2019 Big Book Summer Reading Challenge discussion

Use this discussion thread to share which Big Book you are currently reading.

I am starting my summer off with a really BIG book, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. You can see the full stack I have chosen for this summer (though I doubt I will get through all of them) at: https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2019/...

So far I have two Big Books on my agenda — An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma and The Heart’s invisible Furies by John Boyne. I may come up with more but let’s just see how the summer goes. Sounds like fun.

Dian wrote: "So far I have two Big Books on my agenda — An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma and The Heart’s invisible Furies by John Boyne. I may come up with more but let’s just see how the summer go..."

Great, Dian! I want to read both of those, too. Just click on the Sign-Up discussion thread to officially sign-up for the challenge - then you'll be entered into the prize drawing at the end of the summer, too!

I have 3 big books on my agenda for this summer but I will settle for finishing 1 lol

The 3 lined up are:

The Eye of the World
Great Expectations
Outlander

Daph wrote: "I have 3 big books on my agenda for this summer but I will settle for finishing 1 lol

The 3 lined up are:

The Eye of the World
Great Expectations
Outlander"

Great list for a Big Book Summer, Daph! I LOVED both Great Expectations & Outlander - hope you do, too! And I hadn't heard of The Eye of the World before, but my son loves Robert Jordan's novels. Sounds like you're going to have a great summer!

OK, I started my first Big Book of the summer last night, and it's a doozy! Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, at 950+ pages!! I can barely hold it up - ha ha. I've never read it before, and it's been decades since I saw the movie. I'm already enjoying it.

BTW, I'm reading it for the Book Cougars podcast readalong, so if you are looking for a REALLY Big Book for the summer, give it a try and join the discussions - the readalong is mentioned at their website, in most of the recent episode descriptions, and on their podcast, which I highly recommend! They also have a Goodreads group set up for discussions.

https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1

Remember that you can add the Big Books you are currently reading to our group Bookshelf!

I am actually going to put The Eye of the World on the backburner for now. I will instead focus on the other 2 I mentioned, plus Children of Blood and Bone which I was planning to read anyway next month, but naively didn't realize until now had over 500 pages. It definitely qualifies as a big book lol

I am so excited for this challenge :)

Right now, I'm reading All the Light We Cannot See!

Daph wrote: "I am actually going to put The Eye of the World on the backburner for now. I will instead focus on the other 2 I mentioned, plus Children of Blood and Bone which I was planning to r..."

Sounds like a good plan, Daph! I've heard great things about Children of Blood & Bone!

Davida wrote: "Right now, I'm reading All the Light We Cannot See!"

Oh, that's a great one, Davida! Hope you enjoy it. It made me REALLY want to visit Saint Malo, France!

Davida wrote: "Right now, I'm reading All the Light We Cannot See!"
…which is really an amazing book!

*Song of Songs* by Marc Graham
*What Girls are Good For* by David Blixt
‘*Sparrow* by Maria Russell Dorset
“Children of God* by Maria Russell Dorset

Andrea wrote: "*Song of Songs* by Marc Graham
*What Girls are Good For* by David Blixt
‘*Sparrow* by Maria Russell Dorset
“Children of God* by Maria Russell Dorset"

OH!! Yes, Sparrow - didn't click when I saw the title in the other thread. I read it for last year's Big Book Summer and LOVED it, Andrea! Hope you do, too. And I REALLY want to read the sequel!

I am currently reading Watership Down as an audiobook. I've wanted to read it for a long time as my husband adored the book during his childhood and listed it as one of his top few books of all time. He first read it around age 10 (and read it repeatedly after that). Then the Netflix series was released and that's when our 10 year old son asked to watch it. He and I started reading it together, first, but the language was a bit advanced to keep his interest. I'm maybe 15% in to the audiobook and am struck by how mature my husband must have been at 10 to have such interest in this style of writing. His aunts/uncles have commented on what a serious young child he was, and it's kinda neat to catch a glimmer of that by examining his childhood reading interests. I guess it would have been no surprise he'd become a Professor of Rhetoric one day. LOL

I am bogged down listening to Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming by Paul Hawken. (It's a fascinating book) It says it is only 256 pages, but the audiobook is 19 hours long! I'm contemplating adding it as a big book because Children of Blood and bone, at 544 pages was only 18 hours! I think it has to do with the actual size of the book (10.8 by 8.5") Is it cheating do you think?

Daph wrote: "I am actually going to put The Eye of the World on the backburner for now. I will instead focus on the other 2 I mentioned, plus Children of Blood and Bone which I was planning to r..."

Children of Blood and Bone is a fabulous read!

Shaye wrote: "I am currently reading Watership Down as an audiobook. I've wanted to read it for a long time as my husband adored the book during his childhood and listed it as one of his top few books of all tim..."

I remember reading that one when I was in my late teens or even early twenties. Before my now husband and I were romantically involved, we were friends who shared book recommendations. I loved the titles he gave me. Maybe that's why the relationship blossomed?

Shaye wrote: "I am currently reading Watership Down as an audiobook. I've wanted to read it for a long time as my husband adored the book during his childhood and listed it as one of his top few books of all tim..."

What a cool connection to your husband's childhood! I guess I should read Dune one of these days (for Big Book Summer!) since it is my husband's favorite book, first read as a teen :)

I've never read Watership Down, either, though I have seen the animated movie years ago - quite a downer and not really for young kids!

Cheriee wrote: "I am bogged down listening to Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming by Paul Hawken. (It's a fascinating book) It says it is only 256 pages, but the audiobook..."

Cheriee - I rely on Amazon for page counts - if I am listening on audio, I check the page count in the hardcover or paperback (whichever is currently out) - it does say 256 pages for Drawdown, so I'm guessing the audio might have some extras? Either that or the narrator is reading REALLY slow! ha ha I know lots of people listen at 1.5x or even 2x - I haven;t tried that yet!

Yea.. Sue, how do they do that? I’ve tried to listen “faster” but it kinda makes me dizzy

Hurrah! I just finished a BIG book! I'll be posting my review on Friday.

Davida wrote: "Hurrah! I just finished a BIG book! I'll be posting my review on Friday."

All Right Davida !

Just added *Strange the Dreamer,Strange the Dream* by Lanie Taylor based exclusively on a review/suggestion by an author

I just finished An Orchestra of Minorities yesterday and have mixed feelings about it. It was beautifully written with a good story but I felt it was just too long, too wordy. Today I started The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyle and am thoroughly enjoying it. It’s funny, whimsical, sad all at once.

Andrea wrote: "Yea.. Sue, how do they do that? I’ve tried to listen “faster” but it kinda makes me dizzy"

ha ha I have no idea! I get confused and miss parts even listening at normal time!

Davida wrote: "Hurrah! I just finished a BIG book! I'll be posting my review on Friday."

Way to go, Davida!

Andrea wrote: "Just added *Strange the Dreamer,Strange the Dream* by Lanie Taylor based exclusively on a review/suggestion by an author"

Oooh...sounds intriguing, Andrea - enjoy!

Dian wrote: "I just finished An Orchestra of Minorities yesterday and have mixed feelings about it. It was beautifully written with a good story but I felt it was just too long, too wordy. Today I started The H..."

I've been wanting to read The Heart's Invisible Furies for ages! Enjoy it!

Cheriee wrote: "Shaye wrote: "I am currently reading Watership Down as an audiobook. I've wanted to read it for a long time as my husband adored the book during his childhood and listed it as one of his top few bo..."

My husband and I share a love of books, too! We took turns reading The Hobbit aloud to each other when we were dating :)

Daniel Silvas The Black Widow

Just finished the 531 page novel, “All the Light we Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr. My #bookreview is on my blog now. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2019/06/0...

I am closing in on the last 100 pp of “Song of Songs” so, one down later today (crossing fingers) but, for the first time in 8 months we are having a string of 3 days w/o precipitation so I’ll cut myself so slack

Allen wrote: "Daniel Silvas The Black Widow"

Sounds like a creepy one, Allen!

Davida wrote: "Just finished the 531 page novel, “All the Light we Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr. My #bookreview is on my blog now. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2019/06/0..."

Great! Congratulations! You can also post that you finished & link to your review in the discussion thread on Big Books Finished and Reviews - and you cam add your link to the SECOND links list on the challenge page - the first is for sign-ups and the second is for reviews & updates :)

Oops! I see you did add your link to the challenge page but in the wrong list - sorry - I know it's a bit confusing. If you have time, you can delete it from the sign-up list and add it to the reviews list below it (you'll be the first to add a review link this summer!)

https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/p/201...

Andrea wrote: "I am closing in on the last 100 pp of “Song of Songs” so, one down later today (crossing fingers) but, for the first time in 8 months we are having a string of 3 days w/o precipitation so I’ll cut ..."

Oh, yes, definitely get outside and enjoy that sunshine!

Sue wrote: "Oops! I see you did add your link to the challenge page but in the wrong list - sorry - I know it's a bit confusing. If you have time, you can delete it from the sign-up list and add it to the reviews list below it"..."

Ah... got it now! Thanks!

Davida wrote: "Sue wrote: "Oops! I see you did add your link to the challenge page but in the wrong list - sorry - I know it's a bit confusing. If you have time, you can delete it from the sign-up list and add it..."

Thanks! On my way out of town but will read your review on Monday!

I started reading The Hate U Give by

by Angie Thomas

Oh... Belgravia by Julian Fellows (who wrote Downton Abbey) is over 400 pages!

Sue wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Just added *Strange the Dreamer,Strange the Dream* by Lanie Taylor based exclusively on a review/suggestion by an author"

Oooh...sounds intriguing, Andrea - enjoy!"

The library is asking for it back; one of the annoying things about the Libby app. May need to set it aside/return it.

I just posted my tentative list on my blog:

The Buccaneers, by Edith Wharton
Can You Forgive Her, by Anthony Trollope
Men to Match My Mountains: The Monumental Saga of the Winning of America's Far West, by Irving Stone
The Knight, Death, and the Devil, by Ella Leffland

That's a lot, especially since I have started any of them yet, but I like a challenge!

Karla wrote: "I started reading The Hate U Give by"

Oh, that's such an amazing novel, Karla! I listened to it on audio last year and was blown away. Just finished listening to her second novel, On the Come Up - also very good.

Davida wrote: "Oh... Belgravia by Julian Fellows (who wrote Downton Abbey) is over 400 pages!"

Sounds like you have another Big Book for the list, Davida!

Sue wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Just added *Strange the Dreamer,Strange the Dream* by Lanie Taylor based exclusively on a review/suggestion by an author"

Oooh...sounds intriguing, Andrea - enjoy!"

I returned it without even cracking it open

Sue wrote: "Cheriee wrote: "I am bogged down listening to Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming by Paul Hawken. (It's a fascinating book) It says it is only 256 pages, b..."

I finished it. I listened to all of it at 1.25. It's such an important book that I'm purchasing a hard copy to give to my husband for Father's Day. I figured out why it took so long. It might be only 256 pages, but the pages are 11 by 8.5 inches!

Davida wrote: "Just finished the 531 page novel, “All the Light we Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr. My #bookreview is on my blog now. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2019/06/0..."

That was a fabulous book!

I've started reading Cold Skies: A DreadfulWater Mystery by Thomas King. It's 464 pages. So far I'm enjoying it.

Jane wrote: "I just posted my tentative list on my blog:

The Buccaneers, by Edith Wharton
Can You Forgive Her, by Anthony Trollope
Men to Match My Mountains: The Monumental Saga of the Winning of America's Far..."

Looks like a great list, Jane! Don't forget to add the link to your post to the Big Book Summer page on my blog:

https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/p/201...