You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

I have decided to burn the files on cds. I suppose I could have transferred theme to my ipod, but I have opted for this method instead. Really I want to listen to the book from my tablet. So after the cd's are finished being burnt, then I'll probably upload the files, and put it in my Dropbox so I can access the files from my tablet! Oh the hassle! 16 days was not long enough to listen to a book this long!

Robin wrote: "I have decided to burn the files on cds. I suppose I could have transferred theme to my ipod, but I have opted for this method instead. Really I want to listen to the book from my tablet. So after..."

Yeah, I lost a Veronica Roth story twice to Overdrive before I finally finished it. I still have one other I never finished too, but I can't even remember the name of the book. :)

With popular books, you could "reserve" it again while you still have it that way, your turn will come round quicker (maybe immediately), especially if it's a long book. I hope that makes sense.

I transfer all my overdrive audiobooks onto my MP3 player. Then I can keep them as long as I want because the program can't delete once it's transferred to another device. I have never actually listened to any book directly from overdrive. I haven't tried transferring to my tablet but I wonder if it's possible too.....

Robin wrote: "I would consider it being over due but it will just be automatically returned since it is an Overdrive media file download. I may consider buying it on Kindle ebook. Though at this point I kind of ..."

Oh that's a shame but I have also used that feature at our library so........

I just finishd my second book for the challenge although it's really my first since I read 2 smaller books - about 350 pages each.

But I am having so much trouble getting through The Bronze Horseman - this is a reread and I do wonder whi I selelcted this and the sequels to this book. And listening to The Poisonwood Bible is just so tedious. I know I can swap these out and have more than enough left to kep me busy but I am determined to finish each of these books just because I rarely force msyelf these days. And who knows, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised and really love these chunksters.

In case anyone needs inspiration. http://flavorwire.com/433949/25-big-n...

Nancy wrote: "And listening to The Poisonwood Bible is just so tedious."

Oh that's sad. I read the actual book, and I did find it therapeutic that at times I could throw the book across the room, wait a few hours, find it and start reading again. In the end, I loved it. But it wasn't the easiest read. But a rewarding slog for me personally.

Rusalka wrote: "In case anyone needs inspiration. http://flavorwire.com/433949/25-big-n..."

Thanks, Rusalka. Great link. Now which ones to read..?

Dawn wrote: "I transfer all my overdrive audiobooks onto my MP3 player. Then I can keep them as long as I want because the program can't delete once it's transferred to another device. I have never actually lis..."

It is, at least on iPad.

Pragya wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "In case anyone needs inspiration. http://flavorwire.com/433949/25-big-n..."

Thanks, Rusalka. Great link. Now which ones to read..?"

LOL! I was thinking the same thing, Pragya!

Rusalka wrote: "Nancy wrote: "And listening to The Poisonwood Bible is just so tedious."

Oh that's sad. I read the actual book, and I did find it therapeutic that at times I could throw the book across the room, ..."

I am 200 pages into this book, Rusalka. I began by listening to it but think I am missing out cause I don't always pay attention so well since I listen while doing other things. I've just decided to switch to the book and maybe that will make this a better expereince for me.

Just finished my first chunkster. I originally misunderstood the challenge...was planning on trying to connect all of my books for the year...then understood from the conversation that that wasn't the intent. So...I am doing that on another site as a personal challenge, and when I read a chunkster, I will post on my thread here and hopefully make some connections here as well! I am pretty much reading what I want and then figuring out a connection...I am finding that there almost always is one.

Nancy wrote: "I am 200 pages into this book, Rusalka. I began by listening to it but think I am missing out cause I don't always pay attention so well since I listen while doing other things. I've just decided to switch to the book and maybe that will make this a better expereince for me. "

Hopefully the switch to the actual book helps!

Cherie wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "In case anyone needs inspiration. http://flavorwire.com/433949/25-big-n..."

Thanks, Rusalka. Great link. Now which ones to read..."

So did you manage to decide, Cherie? ;)

Rusalka wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I am 200 pages into this book, Rusalka. I began by listening to it but think I am missing out cause I don't always pay attention so well since I listen while doing other things. I've ..."

I spent the better part of yesterday and last night trudging through the book version of The Poisonwood Bible and as soon as I finish here, I hope to finish it and say good! I have not enjoyed this book at all - do appreciate the effort and research it took to write this book - but not my cup of tea. Now I'm not sure what to read next - may just leave the chunksters for a bit and read a small short book.

Rusalka, thanks for the Chunkster link!

I already have planned to read in 2014:
Middlemarch
Don Quixote
Les Misérables
Doctor Zhivago
Ulysses

And I added from the list for 2014:
Conversation in the Cathedral
A Book of Memories
Life and Fate
A Suitable Boy
2666

Jkmays wrote: "Just finished my first chunkster. I originally misunderstood the challenge...was planning on trying to connect all of my books for the year...then understood from the conversation that that wasn't ..."

You may connect all your books for the challenge for the year but you don't need to. If it works for you to connect as you go, that's fine too. Whichever works best

I am wondering about Non Fiction books. What if said book is over 500 pages but the index and appendix make it so that the text part is less than 500. Do I have to add an additional book?

Hi!!

I've already read three books this year... can I add them to my list starting now, or should I not?

Chris wrote: "I am wondering about Non Fiction books. What if said book is over 500 pages but the index and appendix make it so that the text part is less than 500. Do I have to add an additional book?"

We'll use whatever page count Goodreads lists for the edition you are using.

Maria wrote: "Hi!!

I've already read three books this year... can I add them to my list starting now, or should I not?"

Yes, as long as you started them in January 2014, and they fit the rules. Great to see you back!

Janice wrote: "Maria wrote: "Hi!!

I've already read three books this year... can I add them to my list starting now, or should I not?"

Yes, as long as you started them in January 2014, and they fit the rules. ..."
Fantastic. :) It's great to be back.

Whoa - it's been a long time since we've seen you here - good to see you back Maria!

This is a great challenge, thank you!

jaxnsmom wrote: "Whoa - it's been a long time since we've seen you here - good to see you back Maria!"

It's good to be back!

Am I too late to join?

No, Lindy, you are not too late. Just set up a thread and pick your books. There is plenty of time, even if you only get through 6 books (or however many you need to make the pages qualify). Have fun with the linking. :)

Lindy wrote: "Am I too late to join?"

Welcome to the linking chunkster fun!!

I'd like to sign up for the Chunkster Challenge too, thank you !

Julie wrote: "I'd like to sign up for the Chunkster Challenge too, thank you !"

Welcome Julie!

Hi Julie, nice to see you! :)

Welcome to the linking madness, Julie! We will be watching for your list of books. :)

It's never too late to join. I started last year's alphabet challenge at the end of March.
Yippee - more lists to steal from!!! I will be over to check your lists soon :)

The beauty of the year long challenges is that you can join them at any time. You may include books you may have already read, if you started them after January 1st, 2014 and they qualify.

Hmmm - Julie said "hi" and "goodbye" within a few hours. Bummer. I hope Lindy doesn't get scared away.

We're just all too friendly. People don't know how to deal with it.

Rusalka wrote: "We're just all too friendly. People don't know how to deal with it."

LOL!

what5 is Just set up a thread?

Lindy wrote: "what5 is Just set up a thread?"

Go to the top of this page and click on "Challenges: Year Long Reporting".

Near the top, in teeny tiny writing is "new topic". Click on it and follow the instructions.

iwont' see that . My vision is 20/200

I only read 2 books over 500 pages this month and both i rated 2, does that count?

Lindy wrote: "iwont' see that . My vision is 20/200"

You should be able to zoom in on your browser Lindy if you need. I can hold my ctrl button and use my mouse scroll wheel. I do this frequently for gooreads' small links. Chrome (which is what i use) zooms into 500%.

Each of us needs to set up a reporting thread so we can tell Janice what we are reading and how we link our books together. As Janice is monitoring approx 85 of us at the moment for the whole year, this just makes it a bit easier for her.

She mentions how to set up your thread in msg 1 saying:
"Please start your own reporting thread (eg. Janice's 2014 Year Long Challenge). Immediately do 5 messages - Msg 1 "Reserved for Slick's Slugs, Msg 2 "reserved for Mickey's Marcher, etc. This way you can edit these 5 messages throughout the challenge to list the books that you will be reading, and indicate completion date. It will make it much easier for me to track your progress."

If you are more of a visual person like me, you can have a squiz at my thread to see how Janice wants the first 5 posts set up https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I believe those books can count if you can link them together in some way. You would add them to your Slick's Slugs post.

Lindy wrote: "I only read 2 books over 500 pages this month and both i rated 2, does that count?"

If you started them both after January 1, 2014, and they meet the requirements of the challenge, you may count them. Your star rating doesn't play a factor.

You may want to review message 1 in this thread and look at some of the other members' threads for clarification and inspiration. :)

Although my reading pace slowed down considerably this month with illness and fatigue, I think it's finally picked up again. I've gotten a few books done for my first chunkster. They're not all horror books, but soon I will be reading a lot of that genre.

I read the first 2 books in the Kingkiller Chronicle: The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear and deemed them both 5-star reads. They are fantasy novels and amazingly good. I can't wait for the next one in the series. The problem is, the author hasn't posted the publish date of the next book. Aargh!

I'm glad you're feeling better, Debra. Sounds like you're getting back in the reading groove.

Question! I'm trying to connect being Southern Authors so was going to read a book by Fannie Flagg that someone suggested. It's only 400 pages...so my question is can I use a cookbook from Fannie Flagg as the 2nd book? Looking at the book, which is 224 pages and looks like it has some fun narrative as well as the recipes!? I could use a southern cookbook living over here in Malaysia.... some Southern comfort food may be good for my soul! I'm not purchasing it yet until someone says, Yes, a cookbook will count! :)

Happy reading!

Oh..here are the two books I was considering to add to 500 plus pages!
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Fannie Flagg's Original Whistle Stop Cafe Cookbook: Featuring : Fried Green Tomatoes, Southern Barbecue, Banana Split Cake, and Many Other Great Recipes

I'm not sure about cookbooks. It's not something that you would normally read from cover to cover. I'm going to say no. Maybe you can find a short novella around 100 pages to pair with Fried Green Tomatoes.

The recipe book does sound interesting though. :)

Hi Jennifer, I have family living in Malaysia... my brother, sis-in-law, and nephew. They moved there from Texas almost 2 years ago. I'm going to be visiting them in Kuala Lumpur this spring. Very exciting!!

FIrst, no worries Janice! :) Thought I'd try. I have time to decide whether to read another Fannie Flagg. I'm just confused how to make two books that equal one connect to the next unless I use the same connection (like Southern book... ohhh.. forget it, I could connect it by genre, Romance)! ANyway.... I got it!

Janet... I'm originally from Texas (then NJ after college) and now Malaysia... There seem to be alot of Texans here. We met a man and woman with a son (i think the son was old.. maybe off to college) on vacation in PHuket from Texas, but now live in KL. I think they lived in MOnt Kiara. Do you know where your brother lives? We live in Sri Hartamas...which is right next to Mont Kiara. I drive to Mont Kiara everyday in horrendous traffic. Only 1 1/2 - 2 miles away but can take up to 40 minutes at bad times! :) It's crazy!

Wow.. small world! We also moved here almost 2 years ago! :)

Jennifer, my brother does live in Mont Kiara!! And they've been to Thailand on vacation too :) But their son is just 5 years old and he would have been with them. My brother has told me about the bad traffic there. They moved there from Houston so they had bad traffic to deal with there, too. They like KL tho, but I'm hoping they'll move back to US in maybe a year or so. I want to be a bigger part of my nephew's life while he's growing up. That would be so amazing tho if y'all had met!!

Read 3 this month

7 006 Brown, Sandra Tough Customer 512 rated 2
8 007 Karon, Jan In This Mountain 653 rated 2
30 026 Coulter, Catherine Wyndham Legacy 512 rated 4