know each other. So I’ve posted some questions and let me know your answers to these questionsin the comments.
1. Tell us your name and what state and country you are from.
* I’m Tanya from NC in the US.
2. What do you hope to accomplish during the Readathon?
* I’m excited to be co-hosting my first book blogging event. For me, networking with other book lovers is what I enjoy most about these type of events. Sure I love to read but talking about great books and encouraging others to read more diverse books is why I wanted to start this event.
3. What book are you and/or your kids looking forward to reading most?
* Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I am not normally a fan of war movies or books but the inspiring story behind this one makes me really want to read it. It will take me out of my reading comfort zone which is something I continually challenge myself to do.
* With the kids, I can’t wait to get to the National Geographic Kids Atlases and the Crafts from Around the World. National Geographic has the most amazing kids books, the pictures are breathtaking and they have facts kids find interesting. I wish we had these when I was a kid (ok, I might be dating myself with that comment). Also, I love making bookish art with my kids and inspiring them to think outside the pages of the book.
4. What’s your beverage and snack of choice during the Readathon?
* I’m a “don’t talk to me till I’ve had my coffee” mom in the morning. Drink water with slices of orange during the day. Sip on Tazo calm tea while I read in bed. As for snacks, I love greek yogurt with blueberries, homemade trail mix and well I just gotta have chocolate, Ghirardelli Sea Salt and Almond Mini squares are my latest addiction.
5. Hop around to the other participants from the Sign Up Page or Goals Page and let me know who you visited that’s new to you.
* I was happy to get to know Lucy from Northern Lights Reading. I thought it was very unique that she is focusing on countries where the amazing Northern Lights appear, such as Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Greenland. They are all countries I have not read about and my Rheumatoid Arthritis would likely not allow me to visit in person. I look forward to hearing about Lucy’s journeys through these cold and beautiful countries.
6. If money was no object, what would be your dream travel destination?
* Greek Islands and Tuscany.
7. What are your favorite reading spots?
* In bed in the complete darkness and my Kindle. Ideally, the beach is pretty fantastic too!
Guiltless Reading’s Book Map Mini-Challenge
I was so excited that Aloi from Guiltless Reading wanted to do this Book Map Mini-Challenge. Ever since we announced the Travel the World in Books Reading Challenge, she has been a very enthusiastic supporter and reader. She took my suggestion to create a Google Map of places you’ve traveled through books and completely ran with it. I love how she color coded the map so we can easily tell which are fiction vs. non-fiction.
For the mini-challenge, Guiltless Reading gives us a very thorough tutorial on how to create our own impressive book maps. Be sure to take advantage of both Part 1 to plan and start mapping your reads and Part 2 to tweak the map design and embed the map in your blog. Wow, I can’t wait to get working on my map! Guiltless Reading is also generously giving away a book up to $15 from the Book Depository for the Best Book Map. Be sure to visit and document your travel in books! This mini-challenge will be open through September 13, 2014 so you have plenty of time to perfect those maps.
Giveaways
Also today our giveaways started. Stop by the Giveaways page to check out the titles and enter to win these fantastic adult and children’s titles.
But wait, that’s not all! Mother Daughter Book Reviews, who is giving away a Children’s Activities Atlas for our Readathon is also giving away $200 on her blog for Blogger Appreciation Month! Enter to win here.
Where to begin? We hope you are as excited as we are to get our first Travel the World in Books Readathon off the ground! Tell us where your travels are taking you today, whether in your reading or in our Readathon events!
1. Tell us your name and what state and country you are from.
My name is Tallulah. I live in the United States.
2. What do you hope to accomplish during the Readathon?
I hope to clear some of the books on my TBR list so that I can make room for more. SMH.
I’d also like to find some cool new blogs and pick up some new book suggestions.
3. What book are you looking forward to reading most?
Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn
4. What’s your beverage and snack of choice during the Readathon?
Diet Coke and popcorn
5. Hop around to the other participants from the Sign Up Page or Goals Page.
I hope to do this next week, when I get home.
6. If money was no object, what would be your dream travel destination?
I would like to visit China. It is on my bucket list with a friend of mine. We are going to get there eventually.
7. What are your favorite reading spots?
I like to read in the park on a blanket. I like to cast other park visitors as characters in the books that I am reading.
1. Tell us your name and what state and country you are from.
I’m Jessica and I am from Georgia, United States.
2. What do you hope to accomplish during the Readathon?
I want to meet new people and read exciting books!
3. What book are you and/or your kids looking forward to reading most?
I am looking forward to reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets again as part of my plan to re-read the entire series 🙂
4. What’s your beverage and snack of choice during the Readathon?
Water
5. Hop around to the other participants from the Sign Up Page or Goals Page and let me know who you visited that’s new to you.
I visited several people’s blog goals posts. I am looking forward to tweeting with some people on twitter about the read-a-thon and getting to know others.
6. If money was no object, what would be your dream travel destination?
England
7. What are your favorite reading spots?
My bed and on the couch also 🙂
1. Tell us your name and what state and country you are from.
I’m Litha from Idaho, USA, land of few bookstores (in my area).
2. What do you hope to accomplish during the Readathon?
Read 5 books (or more) and critique at least 2 of them, if not more.
3. What book are you and/or your kids looking forward to reading most?
I’m looking forward to reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (China), The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley (Greenland), The Vagrants by Yiyun Li (China), Out by Natsuo Kirino (Japan), and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan).
4. What’s your beverage and snack of choice during the Readathon?
The usual- weak coffee and Diet Dr Pepper for drinks, and Chex cereal and Triscuits for snacks.
5. Hop around to the other participants from the Sign Up Page or Goals Page and let me know who you visited that’s new to you.
Err… all of them except Joy’s Book Blog and I’m Lost in Books. I need to work on my blog-hopping skills (and probably stop lurking and start commenting).
6. If money was no object, what would be your dream travel destination?
Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It’s ancient and amazing- almost like stepping into another world. I also wouldn’t object to space travel- maybe the moon?
7. What are your favorite reading spots?
In bed- my posture is not so great when I read while sitting, so the bed is where I read.
Unbroken is on my reading list. I actually read a chapter or two for my Be Strong reading challenge a few years ago, but wasn’t up for the subject matter. Hopefully I will read it in the near future.
What a great project, Tanya!
Thanks Alison! We are really excited about it. It’s been fun to put together. What are you reading now?
1. Tell us your name and what state and country you are from.
* Aloi – somewhere in the prairies in Canada
2. What do you hope to accomplish during the Readathon?
* Read and review 1-2 books, host a mini-challenge (make your own book map folks! ;)), and join other challenges.
3. What book are you and/or your kids looking forward to reading most?
* I’ve actually already read this and want to re-read and review: Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan. I was really affected by this read and never got around to posting about it
4. What’s your beverage and snack of choice during the Readathon?
* Not sure yet. Tea. Water. + something crunchy + plus chocolate (it’s brain food, remember!)
5. Hop around to the other participants from the Sign Up Page or Goals Page and let me know who you visited that’s new to you.
* Lucy of Norther Lights Reading Project. I can’t wait to see her book map!
6. If money was no object, what would be your dream travel destination?
* Travel around the entire of Southeast Asia + India.
7. What are your favorite reading spots?
* In the garden. Or in bed.
I so want to work on my book map Aloi and I am so impressed with how detailed your tutorial was. I look forward to hearing about Say You’re One of Them. I don’t typically reread books but there are a few that impacted me deeply like that, that I would read again. And ironically, I have not blogged about a couple of them either. Oh I love to read on my back deck with my tiny garden when it’s nice out. It’s still dreadfully hot here. Been at the pool today and still feel like i’ve melted. Thanks for sharing about yourself!
1. Tell us your name and what state and country you are from.
* Tanya Patrice – NY.
2. What do you hope to accomplish during the Readathon?
* I want to finish 2 books (and read at least 1 hour each day – secret goal).
3. What book are you and/or your kids looking forward to reading most?
* Hurricane Fever, Tobias Buckell
4. What’s your beverage and snack of choice during the Readathon?
* Haven’t decided yet, but it’s going to be Ginger Tea in the AM, and a cocktail at night 🙂
5. Hop around to the other participants from the Sign Up Page or Goals Page and let me know who you visited that’s new to you.
* Joy’s Book Blog who’s reading books by Black British Authors.
6. If money was no object, what would be your dream travel destination?
* Spain
7. What are your favorite reading spots?
* Outside in a hammock
Yum, Ginger tea. I love your cocktail recipes and really need to have my hubby mix me one. I loved that Joy found a list of Black British authors to focus her reading on. Oh…Spain. we went there in 1999 and it was fabulous. Beautiful countryside, amazing food and laid back lifestyle. If we ever moved overseas, Spain would be it. Thanks for sharing more about yourself Tanya!
1. Tell us your name and what state and country you are from.
* I’m Kate, I’m originally from FL but have lived all over North America and am now in the Netherlands.
2. What do you hope to accomplish during the Readathon?
* I hope to finish one full book and write a great review on it. I also hope it will inspire a trip to Iceland 😉
3. What book are you and/or your kids looking forward to reading most?
* Gargoyle…I’ve never been to Iceland and haven’t done much studying for it. But with one of the airlines we fly on out of Holland you can stay a week in Iceland and get a new ticket to your final destination for no cost so I am hopeful this will help me get hubby inspired!
*My daughter is really busy with school right now and is off for a week on a class trip, so I didn’t really get her involved in the RAT, plus she is totally engrossed in her Harry Potter lol
4. What’s your beverage and snack of choice during the Readathon?
* Coffee…I love a good coffee while I read, and my favorite snack is some brioche with a bit of nutella 😉
5. Hop around to the other participants from the Sign Up Page or Goals Page and let me know who you visited that’s new to you.
I loved visiting Readerbuzz…I love how she is taking this journey with her Primary class. As a Humanities teacher I love how she is getting the students involved.
6. If money was no object, what would be your dream travel destination?
* New Zealand or Australia now that I’ve been to Paris!
7. What are your favorite reading spots?
* Lounging at the park on my picnic blanket or cozied up on my couch in front of the window under a blanket.