Debbie's Chain of Chunksters 2014

[Debs]

Slick Slugs


✓ 2/22/14 Golden Earrings 528 pages – The golden earrings are the key to the story of a gypsy flamenco dancer in Spain.

✓ 4/6/14 The Horse Dancer 528 pages - The title has the word “Dancer”, primary subject of “Golden Earrings”.

✓ 4/24/14 The Forgotten Garden 552 pages – The main character is raised by her grandparent, as is the main character of “The Horse Dancer”

✓ 4/25/14 The Lost Sisterhood 585 pages – In both novels,the main characters receive an inheritance from their grandmother that is the key to uncovering historical secrets.

✓5/25/14 Helen of Troy 606 pages – The legend of Troy is a large part of “The Lost Sisterhood” historical secret.

✓ 6/3/14 The Memoirs of Cleopatra 980 pages – Same author and genre

[Debs]

Mickey Mouse's Marchers


Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette 545 pages - Fiction novel with a real person as the main character.

Hello, Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand 608 pages - The title includes a colon (:).

Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War 600 pages - The title includes a colon (:).

The Four Corners of the Sky: A Novel 544 pages - The title includes a colon (:).

Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe 544 pages - The title includes a colon (:).

Eternal Love: The Immortal Witch Series 893 pages - The title includes a colon (:).

[Debs]

Roadrunner's Racers


A Discovery of Witches 581 pages - Witch is in the title. Book 1 All Souls Trilogy.

Shadow of Night 593 pages - Book 2 All Souls Trilogy.

The Book of Life 560 pages - Book 3 All Souls Trilogy.

The Book of Fate 510 pages - Title begins with "The Book"

The Book Thief 552 pages - Title begins with "The Book". Is listed on Listopia: Best Book Ever.

The Poisonwood Bible 546 pages - Is listed on Listopia: Best Book Ever.

[Debs]

Tasmanian Devil's Trouncers


The Mists of Avalon 876 pages - Is listed on Listopia: Best Book Ever.

I Know This Much Is True 897 pages - Is listed on Listopia: Best Book Ever.

The Secret History 559 pages - Is listed on Listopia: Best Book Ever.

The Secret of Happy Ever After 512 pages - The title begins with "The Secret"

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes 522 pages - The title begins with "The Secret"

The Winter Sea 544 pages - Title begins with "The" (weak I know :)). Author Susanna Kearsley and Book 1 of Slains Series

[Debs]

Buzz Lightyear's Bombers


The Firebird 539 pages - Same author Susanna Kearsley and Book 2 of Slains Series.

[Debs]

Marnie wrote: "Debbie- welcome to the group and this challenge. You should reserve spaces for Mickey, roadrunner etc in messages 3-7. That way we can comment on your list without losing your spot. I will then de..."

Thanks Marnie, messages posted as suggested :)

[Marnie]

Did you like The Lost Sisterhood?

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Lovely to see you throwing yourself in! I'm going to poke around those books a bit now.

[Debs]

Marnie wrote: "Did you like The Lost Sisterhood?"

Yes I had a little trouble getting into at first. Then about a quarter of the way in I was hooked. Great story, new take on history and myth of Troy and Amazon woman. Enjoyed her writing style and was sad when the book was done and that is always a good sign.

[Cherie]

Way to jump in Debbie! I love the colon link. It is amazing what everyone comes up with. I see some familiar titles and some I will check out too.

[Almeta]

Hey, you're off to a great start.

Welcome!☺

[Janice, Moderator]

Welcome to the challenge, Debbie. You have a great cross section of books and genres. Right off the bat I had to add Golden Earrings to my wishlist. Some of us have been camped out in Barcelona doing Buddy Reads of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. I was thinking I'd like to read more books set there. Cathedral of the Sea is another great book set in Barcelona. It's a chunkster too.

[Debs]

Janice wrote: "Welcome to the challenge, Debbie. You have a great cross section of books and genres. Right off the bat I had to add Golden Earrings to my wishlist. Some of us have been camped out in Barcelona ..."

I hope you enjoy Golden Earrings. I have Forgotten Book Series on my TBR list and added Cathedral of the Sea. If you get to Cathedral before I do would love to know what you think. Lots of mixed reviews. I appreciate the suggestions. :)

[Debs]

Almeta wrote: "Hey, you're off to a great start.

Welcome!☺"

Thank you Almeta and happy to be here I love the thought that has been put into the challenges. I feel like a kid in a candy store.

[Janice, Moderator]

I read Cathedral of the Sea a couple of years ago. It was one of my first audiobooks, and a long one at that. I loved it - gave it 5 stars. Every time the Forgotten Books mentioned the Cathedral Santa Maria del Mar, I got warm fuzzies. LOL! I must go to Barcelona.

Oh, another book was The Historian. It was set in Barcelona in part.

[Sarah]

Golden Earrings does indeed look interesting but I saw the word "saga" in the synopsis and it put me off! I have an aversion to those now. Maybe I need to deal with my issues! Barcelona in that time period is a perfect setting though for a story especially those with a darker, more gothic feel to them.

[Debs]

Sarah wrote: "Golden Earrings does indeed look interesting but I saw the word "saga" in the synopsis and it put me off! I have an aversion to those now. Maybe I need to deal with my issues! Barcelona in that tim..."

I understand lol...you read the word "saga" in a book description and instantly think Telenovela and run. If you want to use this book as a stepping stone to deal with your issue. I will assure this is not saga-ish. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel.

[Sarah]

You've convinced me Debbie - I've added it to my wishlist! I think when I see that word in future I will have to either replace it with another word or mentally delete it. Kind of like when I cook Sausage Casserole for dinner, I have to call it Sausage Surprise otherwise my partner won't eat it ;-)

[Debs]

Sarah wrote: "You've convinced me Debbie - I've added it to my wishlist! I think when I see that word in future I will have to either replace it with another word or mentally delete it. Kind of like when I cook ..."

You crack me up....I won't eat anything with "surprise" in the name but go on...feed me a casserole. Just another wonderful example of it takes all kinds to make this world so much fun!

[Cherie]

I think I am going to have to stop looking at every new member's book lists. I see soooo many interesting titles on yours, Debbie. I'm dying to know how the Barbra Streisand book is! I really liked The Forgotten Garden and have The Horse Dancer on my list now. You've never read The Mists of Avalon books? My daughter and I love them! I think I have added three others.

[Debs]

Cherie wrote: "I think I am going to have to stop looking at every new member's book lists. I see soooo many interesting titles on yours, Debbie. I'm dying to know how the Barbra Streisand book is! I really l..."

I will let you know how Barbara turns out. I have had the Mist of Avalon on my shelf for over a decade. Just have never got to it. If you liked The Forgotten Garden you must read Wildflower Hill. You actually caused me to buy a book to day with your review of The Bees. Good thing we have a week long topplers coming up. :)

[jaxnsmom]

You have some great books on your list - I just added a bunch of them to my tbr. If you get the chance, I highly recommend listening to Matterhorn. The narration is superb and puts you in the middle of the action.

[Cherie]

jaxnsmom wrote: "You have some great books on your list - I just added a bunch of them to my tbr. If you get the chance, I highly recommend listening to Matterhorn. The narration is superb and puts..."

I have wanted to listen to this since Chrissie wrote her review, but have not made time to listen. Of, course, I still have to buy it yet. :)

[Cherie]

Debbie wrote: "Cherie wrote: "I think I am going to have to stop looking at every new member's book lists. I see soooo many interesting titles on yours, Debbie. I'm dying to know how the Barbra Streisand book i..."

I have Wildflower Hill on my TBR list. I hope you like The Bees. I know a couple of others who are reading it now. I am waiting to see what they have to say. If you are going to read it, you could use it for Rusalka's challenge, unless you have another, but it is only 16 points.