I got a late start because I had a prior engagement, so now it’s all about making up time.

Right now, I’m about to dive into Dawn by Kevin Brooks, which is due out this December. (I was unsuccessful at locating a cover image online, therefore had to take a quick snapshot of my copy).

Brief Synopsis:

Dawn Bundy lives in a world inside her head. A world that is dark and quiet, and where she can disappear from the hard truths of her life. Her father, a drug addicted alcoholic, disappeared two years ago, leaving the skeletons in his closet behind for Dawn and her alcoholic, self-medicating mother to live with. Before leaving, he became fiercely addicted to religion, making Dawn believe that God led her father to do the despicable thing he did–only once–to Dawn on a quiet night in December while she lay quietly in bed.

So, Dawn has decided to go shopping for Bibles to learn about God, her enemy. Because only when you know your enemy can you defeat it–and that is exactly what Dawn sets out to do–she wants to defeat God as a way to heal her pain.

It wasn’t in my original read-a-thon book pool and (as far as I can tell) it’s not very frightening, but when I read the first two pages, I said, “Hmm…that’s interesting.” There’s just something about it that’s tugging at me to read it.

But you can be certain that when I finish, I’ll be moving along to something far more bone-chilling: Soulless by Christopher Golden. I’ve been waiting to read that one all day.

Now, I’m off to see how others are doing for a few minutes (my breather) and then it’s time to get reading.

Wow. There’s less than 24 hours remaining until the 24 hour read-a-thon begins. Is it normal to be nervous? I haven’t yet stocked up on my 5 Hour Energy drinks. (Mental note: Must get 5 hr energy.)

You guessed it, I’m gungho about doing the full 24 hour thing because, due to some bad scheduling on my part, I won’t be able to read for about a 6 hour chunk of the day. That’s one entire full length novel right there and I must make up for it.

OMG, I haven’t even scheduled in time for eating or bathroom breaks…must stop and take breath.

I just went back and re-read what I wrote and I think I’m a bit neurotic about this thing. Am I the only one? I can’t be the only one.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I should just not be allowed out of the house anymore. Why? Because every time I leave, I come back with more books…even though I tell myself, no more—for goodness’ sake, your shelves are bowing under the weight. But do I listen? Noooo.

Anyhoo, I bet you can already guess where this post is going…

Yes, you’re right. I went out yesterday (with the intention of only being moral support for my sister on her shopping excursion) and bought more books. Three books and a magazine to be exact. (Four if you count the book I conned my sister into buying so that I could borrow it later.)

Now let me justify. I was reading up on some 24 hour read-a-thon tips and they mentioned getting some short(ish) books. Well, looking back at my reading pool, there weren’t too many short books so I decided I needed some. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is only about 275 pages and has been on my Want™ list for a day shy of forever. I’ve kept putting it off despite all the rave reviews it’s received.

I learned about the Dork Diaries a few months ago (the blog’s name escapes me at the moment) and thought the drawings were “oh, so clever!” and the story sounded adorable. My downfall was picking up the book and leafing through it and realizing that I absolutely had to have it. Luckily it’s only 282 pages (and written in bubbly print handwriting, which means it’s only about 150 printed pages, so even better).

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was a complete impulse buy. I decided I needed to expand my horizons and pick up a book I normally wouldn’t get. After reading the back flap and having vague reminiscences of the Velveteen Rabbit, I decided to throw it in the cart. Thank goodness it’s only 210 short pages.

There you have it…three more books in the read-a-thon book pool (if I can restrain myself and wait to read them).

Now someone please come and bolt me up inside my home. And figure out how to set the child filters on my computer and block me from accessing Amazon (or any other online book dealer).

There are a ton of books marked as “To Be Read” around here, but since it’s October and I’m participating in the R.I.P. IV challenge, I’ve decided to limit my book pool to all things macabre, supernatural, and spooky. Werewolves, ghosts, ghouls, vampires, witches, poltergeists, mythological beasties, aliens, faeries, and psycho killers are all fair game.

And since I don’t know exactly what I’ll be in the mood to read from minute to minute come October 24, this list is going to be long and unwieldy and there’s a good chance I won’t finish all of them…I’ll probably be lucky if I finish four.

There’s some overlapping with my RIP IV reading pool, but I figure that’s OK.

* I decided to swap Unholy Child by Catherine Breslin for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, but didn’t feel like taking another picture. Sorry. I got hit up by The Lazies™.