Reading the Chunksters discussion

Ok everyone...since Vanity Fair is almost over, lets see what our next Classic Chunkster will be! Please nominate your choice for our next Classic.

Per our previous discussions, if one of the Moderators isn't available to lead the discussion we reserve the right to have the nominator (person who nominated the book) lead the discussion. Of course the Mods will help you in any way you require while leading the discussions. So if you aren't really interested in reading the book...don't nominate it.

I will post the poll 8/7/11 so be sure to get your nominations in soon!

Chunksters are at least 500 pages, also, please link to your book and author when nominating.

I find myself at a loss... most of the classics on my TBR that I want to get to soon are surprisingly short (in the 300ish page range).

I would love to nominate, but am trying to keep up with The Three Musketeers and Mists of Avalon, so I think I will leave it at that for now.

I believe we discussed this before, as to whether this is classic or contemporary, but I will nominate The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (the edition containing all three sections and both interludes, as linked) as a Classic Chunkster.

@ Amber: I feel okay with considering that one a classic (especially as, I believe, it focuses on pre-WWI time periods, even if it was published post WWI).

Hmm, you know, I've actually been in the mood to read a love story, so I'm going to go ahead and nominate:

Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

Though, since it was published in 1958, feel free to disagree with me about whether it's a classic or not.

I have Dr. zhivago on my to-read list so I will second that!

And if folks are worried about feeling over-committed, maybe we could take a little time off before the next classic chunkster? Especially since we're reading two classic side-reads right now?

Not saying we'll do this for sure, just something to consider/discuss.

Dr. Zhivago would be a breathe of fresh air! And, since I've already read it, that would be lovely :P

A break would be even more devine!

Loretta wrote: "And if folks are worried about feeling over-committed, maybe we could take a little time off before the next classic chunkster? Especially since we're reading two classic side-reads right now?

No..."

When would this read start?

Late September? Early October? But it was just a thought... if some folks are super-eager to start, that could be considered as well.

October sounds ideal.

I like both of the suggestions so far, and a break would be great, but I will go with the flow.

Ditto for Doctor Zhivago!

Late Sept, early October sound good to me too.

Wow, the nominations are usually so much more contentious than this. LOL.

lol...it's the "you should be ready to Lead the discussion" caveat that's holding them back...plus all the other reads we have going. Heck, I can't even decide on one to nominate! I'll have to go look at my shelf and see what I can come up with.

I had the same problem Kristi... had to scour my shelves until I came up with Dr. Zhivago.

I think I suggested Forsyte Saga because it's a favorite and I've never been able to discuss it with anyone before. So, on the off chance it was chosen and I had to lead the discussion, I would feel up to the challenge. But Dr. Zhivago has been collecting dust on my shelf for some time now, so I definitely would not be averse to that either. You're right, this is a very easy going round of nominations!

@ Amber: The Forsyte Saga is definitely one I want to get to eventually, especially considering the high ratings it's got. So I'd also be fine with that.

I have two:
East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

First off, the nominations so far are awesome!! I will nominate even though I do not care if it wins. I am so glad we all have the same tastes. I nominate

The Red and the Black by Stendhal

Carol wrote: "I have two:
East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand"

Carol, we each nominate only one. Which would you prefer?

I nominate Ivanhoe by Walter Scott. I have been wanting to read this one for a while.

Oh, Silver, Ivanhoe has been on my list for a long time, too.

And I will nominate whichever of Carol's that she doesn't choose as those are two of my faves.

Loretta wrote: "Carol wrote: "I have two:
East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand"

Carol, we each nominate only one. Which would you prefer?"
Oops Sorry about that how about East of Eden since I already own a copy.

@ Carol: Sounds good. Thanks.

Okay, then I will nominate Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand which is another of my favorite books.

Since we're not starting until September or October, I'll nominate and be prepared if it's chosen to lead The Iliad.
.
Certainly both a Chunkster and a classic in all senses of that term.

I've linked to the Fitzgerald translation, but there are quite a few others out there, and if it's picked I may decide to read Lattimore instead of Fitzgerald, while others may prefer Fagles or even one of the prose translations.

You know, I loved The Odyssey when I read it in H.S., but for some reason I couldn't get myself to wade through The Iliad. Don't know why i'd react so differently to the two.

Loretta wrote: "You know, I loved The Odyssey when I read it in H.S., but for some reason I couldn't get myself to wade through The Iliad. Don't know why i'd react so differently to the two."

The Iliad requires a certain level of understanding of the Greek mindset. It works, at least for me, on at least three very different levels, the level of what I believe it meant to the original audience, the level of what it meant to Fifth Century Athens when it became basically the primary textbook for what it meant to be Greek, and what it can teach us today about society and ourselves. A very rich book. A certainly amount of violence, of course, being about war, but there are interesting lessons even in that.

Hi guys!
Im at the the beach, on vacation, and thought I'd add to the nominations. I can't link my choice because I'm on my phone. Maybe someone can be so kind to add a link for me.


I nominate North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.

I got ya covered Liz! Have fun on your vacation!

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

I've wanted to read this classic book for a very long time and would love it to be nominated:

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Don Quixote!

Stephanie wrote: "I've wanted to read this classic book for a very long time and would love it to be nominated:

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins"

Oh, I've wanted to read this one since we read The Woman in White...great choice!

At this point I might not choose my own!!!!

Stephanie wrote: "I've wanted to read this classic book for a very long time and would love it to be nominated:

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins"

This one and Dr. Z are on my to-read list for 2011. I'll be happy with either one. :)

Tasha wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "I've wanted to read this classic book for a very long time and would love it to be nominated:

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins"

This one and Dr. Z are on my to-read list for 2011..."

yippers!

If we go with The Moonstone, I may have to quickly devour Woman in White so I can catch up with you guys! There was a great little article about Wilkie Collins and his friendship with Charles Dickens in the most recent issue of the New Yorker - maybe a Collins followed by a chunky Dickens classic would be fun.

I would love to do a Dickens, Like Tale of Two Cities or Great Expectations or something.

Kristi wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "I've wanted to read this classic book for a very long time and would love it to be nominated:

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins"

Oh, I've wanted to read this one since we read..."

hoorah! i missed The Woman in White ...sad day :*(

I didn't know we were done with Vanity Fair, I guess that is how far I'm behind !!! Soooo I think a little break would be great for people to get caught up and then we might have a better participation if people have some time.

I also agree with Tasha, would love to see either Doctor Zhivago or another Wilki Collins.

Andrea wrote: "I didn't know we were done with Vanity Fair, I guess that is how far I'm behind !!! Soooo I think a little break would be great for people to get caught up and then we might have a better participa..."

i will never been done with Vanity Fair, maybe we should make our own Vanity Fair group, Andrea...except for i'd probably drop out! :P

That is a good one Stephanie! I'm determined to finish it though....

Andrea wrote: "That is a good one Stephanie! I'm determined to finish it though...."

me too!!! me too!!!

Hey, Kristi, do you want me to post the poll? I'd be happy to.

My vote is Doctor Zhivago since I already own an unread beautiful copy I'd like to mark up;}

Stephanie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I didn't know we were done with Vanity Fair, I guess that is how far I'm behind !!! Soooo I think a little break would be great for people to get caught up and then we might have a b..."

If it makes you feel any better, I started Vanity Fair six months ago (before joining this group) and I'm still not finished with it.

Okay, since we've passed the cut-off date, I'm going to go ahead and open up a poll for it. I'm assuming Kristi is busy.