Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon discussion

There are so many books to be read it can be over whelming at times! Recommend some of your favorite books that would be great to read during a readathon! (This is also a BINGO challenge)

A few readathons ago I read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and it became my favourite Stephen King book! It's 224 pages in hardcover.

It's more about the realistic horror of being lost in the woods, rather than the monster horror one might expect.

For audiobooks, I loved Stardust and The Ocean at the End of the Lane, both are short-ish (5-6 hrs) and are narrated by Neil Gaiman.

For a short/quick read, I recommend The Five People You Meet in Heaven and The Alchemist.

When I need a break or to get out of a reading slump, I like reading fantasy books like the Grishaverse novels by Leigh Bardugo or Shades of Magic Series by V.E. Schwab. Honestly there are a ton of fantasy books I could recommend so I'll just pick those two series/universes!

My friend isn't on Goodreads but she recommends Where the Crawdads Sing, Wuthering Heights (this is her all-time favorite book), American Wife, The Choice, and Safe Haven.

Lianne (The Towering Pile) wrote: "A few readathons ago I read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and it became my favourite Stephen King book! It's 224 pages in hardcover.

It's more about the realistic horror of being los..."

Second that!

I have to recommend the Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Illuminae as an audiobook! It's fast paced with an amazing plot and action. It's narrated with a whole cast of characters and sound effects that makes the listening experience truly unique!

I second the Illuminae Files! While I haven't listened to the audiobook, I have read them for readathons and they are amazing. Agree they are fast paced and well done action. I don't usually like Sci Fi books as much but these books are so unique with their plot and the writing style itself.

Speaking of which if anyone knows of another good epistolary novel, I'm all ears!

Other great readathon go-to's for me are To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han and Howl's Moving Castle by Dianne Wynne-Jones. I've lost cost of how many times I've reread these for readathons

Sierra wrote: "I second the Illuminae Files! While I haven't listened to the audiobook, I have read them for readathons and they are amazing. Agree they are fast paced and well done action. I don't usually like S..."

This list is helpful: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
and I can wholeheartedly recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society!
And I've heard wonderful things about 84, Charing Cross Road.

Gabby (GabsAboutBooks) wrote: "I have to recommend the Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Illuminae as an audiobook! It's fast paced with an amazing plot and action. It's narrated with a whole cast ..."

Ooooh I do have the trilogy on audio!

Northanger Abbey--a relatively short, funny classic

The Blue Castle--another short classic, and a light read despite some potentially heavy themes

Beowulf--yet another short classic, and this one is particularly good on audio

Wonder--a middle grade book that everyone should read

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry--another middle grade book everyone should read!

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story--a very readable, not-too-long memoir, despite some emotional topics

The Help--it's a longer, heavier read, but has some 'can't put it down' qualities

The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York--Fascinating!

A really good audiobook is Lock In. The copy on Audible is narrated by Wil Wheaton.

I'm including the Old Kingdom books by Garth Nix in my TBR pile. They're some of my favorite fantasy novels (with some strong horror themes). The first book is Sabriel.

A wrote: "A really good audiobook is Lock In. The copy on Audible is narrated by Wil Wheaton.

I'm including the Old Kingdom books by Garth Nix in my TBR pile. They're some of my favorite fan..."

I second Lock In, though I haven't read it but basically any Wil Wheaton-narrated audiobook!

Raquel wrote: "Northanger Abbey--a relatively short, funny classic

The Blue Castle--another short classic, and a light read despite some potentially heavy themes

Beowulf--..."

Roll of Thunder is book 4 though. Start with The Land!

I don't think anyone's reading The Help anymore.

Elyse wrote: "Gabby (GabsAboutBooks) wrote: "I have to recommend the Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Illuminae as an audiobook! It's fast paced with an amazing plot and action. I..."

You definitely need to listen to it! It's amazing!

for people that try to listen to audiobooks during the readathon - i highly recommend the Chronicles of St Mary's series - the first book is Just One Damned Thing After Another - time traveling historians (although they claim they don't time travel they observe significant historical events in contemporary time)

A wrote: "A really good audiobook is Lock In. The copy on Audible is narrated by Wil Wheaton.

I'm including the Old Kingdom books by Garth Nix in my TBR pile. They're some of my favorite fan..."
The book is pretty great too!

I personally like quick and easy reads during read-a-thons. I would suggest Anxious People or A Man Called Oveboth by Fredrik Backman, I Was Told It Would Get Easier or The Garden of Small Beginnings both by Abbi Waxman, The Unhoneymooners or In a Holidaze both by Christina Lauren (if you like rom-com), Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs(Series), Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu or Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (if you prefer YA)

Those are just a few of my favorites that the fit the "quick and easy" reads criteria I set for myself during read-a-thons

Gabby (GabsAboutBooks) wrote: "I have to recommend the Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Illuminae as an audiobook! It's fast paced with an amazing plot and action. It's narrated with a whole cast ..."

I did the audio of this as well. A friend recommended it to me a while back and I read it based on her recommendation. It's been a few years now, but I loved the entire series.

Lena wrote: "I personally like quick and easy reads during read-a-thons. I would suggest Anxious People or A Man Called Oveboth by Fredrik Backman, [book:I Was T..."

Same . I usually try to finish a book I've been reading during a read-a-thon . Then I feel accomplished when it's over .
I suggest ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE NORTH by Philip Pullman .
Only 95 pages and a fun fantasy genre read .

One I reviewed recently that touched my heart is Patience . I LOVED it.

Another that's really good is On the Road to Love by Melissa Baldwin.

The Light Through the Leaves

ETA: Proust and the Squid was selected, thanks


Hi guys, could you select one of these books for me to read for my bingo board? https://bingobaker.com/#297dcb7bf7334...

1. The Choice
2. Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain
3. An Artist of the Floating World

Really appreciate your advice!

I just finished and would highly recommend Small Things Like These by Clare Keegan, a beautifully told story set in 1985 Ireland when the Magdalene laundries were still operating. It’s short (124 pages) but powerful —5 stars

I'm looking for audio book recommendations. Short and sweet would be best. I would love to be able to start and finish one while walking and doing chores during this weekend. Anyone have expertise on short and engaging ebooks (preferably on audible?)

Julie wrote: "I'm looking for audio book recommendations. Short and sweet would be best. I would love to be able to start and finish one while walking and doing chores during this weekend. Anyone have expertise ..."

I would just peruse the Audible Plus catalog. They're mostly short stories, a couple hours at most!

for short reads, essay collections are always a good choice. I know Rebecca Solnit's "Men Explain Thungs to Me" is on audible

Elyse, thank you!

I have never heard of the Audible Plus catalogue. I also downloaded "Talk Bookish to Me" because it sounds adorable! (9 hours though so I wouldn't be able to finish it which is always so satisfying!)

Nut wrote: "for short reads, essay collections are always a good choice. I know Rebecca Solnit's "Men Explain Thungs to Me" is on audible"

Oh I love her work! Thank you!

Elyse wrote: "Julie wrote: "I'm looking for audio book recommendations. Short and sweet would be best. I would love to be able to start and finish one while walking and doing chores during this weekend. Anyone h..."

I didn't reply correctly. (Goodreads isn't my strong point and I am working on it! LOL)

Julie wrote: "Elyse, thank you!

I have never heard of the Audible Plus catalogue. I also downloaded "Talk Bookish to Me" because it sounds adorable! (9 hours though so I wouldn't be able to finish it which is ..."

Yes, it's a nice addition to being an Audible member because they're mostly all exclusive to Audible, you can't find them in print or other digital format. I think they also rotate what's available but once you download it, you have it until/unless you remove it from your library. I'm listening to and I downloaded it from Audible Plus probably 2 years ago. Now it's only available to purchase.