Big Book Summer Reading Challenge 2022 discussion

This thread is for sharing the Big Books you are currently reading. Remember to first post in the SIGN-UP discussion thread. Details for the challenge here:
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/p/wel...

I'm just finishing up a shorter novel in print, but I started my first Big Book on audio! I'm listening to A Lite Too Bright by Samuel Miller (480 pages in print). It's one I missed from 2018, but it sounds really good, and I'm already engrossed in the story!

I'm reading The Lincoln Highway. I was resigned to waiting for this book because so many copies are checked out of the library and have multiple holds but I was at the Lititz PA library on Saturday and there on their ongoing used book sale shelf was The Lincoln Highway for $4. Score!!!

East of Eden and Dracula and possibly a couple more.

I have so many big books to choose from. I need to narrow it down. Will post my pick or picks soon :)

I will be starting with Moby Dick in June and picking up where I left off with the George Washington biography by Ron Chernow. I may add a couple of others as the summer goes on.

Nancy wrote: "I'm reading The Lincoln Highway. I was resigned to waiting for this book because so many copies are checked out of the library and have multiple holds but I was at the Lititz PA library on Saturday..."

Wow, Nancy, that IS a score!! I've really been wanting to read that (would be on my BBS list if I had room for any more!). I absolutely loved A Gentleman in Moscow and hear this one is just as good. Enjoy!

Kate wrote: "East of Eden and Dracula and possibly a couple more."

Two of Chris' favorites! I enjoyed them, too. Great plan!

Karen wrote: "I have so many big books to choose from. I need to narrow it down. Will post my pick or picks soon :)"

No rush, Karen - you can decide as you go :) I have way too many to choose from also!

Patrice wrote: "I will be starting with Moby Dick in June and picking up where I left off with the George Washington biography by Ron Chernow. I may add a couple of others as the summer goes on."

Sounds like a great plan, Patrice! One of my friends recently read Moby Dick and loved it. I haven't read it yet (maybe Big Book Summer 2023??). Enjoy!

And please do me a favor: just leave a quick note in the SIGN-UP discussion thread of this group. That's what I will use at the end of the summer for the (double!) giveaway - I don't trust my memory :)

Thanks!

I’m going to
Read

The Change by Kirsten Miller
The Love Songs of WEB Dubois by Honoree Jeffers
Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson
Cloud Cucko Land by Anthony doerr
One last stop by Casey Mcquiston

Oh and The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani

The three physical books that I will definitely read are:
1. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger (I've been saving this for our road trip)
2. The Fountains of Silence by Ruth Sepeteys (meant to read this last summer and it didn't happen!)
3. The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

And, as I said in my sign up post, I always end up reading some long books on my e-Reader without knowing how long they are!

I am just starting my first big book. It is called The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani

I am going to read Pretty Girls by Karen Slaughter

Started Dracula this morning. Saving East of Eden for late June, early July, closer to book group.

Allen wrote: "I’m going to
Read

The Change by Kirsten Miller
The Love Songs of WEB Dubois by Honoree Jeffers
Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson
Cloud Cucko Land by Anthony doerr
One last stop by Casey Mcquiston"

Great list, Allen!! The Love Songs of WEB DuBois and Cloud Cuckoo Land are both on my TBR list, but I don't have them yet and am trying to clear some space on my shelves this summer!

Hope you enjoy them all! What are you starting with?

Allen wrote: "Oh and The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani"

Ah, yes, I see now you added it to the Bookshelf as Currently Reading! I haven't read her before but have heard wonderful things about her novels.

Hey, all - just a reminder that you can also add your Big Books, as you read them, to the Bookshelf here in the group :)

Karen wrote: "I am going to read Pretty Girls by Karen Slaughter"

I've heard she's an excellent thriller writer, Karen - enjoy! I'm starting with a thriller, too :)

Kate wrote: "Started Dracula this morning. Saving East of Eden for late June, early July, closer to book group."

Enjoy, Kate! I enjoyed it on audio a few falls ago.

I started my first print Big Book today, Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly. My husband and I both love his books, and I'm always behind! This is the 2nd Rene Ballard book and a cross-over with Bosch (yay!). I figured I'd start out with a fast-paced thriller to get things going!

I went through my To Read shelf and decided to pick these for my Big Book Summer Challenge!!

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz

The Overstory by Richard Powers

These have been sitting on my shelf so now it's time!!

Deb wrote: "I went through my To Read shelf and decided to pick these for my Big Book Summer Challenge!!

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

[book:Cloud..."

Great list, deb! Caste was a popular one last summer - I'd like to read it, too. I also want to read Cloud Cuckoo Land - very much! And Overstory is on MY Big Book Summer stack ... a leftover from last summer :)

We have a whole bookcase of hardcover Stephen King and Dean Koontz books we inherited from my dad, so I enjoy including one of those in my BBS stack each year - this year it's Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King, but we still have lots of Koontz novels I haven't gotten to yet.

Enjoy!

While I'm still reading North and South by John Jakes (🌵slowly), I'm about 1/2 way through Booth by Karen Joy Fowler--almost 500 pages.

Suzan wrote: "Deb wrote: "I went through my To Read shelf and decided to pick these for my Big Book Summer Challenge!!

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
..."

Sue, what is your BBS pile of books? Don't know that acronym.

Rose wrote: "Suzan wrote: "Deb wrote: "I went through my To Read shelf and decided to pick these for my Big Book Summer Challenge!!

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by [author:Isabel Wilke..."

Rose - I was just being lazy and didn't want to type Big Book Summer :)

Here's my stack: https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2022/...

Rose wrote: "While I'm still reading North and South by John Jakes (🌵slowly), I'm about 1/2 way through Booth by Karen Joy Fowler--almost 500 pages."

I've heard Booth is very good - in fact, I've heard Karen Joy Fowler is an amazing author, but I haven't read her yet.

So I'm still trying to decide what big book to select. I'm down to 3 books. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry or The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai.

Just starting

Karen wrote: "So I'm still trying to decide what big book to select. I'm down to 3 books. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry or The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai."

Oooh, all three great choices, Karen! I've only read Rebecca (on audio), but I want to read the other two also.

Nancy wrote: "Just starting "

I hadn't heard of this book before, Nancy, but it sounds great. Enjoy!

I'll be starting The Fountains of Silence by Ruth Sepetys today and thus kicking off my Big Book summer!

I've just started The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn. It's my first big book of the summer.

Nancy wrote: "I'm reading The Lincoln Highway. I was resigned to waiting for this book because so many copies are checked out of the library and have multiple holds but I was at the Lititz PA library on Saturday..."

nice find!
This book is on my list to read this summer. Somewhere around here I have a hardcover that was given to me as a gift.

I have also added Camino Island by John Grisham #1 & #2 to my summer big read challenge

Happy to join this challenge this year! Will I ever be ready to tackle Infinite Jest, silently judging me from my bookshelf? I just know it’s not yet. I may end up reading both, though I’m torn between The Overstory and Love Songs of WEB DuBois if anyone can help me decide???

Melinda wrote: "I'll be starting The Fountains of Silence by Ruth Sepetys today and thus kicking off my Big Book summer!"

Melinda, you will love Ruta Sepetys!! I haven't read this one yet, but all of her other books are just so amazing. Fascinating history, in-depth characters, and completely engrossing.

Enjoy!

Cheriee wrote: "I've just started The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn. It's my first big book of the summer."

Wonderful, Cheriee! I just listened to it on audio, and it was excellent.

Just remember to add your blog post link to the challenge page, so others can find your blog ... and so I'll remember you're participating for the giveaways at the end of the summer! Thanks :)

Enjoy your first Big Book!

Karen wrote: "I have also added Camino Island by John Grisham #1 & #2 to my summer big read challenge"

Great! My husband read #2 last summer (we didn't realize it was a 2-part series!) and enjoyed it. I have a Grisham on my stack, too :)

Kiersten wrote: "Happy to join this challenge this year! Will I ever be ready to tackle Infinite Jest, silently judging me from my bookshelf? I just know it’s not yet. I may end up reading both, though I’m torn bet..."

Oooh ... all good choices! I haven't read Infinite Jest yet, either, so you're not alone. The Overstory is also in my stack for Big Book Summer - a leftover from summer 2021, so I am determined to get to it this year! And I've heard Love Songs of WEB DuBois is amazing - on my list, though I don't have a copy yet.

Kiersten - Please do me a quick favor? Just leave a quick note in the SIGN-UP thread of this group. That's where I will look at the end of the summer to get names for the giveaway drawings! Thanks!

Suzan wrote: "Melinda wrote: "I'll be starting The Fountains of Silence by Ruth Sepetys today and thus kicking off my Big Book summer!"

Melinda, you will love Ruta Sepetys!! I haven't read this one yet, but all..."

Kiersten wrote: "Happy to join this challenge this year! Will I ever be ready to tackle Infinite Jest, silently judging me from my bookshelf? I just know it’s not yet. I may end up reading both, though I’m torn bet..."

I've enjoyed all her books as well but had not heard of this trilogy. Definitely putting it on my TBR.

I've decided and already took a step towards my first Big Book for Summer 2022. My first book will be The Best American Short Stories of the Century. Reading this book will help me accomplish two goals. The first is the obvious, at 776 pages it's a big book. Secondly, it's been in my "reading" column since 2008. It's time to finish it (although I'm starting it over) and get it moved to "read".
I counted. There are 55 short stories in the book. If I read 4 stories a day, I'll be done by the time the book is due in 2 weeks.
Ready.
Set.
GO!

I'm going to try and read from my shelves these big books:

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration. I'm planning to join Chris in her Buddy Read:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Five Smooth Stones
One of my sister's favorite novels that I've never read

The Mayor of Casterbridge

Depending on how things go there may be others! I might need to throw in a Charles Dickens and John Irving pairing :-)

Linda wrote: "I've decided and already took a step towards my first Big Book for Summer 2022. My first book will be [book:The Best American Short..."

Wow, that sounds like a great choice, Linda! I've read some the annual "Best American ..." books in the past (like essays and travel writing), but best of the century sounds really enticing!

Robin wrote: "I'm going to try and read from my shelves these big books:

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration. I'm planning to join Chris in her Buddy Read:
https..."

Sounds like a great plan, Robin! I'd really like to read Warmth of Other Suns - have heard such good things about it.

And I love Dickens! I read David Copperfield for last summer's challenge. And I haven't read Irving in many years, but I always enjoyed his novels.

Enjoy your big books!

I decided to start with Stephen King's 11/22/63. Getting into it. I enjoy King's writing and his sense of humor. I also used to live in Maine and appreciate the way he represents Maine people and places. Quite genuine.

Patricia E. wrote: "I decided to start with Stephen King's 11/22/63. Getting into it. I enjoy King's writing and his sense of humor. I also used to live in Maine and appreciate the way he represents Maine people and p..."

LOVE that book! I enjoy his authenticity, too. This is one of my all-time favorite King novels - enjoy! And when you're finished reading it, the mini-series was outstanding!

I just started my 3rd Big Book (still listening to #2 on audio but finished my first print book) - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. This is the Big Book classic I chose for the summer.

After much internal debate I selected The Signature Of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert to start my Big Book Challenge.