Month: February 2021

Hour 48: fin.

WE DID IT! 48 hours of community reading, and so much book love across so many different platforms. First up, take a breath and pat yourselves on the back, because you all ROCK.

gif of President Biden and Dr. Biden celebrating and clapping in a library

This little corner of the bookish internet has grown and changed and evolved over the nine (NINE!?) years we’ve been doing #24in48. It had one host (Rachel) and 16 participants; then two hosts and a few hundred participants; then three hosts and, at one point, over 2,000 readers. We’ve scaled the event up and down and up and back down again. We’ve made mistakes (plenty of them), had a few trolls (thanks, internet!), and met so many incredible, amazing, astounding, oh-my-gosh-I’m-using-too-many-adjectives readers. 

FEELINGS. We’ve got them. About this event, about the bookternet, about each other, and, mostly, about all of you for coming along on this reading journey with us. We hope you love it as much as we do. Until next time, 

xoxo,

Rachel, Kristen, and Kerry

gif of stephen colbert crying saying “i just feel like my heart is going to burst because it’s full of rainbows”

P.S. Stay tuned for a wrap-up post sharing what you all logged in the February 2021 Book Log later this week; and don’t forget to log your books there if you haven’t already!

Hour 36: the home stretch

It’s the final countdown, the home stretch, the end of the road, the last mile of the journey, the fourth quarter, and every other time metaphor or trite saying you can think of. 

You’re doing so great, you’re doing so well, we’re so happy you’re here and so proud of every moment you’ve devoted to reading this weekend. 

Top off your water, open a window and take a deep breath of fresh air, give us a stretch. We’re in this til the end with you; see you at the finish line! 

gif of beyonce reading to her children

While you’re here, don’t forget:

  • Follow us on social media for more updates. We’re most active Instagram and Twitter throughout the weekend, though we do try to keep our Facebook page updated as well.
  • Cheer on others! Search the hashtag #24in48, #24in48Readathon, and #24in48GroupRead to see what others are up to, and cheer them on! (Side note on hashtags: For accessibility purposes, we ask participants to please remember to use capitalization in the hashtags.)

Hour 24: Halfway there check-in!

Woooooo, we’re halfway there! How are y’all feeling? Amped up and ready to go? Ready for a nap? Somewhere in between?

It’s midnight for two of your hosts, and early morning for the third, so we’re divvying up hosting responsibilities so that everyone can get some sleep. [At least one of your hosts has been asleep for at least 3 hours at this point, because night-owl she is not. Who wants to guess which one that is?]

As we go into the second half of this, remember: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Take breaks when you need them, and don’t forget to check in with other participants to cheer them on when you can!

While you’re here, don’t forget:

  • Follow us on social media for more updates. We’re most active Instagram and Twitter throughout the weekend, though we do try to keep our Facebook page updated as well.
  • Cheer on others! Search the hashtag #24in48, #24in48Readathon, and #24in48GroupRead to see what others are up to, and cheer them on! (Side note on hashtags: For accessibility purposes, we ask participants to please remember to use capitalization in the hashtags.)
gif of five readers underneath a banner reading squad goals

Hour 12: Check-in

TWELVE HOURS! We’re halfway through day one. How are things going? How are you feeling? How are the books?

For those of us on East Coast time, we’re just hitting lunchtime; for readers across the US, some are even just waking up; some of our international readers have almost a full day of reading behind them already. Regardless, remember to pace yourselves, stay hydrated, move your body in ways that feel good to you (a walk? a stretch? a yoga? a workout?). 

I (Kerry) always hit the 12-hour mark somewhere between “OhMyGosh I’m so behind” and “full of hope for the rest of the weekend’s reading.” Since having a kiddo, however, I’ve adjusted my expectations for any ‘thon event and learned (mostly) to just be grateful for any span of uninterrupted reading time, rare as it is with a tiny toddler at home with no outside childcare (thanks, pandemic!). 

I share this only to say: I see you. We see you! Take the pressure off. Have fun. Meet other readers. Read good books. That’s what this weekend is all about: 24 hours is just the icing on (some participants’) cake.

While you’re here, don’t forget:

  • Follow us on social media for more updates. We’re most active Instagram and Twitter throughout the weekend, though we do try to keep our Facebook page updated as well.
  • Cheer on others! Search the hashtag #24in48, #24in48Readathon, and #24in48GroupRead to see what others are up to, and cheer them on! (Side note on hashtags: For accessibility purposes, we ask participants to please remember to use capitalization in the hashtags.)
gif of Levar Burton and Michelle Obama sitting in chairs reading children’s books

Hour 0: Kickoff

It. Is. HAPPENING.

After a long hiatus, we’re looking forward to being back in the #24in48 groove this weekend, curled up reading with all y’all with a big stack of books, some giant mugs of tea/coffee/whatever floats your boat, and, of course, SNACKS.

ASMR, much? (gif showing a cozy reading library with a fire)

As a reminder, your hosts are experimenting with a streamlined and more laid-back version of the ‘thon this time around, which means you’ll see a few changes:

  • No prizes, and no hourly challenges. We still hope you’ll post what you’re reading, where you’re reading, and more, but we won’t be collecting formal “entries” for prize drawings this time around. 
  • New this ‘thon: Group Reads! By popular demand, we’re experimenting with group readalongs this weekend! See what books we picked for community readalongs (one fiction and one non-fiction) and join in the conversation on social media using the hashtag #24in48GroupRead. We also have two static posts on our social media channels and on this blog for comments and discussion, should you prefer to comment there instead of on your own channels. [Jump to Felix Ever After Group Reads post] [Jump to White Negroes Group Reads post]
  • Story templates. If you want to use our templates to share on your OWN social media platforms, we’ve got you covered! You can screenshot Instagram story templates in our saved highlight here; the same templates can be used for Facebook stories if that’s more your speed.

And some things will look the same:

  • Sign up! Though we won’t be using the sign-ups to check prize winners or the like this round, signing up helps us keep track of the size of this event, and make sure that you receive any email updates with future announcements.
  • Follow us on social media for more updates. We’ll have posts every twelve hours on this site, as well as updates on Instagram and Twitter throughout the weekend. (We’ll do our best to update on Facebook as well, but that platform just isn’t as user-friendly for Pages so no promises!). 
  • Log what you’ve read. Instead of adding books to a Goodreads shelf, as in past ‘thons, we’ll be splicing and dicing the data about what’s read this ‘thon to give a sense of the size and scope of the books people pick up for these weekend events. Be sure to log what you read to be part of the data set for your data-loving hosts to share back with you all!
  • As always, cheer on others! Search the hashtag #24in48, #24in48Readathon, and #24in48GroupRead to see what others are up to, and cheer them on! We hear repeatedly that the best part of this weekend is the community, and that’s YOU. Yes, YOU! We’re so glad you’re here. (Side note on hashtags: For accessibility purposes, we ask participants to please remember to use capitalization in the hashtags.)

Got questions? Not sure what’s up? Drop us a comment or DM on Instagram or Twitter and we’ll try to get back to you ASAP! Now, hit those books.

gif showing an illustrated book stack growing taller

#24in48GroupRead: White Negroes, by Lauren Michele Jackson

As noted in the group read post for our fiction pick this ‘thon, we recognize that many bookish conversations have moved to other platforms: Bookstagram, Twitter, Litsy, TinyLetters, and the like. And while we hope that readers continue to share about the #24in48GroupReads on social media, we also wanted to create a space for non-social-media users to comment, discuss, and share thoughts about the books selected for this weekend… and so we’re going back to our old book-blogging roots with a post for each group read. 

White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue… And Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation 

A debut from assistant professor of English and cultural critic/New Yorker Staff writer Lauren Michele Jackson (she/her), here’s what to expect:

Exposes the new generation of whiteness thriving at the expense and borrowed ingenuity of black people—and explores how this intensifies racial inequality.

American culture loves blackness. From music and fashion to activism and language, black culture constantly achieves worldwide influence. Yet, when it comes to who is allowed to thrive from black hipness, the pioneers are usually left behind as black aesthetics are converted into mainstream success—and white profit.

Weaving together narrative, scholarship, and critique, Lauren Michele Jackson reveals why cultural appropriation—something that’s become embedded in our daily lives—deserves serious attention. It is a blueprint for taking wealth and power, and ultimately exacerbates the economic, political, and social inequity that persists in America. She unravels the racial contradictions lurking behind American culture as we know it—from shapeshifting celebrities and memes gone viral to brazen poets, loveable potheads, and faulty political leaders.

An audacious debut, White Negroes brilliantly summons a re-interrogation of Norman Mailer’s infamous 1957 essay of a similar name. It also introduces a bold new voice in Jackson. Piercing, curious, and bursting with pop cultural touchstones, White Negroes is a dispatch in awe of black creativity everywhere and an urgent call for our thoughtful consumption. [Publisher copy.]

For more about Lauren Michele Jackson, see:

And tell us — what did you think of the book? What questions did it raise for you? What answers? Have you read any of Jackson’s other writing? Drop it in the comments or on social and let us know your thoughts!

#24in48GroupRead: Felix Ever After, by Kacen Callender

Some (ok, probably most) of you might not know that #24in48 was borne of ye olde book blogging days, and your three hosts (Rachel, Kerry, and Kristen) actually met each other via their book blogs/related conversations. From Twitter chats to Book Expo trips together, what started in the internet became a lifelong, IRL friendship story. 

But I digress. Most book blogs of 10ish years ago have shuttered or stalled (ours included!), as conversations moved to new spaces: Bookstagram, Twitter, Litsy, TinyLetters, and other platforms for dialogue. 

While we hope that readers continue to share about the #24in48GroupReads on social media, we also wanted to create a space for non-social-media users to comment, discuss, and share thoughts about the books selected for this weekend… and so we’re going back to our old book-blogging roots with a post for each group read.

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender:

An indie bestseller from Stonewall and Lamda Award winner Kacen Callender (they/them; he/him), here’s what you can look forward to in Felix Ever After:

​Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after.

When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle….

But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. [Publisher copy]

For more about Kacen Callender, see:

And tell us — what did you think of the book? What questions did it raise for you? What answers? Have you read any of Callender’s other books? Drop it in the comments or on social and let us know your thoughts!