Nancy's 2012 Big Book Challenge

[Nancy from NJ]

This year I read 130 books. Not too many of them were over 400 pages. So this year I hope to read 100 books(this is my goal every year), and 25 of these books will be over 400 pages.

[Nancy from NJ]

I always try to read a large book and an important to me book at the end of the year and the beginning of the year. Some of these books include A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly and Cashelmara by Susan Howatch. I am presently reading a book, Jerusalem Maiden by Talia Carner for my f2f book group next week which is over 400 pages so that is my book for the end of the year. And I'm thinking of reading Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin for my first book of the new year. But don't hold me to anything I say since I am a real mood reader and in three weeks I may find something which appeals to me much more.

[Nancy from NJ]

2012 LONG BOOKS READ




1. Fall of Giants by Ken Follett 985 pages
2. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman 512 pages
3. The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Sliva 736
4. The FitzOsbornes in Exile 451
5. In the Garden of Beasts 450

[Nancy from NJ]

I just came back from the library and think I found two reads for this group. One is Rebel Angels by Libba Bray and the other title is Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. I did read Bray's first book in the series, A Great and Terrible Beauty and while I liked it I never finished the trilogy. Then there is Clockwork Angel which I've been hearing lots about recently. But I am reading the prequel first and I imagine that a few books were written first and therefore read first. I never know when to read the prequels. Will it spoil anything if I read this first?

[Nancy from NJ]

Clicked on the send button too soon.

I also am going to try as I have for many years to read thew following Big Books:

New York by Edward Rutherfurd
Forever by Pete Hamill
Trinity by Leon Uris
Wicked Pleasures by Penny Vincenzi
The Wheel of Fortune by Susan Howatch
Two Lives by Vikram Seth
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
Through a Glass Darkly by Kathleen Koen

[Nancy from NJ]

We moved to our present (and last) home four weeks ago and I finally stored all of my books alpahabetically. Now I have decided to make a shelf just for my big book reads. Some people paly cards, mah jhong or sports (well I do play tennis)but I play with my books. And one of my favorite things to do is when the books get out of order, alphabetize them again. Of course, I can only do this with my book books and not those on my I PAD.

[Nancy from NJ]

First and foremost I am a mood reader. I find it hard to keep to a schedule even with my book groups. Therefore I may post that I'm going to read a certain title and then change my mind. With that in mind, I had lunch with friends today and one was praising Fall of Giants by Ken Follett which I hope to begin after my present read.

[Anne]

Nancy, I think we are twins separated at birth! I love re0-organzing i.e. playing with my books! I too am a mood reader. I've made a list of the 10 big books I want to read in 2012, but that is subject to change. Merry Christmas!

Happy Reading in 2012!

[Nancy from NJ]

Anne - we probably were separated-I always felt as though I had a twin. LOL. It should be interesting to see what each of us reads for this challenge. Happy Holidays.

BTW - what are the top 10 books you want to read?

[Nancy from NJ]

I just began my first over 400 page book Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. I have waited and waited till I thought it was the right time to read this book and I think it's now.

[Anne]

Hi Nancy!
Sounds like we just might be twins! Yes, this challenge is going to be a lot of fun! I'm 5 books away from meeting the 2011 goal...but should be no problem reaching.

Here are the 400+ page books I want to read in 2012:

1) A Rose For The Crown - Anne Easter Smith 636 pages

2) A Diary From Dixie - Mary Boykin Chestnut 547 pages

3) Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling - 652 pages

4) Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
759 pages

5) Six Wives The Queens Of Henry VIII - David Starkey
765 pages

6) The Civil War Diary Of A Southern Woman - Sarah Morgan 612

7) Battle Cry Of Freedom - James McPherson 867 pages

8) Sickles At Gettysburg - James A. Hessler 406 pages

9) J. Edgar Hoover The Man And The Secrets - Curt Gentry 760 pages

10) The Road To Disunion Vol 2 - William W. Freehling 534 pages

[Nancy from NJ]

Sounds like a real good list, Anne. Let me know what you thought of the titles as you finish them.

[Nancy from NJ]

am a bit confused and thought I would ask your opinion about this.

I am currently reading Summer At Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs. When I looked up the number of pages at Amazon for the hardcover book, it said it was 400 pages. But when I looked up the number of pages at Amazon for the kindle book (which I am reading) it said 536 pages. I don't know why there is such a large difference. My question is which number do I u

[Nancy from NJ]

I am going to post my newest book over 400 pages and add the new ones as I go along.

2012 LONG BOOKS READ

1. Fall of Giants by Ken Follett 985 pages
2. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman 512 pages
3. The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Sliva 736
4. The FitzOsbornes in Exile 451
5. In the Garden of Beasts 450
6. Broken for You 400
7. Live Wire 442
8. Sonoma Rose 402
9. Defending Jacob 421
10. Hold Tight 416
11. Split Second 404
12. Private #1 Suspect 432
13. The Gold Coast 707
14. The Gate House 770
15. The Shoemaker's Daughter 496
16. Private Games 409
17. Letter from a Stranger 417
18. The Warmth of Other Suns 622
19. The Killing Floor 524
20. Summerland 400
21. Tumbleweeds 480
22. The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva 416
23. I, Michael Bennett 416
24. Only Time Will Tell 400 (reread)
25. Forever Friends 400
26. 11/22/63 859
27. Winter of the World 950
28. The Panther 625
29. Revolution 472
30. Guilty Wives 480
31. Stay Close 400
32. Miracle Cure 544

[Nancy from NJ]

Just added another 400 page book to my list in message
14. The book is Defending Jacob and the author is William Landay. The book is 421 pages.

[Paula]

Nancy wrote: "Just added another 400 page book to my list in message
14. The book is Defendibng Jacob and the author is William Landay. The book is 421 pages.

I have that one on my reading list as well, but haven't added it to my Big Book list.

[Nancy from NJ]

Just added my 10th over 400 page book, Hold Tight by Harlan Coben which was a roller coaster of a ride.

[Nancy from NJ]

Just added James Patterson's book Private #1 Suspect which was 432 pages.

[Nancy from NJ]

Adding Stay Close to my big reads of 2012. This title by Harlan Coben is 400 pages long.

[Nancy from NJ]

Just finished The Arrogant Years which was 416 pages.

[Nancy from NJ]

Just finished The Gate House by Nelson DeMille, my 14th big read of 2012.

[Debra]

Wow, well done! You are doing really well! :-)

[Nancy from NJ]

Thanks for writing Debra. Funny but I was at the library the other day and a woman I know asked for a suggestion for a large book. She said she only reads real big books so I toldher the titles I've read for this group.

[Nancy from NJ]

I have just added another book which is over 400 pages. The title is Guilty Wives and it is 449 pages.

[Nancy from NJ]

Just added my 22nd title of books with over 400 pages. The title of the book is The Fallen Angel by David Silva and it is 416 pages.

[Nancy from NJ]

Since I don't expect to read any other 400 page plus books I am going to close out the year having met my goal of reading 30 books plus two more for a grand total of 32. Hope to read more next year.