Saturday, December 31, 2011

2012 Challenge: Chunkster and Tea & Books Challenges


Wendy at Caribousmom and Vasilly at 1330V have teamed up to host the 2012 Chunkster Reading Challenge.


GOES UNTIL JANUARY 31, 2013

This is the third year I've participated in this challenge.  In 2010, I bit off more than I could chew, signing up for six books and only finishing four.  So I scaled back in 2011 to the "Chubby Chunkster" four-book level. 

Despite my less than stellar performance in years past, I am signing up for the Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? option to read SIX chunksters from the following categories: two books 450 - 550 pages; two books 551 - 750 pages; and two books longer than 750 pages.

One of the reasons I upped the pressure is because, for the first time, collected editions of essays or short stories count.  That increased my options.

The other reason I'm in for six books is because I can overlap with the Tea & Books Challenge hosted by Birgit at The Book Garden.  I am signing up at the Berry Tea Devotee level to read four books longer than 700 pages.  If I really get on a roll, I'll upgrade to the 6-book level.


INCOMPLETE

BOOKS, REVIEWS, & POSSIBILITIES

I have finished six books so far, of which three count for the Tea & Books Challenge and five for the Chunkster Challenge:

World Without End by Ken Follett (1,024 pages); reviewed here


The Gate House by Nelson DeMille (800 pages), reviewed here;

Witness by Whittaker Chambers (802 pages), reviewed here;


The Book and the Brotherhood by Iris Murdoch (624 pages), reviewed here;

Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey (511 pages), reviewed here

Glittering Images by Susan Howatch (462 pages), reviewed here;


I figured out how to sort the TBR books in my LibraryThing library by the number of pages, so I can check that list for inspiration.  Here are some possibilities:

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (960)

More Matter: Essays and Criticism by John Updike (928)

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (862)

Redemption by Leon Uris (848)

The Charm School
by Nelson DeMille (816)

Ancient Evening by Norman Mailer (800)

A Personal History by Katharine Graham (642)

The Life of Noel Coward by Cole Lesley (608)

NOTES

Last updated on December 26, 2012. I fell one short for the Tea & Books Challenge.  The Chunkster goes until January 31, 2013, so I have time to finish one more in the 551 - 750 category. I am working my way through Katharine Graham's autobiography, so should finish this challenge shortly.

10 comments :

  1. Wow, your chosen books really are some chunksters. I am sorry to say I have only read Anna Karenina (which I loved)though I have read other books by some of these authors.
    Good luck with this challenge, it sounds like fun.
    And Happy New Year!

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  2. Good luck. I enjoyed Anna Karenina and Katherine Graham's book. On my shelves are many other really big books (I sound like Ed Sullivan) which I have put off reading long enough though challenges are not my thing.

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  3. It must be nice to finish a huge book, but where is the time...? Congrats on joining these challenges.

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  4. Not a chance would I be able to complete these challenges. I'd be able to manage the tea, though. Good luck, and enjoy!

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  5. Thanks for signing up for the Chunkster challenge once again! Good luck with both challenges.

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  6. Welcome to the Tea & Books Reading Challenge! You sure have some great books on your list :-) !

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  7. World Without End is a surprisingly fast read. I'm tackling Lonesome Dove later this month for the same challenge (wrapping up last year).

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  8. Woo hoo - you won the giveaway over on the Chunkster Challenge!!! I've sent you an email - please respond to that with your snail mail :)

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  9. Congrats on battling three tomes for the Tea & Books Reading Challenge! Don't worry about not meeting your target (I didn't either if that is any comfort)!
    As you've asked about wrap-up posts - the last post for the 2012 challenge was the one you commented on, but you can also leave feedback in the giveaway form (and I do hope you will enter). Another reminder post for next year's challenge will be up this coming Sunday!

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