Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon - October 2013: Mini-Challenges

This weekend, I'm participating in Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon!  My introduction post is here, and on this page, I'll post my replies to various mini-challenges.

7 AM EST: Wrap-Up Post: 
1) Which hour was most daunting for you?
The first few hours were the most difficult for me, beginning with 8 AM EST.  I was really not ready to wake up when I did, but I was anxious to get started.  I spent the first couple of hours reading in bed, and I kept struggling to not close my eyes and drift off.
2) Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
My favorite reads this year include: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis; Just One Day by Gayle Forman; Life After Death by Damien Echols, and If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch.
3) Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Nope.  You guys run this amazingly well.
4) What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
I loved the variety of the mini-challenges and the enthusiasm of the cheerleaders and those organizing. 
5) How many books did you read?
Two, which was my goal, as a slow reader.
6) What were the names of the books you read?
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes and The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray
7) Which book did you enjoy most?
Falling Kindgoms was a very good YA fantasy.
8) Which did you enjoy least?
The Dollhouse Asylum was pretty lousy - lots of dumb people doing dumb things.

9) How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
As long as I'm able, I will definitely participate as a reader.

6 AM EST: Reading Soundtrack:  Pick a song that could be in the soundtrack for your current book.

I just finished Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes.  It's a fantasy, with various kingdoms battling for control of the empire.  The song I thought of is Conspiracy by Paramore.  (Not a hard choice, since the book is filled with plotting and scheming.)

5 AM EST: Turn to Page: 
Turn to page 32 of your current book, and find a phrase that fills in the
following: I would rather read than ________ any day!

I would rather read than emerge from the Silver Sea and travel up over the rocky cliffs to to get to the frosty grantie Limeros castle at the top any day!

1 AM EST: Book Jenga:
In case you're interested, the included books are:

The 7 Harry Potter books
Archived by Victoria Schwab
Spells by Aprilynne Pike
Invasion by Walter Dean Myers
Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward
If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

9 PM EST: Audiobook Dream Date:
The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks...read by Michael Fassbender.  This is one of the funniest books I've ever read, and I'd love to hear Fassbender read it in his suave accent.

8 PM EST: The Best of the Best: The links in the titles will take you to my reviews.
Best Book of the Year: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Best Contemporary Romance of the Year: Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Best Memoir: Life After Death by Damien Echols
Best Tearjerker: If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
Best Non-Fiction: The Bling Ring by Nancy Jo Sales
Best Mystery: Night Film by Marisha Pessl
Best Cover: In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters  (I was surprised that a lot of people don't notice the ghost on the cover!)

7 PM EST: Mid-Event Survey:
1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?
I've been kind of tired all day!  I woke up earlier than planned to get a start on reading, and I've been paying the price.  I do tend to get a second wind in the evening, so I'm feeling better now.
2) What have you finished reading?
I've finished just one book - The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray, and I've read 200 pages of Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes.  I'm not a fast reader, so this is standard pace for me.
3) What is your favorite read so far?
I didn't like The Dollhouse Asylum (lots of dumb character doing dumb things), but Falling Kingdoms is excellent so far.
4) What about your favorite snacks?
I've been eating mini chewy Sweet-Tarts throughout the day.  Need that sugar rush!
5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love!
I'm embarrassed to say that I have not visited any blogs...yet.  I'm determined to finish Falling Kindgoms before I go to sleep, and I still have 200 pages to go.

5 PM EST: Book Trailers: I'm not big on book trailers - their typically cheap quality can sometimes make me LESS interested in a book.  However, I do really like this one for The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, (which, coincidentally, is also part of my book spine poetry below.

3 PM EST: Books on Books: I was surprised that I was only able to think of one book that I own that has a book on the cover - Queen Victoria's Book of Spells by Ellen Datlow and Terry Windling.

2 PM EST: Mad-libs: 
Original text from The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray: It's a good hypothesis.  Easier than finding another remote.  I search for a button on the fence.  But I don't see anything there, so I scratch my hands along the dirt for a clue.

Mad-Lib: It's a probable claim.  Easier than digging another light bulb.  I gallop for a picture on the apparatus.  But I don't screw anything there, so I flex my thyroid along the document for a handle.

11 AM EST: Book Spine Poetry:

Whatever happened to Baby Jane?
The winner's curse alienated the coldest girl in Coldtown.