Chunkster Challenge 2011

I'm going to also enter this challenge - as I have as goodly number of chunky books which need reading, and this may just be the incentive that I need.

You can sign up here











February 1, 2011 through January 31, 2012

Below are the details and sign ups for 2011 ... I've made a few changes which I hope you will like...ie: I've added another level of participation AND I've changed the number of books you need to read for each level.

Definition of a Chunkster:
A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) ... A chunkster should be a challenge.
If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more ... The average large type book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.
The Rules:
No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.
No e-Books allowed - we are reading traditional, fat books for this challenge (please see this post to understand the rationale behind this rule)
Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.
Books may crossover with other challenges
Anyone may join. If you don't have a blog, just leave me a comment on this post with your progress (and to let me know you are playing)
You don't need to list your books ahead of time.
Once you pick a level, that's it...you're committed to that level!
You must pick a level of participation:
The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who wants to dabble in large tomes, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. FOUR Chunksters is all you need to finish this challenge.
The Plump Primer - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to SIX Chunksters over the next twelve months.
Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the reader who can't resist bigger and bigger books and wants to commit to SIX Chunksters from the following categories: 2 books which are between 450 - 550 pages in length; 2 books which are 551 - 750 pages in length; 2 books which are GREATER than 750 pages in length (for ideas, please refer to the book suggestions page for some books which fit into these categories).
Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to EIGHT or more Chunksters of which three tomes MUST be 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.


I have looked at my pile of larger books, and although I think I will probably achieve the Mor-book-ly Obese, I should be sensible and aim for DTBMmBLB?

2011 To Be Read (TBR) Challenge

The 2011 TBR Pile Challenge is hosted by Roof Beam Reader. Here are the full details, but the rules are below.


The Goal:
To finally read 12 books from your "to be read" pile, within 12 months.

Specifics:

1. Each of these 12 books must have been on your bookshelf or "To Be Read" list for AT LEAST one full year. This means the book cannot have a publication date of 1/1/2010 or later (any book published in the year 2009 or earlier qualifies, as long as it has been on your TBR pile - I WILL be checking publication dates). Caveat: Two (2) alternates are allowed, just in case one or two of the books end up in the "can't get through" pile.

2. To be eligible, you must sign-up with Mr. Linky below - link to your list (so create it ahead of time!) and add updated links to each book's review. Every listed book must be completed and must be reviewed in order to count as completed.

3. Your list must be posted by Saturday 15th January 2011

4. Leave comments on this post as you go along, to update us on your status. Come back here if/when you complete this challenge and leave a comment indicating that you CONQUERED YOUR 2011 TBR LIST! Every person who successfully reads his/her 12 books and/or alternates (and who provides a working link to their list, which has links to the review locations) will be entered to win a $50 gift card from either Amazon.com or The Book Depository!

5. There may be mini-challenge "check-ins" throughout 2011, to award and recognize those participants who are progressing through the challenge, such as a "Spring Break Check-In!" or a "6 Month Pit Stop!" Participants who are making equal progress to-date (6 books at the 6 month check-in, for example) could win a prize!

6. Crossovers from other challenges are totally acceptable, as long as you have never read the book before and it was published pre-2010!


My Twelve Chosen:

01. World Without End by Ken Follett
02. The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
03. Instances of the Number 3 by Salley Vickers
04. The Mapmaker's Opera by Bea Gonzalez
05. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
06. The Thirteenth Apostle by Michel Benoit
07. Winter in Madrid by C.J.Sansom
08. Superfreakonomics by Steven D.Levitt & Stephen J.Dubner
09. 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs
10. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
11. The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte
12. A Field Guide to the British by Sarah Lyall

The Two Alternates:

1. Dead Men's Dust by Matt Hilton
2. The Carpenter's Pencil by Manuel Rivas


Hopefully, by the end of 2011, I shall have read these, reviewed them and given them their proper place on the bookshelf.

Where I take on the 2011 TBR Pile Challenge

Whiling away a spare five minutes I followed a link on Twitter offered by @Bookcrossing to this page http://www.salon.com/books/laura_miller/2011/01/05/reading_challenges
which I found very inspiring.

The first challenge that I am going to take up is that offered by Adam at http://www.roofbeamreader.net/2010/12/2011-tbr-pile-challenge-with-prize.html

I have to admit that it is not so much the prize that I covet, but the hope that it will force me to pick up some of the books piled up by my bed that deserve to move onto a shelf, after having been enjoyed. The challenge of finding books older than a year is not a problem, but the choosing of only twelve is much more difficult. If I do well, maybe I can have a second dozen as back up!