It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? (1/18/16) & #24in48 Readathon Wrap-Up

Hosted by The Book Date.

I participated in my first ever readathon (#24in48) this weekend…and paired it with a one night getaway with my husband. I woefully failed at the Readathon goals (to read for 24 out of 48 hours)…despite it turning into a Cheatathon for me.

All the Ways I Cheated During #24in48:

  • Counted listening to book podcasts as reading time (I don’t do well with audiobooks, so podcasts are my listening of choice)
  • Rounded up my time increments 
  • Added an additional day (Friday, which only got me 1.5 extra hours of reading time)

Despite all the cheating and only reading for 8 hours (and 310 pages), I had a thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable weekend with my husband and read more than I normally would’ve during a regular weekend!

I finished reading…

Only Love Can Break Your Heart


Only Love Can Break Your Heart
 by Ed Tarkington (January 5, 2016)
I loved this book! If you’re into coming of age stories and/or Southern fiction, I highly recommend you give this debut a shot! Review coming.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

I’m currently reading…

Swans of Fifth Avenue, Youngblood


Swans of Fifth Avenue
 by Melanie Benjamin (January 26, 2016)
If you’re looking for something on the lighter side, this “novel” (wink, wink…it’s very close to nonfiction) about Truman Capote and his “swans” (i.e. socialite friends) is fantastic! I spent most of the weekend reading it and am almost finished.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Youngblood by Matt Gallagher (February 2, 2016)
I literally just started this debut novel about the Iraq war, so I don’t have any thoughts yet…except that I like the early writing style.

Upcoming reading plans…

Wreck and Order, Liar


Wreck and Order
by Hannah Tennant-Moore (February 9, 2016)
I was super excited for this debut, but have recently heard some pretty scathing feedback on this one. I’m going to give it a shot just to see for myself, but I’m not too confident. I’d hoped to get to it during #24in48, but didn’t.

Liar by Rob Roberge (February 9, 2016)
A memoir by a novelist who is diagnosed with a memory-eroding disease was blurbed by Dan Marshall, author of Home is Burning (another memoir I really enjoyed last year).

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30 Comments

  1. Sounds like a great weekend! Enjoy your new books Sarah and have a great week.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
  2. Naomi wrote:

    Sounds like you had a great weekend, and like you’re getting into a good reading groove. Can’t wait to hear more about the books! I’ve seen Only Love Can Break Your Heart around, but don’t know anything about it.
    Your description of Liar has intrigued me. I’m wondering how a writer who is losing his memory writes a memoir…

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I know, right?! Apparently he wrote this in the very early stages of his disease. But, I still haven’t gotten to it, so we’ll see.

      Posted 1.19.16 Reply
  3. I’m reading The Swans of Fifth Avenue now too and it is totally addictive.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Yep! Finished it yesterday and such a fantastic light read!

      Posted 1.19.16 Reply
  4. Glad you had a good first readathon and time away with your husband! I’ve been waiting to hear things about Only Love Can Break Your Heart, so I can’t wait for your review!

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      It’s so so good! Reminded me a little of My Sunshine Away.

      Posted 1.19.16 Reply
  5. Carmen wrote:

    My reading of Swans of Fifth Avenue was going great at 36%, but this weekend there was a free watch-athon of Showtime and I decided to put the book aside to catch up on seasons 4 and 5 of Homeland. I hope when I return to the book I’ll be able to connect with it again because I was entranced.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Ha! I totally understand your thinking there. Hope you get back to it soon!

      Posted 1.19.16 Reply
  6. Swans of Fifth Avenue sounds like a fun read and I’m intrigued by Liar too. I hope you enjoy your upcoming reads.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
  7. It’s nice that you had some good hubby time; enjoy those moments as priorities. 🙂 You have two on your read list that I really want to read: Tarkington and Swans. I hope to have them from the library orders soon. I’ve also seen some pretty critical reviews about Wreck and Order. I was curious about it for a while, but that curiosity dwindled away. I’ll be watching to see which direction you go with it.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Yep – we rarely get overnights away, so I definitely treasure them! I already had a copy of Wreck and Order when the critical reviews started to come out, so I figure I’ll give it a whirl with no expectations and just DNF if it doesn’t work.

      Posted 1.19.16 Reply
  8. Amanda wrote:

    Glad your weekend was a success -even if not entirely book filled! I’m so jealous of the idea of a night away. I have Liar to try too – sounds very intriguing.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
  9. I loved The Swans of Fifth Avenue…and now I am ogling Only Love Can Break Your Heart…I think I am hearing a tune as I read that title.

    Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
  10. How are you liking The Swans of Fifth Avenue? I love the cover, but just couldn’t connect with the book.

    ENJOY your reading week.

    Elizabeth
    Silver’s Reviews
    My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Loved it for a light read! I’ve always kind of been fascinated by Capote, though…

      Posted 1.19.16 Reply
  11. Your weekend sounds wonderful, and I don’t consider your tactics to increase reading time cheating. 🙂 I took a double-take when I saw the Wreck and Order cover. I’m reading an ARC for Allison Amend’s Enchanted Islands, and the covers could be siblings.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Oh – interesting! I’ll have to check out the Amend’s cover now!

      Posted 1.19.16 Reply
  12. Kathryn wrote:

    Like the sound of Only Love Can Break Your Heart. Oh well the main thing is you did more reading during the weekend than you normally did plus had a good time. Win-Win!

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I agree 🙂

      Posted 1.19.16 Reply
  13. Heather wrote:

    I’m glad you enjoyed your first 24in48 – it really is the best weekend. I love that it’s so low pressure. I completely condone your attempts at cheating – you gotta do what you gotta do!

    I’d seen Wreck and Order on NetGalley and I was going to request it but something held me back and I didn’t in the end – if your comment about scathing reviews is anything to go by, I’m glad I didn’t!

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I already had a copy when the reviews started coming, so figure I’ll give it a go…with no expectations and just DNF if it doesn’t work.

      Posted 1.19.16 Reply
  14. It sounds like you had a fabulous weekend and that’s what counts! I managed to get in about 13 hours, which is a record for me (I think my previous record was 8).

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Congrats on breaking your record…that’s great! All you can ask for in my book 🙂

      Posted 1.19.16 Reply
  15. Stefanie wrote:

    How lovely to have a getaway w/your husband. Me and mine are long overdue for one. Was supposed to have one last year but that was a bust.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
  16. Sara wrote:

    I love readathons though I never, ever finish them on target lol.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
  17. Pretty jealous of your weekend away, it sounds great! I didn’t come close to 24 hours either, but I did get in more reading than what I’ve been doing lately so it was a plus.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
  18. Catherine wrote:

    Oooo…Southern fiction?! I love it. Will add this to my TBR.

    Glad Swans wasn’t a fail. However, Answered Prayers?! Hoy cow- it’s filthy! I had no idea he wrote this level of sordid, awful stuff. Seriously, for me, the cover is the best part of this book. And no wonder the swans kicked him to the curb.

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
  19. Melinda wrote:

    I’ve been wanting to read “The Swans of Fifth Avenue”…

    And I don’t think your cheats were cheating…you were just making it work for you!

    Posted 1.18.16 Reply
  20. Hey, you managed to get more reading done than I did – ha! Great job! I hope you had a wonderful trip and your description of Only Love Can Break Your Heart has me very intrigued!!

    Posted 1.19.16 Reply

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