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

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Challenges: Year Long Main 2021 > Amanda B's chunkster challenge

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message 1: by Amanda (last edited Mar 14, 2014 03:37AM) (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Slick's Slugs


1. Bitter Sweet LaVyrle Spencer (503 pages) 14/1/14

2. City of Lost Souls Cassandra Clare (542 pages) - both female leads have red hair 10/1/14

3. The Fiery Heart Richelle Mead (420 pages) - Both have vampires 23/1/14

+ Neferet's Curse P.C. & Kristen Cast (146 pages) - Both have vampires 6/1/14

4. Elphame's Choice P.C. Cast (551 pages) - both by P.C. Cast. 9/3/13

5. Antony and Cleopatra Colleen McCullough (606 pages) - sultry eyed lady on both covers 10/2/14

6. A Clash of Kings George R.R. Martin (873 pages) - Royalty. 7/3/13


message 2: by Amanda (last edited Jun 13, 2014 02:43AM) (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Mickey's Marchers

7. The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster Tim Crothers (229 pages) - Royal titles. 20/5/14

+ The Flame Trees Of Thika: Memories of an African Childhood Elspeth Huxley (281 pages) - memoirs from Africa. 19/3/14

8. Rage Wilbur Smith (627 pages) - African setting 13/6/14

9. Pedlar's Row Harry Bowling (569 pages) - both have a post-war setting 15/5/14

10. Shaun Hutson Omnibus: 'Purity', 'Deadhead' Shaun Hutson ( pages) - sad looking lady on both covers 29/3/14

11. Betrayed Lyndsey Harris (374 pages) - Author surnames start with H 10/3/14

+ Lucky Man: A Memoir Michael J Fox (318 pages) - both are memoirs 16/4/14

12. A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow George R.R. Martin (569 pages) - monotone/grey covers. 13/3/14


message 3: by Amanda (last edited Aug 16, 2014 07:16AM) (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Roadrunner's Racers

13. A Storm of Swords: Blood and Gold George R.R. Martin (554 pages) - A Song of Ice and Fire series 21/6/14

14. A Feast for Crows George R.R. Martin (778 pages) - A Song of Ice and Fire series 12/8/14

15. The Last TemptationVal McDermid (590 pages) - Cover features one central crest/medallion 4/7/14

16. Guilty as Sin Tami Hoag (556 pages) - Both covers are predominantly red 26/7/14

17. The Last Thirteen Book One: 13 James Phelan (207 pages) - water features on both covers 14/6/14
+ Divergent Veronice Roth (487 pages) - both are dystopian YA 30/7/14

18. Under the Dome Stephen King (880 pages) - both 'bestseller' and adapted to screen. 16/7/14


message 4: by Amanda (last edited Dec 30, 2014 04:55PM) (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Tasmanian Devil's Trouncers

19. A Dance with Dragons: Dreams and Dust George R.R. Martin (624 pages) - Both have TV adaptations. 12/10/14

20. The Book Thief Markus Zusak (584 pages) - screen adaptations 31/8/14

21. Les Misérables Victor Hugo (1200 pages) - both recently released big budget movies 20/11/14

22. The Luminaries Eleanor Catton - both 2 word titles 31/12/14

23. The Son Philipp Meyer (561 pages) - both 2 word titles, with format 'the ...'

24. Jessica Bryce Courtenay (676 pages) - both covers show grassed landscapes


message 5: by Amanda (last edited Sep 28, 2014 03:17AM) (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Buzz Lightyear

25. The Poisonwood Bible (560 pages) - both have large leaves on the cover

26. Those Faraday Girls Monica McInerny (634 pages) - both covers are in orange tones

27. Winter John Marsden (135 pages) - Both author surnames start with M

+ A Dance with Dragons: After the Feast, Part 2 George R.R. Martin (498 pages) - because Winter is coming!

28. The Host Stephenie Meyer (617 pages) - both author surnames start with M

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message 6: by Amanda (last edited Dec 20, 2013 10:24PM) (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments My personal challenge: at least 4 books from each group will be 500+ pagers, the others can be combos (otherwise I will buy WAY too many new books!)


message 7: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 60010 comments Amanda wrote: "My personal challenge: at least 3 books from each group will be 500+ pagers, the others can be combos (otherwise I will buy WAY too many new books!)"

That's a great way to incorporate personal goals into the challenge!


message 8: by Marnie (new)

Marnie (marnie19) | 3263 comments I like your " sultry eyed lady" link- very creative!


message 9: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Haha thanks! I really wanted to sneak Antony and Cleopatra in there - have had it in my bookshelf for about 3 years!


message 10: by jaxnsmom (new)

jaxnsmom | 8341 comments I have The Memoirs Of Cleopatra on my bookshelf. You could always read it and let me know how it is - at 1139 pages I've been afraid to start it :)


message 11: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments jaxnsmom wrote: "I have The Memoirs Of Cleopatra on my bookshelf. You could always read it and let me know how it is - at 1139 pages I've been afraid to start it :)"

Looks like it will take a bit of motivation to get through.... How about you read it and let me know if it's worth it? Lol :-)


message 12: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments I got the A Song of Ice and Fire boxset for Christmas, so I need to work some of those books in there somewhere (I have a rule that I have to space out any series I read, otherwise my brain gets too involved and I start having weird dreams where I'm in the story, and I'm not sure I would like being in this one!) Hmm..... What links can I make?


message 13: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Ugh... Struggling with Antony and Cleopatra! I suppose it doesn't help that I have also just started back at work, little man has started 'real school' complete with daily swimming lessons (and the associated washing and packing) and I have just discovered Audible (and that James Marsters narrates books!)


message 14: by Rusalka, Moderator (new)

Rusalka (rusalkii) | 19219 comments Oh Amanda! Did I not tell you this?!? This is something everyone should know.

I'm currently listening to Harry Dresden #2 and he is making work a much better place, especially when he's doing the Bob the skull accent (which is Spike to a tee).


message 15: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Haha I'm a little slow on the uptake... He does indeed make things much more enjoyable. I listen to it when I'm washing dishes or folding clothes... Makes it so much more pleasant! I'm on book two also, just started it yesterday. Yep, gotta love the funny British voice :-) and I love when he talks about vampires, it makes me giggle.


message 16: by Rusalka, Moderator (new)

Rusalka (rusalkii) | 19219 comments I read the first one, and have switched to the audios now I know Spike reads them. I'm about 2/3s to 3/4s through the second. So you're just behind me.


message 17: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Apparently there is one he didn't read, but he has just gone in to do the latest one, so there's plenty! I am going to have to ration myself, I get 2 Audible credits per month, otherwise I will spend a fortune!


message 18: by Rusalka, Moderator (new)

Rusalka (rusalkii) | 19219 comments *mumbles* you can get a torrent of all 13 *mumble mumble*


message 19: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Hmmm... Might have to look into that :-) my computer is a govt rental through work though, so I have to be a bit careful.


message 20: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments FINISHED Antony and Cleopatra, finally! That book was hard work!


message 21: by Rusalka, Moderator (new)

Rusalka (rusalkii) | 19219 comments Amanda wrote: "Hmmm... Might have to look into that :-) my computer is a govt rental through work though, so I have to be a bit careful."

Ah fair enough. Better to be safe than sorry then.

Yay on finishing the book!


message 22: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 60010 comments Amanda wrote: "FINISHED Antony and Cleopatra, finally! That book was hard work!"

I have that book collecting dust. It may have to collect it a little longer if it's hard work.


message 23: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments There is definitely a good story in there. There is just a LOT of historical background and name listing (sometimes not entirely necessary to the story) and I found it really slow going. And I didn't realise it was actually the 7th book in a series.... Oops!


message 24: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 60010 comments I don't think this series is contingent on reading the books in order. It seems like each one is a stand-alone book based on a person from the Roman Empire.


message 25: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Yeah, I did get that impression too, but I have a feeling that reading the ones about Caesar and his women would have helped orient me in the story. I do look and it has t he lowest overall rating of all the books in the series, and a lot of Poole commented about the excess of names and little side details.


message 26: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 60010 comments I suppose that reading the books in order would give you the history of Rome in chronological order.

Still a rating of 3.88 based on 2500 ratings is pretty good. But I've hated higher reviews and loved lower reviews. Someday I'll break open the cover.


message 27: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments So... Dymocks had a sale on books which had been made into movies... So now my year is all mapped out (I may have gone on a shopping spree in other places too.) Le Miserables is so fat it's almost a cube - quite intimidating really! And the writing is so small! I think it will need a whole month set aside!


message 28: by Rusalka, Moderator (new)

Rusalka (rusalkii) | 19219 comments Yay for book sales. Did you pick up an magnifying glass as well? :p


message 29: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Haha maybe I should... I do have some non-prescription magnifying glasses though :-) I think they will get a workout.


message 30: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Tackling Les Miserables now, and really struggling with it. It's good, but hard work!


message 31: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments Finally finished Les Miserables!! It was a great book, but my goodness he liked his long descriptions and digressions!


message 32: by Cherie (new)

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments Amanda wrote: "Finally finished Les Miserables!! It was a great book, but my goodness he liked his long descriptions and digressions!"

Congratulations on finishing Les Mis. I just cannot bring myself to tackle it.


message 33: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments It's actually really good. I think if I was to re-read I would try to find an abridged version, because there's a lot of digressions and long-winded explanations about the social and political climate of the time that little old 21st century me doesn't understand or particularly care about... I did skim some sections.


message 34: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments So progress over the last couple of months has been very slow, with a couple of books that I found hard to get through. I managed to finish The Luminaries though and I'm done. Off to Thailand today!! Lots of Serial reading at the pool I think :-)


message 35: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 60010 comments Enjoy Thailand!


message 36: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Bilney | 288 comments I will! So excited. About to board now :-)


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