Why I'm taking up the Chunkster Challenge

Did you ever notice that many historical novels are really, really long?

Above at left, we have over 4100 pages' worth of the latest in historical fiction; the shortest one - Madame Tussaud - barely qualifies for the challenge at 455 pages.  And on the right we have Oliver, who insisted on being included in the pic. If he knew I'd be including him in a Chunkster Challenge post, he might have reconsidered (he's got a bit of a belly on him).

I seem to have accepted an awful lot of epics for review, so you'll be seeing them featured here over the next few months.  Two books in the bunch are being cleverly hidden from view for now, because I've committed to reviewing them for other publications, but their identities will be revealed in time. 

So this year, while I'm trying to work off a few extra pounds on the NordicTrack, I'll also be piling on the pages.  I'm aiming for Plump Primer level (at least six chunksters) although I expect to surpass it.  Let's not forget that the new Ken Follett, The Winter of the World, is set to be published in mid-September and is technically long enough to count as two chunksters (too bad it doesn't work that way).

I guess I'd better get reading.