2016 Big Book Summer Reading Challenge discussion

Use this discussion thread to tell the group what Big Book you are currently reading, what choices you have, or to get feedback on which Big Book you should read next!

Here are my choices for my Big Books for this summer. Which one should I read first?


The Marvels by Brian Selznick, 665 pages (middle-grade)
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, 507 pages
The Many Lives of John Stone by Linda Buckley-Archer, 444 pages (YA)
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater, 438 pages (YA)
The Likeness by Tana French, 466 pages
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis, 493 pages

I'm reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (500+) and The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey (457). Not sure what else yet!

I love Tana French so I vote you start there!

A friend gave me The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (848 pages) for my birthday so I'll start there.

Julie wrote: "I'm reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (500+) and The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey (457). Not sure what else yet!"

Oh, great choices, Julie!! Both are in our massive TBR piles/shelves here. And you can see I have a Selznick in my Big Book pile, too. Enjoy!

Julie wrote: "I love Tana French so I vote you start there!"

My husband loves her books, too, Julie, and I really enjoyed the first one, so I am looking forward to starting this one. I might start with a YA, though, because it has been AGES since I've read one (on paper - I often listen to YA on audio). Still need to finish my current book first!

Donna wrote: "A friend gave me The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (848 pages) for my birthday so I'll start there."

Wow, that's a hefty one, Donna! That definitely counts :)

Donna wrote: "A friend gave me The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (848 pages) for my birthday so I'll start there."

Donna -

Also, please leave a comment on the Sign-Up discussion board for this group with your plans to participate. That way, I will know to include you in the end-of-summer Giveaway!

As you start each new Big Book this summer, be sure to add it to our group bookshelf! (upper right corner of the page)

I took Katherine Ann Porter's Ship of Fools out after reading about it in The Bookseller recently. And there it sits, a way over 400 page book....guess what I am reading for the challenge Sue...and I will go post on Sign up

Andrea wrote: "I took Katherine Ann Porter's Ship of Fools out after reading about it in The Bookseller recently. And there it sits, a way over 400 page book....guess what I am reading for the challenge Sue...and..."

Great, Andrea! Glad to have you participating - and it should be a good book!

Sue wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I took Katherine Ann Porter's Ship of Fools out after reading about it in The Bookseller recently. And there it sits, a way over 400 page book....guess what I am reading for the chal..."

I have a BIG recommendation too. Just finished ( and reviewed) Fallen Light by Benjamin A. Sorensen. It just went live a few days ago (I read an ARC), well over 400 pages and it is amazing. (Amazon has it at 99¢ right now. Only eBook format now)

Andrea wrote: "Sue wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I took Katherine Ann Porter's Ship of Fools out after reading about it in The Bookseller recently. And there it sits, a way over 400 page book....guess what I am reading ..."

Great! Thanks for the recommendation!

Sue wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Sue wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I took Katherine Ann Porter's Ship of Fools out after reading about it in The Bookseller recently. And there it sits, a way over 400 page book....guess wha..."

You mentioned you reviewed it - do you have a blog, Andrea?

I already added my list on the other thread, so here it is again :)
....li should get at least half of them done...
Already started on audio: The Luminaries, 849 pages..which is why i am 'listening' to this one!
Also just started this week: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare 542 pages
Then..
Road to Rome by Ben Kane, 568 pages
Daylighters by Rachel Caine, 446 pages
City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare, 638 pages
Warleggan by Winston Graham, 471 pages
Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes, 986 pages (Kindle)
Anno Dracula by Kim Newman, 526 pages (Kindle)

Sue wrote: "Sue wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Sue wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I took Katherine Ann Porter's Ship of Fools out after reading about it in The Bookseller recently. And there it sits, a way over 400 page book...."

(Tried posting this yesterday...)
No Sue, no blog. However my GoodReads and Pinterest related boards are active

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

https://www.pinterest.com/rokinrev/

I ah e to ask does an omnibus count? 3 books in one as I have a few of those in my to read pile.

Claire wrote: "I already added my list on the other thread, so here it is again :)
....li should get at least half of them done...
Already started on audio: The Luminaries, 849 pages..which is why i am 'listenin..."

That is an awesome list, Claire! You're going to have a great reading summer!

Andrea wrote: "Sue wrote: "Sue wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Sue wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I took Katherine Ann Porter's Ship of Fools out after reading about it in The Bookseller recently. And there it sits, a way over 40..."

Great! Thanks for the links. I'm not on Pinterest (I know I should be - just can't find any more social media time!), but I will check out your Goodreads reviews :)

Donna wrote: "I ah e to ask does an omnibus count? 3 books in one as I have a few of those in my to read pile."

Absolutely, Donna!

I started my first Big Book of the Summer last week (though was REALLY busy preparing for my son's graduation) - The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater, the fourth and final book in her Raven Cycle series. It's been excellent all the way through, and I can't wait to see how it ends.

I've got four big books going at the moment. I'm two chapters (95 pages) into Showtime: A History of the Broadway Musical Theatre by Larry Stempel. I've read the first seventeen chapters of War of Two: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and the Duel that Stunned the Nation by John Sedgwick. I'm rereading The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness and Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

Becky wrote: "I've got four big books going at the moment. I'm two chapters (95 pages) into Showtime: A History of the Broadway Musical Theatre by Larry Stempel. I've read the first seventeen chapters of War of ..."

WOW! Good for you. I don't know how people can read more than one book at a time - I'd defintely get confused (AND would probably never finish one! ha ha). Hope you enjoy them all!

Add them to the group Bookshelf, if you haven't already.

I just started Blonde--a fictionalized story of Marilyn Monroe's life--by Joyce Carol Oates. This is my first book by Oates, so far so good!

Jane wrote: "I just started Blonde--a fictionalized story of Marilyn Monroe's life--by Joyce Carol Oates. This is my first book by Oates, so far so good!"

Oh, I remember reading this one when I was in college. It was my first Oates as well.

Sue wrote: I don't know how people can read more than one book at a time - I'd defintely get confused (AND would probably never finish one! ha ha).

I typically read several books at a time. For example, I might have a classic going, a nonfiction going, a young adult book, and something Christian. (I have two blogs to keep up with.) Because they are all usually so different from one another, it doesn't get confusing.

Jane wrote: "I just started Blonde--a fictionalized story of Marilyn Monroe's life--by Joyce Carol Oates. This is my first book by Oates, so far so good!"

Sounds very interesting. I think I read one Oates novel years ago (though I could be mistaken!)

I've started Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness.

I'm making good progress in War of Two: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and the Duel that Stunned the Nation by John Sedgwick.

Those are my two big books of the moment.

have one more review to read/write and then back to Ship of Fools

Becky wrote: "I've started Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness.

I'm making good progress in War of Two: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and the Duel that Stunned the Nation by John Sedgwick.

Those are my two big ..."

Oh, Monsters of Men is so good, Becky! I LOVED the Chaos Walking series - just amazing. I need to read more of Ness' books beyond that trilogy. Enjoy!

I've finished two of my Big Books in the past week, the first, The Luminaries, i wrote this review for...* i really wanted to like this as i'd seen it recommended everywhere and the cover blurb made it sound good....however, although it is by no means 'bad', i was disappointed. It is far too long for the actual content of 'story', i read another book in the middle of it as i kept falling asleep listening to this (yes, i had it on audio as it was so long) , there is far too much character personality description, although the author should be given credit for getting good use out of the thesaurus, you could easily shave 200 pages off of this and end up wih a good book..over all i think it was a bit of very self-indulgent writing and i won't pick up another by Eleanor Catton based on this. Shame, there was a good story in there but it was just swamped. * i was stingy and only gave it 2 stars...sometimes i wish i could give 2 & 1/2!
The second one i then finished was Cassandra Clare's City of Lost Souls, at 535 pages it was slightly shorter, but i whizzed through it as they are enjoyable and easy to read, i highly recommend them if you like YA fantasy! 4 stars :)

Becky wrote: "I've got four big books going at the moment. I'm two chapters (95 pages) into Showtime: A History of the Broadway Musical Theatre by Larry Stempel. I've read the first seventeen chapters of War of ..."

I quite fancy Bleak House, and will be interested on your opinion! X

Claire wrote: "I've finished two of my Big Books in the past week, the first, The Luminaries, i wrote this review for...* i really wanted to like this as i'd seen it recommended everywhere and the cover blurb mad..."

Good for you! Sorry the Luminaries was disappointing. My son also loves the Clare series - one of his all-time favorites!

There is a separate thread in the group for reviews of Big Books if you want to add your thoughts there.

Two Big Books already - that's great!

I've added the Clare series onto my to read list.

I am dying to dig into the rest of my Big Books (that fat stack is enticing me!), but I need to finish 2 book group books & a review book first, then back to my Big Book Summer! I always have a bit of a slow start because my book groups are still meeting in late June/early July - then they all take a break (I know, I am far too addicted to book groups!)

Well, to bring things up to date...I've given up on Monsters of Men. This was a reread for me. And I'm just not in the right mood for it at the moment. And I figure if the best I can do is one chapter per week, then I might as well move on to something else that I really want to read and with some momentum!

I've got several possibilities on what to tackle next. I'm debating between Three Musketeers and Les Miserables. I've read a couple of chapters of Les Miserables and one chapter of Three Musketeers...I need to make up my mind soon :) Since I can only realistically hope to finish one this month.

Becky wrote: "Well, to bring things up to date...I've given up on Monsters of Men. This was a reread for me. And I'm just not in the right mood for it at the moment. And I figure if the best I can do is one chap..."

I love the Chaos Walking trilogy, but I totally understand what you are saying about re-reads & being in the mood for a book.

I like your choice of classics for your next Big Book! One of my goals this year was to read more classics, but I've only read one so far! Going to try to squeeze some shorter ones in between my Big Books.

Sue

Most of the classics I want to read tend to be "big books." I'm sure there are some shorter classics that I could read as well. One short classic I just read and totally loved was Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. I loved, loved, loved it :)

Becky wrote: "Most of the classics I want to read tend to be "big books." I'm sure there are some shorter classics that I could read as well. One short classic I just read and totally loved was Cyrano de Bergera..."

Ah, I hadn't thought of that one & have never read it! Thanks for the tip!

The warded man or the inhuman bundle....love having to decide which book to start next :)

Donna wrote: "The warded man or the inhuman bundle....love having to decide which book to start next :)"

Me, too, Donna!! Nothing better than choosing your next book :)

Taking a break from big books to read 3 James Patterson shorts I have while waiting for book 2 of Peter V Brett's demon Cycle to arrive.

I have two books going at the moment:

The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs which is historical fiction about Eliza Hamilton (nee Schuyler). I'm halfway through at this point. It's not as compelling and thrilling or 'unputdownable' as I'd hoped, but, it's not bad either.

Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain is autobiography. It is interesting but intimidating at the same time. The chapters are about 80 to 100 pages long. I don't think I've EVER seen a book with such HUGE chapters. My goal is to read one chapter per day, but, that seems like a quest.

Waiting on a copy of Ithaca by Peter Britton that's coming from the library. Still want to read Pasternack but this will do...:)

Becky wrote: "I have two books going at the moment:

The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs which is historical fiction about Eliza Hamilton (nee Schuyler). I'm halfway through at this point. It's not as compel..."

You said the Vera Brittain book had HUGE chapters...sounds like the new book Jerusalem, which I've wished for w/ NetGalley and tried to win here....it's like 1K of pp

Donna wrote: "Taking a break from big books to read 3 James Patterson shorts I have while waiting for book 2 of Peter V Brett's demon Cycle to arrive."

You've earned a break, Donna! Enjoy the Pattersons.

Becky wrote: "I have two books going at the moment:

The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs which is historical fiction about Eliza Hamilton (nee Schuyler). I'm halfway through at this point. It's not as compel..."

Sorry The Hamilton Affair isn't as gripping as you'd hoped.

And, WOW, those are seriously big chapters! I think I'd have trouble with that - I need to feel like I'm making some progress!

I finished The Hamilton Affair. I haven't gotten so far as to review it anywhere yet.

The Vera Brittain is going well. Some chapters are proving to just be about fifty or sixty pages!

Still working on Testament of Youth. The long chapters are keeping me from really pushing through this one.

Also the fact that I've started another BIG book--a biography of Johnny Cash. And the Cash book has much shorter chapters. Then again, most books do!