2025 Big Book Summer Challenge discussion

Share what Big Book you are currently reading. Why did you choose it?
(if you like, you can add your currently reading Big Book to our group Bookshelf)

Tonight, I started Maybe You Should Talk to someone by Lori Gottlieb.

I chose this because number one, I am a huge advocate of therapy. I am in a hard spot right now with family issues , and this was the perfect book to kick off my challenge. I know it starts Monday but I needed to read this, because I haven’t been able to see my counselor.

I don’t know what this chapter has in store for my life right now, but I am here, and I am growing. And I know my dad will heal and get better

I'm currently reading The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens. I chose this as I want to read through Dicken's works and thought I'd go by publication order.

I've got all my 400 pagers stacked up and ready to go. I'm starting with re-reading The Fifth Season which I originally read several years ago. Although I have the two other books in the trilogy, I never got around to reading them so of refreshing my memory of the trilogy with book one and then going right to the second and third book. I also have the prequel to The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon which is 800 plus pages. I think that'll pretty much keep me busy all summer!!

I am doing a buddy read of "It" this summer, so that's one of my choices.

I am also considering Strange Weather: Four Short Novels by Joe Hill, and for something slightly lighter & romantic, Night Music by Jennifer Marie Thorne

Allen wrote: "Tonight, I started Maybe You Should Talk to someone by Lori Gottlieb.

I chose this because number one, I am a huge advocate of therapy. I am in a hard spot right now with family issues , and this..."

You're good, Allen - Big Book Summer starts today! It always starts on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend :) Sounds like a great choice for you right now. It's on my TBR, too.

Jane wrote: "I'm currently reading The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens. I chose this as I want to read through Dicken's works and thought I'd go by publication order."

Wow, Jane, you're going to read ALL of Dickens' works? Impressive! I love Dickens, but I haven't read The Pickwick Papers yet, so I'll be interested to hear what you think.

Nancy wrote: "I've got all my 400 pagers stacked up and ready to go. I'm starting with re-reading The Fifth Season which I originally read several years ago. Although I have the two other books in the trilogy, I..."

Welcome back to Big Book Summer, Nancy! Sounds like a great plan. I haven't read any of those, but I've heard lots of good reviews. Enjoy!

Welcome back to Big Book Summer, DL! IT definitely counts as a BIG book! ha ha Sounds like fun - enjoy!

I just started The Column of Fire by Ken Follett for my first summer big book. I have loved the Pillars of the Earth trilogy so far and I am excited to read the third!

Eric wrote: "I just started The Column of Fire by Ken Follett for my first summer big book. I have loved the Pillars of the Earth trilogy so far and I am excited to read the third!"

Great pick for Big Book Summer! Pillars of the Earth was the book that inspired my first personal Big Book Summer 14 years ago :) I still need to read the rest of the series - enjoy!

Currently reading God of the Woods by Liz Moore.

Dawn wrote: "Currently reading God of the Woods by Liz Moore."

That one's high on my want-to-read list, Dawn! LOTS of people read it for Big Book Summer last year and loved it.

I'm going to start my first book for Big Book Summer tonight. I'm starting with a classic, Madam Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. It's been on my TBR for a long time and on my shelf for a couple of years. Melinda (my co-host) did a read-along of it in April and May, so I'm hoping to catch the tail end of those discussions.

Currently reading The Last Rose of Shanghai - 429 pages. I chose it because I love historical fiction and I don't know much about Japanese occupied Shanghai.

Linda "Lilybug's Library" wrote: "Currently reading The Last Rose of Shanghai - 429 pages. I chose it because I love historical fiction and I don't know much about Japanese occupied Shanghai."

That sounds fascinating, Linda! I don't know much about that topic/era, either.

Here is my list of Big Books. I hope to read each one, but I'm a mood reader, and I get easily distracted by the latest hyped book. But I am working hard to stick to my plan, LOL
Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Story of a Murder by Holly Rubenhold

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

I'm currently reading Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz. My TBR is long like most others but will check it for those that meet the Big Book criteria. Maybe that will help me prioritize!

Karen wrote: "Here is my list of Big Books. I hope to read each one, but I'm a mood reader, and I get easily distracted by the latest hyped book. But I am working hard to stick to my plan, LOL
Long Bright River ..."

Looks like a great plan, Karen! I haven't read any of those yet, but most of those authors are on my TBR. Enjoy!

Janet Jennings wrote: "I'm currently reading Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz. My TBR is long like most others but will check it for those that meet the Big Book criteria. Maybe that will help me prioritize!"

It already looks like that book is going to be a popular one for Big Book Summer this year, Janet! Feel free to start a discussion thread if you want to talk about it with other readers here. Enjoy!

Karen wrote: "Here is my list of Big Books. I hope to read each one, but I'm a mood reader, and I get easily distracted by the latest hyped book. "

I've heard a lot of good things about The Emperor of Gladness. I've not read any of his books and will be interested to hear what you think of it.

I have started The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel as a buddy read. It is time to finish the series!

Kate wrote: "I have started The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel as a buddy read. It is time to finish the series!"

Welcome back to Big Book Summer, Kate! Sounds like a good start.

I started The Winners by Fredrik Backman

I have not started Mansfield Park yet because I want to wrap up my current read (that is not a big book). Hopefully tonight.

I just joined the group after seeing the intro video on YouTube. My first big book is Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Someone have it to me last year and I just haven't read it, yet. I am also going to read Tears of Amber by Sofia Segovia which is for my local book club.

I have pulled three chunksters from my to read shelves. I'm going to start with Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
These are my other two options!

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Happy reading!!

Janet Jennings wrote: "I'm currently reading Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz. My TBR is long like most others but will check it for those that meet the Big Book criteria. Maybe that will help me prioritize!"

Janet, I love this series! Have you watched the Masterpiece Mystery series on PBS? Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders are both worth watching. Of course the books are always better. Enjoy. I look forward to your review. I plan to read Marble Hall soon.

Kathy wrote: "Karen wrote: "Here is my list of Big Books. I hope to read each one, but I'm a mood reader, and I get easily distracted by the latest hyped book. "

I've heard a lot of good things about The Empero..."

I started it last night and I'm hooked! The writing is beautiful. I read some of On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous but ended up as a DNF. I'm going to give it another try. It might have been me, wrong book at the wrong time. It happens.

Veronica Johnson wrote: "I just joined the group after seeing the intro video on YouTube. My first big book is Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Someone have it to me last year and I just haven't read it, yet. I am also ..."

Small Great Things is a really good book! I hope you enjoy it. I'm a huge fan of Jodi Picoult. She is a local author here in New Hampshire and I see her often at her book events.

I started

I'm in the process of two chunksters Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2: The Complete and Authoritative Edition (Volume 11) on Friday I was on page 323 out of 733 pages. The other is Pope Francis: The Struggle for the Soul of Catholicism on Friday I was on page 282 with 738 pages until the end.
Sue, how do you get any reading done with supervising and commenting these posts?

I've got a stack of 'Big Books' that I have collected. The first I am digging into is '11/22/63' by Stephen King, I'm currently on pg. 225. I was able to make great headway during a road trip this weekend.

Holly wrote: "I've got a stack of 'Big Books' that I have collected. The first I am digging into is '11/22/63' by Stephen King, I'm currently on pg. 225. I was able to make great headway during a road trip this ..."

Great pick Holly. Such a good book.

I am on Chapter 6of Mansfield Park but I am also reading another book (not big) on the side. I can switch back and forth as long as books are not too similar. I am remembering now why Austen drives me crazy. Too many of the same name….daughters named after mothers and aunts. Interesting that today we name boys for their fathers but seldom do we name women after their mothers….a cultural shift.

I have a big stack of big books to read. Currently, I'm reading Tale of Genji, Anna Karenina, and Book 2 of a biography of Lady Randolph Churchill.

I just started Shuggie Bane by Douglas Stuart

I'm about 14% through . This is a year-long challenge for me so I don't expect to finish it this summer but do hope to make a dent it it!

I have 8 other physical books in my POP but two, in particular, I'd like to read are and

Ashley wrote: "I just started Shuggie Bane by Douglas Stuart"

Have Kleenex nearby.

I've started listening to the audiobook of The Duke's Children by Anthony Trollope. 33 hours!, so it will take some time....

I picked my next big book. Last night I read the first four chapters of "Lonesome Dove". I'm excited to finally read it!

my first book for this year's challenge is North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell :) someone on goodreads said 'it's pride and prejudice for socialists' and i thought that sounded goood! ;)

I'm starting my next big book On Isabella Street.

I just realized that the book I'm listening to qualifies as a big book The Woman Who Knew Everyone: The Power of Perle Mesta, Washington’s Most Famous Hostess

I'm starting Hilary Mantel's 'A Place of Greater Safety' today, and I'm glad it meets the length requirement for this challenge!

I just finished 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. I started it on May 1, so I can't count it for this summer challenge, but I highly recommend it to you other big book readers! The story is so engrossing that it's an easy read!

(I don't know how many big books I'll get thru this summer; after The Count, and now the Mantel, I'm worried I will melt into my couch!)

I'm currently reading a book I've been saving because its by one of my favourite authors, Doomsday Book by Connie Willis 587 pages.

Just started the third in the Susan Ryeland series by Anthony Horowitz. Loved the first two! This one comes in at 579 pages.

I started "The House of Government" by Yuri Slezkine but that may take me a long time as each person goes by 4 different names and I have had to start taking notes so I can remember them. Also reading "My family and other assassins".

Carmela wrote: "I started The Winners by Fredrik Backman"

I always enjoy Fredrik Backman, Carmela. I just finished listening to Anxious People on audio.

Veronica Johnson wrote: "I just joined the group after seeing the intro video on YouTube. My first big book is Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Someone have it to me last year and I just haven't read it, yet. I am also ..."

Jodi Picoult is a favorite author of mine, Veronica. I enjoyed Small Great Things - hope you do, too.