This bookstore in New Hampshire is trying to kick off a nationwide independent bookstore event this October:

NATIONWIDE READING MARATHONS THIS OCTOBER 2008 CELEBRATE BOOKS AND RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT READING

Independent bookstores across the country are invited to take part in a unique reading experience this coming October. Booksellers will host 24-hour reading marathons in their stores, designed to highlight the importance of reading to our culture, as well as create an opportunity for booklovers to tackle the next book on their to-read pile.

Hm. At first, when I read this, I thought they meant “Booksellers will host 24-hour readingS marathons,” as in, “a group of authors will read aloud from their work for an entire day.” I was thinking, “NO OH MY GOD NO.” But, you know, if they want to have people sit on their floors (most Seattle bookstores don’t have a whole lot of seating) and read for a day, why not? I think something like Record Store Day for bookstores would be a great idea, but this 24-hour read-a-thon might get some press, too.

Of course, at the moment, the only participating stores are two bookstores in New Hampshire (owned by the same person) and one in Utah. If other bookstores in other, less-spazzy states get involved, it might turn into something.