Reading the Chunksters discussion

Good morning chunksters! We are just about in the middle of February so I thought it time to open a thread for some VERSUS nominations theme ideas for March/April 2016.

I figure everyone can nominate or collaborate on what our theme should be for March/April. If we have just a few suggestions, the one with the most "seconds" will be picked or if we have a lot of suggestions, we can take a vote. As well, I can keep a running list of suggestions for future theme ideas.

THEME SUGGESTIONS FOR MARCH/APRIL 2016:

Parent VS Child

Will these be one-book themes or two books?

This is two books. One for March Versus one for April.

I have some thoughts on that theme, but everything I'm coming up with so far isn't a chunkster, so I'll have to study my shelves a bit.

We're just nominating themes at this point, right? Not books?

"Now vs. Then," same issue in two time periods?

Such as war stories in two different time periods? Like Cryptonomicon (1940s/present) and The War of the End of the World Brazil in the 1890s.

Yes just themes but if you have a book suggestion feel free to throw it out there too. And do not worry about the chunky factor. As long as the two books could challenge or engage the readers, that's what's important.

Alana wrote: ""Now vs. Then," same issue in two time periods?

Such as war stories in two different time periods? Like Cryptonomicon (1940s/present) and The War of the End of the World Br..."

I love this one, Alana!

I agree I think Alana's idea is great! I will try to think of something as well.

Just a warning: those two books are massive! We might need more than two months to read them, back to our old "50 pages a week" or something. But that's ok, I love that this group isn't afraid of the monster challenges!

We can certainly extend the time frame if needed.

I'm also keen on Alana's theme and book choices. I hadn't heard of Mario Vargas Llosa until now. I checked out his author page, I think he has one of the best author profile photos I've seen!

Okay so I started with the books...
The Club Dumas vs The Three Musketeers

And riffed from there into possible themes...

The Pen vs The Sword
Mystery vs Adventure
France vs Spain
Original vs Homage

My personal fave is Pen vs Sword, but you could do whichever you think will get the most interesting book nominations.

Very nice! I like that too.

"The Pen vs The Sword" - very creative Renee! I like the book choices too.

I'd like to have all the nominations in by Saturday.

With the new mini-series coming up on Hulu, I'd like to nominate 11/22/63.

OH, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face, tho’ they come from the ends of the earth!
Rudyard Kipling, The Ballad of East and West
http://www.bartleby.com/246/1129.html

In honor of which, I nominate the theme East vs. West.

An addendum: I decided not to specifically limit the nomination, but my thinking was along the lines of something philosophical or religious or ethical or moral or such reflecting and contrasting the values or life approaches of East and West.

I'd like to nominate the theme of time travel. 11/22/63 would fit within that theme, as would the Time Quartet, the series of books beginning with A Wrinkle in Time.

I like all of these suggestions :)

They sound great. I will get the book nomination thread together tomorrow. We should be able to spread out these nominations the rest of the year too.

Nominations are closed for themes for March/April. Feel free to add some more here, and maybe we can try to incorporate them over time. We will start with The Pen VS the Sword. Go to the book nomination thread and start nominating some books!