I should be reading right now. No really. I'm supposed to be reading right now. Yes, it's time once again Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon challenge.

The challenge happens two times a year and book lovers all over sit themselves down and try to read for 24 hours straight. It's really fun. As the 24 HourRead-A-Thon FAQs point out even if you aren't a reader (or just can't dedicate yourself to reading on the allotted day) there are still other ways people participate. You can cheerlead or host a mini-challenge. You can tweets and urge people on.

I know what some of you are thinking. A whole 24 hours of reading sounds like bliss doesn't it? I took part in back in April and let me tell you, it's surprisingly hard. I'm someone who will happily sit and read for hours at a time but reading for a whole day, on purpose? It's hard. Surprisingly hard. Of course you don't have to read for the full 24 hours. I don't. I try to read as much as I can but when it comes right down to it, I'm not not a night owl and will fall asleep reading if I try to stay up all night. (Or stay awake and be a grumpy, grumpy bear the next day and since we have plans with my in-laws tomorrow morning that I probably bet avoided...)

So exactly how many people are participating? Well, the sign-up post shows that 362 readers are joining and 92 cheerleaders. Yes, we are reading force not to be reckoned with.

Who are these readers? They are people like Bonjour Cass. She is much smarter than I am today and remembered to to bed early and set her alarm to wake up and start reading. And it's her birthday weekend! Stop by and say happy birthday!

Alyce from At Home With Books is also smarter than me. She tackled her laundry pile last night.

Melanie from Melanie's Musings is cheerleading today. You can get to know her with the read-a-thon meme.

I love how BrownGirl BookSpeak kicked off her read-a-thon post. She simply stated that she. reads. hardcore.

One of my favourite things to do with the read-a-thon is check out people's bookstacks. This one at The Stacks My Destination is quite lovely. (I wish I had Little House On The Prairie in mine.)

I'm starting late today and I feel very much like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date! (Hmm I do have a copy of Alice around here somewhere...) So I'd best stop writing this post and get myself reading. If you want to follow the fun on Twitter look for the #readathon hash tag.

Contributing Editor Sassymonkey also blogs at Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.