Reading the Chunksters discussion

So I thought it would be nice to have a thread to discuss books we are reading outside of our Chunksters. I know I read more than one book at a time and I love hearing about what everyone else is reading and getting some ideas for my TBR.

SO, what are you reading??

I like threads like this. I'm busy with Of Human Bondage, Karoo Plainsong and The Count of Monte Cristo. What about you Kristi?

Am currently reading three chunksters .. Anna Karenina, War and Peace and The Goldfinch.

While I am finding Anna Karenina a little irritating, the other two books are simply fascinating.

Reading two Tolstoys at the same time can be quite a difficult task. However, I am enjoying it and enjoying the differences between the two books, despite the Russian setting.

I'm currently reading Home Front, The Rules of Victory: Strategies from "The Art of War" for Mastering Chaos and Conflict, and Land of Love and Drowning.

I'm finding them all really good, but right now I'm liking Rules of Victory the most, it's very interesting.

Srividya wrote: "Am currently reading three chunksters .. Anna Karenina, War and Peace and The Goldfinch.

While I am finding Anna Karenina a little irritating, the other two books are simply fascinating.

Reading..."

I'm inpressed! Two Tolstoy's at once if crazy, good for you. What are you thinking of the Goldfinch?

@Kristi - I know it is crazy. I keep wondering what I was thinking about when I started both! However, both are so diametrically different that it helps me keep a balance.

Am quite liking the Goldfinch but am just in Part 2, which is a little slow moving. However, the writing is superb. Simply loving the flow.

I just finished Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, which was creepy with some quite unexpected turns - it takes place in 18th century Paris. And I am now reading Provinces of Night, which takes place in ~1950s Tennessee and has a gothic feeling to it. I fit these two shorter, more contemporary reads in because I've been reading a lot of chunky classics lately - I'm nearing the end of Don Quixote and I also recently finished Bleak House.

Linda, those both sound really great! I had to add Perfume to my TBR. It sounds horrible but wonderful at the same time.

I realized it has been a long time since I read a book that wasn't digital, so this weekend I ordered two paperbacks: The Invention of Morel, and Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead.

Both have been on my TBR list for a long time, and both are short novellas, perfect for squeezing in between the chunksters :)

John - that Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead looks horribly fascinating! I think I will add it to my TBR list, but you'll have to let me know what you think of it. I've not heard of it or the author before.

I will be sure to let you know Linda! I have only recently heard of the author, but she has several other books that sound interesting as well, so I'm hoping I've discovered a new (to me) gem :)

I have very few actual obligations for reading in September, so I'm thinking of kicking back and making it a chunkster month. The problem is I have this on my list:

The Bloodletter's Daughter, The Daughters of Mars, 1918, The Guns of August, To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War, 1Q84, Natchez Burning, Shadow of Night, The Way of Shadows, The Book of Life, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Red Mars, and maybe Fall of Giants

I read a lot, but even I can't read that much in one month!!! Narrowing it down is going to be difficult. At the moment, I'm reading Dodger, A Burnable Book, Rebecca, and Gun, With Occasional Music

A crazy list overall. I don't know if my chunkster month idea will work, but it sounds like a lot of fun!

Uff, for every one great book I read, I have read 3-4 terrible (or let's just say, they weren't to my liking) books in between...Why does it have to be this way? Currently, I'm reading Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn-Boy, her earlier work is so much more macabre compared to "Gone Girl." Needless to say, I have not slept very well in the past couple of days and had to add Tom Wolfe's nonfiction The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test into the mix (Ken Kesey, LSD, and his Merry Pranksters). I also have Adultery, by Paulo Coelho, which I have not started.

Ami wrote: "Uff, for every one great book I read, I have read 3-4 terrible (or let's just say, they weren't to my liking) books in between...Why does it have to be this way? Currently, I'm reading [book:Dark P..."

Ooooh, I've been looking at Adultery (the book, not the practice) you'll have to let me know what you think when you get to it. I started Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn and had to put it away, it's actually why I didn't read Gone Girl, it was too dark for me.

I couldn't read Gone Girl. I feel manipulated by the author too obviously. Great books play with your emotions without making you (consciously) aware of it. But I had to ditch Gone Girl 10% in because the nice people were - not "too nice" - but nice in an artificial, unnatural, and goofy and dishonest way.

I loved Dark Places.

Thanks for this thread!

I just finished The Instructions, am rereading Bleak House for another group and I'm currently reading The Good Soldier Švejk.

In September, I'm reading Ulysses with yet another group. When my brain seems about to fizzle, I pull out a Nero Wolfe mystery for some easy fun.

Oh, and I'm also reading The Complete Short Stories. Proust is always in the mix as well; when I finish, I just start over again.

Kristin Lavransdatter and Dombey and Son are on deck for later in the Fall. And, of course, I'm looking forward to what will be coming up here :)!

I'll have to try Dark Places. I read Gone Girl and I highly recommend it. I know it's an odd book, but redefines the "psychological" in psychological thrillers. It's probably the most twisted book I've read, which is not something I would normally like, but I'm so glad I read it. I don't think I'll read it again though! It really screwed with my head. But it was SO fascinating!

Kristi wrote: "Ami wrote: "Uff, for every one great book I read, I have read 3-4 terrible (or let's just say, they weren't to my liking) books in between...Why does it have to be this way? Currently, I'm reading ..."

"Gone Girl," was very sinister compared to "Dark Places" and I'm guessing "Sharp Objects" too? I haven't read the latter, but I'm giving Gillian Flynn a break for now having just finished "Dark Places"-I don't think I can handle two in a row. In fact, I feel the need to purge with a nice little literary palette cleanser...Jeesh!

I'll definitely let you know about "Adultery," by Coelho.

Paula wrote: "Thanks for this thread!

I just finished The Instructions, am rereading Bleak House for another group and I'm currently reading The Good Soldier Švejk.

In …"

I love your booklist, Paula! Such great classics!

I'm reading:

The Essays of Montaigne - Complete

Antigone

Russian Thinkers

Out of the Silent Planet

And coming up is:

Fathers and Sons

Lisa wrote: "I like threads like this. I'm busy with Of Human Bondage, Karoo Plainsong and The Count of Monte Cristo. What about you Kristi?"

I've been wanting to read "Of Human Bondage," for such a long time and was so excited when it was nominated here. Alas, it didn't appeal to as many and it's still on my "to be read" shelf. Are you enjoying it, I hear it weighs heavy on the nerves?

Luffy-
I completely agree with you on the characters in Gone Girl. What made the novel/writing excellent is that what you picked up on is actually part of the story. But you aren't "told" until about halfway through!

Right now, I'm working my way through a stack of chunksters, promising myself that I can't start a new one until I've made some headway.

1) Bleak House (finished!)
2) The Eustace Diamonds (finished!)
3) Don Quixote
4) 1Q84
5) Children of Dune
6) Uncle Tom's Cabin (finished!)
7) Outlander
8) Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
9) And The Band Played On

Yeah. Way, Way overwhelmed!

Renee wrote: "Right now, I'm working my way through a stack of chunksters, promising myself that I can't start a new one until I've made some headway."

Nine, Renee?! You are a hard charger. :) I start to feel overwhelmed at 3 or 4 simultaneous reads.

Linda wrote: "Renee wrote: "Right now, I'm working my way through a stack of chunksters, promising myself that I can't start a new one until I've made some headway."

Nine, Renee?! You are a hard charger. :) …"

Renee, I am so glad to meet someone who overloads themselves too. My 2015 resolution is less books at one time!

Renee, which Bury My Heart as Wounded Knee are you reading?

Sarah,

The author is Dee Brown. Sorry, I'd have to be on a computer to link it. I'm actually listening to the audio version. It's pretty intense, and I need a break after every chapter.

Thanks. I'll have to check it out. GR needs to fix that inability to link on their app. I have such trouble with it.

lol..now I may have to read Gone Girl just to see! Thanks! I plan on freaking out and not sleeping. Love you all.

Renee wrote: "Sarah,

The author is Dee Brown. Sorry, I'd have to be on a computer to link it. I'm actually listening to the audio version. It's pretty intense, and I need a break after every chapter."

I have the audio of this, is it amazing? It just keep getting pushed back because there are so many amazing books but if it's really good I'll have to listen to it soon.

I am currently reading The Wise Man's Fear and Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. On deck is Persuasion. Can wait to join the Austen group read.

Cleo wrote: "I'm reading:

The Essays of Montaigne - Complete

Antigone

[bookcover:Russian Thinker..."

You have a great list too, Cleo!

Kristi wrote: "lol..now I may have to read Gone Girl just to see! Thanks! I plan on freaking out and not sleeping. Love you all."

My mom just finished reading Gone Girl and loved it, so it's on my list too!

Kristi-

So far I'm quite blown away by bury My Heart At Wounded Knee. I knew it was a dark piece of history, but it's pretty awful. Though, I'd like to get my hands on a print copy, as well. I suspect there are photographs and, maybe, maps on which I'm missing out.

I put that in my to read. It looks very good, but I can see where it would be an emotional read.

Dickens, Bleak House (re-read, or more accurately re-re-read)
Maugham, Of Human Bondage (re-read but first read a long time ago)
Graham, The End of the Affair (first reading)
Bronte, Villette (first reading)
Calvino, Why Read the Classics (first reading)
About to start Oliphant, Miss Marjoriebanks (started a long time ago, never finished)

and for brain candy, when I need a break, I'm whipping through some of the Amelia Peabody mysteries, almost all re-reading.

I LOVE Amelia Peabody!!! So much fun!

I am currently reading All the Light We Cannot See. It's a newer release about a French girl and German boy leading up to/during WW II.
I'm starting the audio of Queen of Hearts, which is a cozy mystery series set in the 1920's. My listening reads tend to be lighter fare ;-)

Renee wrote: "I completely agree with you on the characters in Gone Girl. What made the novel/writing excellent is that what you picked up on is actually part of the story. But you aren't "told" until about halfway through! "

That is unexpected. But by virtue of my experience of the book, its' at best at the bottom of my to be read pile. Les Miserables is way ahead in terms of priorities, I was that turned off by Gone Girl. I appreciate the twist you mentioned though. Makes me think.

JoLene wrote: "I am currently reading All the Light We Cannot See. It's a newer release about a French girl and German boy leading up to/during WW II.
I'm starting the audio of [book:Queen of Hea..."

Jolene, I've actually been waiting on a copy of "All the Light We Cannot See" from the library. I hope it's worth the wait...Yes? What do you think so far?

I tried getting a copy of All the Light We Cannot See and it was going to take me months. They have at least 40 copies too. I decided to wait.

I finished it --- but read the last part in a rush. There was such a queue that the library wouldn't let me renew it :-(

It is extremely well written --- covering events leading up to and including WWII and the after effects. It's one of those books that your sad when it's done.

Currently, I'm reading by Joyce Carol Oates and I'm in awe of her every word!!

Picked up Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything from a library browse, and am enjoying it, though his flippant tone may eventually pale. But he makes the discovery of the origins of the universe understandable and palatable, which is quite a feat.

I'm reading I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes. It's a very literary cross between a spy thriller, a murder mystery, and a slow meander through the main characters life and experiences. It's fascinating and I've never read another book quite like it.

Lisa wrote: "I like threads like this. I'm busy with Of Human Bondage, Karoo Plainsong and The Count of Monte Cristo. What about you Kristi?"

How are you liking Human bondage? I am presently listing to it via librovox while exercising.

and

Great, Sarah! I bought an eBook version of I Am Pilgrim several months ago, but haven't gotten to it. Your blurb makes me want to push it up on my list!

I decided to go ahead and read God Emperor of Dune, after we finished up the first 3 books. I'm about 80% into it now -- it's not bad, but...the first 3 books were sci-fi novels with a healthy dose of philosophy; this one is a philosophy text with some sci-fi plot. Very dry. I still want to finish out the series, because I love Herbert's overall vision and ideas, but will probably take a long break after this one.

Good for you, John! I've still got Children of Dune on my tbr. It's the only one for which couldn't find an audio version. I've been walking around with the eBook on my phone, because I don't want to give up. Like you, I'd still like to follow the saga. :)