#ThanksgivingReadathon : Goals and TBR

November 20, 2017

I couldn’t be more excited to be hosting the #ThanksgivingReadaton this year with Ottavia @ Novels and Nonfiction. A little over a year ago, we got together and decided to make time for ourselves and our reading during a traditionally hectic time. Now– we share that with you! The #ThanksgivingReadathon is a stress-free way to get caught up with your reading and prioritize me-time during a family-packed week.

If you’d like to be involved you can participate in any or all of the following:

  • Read as many books as you can in those 5 days
  • Use the hashtag #ThanksgivingReadathon to share your participation and progress using Twitter and other social media sites
  • Publish a Sign-Up Post between Monday the 20th and Wednesday the 22nd with your readathon TBR and goals.
    • Bonus: Share some of your holiday traditions or what you are excited about this Thanksgiving week!
  • Publish a Wrap-Up post on between Monday the 27th and Wednesday the 29th sharing your readathon victories!
    • Bonus: Share what you are thankful for this year.
  • Comment on Ottavia’s and my own posts with your post links to link up and share the comment love

This means no self-shaming over what you read or didn’t read– this is just about making time for reading! Bring yourself some peace of mind for a few days. For more details, check out my announcement post.


Jackie B’s #ThanksgivingReadathon TBR

 

I have an ambitious TBR for my readathon– I am a mood reader, so who knows what I’ll actually end up reading from this list. Or even if I’ll *only* read books from this list! My goal? Finish three books. More would be better, but no pressure on me. 😉

The Book I am in the Middle of Right Now
 The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Okay, I’m about 65% done with the book as of today. It’s the audiobook I’m listening to when I take the dog on his daily walks. I expect I’ll wrap things up this week, but not until after the readathon begins.

The VACB Book Club Book
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Reread

A reread for me, I am really looking forward to listening to this audiobook! We don’t meet until February for this book club, but I am also trying to read The Pillars of the Earth for the same timeframe. Anything to stay ahead!

Most Likely to Be The Audiobook for our Roadtrip
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Reread

One of my all-time-favorite-novels, I think out of all the audiobooks I’ve collected for our 9-hour-one-way road trip for the holidays, this one will be the winner. I cannot wait to get lost in this world again.

Shortest Library Hold Length EVER
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Yup. I picked this up at the library on Saturday. It’s due back in 7 days. Guess who is cranking out reading this amazing YA best seller during Thanksgiving?

SUPER Honored the Author Asked for a Review
The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel

I have never been so excited to write a review where the text “I received a copy from the author in exchange for a review” appears. Magical realism? Set in Ohio? All my blogger friends have really enjoyed this? Yes. Please.

#ARCsAnonymous Book I Should Be Able To Review In Time!
The Hidden Face by S.C. Flynn

Speaking of excitement with authors– The Hidden Face comes out on November 25th. We’re only 6 days away right now, but I’m going to do my best to read this book ASAP and get that review published in time!

 

#AnneReadAlong2017 November Book
Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery

I can’t believe I’m still excited to read these books! Book 7 out of 8 in the Anne of Green Gables series is next for #AnneReadAlong2017 . I hope you’ll join in the discussion!


Thanksgiving Traditions

 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s a holiday celebrated in many countries, but for those who are interested in learning more about Thanksgiving in the United States, click here.

My family is very important to me. And they are spread out all over the continental U.S. Yet for 4 days a year, we all come together. ~35 of us all gather together in Columbus, Ohio from North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, New York, California, and Massachusetts. It’s a packed long weekend of food, family, and general happiness. 

Here is our typical itinerary:

Wednesday: Family Hanukkah Dinner Celebration. Only the immediate relatives on my Mom’s side, so ~20 of us. At my Mom’s house. Traditional Jewish foods, including latkes and gefilte fish. White Elephant gift exchange. Nerf gun fight. Proper family gift exchange.

Thursday: Wake up and start cooking. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and then the Westminster Dog Show. Get kicked out of the kitchen around lunch. Go to my aunt’s for Thanksgiving around 4. Eat. Drink. Eat. Drink. Share what we are all thankful for. Watch football. Eat. Drink. Play rock band and Cards Against Humanity. Make poor life choices. Watch the sun come up.

Friday: Those who made poor choices sleep in. Others go Black Friday shopping. Afternoon time is to visit local friends. Then we see a movie together — well, at least all in the same theatre. Then to my Aunt’s for leftovers! Finally, we go to the Columbus Zoo for ZooLights! The best.

Saturday: Go to the Ohio State vs. Michigan game. Home or away, it doesn’t matter. Eat leftovers. Be sad our time together is ending.

Sunday: Everyone slowly leaves with full bellies and happy memories.

It’s a seemingly endless marathon of constant food, family, and love. It’s 9 hours there and back and I need to sleep for like a week afterward- but I’m wrapped up with happiness and love for weeks afterward.

Like I said. Best holiday ever. 


Don’t forget we have a Winter Reading Giveaway!

 

Participation in the Thanksgiving Readathon will gain you bonus entries to this amazing collection curated by Ottavia @ Novels and Nonfiction:

  • a hardcover of the November 2017 release The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain
  • a cable-knit throw from Elle Decor with a fleece lining
  • fuzzy knit sparkly green socks
  • a peppermint snow scented candle
  • a snowflake patterned mug
  • Winter Wake Up tea from Trader Joe’s

We have expanded the giveaway to include Canada! After all, we can’t ignore the awesome loft party going on above us. Our friends up north keep me sane.

The giveaway is officially open and will run through Tuesday, November 28th at midnight. There are multiple ways to enter, so make certain you take advantage of them:


What do you think?

  • Are you joining the #ThanksgivingReadathon ? Let me know and/or share your sign-up post below!
  • What do you think of my TBR? Where would you start reading first?
  • What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions?
  • What do you plan on reading over the next week?

45 Comments

  • Theresa @ TheCalicoBooks November 20, 2017 at 11:19 am

    I am looking forward to participating in this! I just found out about this today, so I will be sure to share my TBR post when it is ready, hopefully tomorrow! 🙂

    • Jackie B November 21, 2017 at 7:43 pm

      YAY! I’m SUPER EXCITED you’re joining us! This will be fun and low-key– just the way the holidays *should* be. XD

  • Hungry Bookworm November 20, 2017 at 12:05 pm

    Your list looks awesome! I haven’t heard of The Summer That Melted Everything, but it sounds interesting! Added it to my TBR – can’t wait to hear what you think of it 🙂

    Here’s my sign-up post: https://www.hungry-bookworm.com/2017/11/20/thanksgiving-readathon-2017/

    • Jackie B November 22, 2017 at 9:51 am

      Thanks! It’s the mood reader in me, uncertain where I will be going from this point forward, right? Who knows where the mood will strike me to read different books. My key to success is to change books once I find my mind wandering. With a wide variety, it’s easy to stay engaged.

      Welcome to the readathon, Megan! We couldn’t be more excited to have you joining us.

  • Grab the Lapels November 20, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    The zoo lights sounds really fun! I never would have pegged you as a Cards Against Humanity person; you’re so civilized compared to the rest of us lot.

    • Jackie B November 21, 2017 at 6:38 pm

      XD You got me! I’m totally not a Cards Against Humanity person. In fact, people find playing with me a challenge because I don’t find the racist, sexist, raunchy jokes funny. I always pick the sweet answers. And it’s TOTALLY possible to make sweet combinations of cards. I don’t often win, but I always enjoy making the game sweeter than intended. 😉

  • Novels And Nonfiction November 20, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    This sounds like pretty much the best Thanksgiving ever! Nerf gun fight, Cards Against Humanity, the Westminster Dog Show AND ZooLights? Wow, your family sure knows how to have fun 🙂 I’m sure it’ll be hard to find time to read amidst all the merriment but I believe in you! 😉

    • Jackie B November 22, 2017 at 9:59 am

      Haha. This is why the readathon is important! Otherwise, I find that I get home from the holiday and I’m sooooo wiped I need to take a holiday from my holiday. It’s all part of finding balance. 😀

  • maphead November 20, 2017 at 8:48 pm
    • Jackie B November 22, 2017 at 9:59 am

      Woohoo! Welcome to the readathon, Maphead!!! We are super excited to have you.

  • Lashaan (Bookidote) November 20, 2017 at 9:26 pm

    Those are definitely some really awesome books you plan on reading/listening too! Do you often reread books? 😮 I find it hard to do such a thing when I also know there are so many other books I also want to read and discover! I can only imagine myself rereading a book if it’s right before the release of a sequel and that I’ve forgotten a lot of the story or if it’s just a graphic novel! 😛 I also hope to read Good Omens some day! That book sounded amazing since the day I first heard of it! 😀 Also awesome to see what your own traditions are on these days! I don’t often hear about it with this must structure and they’re often just the “typical supper”. Thanks for sharing, Jackie!! 😀

    • Jackie B November 22, 2017 at 10:08 am

      I don’t re-read books often. In this case, one re-read is for a book club (Good Omens) and the other is because my partner and I struggle to find audiobooks we both can agree on for roadtrips! XD We really enjoy fantasy, but I can’t handle grimdark. We have 18 hours round-trip, so we want a book which we can listen to in 18 hours of less. You’d be surprised how challenging it can be for us to make this happen! I recently learned that Jim Dale (of Harry Potter narration fame) narrated my favorite book of all time — The Night Circus, and David has never read it before. So: BAM. The book was chosen.

      I’m with you that most of my re-reads happen due to needing a series reminder. Though, I tend to wait until a series is fully published before I read any of the books. I like binge-reading series. The one exception is Harry Potter. I like to re-read one of those books a year. Because <3

      Our traditions are a bit crazy, I will admit. Since it's the only time we see each other each year, we make the most of it. Hence the reason I need the readathon! Otherwise, I'd need a vacation from my vacation by the end of this crazy long weekend.

  • Dani @ Perspective of a Writer November 20, 2017 at 9:58 pm

    WOW! You guys are hardcore celebrating Thanksgiving Jackie!! That is an incredible itinerary… your family is so dedicated to meeting up… that is rare to find I think unless you are in the same city… (or is it just my family?!) What fun!! Good luck reading with half your books audio, what a great idea to multi-task! You are amazing to re-read books… I know from the past that you do so… but WOW! I just can’t even with there being ones I would like to so I could write a sensical review! <3 Happy Thanksgiving Jackie!

    • Jackie B November 21, 2017 at 8:02 pm

      Thank you! We are super invested since this is the one time all year long we’re all together. I see my parents and brother probably only two other times per year, if that. Travel is challenging. So, we make the most of our time together and we are committed to that.

      Thanks for the well-wishes! Audiobooks are critical for our ride to and from Ohio. Plus, I listen to them when I run and walk the dog. I’m hoping that I can make a dent using those in conjunction with some proper inked books as well.

      I’m wishing you all the best too– Happy Thanksgiving, Dani!

  • Sarah @ Reviews and Readathons November 20, 2017 at 10:54 pm

    Thanksgiving is usually super busy for me with traveling and such–but I’m going to try & get some good reading in, so I may join. I’ll plan on getting a sign-up post together tomorrow :).

  • Ann Marie November 21, 2017 at 7:14 am

    Love your Thanksgiving weekend plans. Mine are similar. 😉 Though I know soon I’m going to have to take them to the parade which is equal parts amazing and total you-know-what show. People line up at the wee hours of the morning and I’m more the type of gal who will just send a family member to plop my chair down and wait for me. (In my defense, I do NOT do this with pool chairs on cruise ships!)

    I just started The Summer that Melted Everything last night. Sadly, I only got 2 chapters in before a trip to the basement for a bottle of wine revealed water leaking from some valve in boiler which pretty much upended my night. But so far, so good! I’m loving her writing!

    • Jackie B November 22, 2017 at 10:14 am

      You go to the parade! That’s very brave of you. I don’t think I could do more than watch it on TV — the crowds would overwhelm me. Plus, I am with you on wanting to sleep in instead of arriving around 3am. Yikes. It’s cool, but it’s not that cool. I think I’d try to make friends with someone who lives or works in a building along the route! XD

      OH NO! I’m so sorry that your boiler was leaking. I hope that it has been resolved. O_o But… at least you went to get that bottle of wine, right? Otherwise it could have been MUCH worse.

      I look forward to hearing what we *both* think of this book. 😀

  • Molly November 21, 2017 at 9:43 am

    I love your list! I really enjoyed The Maze Runner and I am dying to get my hands on The Hate You Give!! Good luck and I hope you have an amazing Thanksgiving!

    My sign up link is here: https://mollysmadnessblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/21/thanksgiving-readathon/

    • Jackie B November 22, 2017 at 10:16 am

      I’m SUPER close to ending The Maze Runner already (I stayed up far too late last night…) and I’m loving it. I’m a bit frustrated with Dashner’s writing style, but not enough to be frustrated with the text overall. I have hope the books will improve as we get deeper in the series.

      Good luck to you, as well! I am super excited you’re joining us for the readathon.

  • Helen Murdoch November 21, 2017 at 11:08 am

    Thank you for hosting this readathon! You are going to love The Hate U Give, it’s so good! http://www.helensbookblog.com/2017/11/thanksgiving-readathon.html

    • Jackie B November 22, 2017 at 10:17 am

      Thank you for joining us on this readathon!! I am super excited to read The Hate U Give — and I hope I can get it done before it’s due back at the library…. O_o

      Good luck with your reading, Helen!

  • Laila@BigReadingLife November 21, 2017 at 4:12 pm

    Once you start reading The Hate U Give I bet it’ll take you no time at all – I really liked it. I especially liked the realistic feel of her family (Starr, the MC.)

    Your Thanksgiving sounds awesome! Mine is less eventful but it is still my favorite holiday – less stress, good food, just relaxing and watching football – then decorating our house for Christmas the day after. I don’t shop on Black Friday – I’d rather pay more and not fight crowds or lose sleep!

    • Jackie B November 22, 2017 at 10:38 am

      I’ve heard so many people raving about how great this book is. I cannot wait to start it! Particularly because it features realistic family relationships. We don’t have enough of this in our YA literature in particular. It’s like no author has a healthy relationship with their family? *shrug*

      Black Friday can be sooooo exhausting. I definitely don’t participate often. Sometimes I like the social aspect of it. Particularly when my family members have specific items they want to get. I love celebrating the victories with them.

      Your Thanksgiving sounds *lovely*. I hope that you have a wonderful and relaxing long weekend!

  • Books, Vertigo and Tea November 21, 2017 at 6:23 pm

    Several of these are on my list, including the Hate U Give. I started it recently, but shelved it because I felt my mindset was not in the best place to take from it all I should if that makes sense. I will be watching for your thoughts on the Night Circus audio! I loved the book so much, but never have even sampled the audio! I will be curious as to whether the narration is able to capture it well 😉

    • Jackie B November 23, 2017 at 10:12 am

      It totally makes sense– I have certainly put books down because I wasn’t in the right mindset to absorb everything I needed to from it. The Hate U Give feels like a book which might be just like that.

      I love The Night Circus. Jim Dale is doing an AMAZING job with the audiobook, for sure. I’m super impressed, as always. As you can imagine, some things are more obvious and others are less– but that’s for my review. 😉

      • Books, Vertigo and Tea November 30, 2017 at 3:36 pm

        I will try not to miss the review! A bit of a setback this week, so I am afraid I will not be able to catch up on all of the posts I missed. Have you posted it yet? I will be blog hopping this weekend as able.

        • Jackie B December 4, 2017 at 9:05 am

          Nope– not yet. The holiday season is slowly crushing me under the gigantic To Do list, sadly. It will be coming either this or next week, I hope! I understand not being able to catch up… my blog hopping is on hold for a few weeks at this point.

          • Books, Vertigo and Tea December 4, 2017 at 8:38 pm

            I can certainly understand that and appreciate it. I am sort of in the same spot. Between health, work and trying to prepare for Holiday.. drowning <3

  • Pathologically Literate November 22, 2017 at 10:17 am

    LOVED The Hate U Give!!

    The link to my sign-up post: http://pathologicallyliterate.com/2017/11/22/thanksgiving-readathon-2017/

    Happy Reading, y’all!!

    • Jackie B November 22, 2017 at 10:18 am

      YAY! I’m super excited you’re joining us, Sasha!! Welcome to the Thanksgiving Readathon.

      It’s so great to hear all the praise for The Hate U Give — I can’t wait to see your TBR, too. 😀

  • Theresa @ TheCalicoBooks November 22, 2017 at 6:43 pm

    I finally posted my TBR! https://thecalicobooks.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/thanksgivingreadathon-tbr/

    I’m so excited for this readathon!

    • Jackie B November 23, 2017 at 10:42 am

      Yay!!!! Thank you for sharing! I’m off to check it out. I wish you all the best in this readathon. Welcome to the team!

  • Annemieke November 23, 2017 at 12:22 pm

    Looks like a great tbr. I started Good Omens last year but I think with merijn being so tiny and me stressed it wasn’t a good time for me to read it. I think I’ll try again next year. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!

    • Jackie B November 28, 2017 at 9:13 am

      Good Omens is a strangely complex book. It doesn’t come across that way due to all the humor, though. I can imagine how being distracted with a toddler would make it difficult to stay focused. I really enjoy it, though.

      Have you read anything else be Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratchett? If you like their work, I’d definitely give this a second chance.

      • Annemieke November 28, 2017 at 11:29 am

        Oh yeah I’ve loved books by them both. I have a shelf and a half of just Pratchett books haha.

  • theorangutanlibrarian November 23, 2017 at 8:53 pm

    Oh wow that’s incredible you received a copy of Summer that melted everything 😀 I’ve been meaning to read it for ages (it’s even on my kindle lol 😉 ) So looking forward to your thoughts on that!! Also happy Thanksgiving! Also mmm latkas (though to be honest, I can always skip gefilte fish 😉 I know, I know, not a proper Jew or whatever, but I’m just not keen) This sounds like you’re going to have a lovely time!! 😀 Hope it’s amazing!!

    • Jackie B November 30, 2017 at 5:47 pm

      I know, right?! I couldn’t be more excited. The Summer That Melted Everything is different from what I expected, but I am really enjoying it. The writing is atmospheric and super unreliable. It’s quite different from most books I’ve read.

      Haha. You don’t have to like gefilte fish. Have you ever had homemade gefilte, instead of what comes in a jar? It’s SUPER different. I recommend trying it. And, I like to make fritters out of it because frying anything makes it better. Just sayin’. 😉

      Thanksgiving and Hanukkah were lovely. I’m exhausted after that hectic week, however. I need a holiday from my holiday, right? Right.

      • theorangutanlibrarian November 30, 2017 at 6:35 pm

        Oh that’s great to hear- I really love the sound of that 😀

        hahah I know, it’s just a joke my grandma used to make 😉 hehe I think I’ve tried it every which way at this point 😉 hahaha although I do agree about frying things!! 😉

        Oh wonderful- so glad you had a lovely time hahaha I can relate to that 😉

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