Why I Like Readathons

One really weird thing about me is that I like preparation processes and because I’m about 100% sure that no one knows what I mean by that, let me explain.

I like preparing for things; I like getting ready for events. On the blue moon occasions that I actually go out with friends to a bar or to a club, I like the part of the night where you get ready at home with a couple of friends. When I was in high school and going to the school dances, I loved the getting ready process more than the actual dance. Another example is that I love packing for trips, I don’t know about you but when I pack I imagine all the adventures that I am going to have and I am in the belief that the outfit choice can make or break your day and the fun time you could have had.

I’ve gotten off track.

Ashleigh over at afrolicthroughfiction leads these great discussion posts, awhile ago she posted a discussion about readathons and it got me thinking a lot about why I love readathons.

One of the simple things I like to do for readathons is to prepare for them, whether the readathon is for 24 hours, a weekend, a week, or two weeks. Preparing is a simple yet fun way for me to get pumped and excited for it. My prep includes figuring out my TBR, cleaning the house, making meal plans, and crossing off other small items from my to-do list. Not only does a readathon help me feel accomplished with my TBR pile but also with the rest of my life, I now have a lot of my little tasks completed, a meal plan for the week, and a clean house. Life is a little more organized.

Hermit status: Another fact about me, honestly, I am a massive recluse. Big time introvert. I very rarely ever go out, I don’t like going out, I am perfectly happy with just being at home with my cat and the bf most days. Whenever its readathon time my excuse for not going out is “Sorry I’m currently in the middle of a readathon, catch you next week?”

*Side note* my best friend Sam has a mental radar for when I am in the middle of a readathon because that is when she wants to go out. It never fails.

Bookish Community. I love the book community around readathon time, everyone’s excited and everyone is sharing what they are planning on reading, where they are reading at. Everyone is fangirling over reading choices and it’s wonderful. There’s a strong sense of union among book nerds because we’re all doing this together, we’re all putting aside a lot of precious time to read. And especially if a handful of people are reading the same book. When that happens I feel like it’s the bookish equivalent of a multiplayer online game, does that make sense? Everyone is reading it with you, they’re having the same experience and it’s a fun bonding opportunity.

Are you still with me? Did I lose you after the Xbox live comparison?

Things I need during a readathon
Crock pot/slow cooker (amazing kitchen tool. If I could marry it, I would.)
For readathons, I recommend preparing soups or chili and other easy meals I always like to make a batch of pulled pork and just eat pulled pork sandwiches.
snacks (I can’t be the only one who gets hungry when they read.)
my weakness are chips either Salt and Vinegar or Cool Ranch Doritos, besides chips I like ice cream sandwiches, apples, veggies and hummus.
coffee (Bookworm yolos-Just one more chapter. Sleep is for the weak. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.) Coffee is needed for those yolos.
Comfy place to read. Bed. Chair. Couch. where do you like to read? I’ll read anywhere as long as I’m comfy
Music- I do listen to music when I read. There’s something about having music on that really helps me direct my focus on whatever is in front of me when I don’t play music I notice that my thoughts go everywhere and it distracts me. I listen to scores mostly, I love the score from Assassins Creed 2 and Batman Arkham Knight.
Comfy Clothes- Sweatpants/leggings and an oversized t-shirt.