Chunkster Challenge

January 18, 2007 /

chunksterbuttonI decided to participate in the Chunkster Challenge, but I don’t know if I mentioned it in my blog more than in passing. Silly me. The time frame is January 1st through June 30th, and the guidelines are pretty free flowing. Bookfool from Bookfoolery and Babble decreed that all participants should read as many or as few (but duh, at least one) ‘chunksters’ during this time period. What, you may ask, is a ‘chunkster’? Well, as it has nothing to do with the size of my waist OR my thighs, I’ll be happy to tell you. It’s a book that is daunting in length, or, if you must be specific, any book of over 400 pages. I’m not sure how many books I’ll get in, but I’m going to do at least two, and try for three.

First, I’ve already mentioned that I’m reading East of Eden. I’m also reading this for the Winter Classics Challenge, but they both say it’s OK to use books for multiple challenges, so no guilt. I started on January 1st, and I’m just over 1/2 way through. It’s just over 600 pages, I think, so it definitely qualifies. Then I’ll be taking some time off from the Chunksters while I finish the Winter Classics Challenge, since the time frame on that one is sooner.

Next, I’m going to read Half of a Yellow Sun, which I read about at Lotus Reads, and thought it sounded like a great book. I received it for my birthday, and as it’s 433 pages, it qualifies as a Chunkster. Yay!

Publisher’s Comment: A masterly, haunting new novel from a writer heralded by the Washington Post Book World as “the 21st-century daughter of Chinua Achebe,” Half of a Yellow Sun re-creates a seminal moment in modern African history: Biafra’s impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria in the 1960s, and the chilling violence that followed.

I’ve read a few books by Achebe, and liked them enough to name my Volvo after him. Is that rude, to name a car after a person? I hope not. Anyway, I’m looking forward to this read.

I’m also debating this one…Cloud Atlas…has anyone read this one? I read the first part, and couldn’t get into it, but then I heard that the rest is better, so we’ll see. It’s 528 pages, so it counts here. 🙂

Maybe I’ll come up with some more Chunksters before the end of the challenge…I seem to have plenty of time, since it goes until June, but I also got some other books for Christmas and my birthday, which are NOT over 400 pages, and which I’m looking forward to digging into, even without any sort of challenge to encourage me. 🙂

And, throwing a wrench into my Winter Classics Challenge was the email that I received today from the library, telling me that the new Dick Francis book is waiting for me…and I still have 4 classics to read by the end of February. Gulp. At 320 pages, it doesn’t qualify for a Chunkster, and his books are usually pretty quick reads…but still. Wish me luck. Good thing I don’t watch a lot of TV lately!

12 Comments

  • Lotus

    January 18, 2007 at 5:56 am

    Yeay, so glad you’ve decided to participate in the “Chunkster Challenge’, J. We’re challenge buddies again! From your list I have read “Half of a Yellow Sun” and loved it to bits! I haven’t read any of the others so I will be looking forward to your reviews! I’m glad you’ve made a good start with the Winter Classics Challenge. I have just completed book # 3 and might take a tiny break and go back and complete the other two in Feb. We’ll see how it goes. good luck and happy reading!

  • J

    January 18, 2007 at 6:09 am

    Ack, Lotus, I’m just over 1/2 way through my first book on the classics challenge! I’m starting to worry! Esp since that library book is waiting for me now!

  • Wendy

    January 18, 2007 at 7:23 am

    Love it! I guess I’ve been doing this without realizing it – I have read (in the last 2 months) 2 James Michener novels at about 980 pages each and James Clavell’s Shogun (around the same) – I have to check this out – You always mention Lotus Reads and I have to go see what it’s about!!

  • Random Kath

    January 18, 2007 at 7:39 pm

    I am in awe of all of your reading – it’s so inspiring! I have piles of books I need to tackle myself – maybe I need to make up my own challenge to get off my duff and read them.