Big Book Summer Reading Challenge 2023 discussion

Let us know what Big Books you are reading this summer! Tell us your plans or share which Big Book(s) you pick as you go.

My two "must read" (or at least "must try to read") books are:
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towels (June/July)
Babel by R.F. Kuang

I always read other books, but those are the two that I'm planning.
I actually have 3 books going right now that I will finish during Big Book Summer...do those count?

I'm presently on page 301 of 715 of The Covenant of Water and page 64 of 1137 of The Lord of the Rings.
Anything else I would read that qualifies will just be happenstance.

Looking to get through and if I like it on to . Also really looking forward to . Would also like to get through a couple of non-fiction books this summer including and .

I like your idea of reading a classic and may do that as well! I better get started tonight!!

Ok so here is my list :

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin. I LOVED his passage trilogy, and am liking what I’ve read of his latest so far.

Cloud cuckoo land by Anthony Door. I loved all the light we cannot see, so I am looking forward to trying this .

The love songs of WEB, Du Bois .

Black widows by Kate Quinn

I’m sure there will be more but that’s my goal to read all those books on my list

I also have some audiobooks that I will do such as the covenant of water.

I started Ulysses by James Joyce today. Also planning to read The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism by Megan Marshall. Reading another Dickens is also on my wish list, maybe a re-read of Great Expectations.

I'm such a mood reader it's hard to plan which books to list here.
But I hope to read Knife by Jo Nesbo, book #12 in his Harry Hole series.

I'm currently reading
but I started both of these prior to challenge.

I'm going to be reading The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. I don't usually read fantasy but I just love the cover and the title. I didn't realize it was 800 pages when I ordered it but it's perfect for Big Summer Reading Challenge

I'm joining Chris in reading Ulysses!

I've decided to count The Murmur of Bees as I only started it on Wednesday. I won't be counting my other in-progress books towards this challenge because I'm already far enough into them that I feel it would be cheating!

Chris wrote: "I started Ulysses by James Joyce today. Also planning to read The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism by Megan Marshall. Reading another Dick..."

Oh, Chris - you are not kidding around with this challenge, tackling Ulysses! I was just saying to my husband the other night how this is top of my "most intimidating" book list. Looking forward to hearing about your progress on the podcast.

The must-reads: also Covenant of Water, along with The Postcard by Anne Berest Last summer, I never got to Overstory, but I now have the audiobook, hoping it will finally happen that way?? I also never got to The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois. I just started Mad Honey (464 pages) by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan on audio, so a head start by happenstance! I'm in the middle of Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? (416 pages) - but too far in to legitimately count, but can't resist mentioning. :) Like @Karen, I'm also a mood reader, so this could all completely change!

I loved Cutting for Stone so much that I really want to tackle The Covenant of Water this summer.

The first book I'm tackling is A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towes.

Melinda wrote: "My two "must read" (or at least "must try to read") books are:
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towels (June/July)
Babel by R.F. Kuang

I always read other books, but those are the two that I'm planning..."

Sounds good, Melinda. Maybe you can join Nikki (Red Dot Reads) and I in our buddy read of The Lincoln Highway! Waiting to hear back from her on which month :) If you're not too far into your other Big Books yet, then sure, they can count!

Linda wrote: "I'm presently on page 301 of 715 of The Covenant of Water and page 64 of 1137 of [book:The Lord o..."

Two BIG ones, Linda! I enjoyed Cutting for Stone - how is Covenant of Water so far? I'm predicting that will be THE Big Book for summer 2023 - like Great Circle was in 2021. Enjoy them both!

Joan wrote: "Looking to get through and if I like it on to . Also really looking forward to . Would also ..."

So many great choices, Joan! I loved all three books in The Passage trilogy (and all three were Big Book Summer reads for me) - in fact, wanting to tackle The Passage was one of my motivations for my first-ever "summer of the big book" in 2011! The others all sound great, too - enjoy!

Allen wrote: "Ok so here is my list :

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin. I LOVED his passage trilogy, and am liking what I’ve read of his latest so far.

Cloud cuckoo land by Anthony Door. I loved all the light we..."

Great list, Allen! My husband and I both love Justin Cronin. Cloud Cuckoo Land is in my Big Book stack for the summer, too! I don't have Love Songs of WEB DuBois yet, but it is on my TBR list. And I read my first Kate Quinn last year and really enjoyed it.

Allen wrote: "I also have some audiobooks that I will do such as the covenant of water."

I do Big Book audios, too, Allen! I choose those as I go - I have a huge backlog of audios so plenty to pick from.

Chris wrote: "I started Ulysses by James Joyce today. Also planning to read The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism by Megan Marshall. Reading another Dick..."

I'm very impressed by your goal to read Ulysses, Chris! Interested to hear what you think. The Peabody Sisters sounds fascinating, and Great Expectations is my favorite Dickens! Very funny. My husband just read it for the first time.

Karen wrote: "I'm such a mood reader it's hard to plan which books to list here.
But I hope to read Knife by Jo Nesbo, book #12 in his Harry Hole series. [bookcover:New Harry Hole Thriller: Knife Free Ebook Samp..."

My husband loves the Harry Hole series, Karen. I think everyone will be reading The Covenant of Water this summer! And I'm impressed you're joining Chris and Kate in reading Ulysses :) They count for the challenge if you weren't too far in them yet when the challenge started on Thursday :)

Nancy wrote: "I'm going to be reading The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. I don't usually read fantasy but I just love the cover and the title. I didn't realize it was 800 pages when I ordered it ..."

That does sound perfect, Nancy! I also don't read much fantasy but have heard great things about The Priory of the Orange Tree, so I'll be interested to hear what you think.

Deb wrote: "I'm joining Chris in reading Ulysses!"

Wow, Deb, impressive! She started a trend :)

Melinda wrote: "I've decided to count The Murmur of Bees as I only started it on Wednesday. I won't be counting my other in-progress books towards this challenge because I'm already far enough into..."

Sounds reasonable, Melinda :) I hadn't heard of this one, so I look forward to hearing your updates!

Kiersten wrote: "The must-reads: also Covenant of Water, along with The Postcard by Anne Berest Last summer, I never got to Overstory, but I now have the audiobook, hoping it will finally happen that way?? I also n..."

Some great choices, Kiersten! I think Covenant will be the IT book of Big Book Summer this year! The Overstory was one of my Big Book Summer reads last year (and leftover from BBS 21!). I loved it. It was a long read but well worth it - probably great on audio!

I'd like to read Love Songs and Mad Honey - so many good books waiting!

And choosing as you go or changing your mind is just fine :)

Robin wrote: "I loved Cutting for Stone so much that I really want to tackle The Covenant of Water this summer."

Good choice, Robin! I think you'll be in good company with that one. I'd like to read it, too.

Julie Ann wrote: "The first book I'm tackling is A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towes."

Ahhh, Julie Ann, that was my #1 book read in 2021! Absolutely loved it - made me laugh out loud and cry and scribble down lots of memorable quotes. Enjoy!

My 1st book is going to be The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley.

I finished book 7 of the Shadow Demon Saga. It’s Emerald Darkness! It was so good! I couldn’t put it down! It had so many twists. I loved! It was just over 400 pages! I am reading book 8 now. My mom is ordering me books 9,10,11. I am so excited to read those. Sarra Cannon. Will writing book 12 soon which I am so excited for!

I'm going to start with Louise Erdrich's The Night Watchman, and when I get my library hold for The Covenant of Water that will probably be next. I have had plans to read The Overstory for the last two summers and it hasn't happened, so maybe this will be the year.

I started Ulysses for my first big book. As for others I made a list on my phone over the winter: Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark, The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel and Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor. Fellowship Point is really calling my name!

I'm ashamed to say I have the following on my shelf, all unread. I am starting with Babel by R.F. Kuang. Then, in a yet to be determined order: Fall of Giants by Ken Follett, Something to Hide by Elizabeth George, Diamond Eye by Kate Qiunn, Jesus, A Pilgrimage by James Martin, S.J., and The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towels. I'm a slow reader so I expect to be back next year! :)

Suzan wrote: "Linda wrote: "I'm presently on page 301 of 715 of The Covenant of Water and page 64 of 1137 of [b..."

Suzan, The Covenant of Water is soooo good. I can't spend enough time with it.

Janna wrote: "My 1st book is going to be The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley."

Enjoy, Janna!

Allie wrote: "I finished book 7 of the Shadow Demon Saga. It’s Emerald Darkness! It was so good! I couldn’t put it down! It had so many twists. I loved! It was just over 400 pages! I am reading book 8 now. My mo..."

Wow, sounds like a great series, Allie! Glad you are enjoying it so much. Please leave a quick comment in the SIGN-UP thread - then you'll be an official participant in the Big Book Summer Challenge and eligible for the giveaway (gift certificate for Bookshop) at the end of the summer. Enjoy your Big Books!

Julie wrote: "I'm going to start with Louise Erdrich's The Night Watchman, and when I get my library hold for The Covenant of Water that will probably be next. I have had plans to..."

The Night Watchman was SO good! I love Louise Erdrich's novels. The Covenant of Water is definitely on my want-to-read list. And The Overstory was in my Big Book Summer plans in 2021 and I finally read it last summer ... and loved it!

Enjoy!

Kate wrote: "I started Ulysses for my first big book. As for others I made a list on my phone over the winter: Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark, The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel and Age of Vice b..."

I love that you've been keeping a Big Book Summer list, Kate! Those all sound like great choices. Enjoy Ulysses!

Dolores wrote: "I'm ashamed to say I have the following on my shelf, all unread. I am starting with Babel by R.F. Kuang. Then, in a yet to be determined order: Fall of Giants by Ken Follett, Something to Hide by E..."

No shame here, Dolores! Did you see MY Big Book Summer stack? All from my own shelves!

I enjoyed Diamond Eye, and Lincoln Highway is in my stack for this summer, too :)

I read Pillars of the Earth for my very first big book summer, but I haven't read any of Follett's other big chunksters yet (though I am a Follett fan from way back in the 80's).

Linda wrote: "Suzan wrote: "Linda wrote: "I'm presently on page 301 of 715 of The Covenant of Water and page 64 of 1137 of [bookcover:The Lord of the Ri..."

Glad to hear it's so compelling, Linda!

I am reading Betsy-Tacy Treasury which is 736 pages. I am enjoying it so far. I hope to read some other big books on my TBR list this summer as well. Maybe some Stephen King.

D.L. wrote: "I am reading Betsy-Tacy Treasury which is 736 pages. I am enjoying it so far. I hope to read some other big books on my TBR list this summer as well. Maybe some Stephen King."

Sounds great! I have never read Betsy-Tacy, but I've heard so many people talk about the books. And I usually include King novel in my Big Book Summer plans, too - this year it's Billy Summers. Last year, I read Hearts in Atlantis, which I loved and made it into my Top 10 Fiction list of the year!

With the long weekend and our string of houseguests past, I started my first Big Book last night! I chose Billy Summers by Stephen King as my first Big Book of the summer - I like to kick things off with something fast-paced. This is not horror but a thriller about a hit man hired for one last job before he retires. I gave it to my husband last year, and he said it was great. Good so far, and I like the main character, Billy.

• HP and the Order of the Phoenix
• Confidence Man

Now, moving on to When We Had Wings. The Kindle app is 424 pages.

I'm starting with The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, a good 1600 pages! If I have any time left after that, I hope to add The Count of Monte Cristo. That would take two big goals off my TBR!

Melissa wrote: "• HP and the Order of the Phoenix
• Confidence Man"

Hope you are enjoying them both, Melissa!

Linda wrote: "Now, moving on to When We Had Wings. The Kindle app is 424 pages."

It looks like a good one, Linda - can't wait to hear what you think. Enjoy!

Maureen M wrote: "I'm starting with The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, a good 1600 pages! If I have any time left after that, I hope to add The Count of Monte Cristo. That would take two big goals off my TBR!"

Those are two hefty ones, Maureen! I read The Count of Monte Cristo for Big Book Summer 2 years ago (I always include one classic) and enjoyed it.

I had a false start with Mad Honey, which I DNF'ed after 27% - I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters, and dissecting what seemed to be unfolding as a toxic teenage relationship step by step leading up to a death, was just not a world I wanted to live in for 400+ pages.
However, I jumped back in with both feet this week - starting The Postcard by Anne Berest in print, and finally, finally The Overstory on audio!