Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon: #TBR and Updates | October 2021

Happy Readathon Day!

It’s here it’s here it’s here!!!!! I don’t know about you, but I look forward to Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathons as much as (or more than) I look forward to other holidays now. I’m really excited for later because, drum roll please…. I’m cohosting over at the Readathon blog and twitter for hours 3, 4, and 5! Yay! Be sure to come and visit me while I’m over there. But! Since you’re here for the updates, I’ll stop writing my intro now and let you see what you came here for!

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Published on October 13, 2020 by Redhook
Genres: Alternate History, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, New Adult, Queer
Pages: 517
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Author Links: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram

In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.
But when the Eastwood sisters--James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna--join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witch's movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote-and perhaps not even to live-the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.
There's no such thing as witches. But there will be.

The [Un]Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez
Published on June 1, 2021 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genres: Contemporary, Queer, Aspec, YA
Pages: 416
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Vaseline on the teeth makes a smile shine. It’s a cheap stunt, but Mark Adams knows it’s optics that can win or ruin an election.
Everything Mark learned about politics, he learned from his father, the congressman who still pretends he has a daughter and not a son. To protect his father’s image, Mark promises to keep his past hidden and pretend to be the cis guy everyone assumes he is. But when he sees a manipulatively charming candidate for student body president inflame dangerous rhetoric, Mark decides to risk the low profile he assured his father and insert himself as a political challenger.
One big problem? No one really knows Mark. He didn’t grow up in this town, and he has few friends; plus, the ones he does have aren’t exactly with the in-crowd. Still, thanks to countless seasons of Scandal and The West Wing, these nerds know where to start: from campaign stops to voter polling to a fashion makeover. Soon Mark feels emboldened to get in front of and engage with voters—and even start a new romance. But with an investigative journalist digging into his past, a father trying to silence him, and a bully front-runner who stands in his way, Mark will have to decide which matters most: perception or truth, when both are just as dangerous.

Update One:

Friday Night at 6:37 pm: I know it’s early, but I can’t believe I only have one book on my tbr! I completely intended on having like a dozen graphic novels and short stories, but I decided to just read The Once and Future Witches after reading A Spindle Splintered last week and falling in love with Alix E. Harrow’s writing.

Update two:

8:07 am: Well, I’m off to a rough start. Despite trying to go to sleep early so that I could wake up early, I was up sick most of the night and woke up at 7:52! I’m 28 years old and every time I get excited about anything, I end up not feeling well. Hopefully I’ll feel better as the day goes on and end up reading and enjoying readathon! Be back soon!

Update Three:

8:52 pm: hello again! I had a lovely time co hosting over on the Readathon twitter this morning, and after watching the end of a Christmas movie and eating lunch with my family, I finally started reading! but… I decided to finish The [Un]Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez before starting The Once and Future Witches and that was definitely the right decision! I absolutely LOVED the book, and I’m including a (completely out of context) quote here because I had to share my love for this story! Okay, time to start my next book! Happy reading everyone!

Update Four:

Sunday 1:06 pm: The Readathon is officially over and I had a great (if completely different from what I had planned) time! I finished The [Un]Popular Vote and absolutely LOVED it!!! I also started The Once and Future Witches and I can now say with 10000% certainty that Alix E. Harrow is one of my FAVORITE authors! I had a great time co hosting and I can’t wait for April’s readathon!

Opening Survey

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

Maine, USA!

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow!

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

My dunkin’ extra caramel iced apple cider!

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I’m a Youth Services Library Assistant and I just put together my first interactive teen display!

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?

I’ve been participating in Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon for six and half years! Probably the biggest difference today is that my #tbr only has one book on it. Usually I have a dozen or more!

Are you participating in Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon? Let me know in the comments and have a splendiferous day!