The host of The Big Book Summer Challenge is Sue who writes the blog Book by Book. The link will take you to the sign-up page where all the rules are explained, yet they are simple, and to participate you only need to read ONE big book (400 pages and up). The challenge started on May 24 and ends on September 3, the day after Labor Day.
Since May 24th, I've read two books that qualify:
Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George (412 pages) and
Last of the Mohicans (425 pages). My review of the latter is coming up in a day or two.
Other BIG BOOKS I either plan or hope to read this summer:
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (also reading for the Back to the Classics Challenge) 417 pages
Plan to start this on July 1st.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (BCC Challenge) probably in August 453 pages.
Hope: I may have to put this one off until fall.
The Radiant Way by Margaret Drabble 408 pages.
Plan to read
Winter of the World by Ken Follet, (Vol. 2 in The Century Trilogy), 940 pages. I had a hankering to read this one this summer. And then I found out how long it is. I read Vol. 1 a number of years ago. But it would be an entertaining immersion.
Hope to read
I look forward to your upcoming posts. I loved both One Hundred Years of Solitude and Catch - 22 so I am curious as to what you will think of them.
ReplyDeleteI tend to read a lot of big books so I might join in on the challenge.
Hi Brian,
DeleteI'm so happy to hear that you loved both books. That's music to my ears.
I'm determined to read One Hundred Years of Solitude, but I've noted that many bloggers have reported they haven't cared for it.
I do hope you're able to join the challenge. The more bloggers participating the better, and it would be especially nice to have you join up.
The only one I've read was Winter of the World and that trilogy was excellent. Have fun with the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'm so eager to begin reading Winter of the World that I think I must go to the library tomorrow. I tell you, that when the spirit rises, I must follow it.
DeleteAnd thank you for wishing me well with this challenge. It should be an interesting summer of reading!
I remember devouring the first book of the Century Trilogy on vacation several years ago...lugged the huge hardcover to the beach daily. I intended to continue, but the length is just so daunting! If I do get to it, it will be the ebook ;-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the challenge!
Hi JoAnn,
DeleteI do recall sharing notes with hyou about The Fall of Giants, the first book in the trilogy. When I finished it, I knew I did not want to move on the second volume immediately, and I thought it would be a few years, if ever. But, because I perused my list of books to read someday, I found it and the memory spoke to me and yes, I knew I wanted to start in on it straightaway. Our local library had a copy, so I picked it up today and have begun. My deep desire and need was for a SAGA. It surely fits the bill.
I have One Hundred Years of Solitude on my list for the Back to the Classics Challenge too. I'm not really a fan of magic realism, but we'll see how it goes! :D
ReplyDeleteHi Ruthiella,
DeleteOh, wow, you too! I've always felt that Marquez was an author I should not miss, so that prompted me. And I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't know the novel can be considered "magic realism." I'm game for anything. Then my inner snipey teenager quips, "It can't be as onerous as Last of the Mohicans."
Welcome to Big Book Summer, Judith! I'm so glad you decided to join the fun!
ReplyDeleteYou have some great plans for Big Books this summer. I am also using the challenge to tackle some classics for the Back to the Classics Challenge - two birds with one stone! Catch-22 is also on my list for this summer, and I am currently reading a classic whopper, Gone with the Wind.
I haven't read The Century Trilogy yet, but I LOVE Follet, and I read The Pillars of the Earth for one of my very first Big Book Summers :)
Enjoy all your Big Books this summer, and be sure to come back to the challenge page to link up your reviews, if you like (on the 2nd links list).
Sue
2019 Big Book Summer Challenge
Hi Sue,
DeleteThanks so much for the welcome. I'm so glad that you are also reading Catch-22! I'll be very interested to hear your thoughts about it.
Turns out I picked up The Winter of the World by Follet yesterday and am now on p. 80, so it looks like a PLAN and not just a hope this summer.
P.S. I love your blog name and your photo!! I also love the outdoors and the Adirondacks - I went to college in Potsdam, NY, and we love to camp up there.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you still return to the area for camping. We are in the south-central area of the "Central Adirondacks." We moved up here from the Boston area in December 2005 to create another way of living. We do not miss the rat race, the wall-to-wall traffic, or the heat and the humidity of May-September. We found we love the long winters up here, too. So much to do here. And only an hour away from a wonderful small city (GF).
DeleteI love this idea, Judith. I will have to look and see what I have read and what I am planning to read. In the summer I do plan my reading more. I look forward to reading what you think of One Hundred Years of Solitude. I have never even thought of reading that, but maybe you will convince.
ReplyDelete