Sunday, December 30, 2012

I finished reading:

"Listening In - The Secret White House Recordings of John F. Kennedy" selected by Ted Widmer. 288 Pages.

"The Wit of Cricket" compiled by Barry Johnston. 274 Pages.

These where the 79th and 80th books of 2012.  28,836 pages read at an average of 360 pages per book.

-Richard

Thursday, December 27, 2012

I finished reading:

"Pandora's Clock" written by John J. Nance.  430 Pages.

The 78th book of 2012.  28,274 pages at an average of 362 pages per book.

-Richard

Sunday, December 23, 2012

I finished reading:

"Washington Square" written by Henry James.  220 Pages.

The 77th book of 2012.  27,844 pages at an average of 362 pages per book.

-Richard

Saturday, December 22, 2012

I finished reading:

"Carnival of the Spies" written by Robert Moss.  628 pages.

The 76th book of the year.  27624  pages at an average of 363 per book.

-Richard

Saturday, December 15, 2012

I finished reading:

"Lake Wobegon Days" written by Garrison Keillor.  420 pages.

The 75th book of 2012.  26,996 pages at an average of 360 pages per books.

-Richard

Friday, December 07, 2012

I finished reading:

"Murder on Embassy Row" written by Margaret Trueman.  344 pages.

74th book of the year.  26,576 pages at an average of 359 pages per book.

-Richard

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

I finished reading:

"Four Short Novels: The Fox, Love among the Haystacks, The Ladybird and The Captain's Doll".  266 Pages.

The 73rd book of the year.  26,232 pages at an average of 359 pages per book.

-Richard

Saturday, December 01, 2012

I finished reading:

"The Traitor" written by Stephen Coonts. 354 pages.

The 72nd book of the year.  25,966 pages at an average of 361 pages per book.

-Richard

Sunday, November 25, 2012

I finished reading:

"Crossed" written by Ally Condie.  367 Pages.

The 71st books of the year. 25,612 pages at an average of 361 per book.

-Richard

Saturday, November 24, 2012

I finished reading:

"Matched" written by Ally Condie.  366 pages.

The 70th book of the year.  25,245 pages at an average of  361 pages per book.

-Richard

Friday, November 23, 2012

I finished reading:

"Notes from Underground and The Grand Inquisitor" written by Fyodr Dostoeyvsky.  229 pages.

The 69th book of the year.  24,879 pages at an average of 361 per book.

-Richard

Monday, November 19, 2012

I finished reading:

"Red Skies" written by R. Karl Largent.  392 pages.

The 68th book of the year.  24,650 pages at an average of 363 pages per book.

-Richard

Friday, November 16, 2012

I finished reading:

"Dubliners" written by James Joyce.  223 Pages.

The 67th book of the year.  24,258 pages at an average of 362 per book.

-Richard

Monday, November 12, 2012

I finished reading:

"Robert Ludlum's The Moscow Vector" written by Patrick Larkin.  4546 pages.

The 66th book of the year.  24,035 pages at an average of 364 pages per book.

-Richard

Saturday, November 10, 2012

I finished reading:

"The Education of John Reed".  Selected writings edited by John Stuart.  223 pages.

The 65th book of 2012.  23,579 pages at an average of 363 pages per book.

-Richard

Thursday, November 08, 2012

I finished reading:

"Torpedo Junction" written by Homer H. Hickam Jr. 325 Pages.

The 64th book of the year.  23,356 pages at an average of 365 pages per book.

-Richard


Monday, October 29, 2012

I finished reading:

"The Russian Revolution" written by Leon Trotsky edited by F.W. Dupee.  484 pages.

The 63rd book of the year.  23,031 pages at an average of 366 pages per book.

-Richard

Monday, October 22, 2012

I finished reading:

"Murder in the CIA" written by Margaret Truman.  303 pages.

The 62nd book of the year.  22,547 at an average of 364 pages per book.

-Richard

Sunday, October 14, 2012

End of read-a-thon final stats and end of event mene:


  1. Which hour was most daunting for you?  The last one for me (Hour 18)
  2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?  Not really.   Something you are very interested in or authors you really like.
  3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
  4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
  5. How many books did you read? Finished 2.
  6. What were the names of the books you read?  Thomas Jefferson, an intimate portrait and 2nd Chance
  7. Which book did you enjoy most? Thomas Jefferson
  8. Which did you enjoy least?
  9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
  10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Definitely
Total pages Read - 1014
Total Time Read - 10 Hours 36 Minutes
Books Finished - 2

-Richard
Read-a-thon end of hour 18

Pages read this hour - 67
Total pages read - 1001
Time read this hour - 41 minutes
Total time read - 10 hours 26 minutes
Books finished - 2

It's 1am and I am exhausted.   I will read a few more pages before going to bed and that's it.   I will complete the end event survey in the morning.  Another fun day....until next time...

-Richard
Read-a-thon end of hour 17.

Pages read this hour - 72
Total Pages Read - 934
Time read this hour - 22 mins
Total time read - 9 hours 45 minutes
Books finished - 2

My new book is "Murder in the CIA" written by Margaret Truman (303 pages)

-Richard


Saturday, October 13, 2012

I finished reading:

"2nd Chance" written by James Patterson.  400 pages.

The 61st book of the year.   22,244 pages at an average of 365 pages per book.

-Richard
Read-a-thon end of hour 16.

Pages read this hour - 113
Total pages read - 862
Time read this hour - 38 minutes
Total time read - 9 hours 23 minutes
Books finished - 1

-Richard
End of read-a-thon hour 15.

Pages read this hour - 119
Total Number of Pages Read - 749
Time read this hour - 46 minutes
Total Time Read - 8 hours 45 minutes
Books Finished - 1

-Richard
Read-a-thon end of hours 12,13 and 14

Pages read these hours - 137
Total pages read - 630
Time read these hours - 1 hour 17 minutes
Total time read - 7 hours 59 minutes
Books Finished 1.

My new book is 2nd Chance written by James Patterson (400 pages)

-Richard
I finished reading:

"Thomas Jefferson an Intimate History" written by Fawn M. Brodie. 676 pages.

This is the 60th book I've finished this year.  21,844 pages at an average of 364 pages per book.

This was a very interesting book and very pertinent with the election in the US so close.   I think if Jefferson saw what his Republican Party had come to he would be extremely angry.   The ideals that made him create it and become it's first President have been eroded and evaporated.   In fact, his, views and that of the party in 1801 are way more like the Democrat party now, and even it could be argued to the left of that.

-Richard

End of read-a-thon hour 11

Pages read this hour - 50 pages
Total pages read - 493 pages
Time read this hour - 41 mins
Total time read - 6 hours 42 mins
Books finished - 0

Of to Panara for dinner so we can eat and still read!!

-Richard
End of read-a-thon hour 10

Pages read this hour - 65 pages
Total pages read - 443 pages
Time read this hour - 56 mins
Total time read - 6 hours 1 min
Books finished - 0

-Richard
End of read-a-thon hours 8 and 9.

Pages read these hours - 85
Total pages read -  378
Time read these hours - 61 mins
Total time read - 5 hours 5 minutes.
Books finished - 0

-Richard
End of read-a-thon hours 6 and 7.

Pages read these hours: 72
Total pages read: 293
Time read these hours: 60 mins
Total time read: 4 hours 4 minutes.
Books finished: 0

-Richard
End of read-a-thon Hour 5

Pages read this hour - 39
Total Number of pages read - 221
Time read this hour - 33 minutes
Total time read - 3 Hours 4  minutes
Books Finished - 0

-Richard
End of read-a-thon Hour 4.

Pages read this hour - 62
Total Number of pages read - 182
Time read this hour - 49 minutes
Total time read - 2 Hour 31  minutes
Books Finished - 0

-Richard
End of read-a-thon Hour 3.

Pages read this hour - 34
Total Number of pages read - 120
Time read this hour - 23 minutes
Total time read - 1 Hour 42  minutes
Books Finished - 0

-Richard
End of read-a-thon Hour 2.

Pages read this hour - 48
Total Number of pages read - 86
Time read this hour - 42 minutes
Total time read - 1 Hour 19  minutes
Books Finished - 0

-Richard
End of Read-a-Thon Hour 1

Pages read this hour - 38
Total Number of pages read - 38
Time read this hour - 37 minutes
Total time read - 37 minutes
Books Finished - 0

-Richard
Start of Read-a-Thon

Here we go.....   I am starting with the book that I am currently reading:   "Thomas Jefferson an Intimate History" written by Fawn  M. Brodie.   It 767 pages long and I am at page 138.

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?   The Woodlands, TX (about 35 miles North of downtown Houston)
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?  I don't have a stack.   I just read the books in a system (the order I get them sorta)
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?  Custard Creams
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!  Originally from Hartlepool, England.   Married to Jenn for fifteen years and now living in The Woodlands, Texas, USA via Bradford, England; London, England; High Wycombe, England; Edna, Texas; Antioch, California and Raleigh, North Carolina.
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?  It's the 10th one I've done and I always do them the same way :)

-Richard

Friday, October 12, 2012

Tomorrow is another read-a-thon.   A landmark one for Jenn and I as we reach double figures with out tenth time participating.   It's been another rough few weeks leading up to it so 24 hours escaping the real world is a good thing.   I have a simple goal tomorrow - 1000 pages.   My average number of pages over the previous nine is 997 pages so that should be a reasonable goal!!

-Richard

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

I finished reading:
"The White House Connection" written by Jack Higgins.  288 pages.

The 59th book of the year.  21,168 pages at an average of 359 pages per book.

-Richard

Sunday, October 07, 2012

I finished reading:
"Ethan Frome" written by Edith Wharton.  181 pages.

The 58th book of the year.  20,880 pages at an average of 360 per book.

-Richard

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

I finished reading:

"The Fall of the Russian Empire" written by Donald James.  439 pages.

The 57th book of the year.  20,699 pages at an average of 363 pages per book.

-Richard

Saturday, September 29, 2012

I finished reading:

"The Memorial" written by Christopher Isherwood.  220 Pages.

The 56th book of the year.  20,260 pages at an average of 362 pages per book.

-Richard

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

I finished reading:

"A Fine Night for Dying" written by Jack Higgins.  290 Pages.

The 55th book of the year.  20,040 pages at an average of 364 pages per book.

-Richard

Monday, September 24, 2012

I finished reading:

"Babbitt" by Sinclair Lewis.  327 pages.

54th book of the year.  19,750 pages at an average of 366 per book.

Richard

Saturday, September 22, 2012

I finished reading:
"Breakfast at Wimbledon" written by Jack M. Bickham.   375 pages.

53rd book of 2012.   19, 423 pages at an average of 366 pages per book.

-Richard

Monday, September 17, 2012


I finished reading:

"Decline and Fall" written by Evelyn Waugh.  216 pages.

The 52nd book of the year.  19,048 pages at an average of 366 pages per book.

Richard

Saturday, September 15, 2012

I finished reading:

"Russian Spring" written by Dennis Jones.  327 pages.

51st book of the year.  18,832 pages at an average of  369 per book.


- Richard

Sunday, September 09, 2012

I finished reading:

"The Secret Agent" written by Joseph Conrad.  269 pages.

The 50th book of the year.  18,505 pages at average of 370 pages per book.

-Richard

Friday, September 07, 2012

I finished reading:

"Cousin Bette" written by Honore de Balzac.  444 pages
"Escape from Warsaw" written by Ian Serraillier.  218 pages.

The 48th and 49th books of the year.  18,236 pages at an average of 372 pages per book.

-Richard

Thursday, August 30, 2012

I finished reading:

"Sharpe's Prey" written by Bernard Cornwell.  262 Pages.

47th book of the year.  17,574 at an average of 374 pages a book.

-Richard

Sunday, August 26, 2012

I finished reading:

"The Prime Minister" written by Anthony Trollope.  767 pages.

46th book of the year.  17,312 pages at an average of 376 pages per book.

-Richard

Sunday, August 19, 2012

I finished reading:

"Best of Young British Novelists 2003" written by various authors.  350 pages.

An interesting collection of short stories and excerpts from novels.   There are authors in this collection that I will look for their books now.

45th book of 2012.  16,545 pages at an average of 368 pages per book.

-Richard

Monday, August 13, 2012

I finished reading:

"Framley Parsonage" written by Anthony Trollope.  563 Pages.

44th book of the year.  16,195 pages at an average of 368 pages per book.

-Richard

Monday, July 30, 2012

I finished reading:

"5,000 Nights at the Opera: The Memories of Sir Rudolph Bing" written by Rudolph Bing.  360 Pages.

The 43rd book of the year.  15,632 pages at an average of 364 pages.

-Richard

Friday, July 20, 2012

I finished reading:

"The Golden Bowl" written by Henry James.  547 pages.

42nd book of the year.  15,272 pages at an average of 364 pages per book.

-Richard

Saturday, July 07, 2012

I finished reading:

"Yesterday's Spy" written by Len Deighton. 222 pages.

41st book of the year.  14,725 pages at an average of 359 pages per book.

-Richard

Thursday, July 05, 2012

I finished reading:

"Winesburg, Ohio" written by Sherwood Anderson.  252 pages.

The 40th book of the year.  14,503 pages at an average of 363 pages per book.

-Richard

Sunday, July 01, 2012

I finished reading:

"this world we live in" written by Susan Beth Pfeffer.  239 pages

39th book of 2012.  14,251 pages at an average of 365 pages per book.

-Richard

Saturday, June 30, 2012

I finished reading:

"Kane and Abel" written by Jeffrey Archer.  477 Pages.

"the dead and the gone" written by Susan Beth Pfeffer.  308 Pages.

The 37th and 38th books of the year.  14,012 pages at an average of 369 pages per book.

-Richard

Friday, June 22, 2012

I finished reading:

"The Heart of the Matter" written by Graham Greene.  244 pages.

The 36th book of 2012.  13,227 pages at an average of 367 pages per book.

-Richard

Sunday, June 17, 2012

I finished reading:

"Life as We Know It" written by Susan Pfeffer.  337 Pages.

35th book of the year. 12,983 pages at an average of 371 per book.

-Richard

Saturday, June 16, 2012

I finished reading:

"Saving Faith" written by David Baldacci.  495 Pages.

The 34th book of the year.  12,646 pages at an average of 372 per book.

-Richard

Monday, June 11, 2012

I finished reading:

"The Europeans" written by Henry James.  178 pages.

33rd book of 2012.  12,151 pages at an average of 368 pages per book.

-Richard

Saturday, June 09, 2012

I finished reading:

"Red Phoenix" written by Larry Bond.  694 pages.

32nd book of the year.   11973 pages at an average of 374 per book.

-Richard

Saturday, June 02, 2012

I finished reading:

"Dodsworth" written by Sinclair Lewis.  380 Pages.

31st book of the year.  11279 pages at an average of 364 pages per book.

-Richard


Saturday, May 26, 2012

I finished reading:

"The English Assassin" written by Daniel Silva.  383 pages.

The 30th book of the year.  10899 pages at an average of 363 per book.

-Richard

Thursday, May 24, 2012

I finished reading:

"Nana" written by Emile Zola.  410 pages.

I like Zola, but, this one was not my favourite.   Very slow and predictable.

29th book of the year.  10516 pages at an average of 363 pages per book.

-Richard