2020 Big Book Summer Reading Challenge discussion
Big Books Completed and Reviews
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Suzan
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May 22, 2020 02:41PM

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Just WOW!
Here is my review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cheriee wrote: "I've finished Cold Falling White (The Nahx Invasions #2) by Gabrielle S. Prendergast. I almost finished it in one day except that it just got too late. I woke up and finished it fi..."
Wow, Cheriee! Congratulations - That might be a Big Book record!
So fun that you've found a series you love so much - enjoy the rest!
Wow, Cheriee! Congratulations - That might be a Big Book record!
So fun that you've found a series you love so much - enjoy the rest!


Here is my GR review:

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Based on the life of Australian Nancy Wake Ariel Lawhon brings to life this amazing woman. She is a strong, assertive, smart journalist who joins France, her adopted country, in the fight during World War II. I could not put this down fully immersed in Nancy's story. Another incredible novel by Ariel Lawhon!!
View all my reviews


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Thank you to Random House and Michael Kindness for an ARC of The Splendid and the Vile. Erik Larson has not disappointed me yet, and I loved this story of Winston Churchill's first year as Prime Minister of England. Covering 10 May 1940-10 May 1941 in 500 pages, Larson writes plenty about Churchill's personal and professional habits and his moods through the course of this tumultuous year. Repetitive at times, Larson also writes in detail about Churchill's daughter and wife, as well as the government employees who surrounded Churchill. Larson has a gift for description and honing in on a particular trait or quirk of the people he writes about which makes reading nonfiction as enjoyable as reading a novel. I was completely immersed in wartime England for 10 days, a place where I thought I had already spent enough time. Apparently not.
View all my reviews

Brian wrote: "Today, I finished The Innocents Abroad or The New Pilgrim's Progress being some account of the steamship Quaker City's pleasure excursion to Europe and the Holy Land. Now that's some ..."
Wow, Brian - I've never heard of that Twain novel before, but it sounds fascinating! Yes, I think I probably prefer Twain's brand of humor in smaller doses, though this does sound very interesting - love the subtitle!
Wow, Brian - I've never heard of that Twain novel before, but it sounds fascinating! Yes, I think I probably prefer Twain's brand of humor in smaller doses, though this does sound very interesting - love the subtitle!
Deb wrote: "Finished Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon.
Here is my GR review:
Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Based on the life of Australian Nan..."
Glad you enjoyed it so much, Deb! It sounds fascinating. I REALLY need to get moving and read her books! I still have I Was Anastasia on my Kindle from Booktopia & never got to it!
Here is my GR review:
Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Based on the life of Australian Nan..."
Glad you enjoyed it so much, Deb! It sounds fascinating. I REALLY need to get moving and read her books! I still have I Was Anastasia on my Kindle from Booktopia & never got to it!
Kate wrote: "I finished my first Big Book, The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. A 5 star read for me!! My review:
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz ..."
Glad you enjoyed it, Kate! I always like Larson's books - he's such a good writer and always chooses fascinating subjects. Will have to add this one to my list!
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz ..."
Glad you enjoyed it, Kate! I always like Larson's books - he's such a good writer and always chooses fascinating subjects. Will have to add this one to my list!
Victoria wrote: "Love your ending comments! THAT’S exactly why this book didn’t appeal to me despite being an Erik Larson fan. I just feel like I don’t want to read any more WWII books for some period of time."
ha ha yeah, I get that, too - sometimes, you just need a break from WWII.
ha ha yeah, I get that, too - sometimes, you just need a break from WWII.


Sue, I must report that it is not a novel. He was paid by newspapers in CA and NY to go on this 6-month venture and write about it. They even paid his $1200 fare. This hefty tome was the resulting "travelogue" based on his journals and stories of the adventure/ misadventures encountered by his group of travelers.


https://karensbooksandchocolate.blogs...

I have Twain's Roughing It and have been putting it off for the same reasons. I think his writing is best enjoyed in small doses.
Karla wrote: "I finished my 1st big book: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (audio book narrated by Jorjeana Marie, Cassandra Morris, Michael Crouch, Will Damron) 401 pgs. Historical fiction . 4 refugees (from dif..."
Oh, I love Ruta Sepetys! So glad you enjoyed Salt to the Sea - I bet it was great on audio.
Have you read Shades of Gray (not THAT one) - it was her first novel and blew me away - highly recommended.
Oh, I love Ruta Sepetys! So glad you enjoyed Salt to the Sea - I bet it was great on audio.
Have you read Shades of Gray (not THAT one) - it was her first novel and blew me away - highly recommended.

Karen, I concur with you and Sue about taking him in small doses. I may tackle his much shorter Pudd'nhead Wilson soon, since it is appropriate for our current time. One Goodreads description says, "the book [written in 1894] is a savage indictment in which the real criminal is society, and racial prejudice and slavery are the crimes."


(Great Cities #1)
by N.K. Jemisin.
So much more than science fiction. Excellent.
464 pages.


(Great Cities #1)
by N.K. Jemisin.
So much more than science fiction. Excellent.
464 pages."
I’ve had this on my list forever. Even had it out from the library more than once without reading!
Brian wrote: "Karen wrote: "Brian wrote: "Today, I finished The Innocents Abroad or The New Pilgrim's Progress being some account of the steamship Quaker City's pleasure excursion to Europe and the..."
Oh, wow, Brian - that's quite a backstory! I didn't realize it was nonfiction. A lot of money for that time!
I agree the shorter Twain sounds very relevant!
Oh, wow, Brian - that's quite a backstory! I didn't realize it was nonfiction. A lot of money for that time!
I agree the shorter Twain sounds very relevant!
Victoria wrote: "Ok, I finished a second ARC, Utopia Avenue! I think this was published last week but I’ll have to check the date. Recommend this one for fans of David Mitchell or [book:Daisy Jones ..."
I'll have to check that out, Vicki! I loved Cloud Atlas.
I'll have to check that out, Vicki! I loved Cloud Atlas.
Karen wrote: "Finished my first Big Book of Summer, Temptation by Janos Szekely. It's a coming-of-age story about a young Hungarian boy between the wars, newly translated. Great story but there is some racism ty..."
That sounds like an intriguing novel, Karen - glad you enjoyed it!
That sounds like an intriguing novel, Karen - glad you enjoyed it!
Robin wrote: "
The City We Became
(Great Cities #1)
by N.K. Jemisin.
So much more than science fiction. Excellent.
464 pages."
My son loves N.K. Jemisin! I need to give her a try.

(Great Cities #1)
by N.K. Jemisin.
So much more than science fiction. Excellent.
464 pages."
My son loves N.K. Jemisin! I need to give her a try.

If It Bleeds by Stephen King 447 pgs
Here is my GR review:

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Stephen King is one of my top favorite authors. I had to wait to read this until my husband, who snatched it up before I could begin, was finished. I started and I couldn't stop. From one story to the next each was pure Stephen King. All were good but my favorite was If It Bleeds. King brings back Holly Gibney who he introduced in Mr Mercedes. I love her character and hopefully she will be back in her own full novel! This Constant Reader will wait.
View all my reviews
Deb wrote: "Next completed book:
If It Bleeds by Stephen King 447 pgs
Here is my GR review:
If It Bleeds by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Stephen King is one of my to..."
Glad you enjoyed it, Deb! Ken is reading Hearts in Atlantis right now. Stephen King is always good for a Big Book! I just read The Outsider in the fall and loved the Holly Gibney character, and I have Mr. Mercedes lined up for my own BBS!
If It Bleeds by Stephen King 447 pgs
Here is my GR review:
If It Bleeds by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Stephen King is one of my to..."
Glad you enjoyed it, Deb! Ken is reading Hearts in Atlantis right now. Stephen King is always good for a Big Book! I just read The Outsider in the fall and loved the Holly Gibney character, and I have Mr. Mercedes lined up for my own BBS!


Karla wrote: "I finished my 2nd book: Run Away by Harlan Coben (audio narrated by Steven Weber) 416 pages. Mystery that begins with many different stories that develop and one by one come together to make quite ..."
Glad you enjoyed it, Karla! Are you going for #3??
Glad you enjoyed it, Karla! Are you going for #3??
Davida wrote: "I also finished my 2nd book of this challenge, but my review of the first will be published next week, and this one will be reviewed in early July."
Way to go, Davida! I am behind on my reviews, too :) Just finished my May reviews, so next week I can finally start on the Big Book reviews!
Way to go, Davida! I am behind on my reviews, too :) Just finished my May reviews, so next week I can finally start on the Big Book reviews!
I finished my 2nd and 3rd Big Books this week! On audio, I finished A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen, and in print, I finished reading Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty, which I really loved!
I'm behind on reviews but will begin to write my Big Book reviews this coming week. The good news about Big Book Summer is fewer reviews to write - maybe I can catch up!
I'm behind on reviews but will begin to write my Big Book reviews this coming week. The good news about Big Book Summer is fewer reviews to write - maybe I can catch up!

https://karensbooksandchocolate.blogs...
Karen wrote: "Finished my second book for the challenge, John Caldigate by Anthony Trollope. It's a big fat Victorian novel, but I managed to finish it in less than a week. Here's a link to my review:
https://k..."
I just finished reading your review, Karen! :) It sounds like an intriguing book - I have never read a Trollope novel but know that many people love his books. Congratulations on finishing your 2nd Big Book!
https://k..."
I just finished reading your review, Karen! :) It sounds like an intriguing book - I have never read a Trollope novel but know that many people love his books. Congratulations on finishing your 2nd Big Book!

Here is my review:

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had read the first two books in this series and after watching the HBO series based on these books I wanted to find out what happened next!! So I grabbed my copy of this third book. We continue to follow the lives of Elena and Lila as they marry, become parents and search for more to their lives. Their friendship is is challenged over and over yet they are still drawn to each other. On to book 4!
View all my reviews
Deb wrote: "I dug up the 3rd book in the Neapolitan series.
Here is my review:
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had read the first two books in this series a..."
Congratulations on finishing another Big Book, Deb! I've heard so much about this author and this series but haven't read any yet! I will have to give it a try. So glad you enjoyed it.
Here is my review:
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had read the first two books in this series a..."
Congratulations on finishing another Big Book, Deb! I've heard so much about this author and this series but haven't read any yet! I will have to give it a try. So glad you enjoyed it.



Davida wrote: "I just posted my review of Miss Benson's Beetle
by Rachel Joyce. You can read my review here: https://tcl-bookreviews.com/..."
Congratulations, Davida! I will read your review...

Congratulations, Davida! I will read your review...
Karen wrote: "I just finished Valley of the Dolls, 466 pages. It was an okay read. I guess in 1966 it was considered quite risqué. But in today’s world not even close to Fifty Shades of Gray. 3.5 stars."
ha ha funny how times and standards have changed!
Congratulations on finishing your Big Book, Karen!
ha ha funny how times and standards have changed!
Congratulations on finishing your Big Book, Karen!
Hey, I finally posted my first Big Book review for this year! Just wrote a review of Faithful Place by Tana French, which was super easy because I loved it SO much!
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2020/...
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2020/...


I have finished my first Big Book of this summer: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie!
My review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And I shall share it shortly to:
https://elinorsbookshelf.blogspot.com/
As well as link back to Sue’s original post.
Happy reading everyone - I’m enjoying this!
Elinor

https://karensbooksandchocolate.blogs...
Victoria wrote: "Yay Sue! I just noticed I read another big book without realizing it. It was Dragon Hoops, the graphic novel recommended during the last Northshire bookseller videoconference. It wa..."
Oh, that sounds good, Vicki - I enjoy graphic novels.
Oh, that sounds good, Vicki - I enjoy graphic novels.
Congratulations, Elinor! Americanah sounds SO GOOD! Will go check out your blog review. I need to read it!
Karen wrote: "I finished The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson. It was an absorbing and fast read for such a long book, non-fiction that reads like fiction. Al..."
I've heard about this one but haven't read it yet, Karen - glad to hear it was so good! Congrats on finishing a Big Book!
I've heard about this one but haven't read it yet, Karen - glad to hear it was so good! Congrats on finishing a Big Book!

Both of the books had to do with the world wars. First I finished The Huntress by Kate Quinn (560 pages) Then I read Lovely War by by Julie Berry (480 pages) Both of them were brilliant.

Cheriee wrote: "I finished up my second and third big books in the last couple of weeks. I barely had time to read, never mind comment since we had our 3 year old granddaughter staying with us for five sleeps. We ..."
Glad you enjoyed your books (and your granddaughter, even if she was exhausting!). I've heard great things about the Huntress.
Congratulations on Big Books #2 and #3!
Glad you enjoyed your books (and your granddaughter, even if she was exhausting!). I've heard great things about the Huntress.
Congratulations on Big Books #2 and #3!

Books mentioned in this topic
Anthem (other topics)Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies (other topics)
Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! (other topics)
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (other topics)
The Innocents Abroad (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen King (other topics)Ariel Lawhon (other topics)
Beatriz Williams (other topics)
Rachel Joyce (other topics)