Reading the Chunksters discussion

This is the thread for those who want to read something challenging as the aftermath of the discussion on All Things Chunkster.

If you want to read any of the challenging novels, please sign up by leaving a message and a book you want to read. If the interest is sufficient, I think buddy reads are quite possible. Make sure you know that you are fully committed. I really want the discussions going, not just talking about their possibility.

I know - I am one mean lady! :-)

Please be vocal and persistent with your choices.

Mason & Dixon for me!

Does Life: A User's Manual count as a challenging novel? It certainly seems challenging.

In any case, my dance card is full until either Infinite Jest* or Dune is over. Just want to see if anyone else would be interested for a future selection.

*I do realize it technically hasn't won yet...:)

I would like:

Dhalgren
Doctor Zhivago
House of Leaves

And I am fully committed to all three. I swear, mean lady. ;)

I will join for Dhalgren. I have read the other two.

I'm interested in House of Leaves, depending on the time frame of when we start and the pace of our reading.

John wrote: "Does Life: A User's Manual count as a challenging novel? It certainly seems challenging.

In any case, my dance card is full until either Infinite Jest* or Dune is over. Just want to s..."

I'm interested in reading this, but not in the immediate future. If we were to do this in 3 or 4 months, perhaps, I would be on board.

Linda wrote: "John wrote: "Does Life: A User's Manual count as a challenging novel? It certainly seems challenging.

In any case, my dance card is full until either Infinite Jest* or Dune is over. J..."

I agree about this! My card is too full right now, but once some of these others clear, like maybe a side-read, I'd be up for it.

I want to read Dhalgren.

I will be happy with either M&D or Dhalgren and would love to read them in succession.

Mason & Dixon, and I'll also read Infinite Jest with the group assuming it wins the poll.

Plus I'd probably join in with Life:A User's Manual in a few months, but not at the same time as the others!

Sarah wrote: "I would like:

Dhalgren
Doctor Zhivago
House of Leaves

And I am fully committed to all three. I swear, mean lady. ;)"

I have a question... if we were to read "Dr. Zhivago" as a Buddy Read would it prevent reading it as a main group read in the future? I wouldn't want to have that happen since it is one of "those" on so many bucket lists?! I'll read any of the ones you mentioned (especially House of Leaves), but I would not be able to start until Dec/Jan. Currently, I am reading Dombey and Son, tack on Infinite Jest (if it wins) and House of the Spirits in October-all chunksters in my book though some not by group's definition. If Infinite Jest does not win, then I would love to add any (DZ?), definitely!

How would you usually pace these reads? I'd like to join as well, but I'm not certain, with my reading schedule, if I can do two chunksters at a time.

Ami wrote: "I have a question... if we were to read "Dr. Zhivago" as a Buddy Read would it prevent reading it as a main group read in the future? I wouldn't want to have that happen since it is one of "those" on so many bucket lists?!"

I would love to read Dr. Zhivago as a group read, and you're right, I think it's on a lot of bucket lists. It seems there is enough interest for it to be able to win a poll at some point.

Ami, as an aside, it looks like we have the same current reading list! I also just started Dombey and Son, will read Infinite Jest if it wins, and would love to read House of Leaves!

After the Great American Novel, we might have a themed read focusing on Russian literature.

As for buddy reads and main reads, a novel can be nominated again, if the significant amount of time passes, let's say a year and a half or two years, so it can generate a lot of interest in this group.

So it is up to you, guys. Let me know what you want to do. it might also be a postponed buddy read if everyone feels overwhelmed right now with our current reads.

So far, the lists of participants are the following.

Mason and Dixon

Kaycie
Paula
Rosemary

Dhalgren

Sarah
Zulfiya
Luffy
Paula
John

House of Leaves

Sarah
Linda

Life: A User's Manual at some point

John
Linda
Kaycie


Doctor Zhivago

Sarah
Ami at some point
Linda at some point


I hope I have not forgotten anyone. We can also prioritize and decide what we read first. All the books look so promising, and although I have read some of them, I would not mind re-reading HoL or DZ.

M&D is also on my TBR, so cloning is possibly the only reasonable option.

Z, definitely put me on the Dhalgren list!
But I can only do 2 books at a time, so if we are still actively reading Dune and adding Infinite jest, then I can't fit Dhalgren in yet.

Zulfiya wrote: "M&D is also on my TBR, so cloning is possibly the only reasonable option."

Just send me a cheek swab and I'll get right on that for you. :D

Yep, so many great books are always chosen for this group, I tend to want to read everything listed here!

Zulfiya wrote: "so cloning is possibly the only reasonable option."

Hahahahaha you are awesome. And I agree with this 100%! I already read DZ and HoL (last month!), or I would have those on my list as well! Phew!

And I understand that not everyone's schedule is the same as mine, but I currently have more spare time until the end of this year than I may ever get so would like to start Mason and Dixon before FoG and IJ are finished. I just don't know what my schedule will look like in 2015, and at least want to be entrenched before I get too busy.

John, my idea was to read Dune IV, see how things are going and whether people still want to read DUNE V and VI, start IJ, and read one of the buddy reads at the end of October.

The final weeks of October should be a starting date for any buddy read discussed in this thread, but if people want it now, and there are several committed readers, I will encourage them to do it in any way that pleases our members.

I lean toward the end of October. These are all very good books and, whatever we choose, I would like to be able to really discuss it in some depth. I'm stretched a bit thin right now and don't want to ruin the enjoyment of a great book :).

End of October would be perfect for me for House of Leaves. However, Ami mentioned she would also be interested in this one but only if it were to start in Dec/Jan. I would be fine with postponing this read for then if it meant having another reader.

House of Leaves would be interesting as a group read...in some parts, 10 pages will take you an hour, but in others, 100 pages will take you 5 minutes (YES! literally!) Awesome book, though, and (even though I am not re-reading), it'd be a good one to read around halloween. It did freak me out more than any book has in a long time.

Also, around when might Infinite Jest start (I know the poll isn't over, but its WAY out in front...)? I need to plan my apparently massive book reading ventures, and I'll see about grabbing it from my library.

And even if M&D isn't the groups chosen buddy read for end of Oct, I'll probably read it myself. I want to read the challenging books from my to-read list that are at my library that lets you check books out for infinite amounts of time before I no longer have access. And M&D might be a book I need for infinite time.

Linda wrote: "End of October would be perfect for me for House of Leaves. However, Ami mentioned she would also be interested in this one but only if it were to start in Dec/Jan. I would be fine with postponin..."

I'll do the "end" of October/Early Nov for House of Leaves if that's where we're headed. Since there seems to be more interest surrounding Dhalgren and M&D, it may affect our numbers for a good discussion? I'll make an allowance to read either Dhalgren, or House of Leaves, earlier than Dec/Jan. I would just prefer not having to add another book currently. I guess, let's see what happens tryng to figure out a schedule! :)

I can work with pretty much any schedule. I'm not going to be reading IJ. We could wait on Zhivago to see if it makes the Russian one. I'm willing to read it now if there's interest, though.

Ami and I are reading House of Spirits in Oct and we've discussed M & D for after IJ.

Ami are you thinking of reading Dhalgren and HoL eventually, or is that an either or? HoL would be great for the end of October. I'm wondering if we could stagger them to accommodate as many people as possible.

Normally I don't have a lot of restraints and I can read a lot at a time. I do have to read the 6 Odd Thomas novels throughout Nov and Dec so that I'm ready for the 7th and final when it comes out in Jan. That's my only real commitment.

Otherwise I will work with whatever people are able to do. I have plenty of time on my hands to juggle whatever we want.

Sarah wrote: "I can work with pretty much any schedule. I'm not going to be reading IJ. We could wait on Zhivago to see if it makes the Russian one. I'm willing to read it now if there's interest, though.

Am..."

House of Leaves is my preference, but more are interested in reading Dhalgren. I was thinking about the numbers and your (Sarah) interest in reading both (I didn't want you to have to pick between one or the other because of me-since we've discussed all the great reading options previously.) The interest in Dhalgren leads me to believe it's actually going to be an unofficial group read and House of Leaves more of a buddy read?

House of Leaves, end of October, I'm in...Done. Sarah, you can do both...:))) (I just read Zulfiya's message below).

Guys, you can start HoL in October. Let me know if this is an acceptable date for you.

As for Dhalgren, let me know when everyone wants to read it. I am game.

I'm in for House of Leaves at the end of Oct.

When does everyone want to do Dhalgren?

Sarah wrote: "I'm in for House of Leaves at the end of Oct."

I just got on the waiting list for HoL at the library, so hopefully I'll have it by then.

Does this happen with other nominations? I'm worried that we won't get the ones we want done because the next round also has ones we want for buddy reads. Which is why I'm pretty much going "Omigod we've got do them all RIGHT NOW!"

Sarah wrote: "Does this happen with other nominations? I'm worried that we won't get the ones we want done because the next round also has ones we want for buddy reads. Which is why I'm pretty much going "Omigod..."

I think this was an extraordinary round of nominations - so many great books that people are excited to read. So no, this doesn't normally happen! The last time a nomination came very close to winning with a lot of interest was Les Miserables, and we ended up doing that as a side read.

Zulfiya wrote: "Guys, you can start HoL in October. Let me know if this is an acceptable date for you.

As for Dhalgren, let me know when everyone wants to read it. I am game."

I would be willing to start Dhalgren any time. October for HoL sounds good. Would M&D be in November/December?

I'd like to join for HoL in October. When will the IJ read begin?

I am in for Mason and Dixon. If it is in November that would be fantastic. That would give me enough time to finish up what I am currently reading.
I am on the fence with Infinite Jest.

Dhalgren would be best for me if it was after IJ is finished...but if that's too long to wait, I can make an attempt earlier.

I'm reading Fall of Giants currently but would love to join in to read any of the choices above. I read Doctor Zhivago in college & loved it but I'd enjoy re-reading it, now that I am now older & wiser (I like to think!).
Mason and Dixon & House of Leaves have been on my To Read list for awhile & Dahlgren sounds really intriguing.

Kristina wrote: "I am in for Mason and Dixon. If it is in November that would be fantastic. That would give me enough time to finish up what I am currently reading.
I am on the fence with [book:Infinite..."

I would be fine with M&D in November, but if it goes much later, I'll probably read it on my own and just try to join in the buddy reads when I can afterwards.

Tentative dates:
October 27, 2014 - Dhalgren and House of Leaves
November 24, 2014 - Mason and Dickson

As for Dr. Zhivago, maybe it is worth trying to nominate it again for our themed read - Russian Literature. Just a suggestion.
Again, if you want to read it now, only let me know.

Conversely, if it does not win that poll, then we can easily read it as a buddy read.

Sounds good.

I'll be joining Dhalgren and House of Leaves. With enthusiasm :)

I'm okay on waiting and trying Zhivago again in the Russian themed read. Ami twisted my arm nd convinced me to at least try IJ.

So I have Fall of Giants, House of Leaves, Dhalgren, and Infinite Jest. I think I'm good on chunksters for a loooong time. I'll wait until next year for Mason & Dixon and Zhivago.

Paula, you've read Dhalgren, right? Is it true sci-fi or more of a 70's acid trip?

Sarah wrote: "So I have Fall of Giants, House of Leaves, Dhalgren, and Infinite Jest. I think I'm good on chunksters for a loooong time."

Nice tower of books there, Sarah! :)

Linda wrote: "Sarah wrote: "So I have Fall of Giants, House of Leaves, Dhalgren, and Infinite Jest. I think I'm good on chunksters for a loooong time."

Nice tower of books there, Sarah! :)"

No kidding!!! I may actually drive myself crazy by the time the new year rolls around.

Hah, tell me about it!

Sarah wrote: "Paula, you've read Dhalgren, right? Is it true sci-fi or more of a 70's acid trip?"

I read it years ago. It's an odd book. I would say it's sci-fi on acid if that makes sense.

Zulfiya wrote: "Tentative dates:
October 27, 2014 - Dhalgren and House of Leaves
November 24, 2014 - Mason and Dickson

As for Dr. Zhivago, maybe it is worth trying to nominate it again for our themed read - Russ..."

This all sounds yummy!!

Ami and I ate going to do a buddy read on The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende starting 9/21. Does anyone want to join us? It's not a true Chunkster at a "mere" 430 pages, but it should be fun nonetheless. Can anyone tell me how to set this up?

Sarah, as I mentioned elsewhere, I will open a thread for you, Ami, and others.

On Sunday, go to the buddy read section, and you will find a thread. There is only one thread for the whole discussion, so be careful with your posts and use spoiler html.

I will also recommend to use markers, specifying about about part of the book you are commenting.

You can check our other past buddy read thread, and their structure is self-explanatory.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I hope this will help.

Thank you!

Zulfiya wrote: "Tentative dates:
October 27, 2014 - Dhalgren and House of Leaves
November 24, 2014 - Mason and Dickson

This sounds perfect for me. It means I can do both House of Leaves and Mason & Dixon :-)

Just found this thread - definitely keen on Dhalgren.