Well, kids, this is it.  The moment of truth.  Did I, or did I not, manage to read 1,927 pages in three weeks?  And more importantly, did I learn one single blessed thing from the experience?  Read on.

Tuesday (5/1): Still a touch burnt out from 11/22/63, so I didn’t do any reading today.  Instead, I spent the evening watching The Biggest Loser season finale (I was totally pulling for Kim).  Totals are the same as at the conclusion of last week: 1,522 pages read; 405 to go.

Wednesday (5/2): Headed off on my second business trip in two weeks, this time to a conference sponsored by my firm at our headquarters.  I was excited to see some of my colleagues from other offices and wonderful firm clients.  On the plane, I got a little bit of reading done, knocking off 55 pages of The Marriage Plot.  Not quite sure yet what I think of the characters or the book, but the writing’s great.  1,577 pages down; 350 to go.

Thursday (5/3): I wasn’t expecting to get any reading done today, but I woke up early and wasn’t expected at the conference registration until 9:30 a.m., so I kicked back in my hotel room and read 72 pages of The Marriage Plot before breakfast.  That was it for the day – I spent the rest of the time in workshops and socializing with clients and work friends until way past my bedtime.  But considering I thought this would be a lost day as far as bookish pursuits were concerned, I was thrilled with my page total.  1,649 pages read; 278 remain.

Friday (5/4): Another plane flight, another hour and a half of uninterrupted reading time.  Then, when I got home, hubby switched on a hockey game and I did some more reading while keeping an eye on the TV.  115 pages of The Marriage Plot dispatched with today between the plane and post-dinner time.  1,764 pages down; 163 to go (and starting to think I might pull this off).

Saturday (5/5): Annnnnnnnd… SHE’S DONE.  163 pages of The Marriage Plot completed today.  Permit me a Boom Shaka?  I got into the zone – meant to do housework for most of the day, but I ended up turning page after page.  I saw the finish line and decided to just go for it.  (In between trips downtown for lunch and grocery shopping with hubby, that is.  I read fast and was done by the time the Kentucky Derby aired.)  So… that’s that. 1,927 pages read; 0 to go.

I am still in a bit of a state of shock.  When I realized the magnitude of the task I had to get through in three weeks, I didn’t really think it could be done.  I mean, maybe I thought it could be done on vacation.  But working 50 hours per week, with two business trips thrown into the mix?  Yeah, I wasn’t too optimistic.  I’m amazed that I managed to pull it off, and – I’ll be honest – feeling pretty proud of myself right now.

So, for the important question: did I learn anything?  Well, considering I checked out two more library books since beginning this challenge (one the new 625-page Robert K. Massie biography of Catherine the Great, which I had on hold) and got two more books off the holds shelf when I returned The Marriage Plot, I’d say… it sure doesn’t seem like it.  Right now I have those books right where I want ’em… but stay tuned.  There will probably be another library mishap in the future.  I might be a fast reader, but I seem to be a slow learner.