Reading the Chunksters discussion

So for the next Modern chunkster we are going with the theme WWI. Please nominate a chunkster that fits this theme, also be sure that it fits with the group guidelines.

If anyone is having a hard time finding books there are some listopia lists that could help:

The Great War
WWI Historical Fiction
WWI Books
The Great War in Fiction and Non-Fiction
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Also, new this nomination period, if you are not planning on reading a book, please do not nominate one...If you nominate a book and it wins you are expected to read it with the group.

We will be adding a couple new guidelines to (hopefully) enhance member contribution and engagement so keep your eyes open for a discussion thread about this.
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Typical Reminders:

1) Only one nomination per member

2) Link to both the book and the author in your nomination

3) This thread will be open for 1 week, so get your nominations in before Wednesday morning (U.S. Eastern Time), August 25.

And, since we always have questions...For the definition of a Classic in this group, please refer to:

General Guidelines for Group Membership



Nominations:

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin
The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek
The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally
The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman
To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War by Jeff Shaara
The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History by John M. Barry

I nominate Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

I nominate A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin

I second Helperin's book, because I just read Fall of Giants this spring.

Oh, I loved Fall of Giants! (That being said, I can't wait for this chunky read!)

I am not trying to discourage anyone about Helprin, but his political agenda is usually very obvious in all his novels I have read so far. Get ready if it wins. :-)

I'm going to throw The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek into the mix.

Here is another list you can use to nominate books. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/?cate...

And please remember that the book should be at least 500 long at least in one of its editions.

I am nominating The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally because it is a self-contained novel, and not a part of a series, but Fall of Giants still looks very attractive.

Thomas Keneally is also an author of Shindler's List, so I believe if chosen it could be a good material for discussion.

One more point - let us all try to nominate meaty books because we are experiencing a certain trouble with our current read. Maybe one of the guidelines is that the book often features in the best fiction of the year or is shelved as 'Literature' and/or 'Literary Fiction' on GR. For this poll, all of the books will be shelved under historical fiction primarily, but any book is usually shelved under different tags. Please try to nominate the book that you think is discussion conducive. The more provocative and ambiguous it is, the better: complex characters, moral dilemmas, existential experiences of all sorts - everything that makes you reconsider or reevaluate your moral stand. Sorry for a long post, but I am only trying to make this future discussion lively.

Zulfiya wrote: "I am not trying to discourage anyone about Helprin, but his political agenda is usually very obvious in all his novels I have read so far. Get ready if it wins. :-)"

I agree, but friends who have read this one say it is the exception.

Andrea wrote: "I'm going to throw The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek into the mix.

"

Hmmm, this looks really excellent!

Paula wrote: "Zulfiya wrote: "I am not trying to discourage anyone about Helprin, but his political agenda is usually very obvious in all his novels I have read so far. Get ready if it wins. :-)"

I agree, but f..."

I was not trying to intimidate anyone saying it will be vetoed. Far from it. :-) Just a fair warning based on my previous experience, and I do hope this one is different. Human beings are human beings, and we should share something to understand each other.

I nominateThe Guns of August.

Andrea wrote: "I'm going to throw The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek into the mix.

"

Ok, read more about it, fell heavily in pre-read love, and ordered it.

This one is EXCELLENT! good choice, Andrea!

Thanks guys! It's the only WWI chunkster I know. It would be interesting to see what people nominate. I know very little on the subject.

I would like to nominate To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War by Jeff Shaara



It looks like it's dense with facts, but it looks like really good reading.

Zulfiya wrote: "I am not trying to discourage anyone about Helprin, but his political agenda is usually very obvious in all his novels I have read so far. Get ready if it wins. :-)"

What IS his political agenda?

Everyman, have you read his Winter's Tale or In Sunlight or in Shadow? If yes, then you know what I am talking about.
His writing is phenomenal, and his imagery is very, very vivid and even transcendental, but you can hear his personal voice very strongly, which is inevitable in fiction. Fiction is the extension of our creative and emotional selves, and in his case this extension is very salient.

It is like Soviet realism in literature - it is very preachy, but there are still excellent books written by great writers. Though in case of Soviet realism it was a compulsion while in his case - volition.

Actually, what we are doing here is advertising Helprin's book. I think it would be wise to have a special thread where one can discuss nominations. I will open one, and we might discuss it there to encourage people to vote for the book you have nominated.

Andrea wrote: "I'm going to throw The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek into the mix.

"

Actually, I'm going to withdraw my nomination for A Soldier of the Great War because, having read a sample of this book, I intend to vote for it. So, I can't in good conscience nominate a book that I'm not going to vote for :). I am so excited to read this one - I hope it wins, but if it doesn't, I will be reading it anyway. My copy is already on the way to me.

I will be reading Helprin's book as well, and I will let you know if he gets preachy :). He and I are polar opposites on a lot of issues, so, Zulfiya, I'll give you the scoop once I finish it :). I live just outside of Washington D.C. where we argue politics over breakfast and while brushing our teeth before bedtime, so it takes a lot to ruffle my feathers. But now that I think of it, there is a veritable host of literary authors who build their political philosophies into their books. And I don't mind reading an "agenda" that differs from my own. It stimulates me - inspiring me to better define, formulate and articulate my own. But woe unto Helprin if he bores me while he's doing it. Ha!

But back to the nominations!!! :)

Andrea, thank you so much for putting your nomination out there! I would never have known about it otherwise. I heartily second your nomination.

There's a lot of really good stuff in here.

I would like to nominate The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History by John M. Barry

At 560 pages its just over the limit. Its something that I've been meaning to read for forever. I'm fascinated by infectious diseases and I just finished The Demon Under the Microscope: From Battlefield Hospitals to Nazi Labs, One Doctor's Heroic Search for the World's First Miracle Drug and would like to learn more about medicine in the not-THAT-distant past.

Hi guys, I nominate Fall of Giants, because I've never yet read anyKen Follet book, and the book is very big, and because it has scored well above 4.00 on this site, and because I already have the e-book.

Luffy wrote: "Hi guys, I nominate Fall of Giants, because I've never yet read anyKen Follet book, and the book is very big, and because it has scored well above 4.00 on this site, and because I al..."

Fall of Giants has already been nominated, is there another you'd like to nominate as well??

I thought I could nominate the same book, sorry. I don't have any other name. I'm totally ignorant about WW books.

Luffy wrote: "I thought I could nominate the same book, sorry. I don't have any other name. I'm totally ignorant about WW books."

Oh, no problem. We don't have to do double nominations, we just vote in the polls and that's how we tally which book we read. So if it's been nominated it's in the poll. If that's the book you want, you can just vote in the poll. :)

Luffy, Kristi posted several lists that you can use to choose from.
I also added another one from B&N. Maybe you will find something that you would like to read. There are some excellent choices.

It's going to be impossible to choose only one.

I'm for Fall of Giants as well.

An Ice-Cream War, by William Boyd Might be interesting to read about the effects of WWI from the perspective of British and German Colonial Africa, 416 pages, satirical and funny too.

Seconding The Good Soldier Švejk

Sarah wrote: "I would like to nominate To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War by Jeff Shaara



It looks like..."

I'll second your nomination. (Anna)

There are some really great selections here.

One quick question. Are we supposed to be nominating Non-Fiction or just Fiction?

We will accept both, but fiction is easier to discuss.

Thank you. I thought it was fiction only.

Ok, nominations are closed...Poll to follow shortly! Be sure to pop over to the polls and vote!

Our WWI themed contemporary chunkster is....Fall of Giants by Ken Follett



I'll get the book and start getting the schedule set up today!

I'm going to pass on this one. While I think the story is supposed to be good, the criticism is that Follett looks at historical situations through modern eyes. It will be interesting to read everyone's thoughts as you read it. Have fun, you guys! :-)

we'll miss you Cleo, I hope you get some good ones for the next Classic!

I won't have time to join you with this one... Happy reading :)

Oh this is great :) I have this on my TBR for this year and have to read it. So will definitely be joining in for this one :) And having a schedule will definitely help me get through this tome :)

I'm going to give it a try. I love Follett, but I've never liked his WWII books. Except for Jackdaws which was amazing. Fingers crossed that I like this one.

Hi all! I'm new to the group but excited to jump in on Fall of Giants! I've read Follets books set in older times, but never the more recent history ones. Guess it's time to find it at a library!

Kristi wrote: "we'll miss you Cleo, I hope you get some good ones for the next Classic!"

Thanks, Kristi! If I had a lighter schedule, I'd perhaps give it a try. I should be able to join the classic chunkster read when you start a new one though!

I'm going to pass on this one as well. I've already read it and, for me, there just isn't anything that would make me want to revisit it.

You guys enjoy, happy reading!!!

I'm holding out for the next Classic Chunkster - excited to see what the upcoming nominations will be!

Sorry miss out on the WW1 read, but I need to finish up with current comments. I imagine it will be a terrific read. Have fun!

I read this a few months ago, and also Winter of the World. Waiting for the last book in the trilogy to come out. I'm still reading Outlander, so I'll skip FoG.

Well I'm in. I've never read Ken Follet. I think this book is sure to have some quality, considering its premise. The real point is whether I'll be able to discover what makes this book readable. Let's hope so, and touch wood.