Monday, December 14, 2009

Chunkster Challenge 2010


For the coming year I decided to join 2010 Chunkster Challenge. This challenge runs from February 1st, 2010 to January 31st, 2011. Here are the details from the challenge page:

Definition of a Chunkster: A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) ... A chunkster should be a challenge.
* If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more ... The average large type book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.

The Rules:
  • No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.* No e-Books allowed - we are reading traditional, fat books for this challenge.
  • Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.
  • Books may crossover with other challenges
  • Anyone may join. If you don't have a blog, just leave me a comment on this post with your progress (and to let me know you are playing)
  • You don't need to list your books ahead of time.
  • Once you pick a level, that's it...you're committed to that level!

You must pick a level of participation:

  • The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who has a couple of large tomes on their TBR list, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. 3 books is all you need to finish this challenge
  • Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 4 Chunksters over the next twelve months.
  • Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to 6 or more chunksters OR three tomes of 750 pages or more. Now doesn't this sound like fun!

After reading the rules for this challenge, I decided to sign up for the Mor-book-ly Obese level. I've got this one covered by the remaining three books from my Russian list. War and Peace alone is 1,455 pages.

Here is a record of my selections:

  1. The Founding by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles 4**** 539 pp
  2. Russka by Edward Rutherford 4**** 945 pp
  3. Sons of Fortune by Jeffrey Archer 2** 534 pp
  4. The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall 5***** 517 pp
  5. A Cottage by the Sea by Ciji Ware 5***** 528 pp
  6. The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall 5 ***** 500 pp

12 comments:

  1. Good luck to you...I'm not sure if I want to commit to this one yet for next year.

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  2. I'm glad you're joining in on this one too. I have wanted to read War and Peace for ages. I finally downloaded it on my eReader, now just to get to it.

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  3. Good luck with this challenge! It's one of my favorites, and it was a lot easier to finish this one in 2009 than I thought it would be. (I had books already lined up that were chunksters without even knowing it.)

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  4. Good luck with this one. Sounds good, but I don't usually read big books.

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  5. Oh man --- every time I read about this challenge I am so tempted to join. I still need to give it more contemplative. I do look forward to reading your Chunkster reviews though :)

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  6. Good luck. I failed it last year, so I will give it a miss. I struggle to read chunksters.

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  7. Good luck with the Chunkster Challenge. I would suggest replacing the Karamazov Brothers with another book.

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  8. War and Peace is also on my list...but alas not for this year! Good Luck!

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  9. Have fun and good luck with the chunkster challenge. This is the 1st time i've signed up as well.

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  10. Since I'm giving anyone who visits my blog a chance to vote on what I read next year (http://stacybuckeye.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/help-me-help-myself-and-win-a-gift-card-quiz/) it looks like I may end up reading War & Peace. I'm a little intimidated already :)

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  11. The Brothers Karamazov is totally different than than Crime and Punishment. It doesn't read as slowly, for one. More importantly, its theme is sin and expiation.

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  12. How perfect for your "trip" to Russia. I'm doing this one also but not decided on the books yet.
    I have War and Peace on my shelf, it's been so long that now I think the print is too small for my eyes. But I have it on my Kindle. I don't think i will commit to reading it for this challenge. Definitely something by Dickens though

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