100+ Book Challenge 2013

I haven't found an official 100+ Book Challenge yet, but I am a avid reader and I will challenge myself to read 100+ books in 2013.
I am confident that I will be able to do that since I hit 103 in 2012. That list is on a page at the top of my blog, but until I figure out how to show all my pages under my header you will have to wait to access that page to see which books I actually read in 2012. I know, I know who cares what you read in 2012, but if you take a look you might find something that you might be interested in that you hadn't previously known about.
So, in the next couple of days I will be fooling around in blogger trying to figure out how to get all my pages to show up at the top of my blog under the header.

Happy New Year!!!
and
Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Chunkster Book Challenge 2013

I'm signing up for The Plump Primer part of the challenge again this year. I have already got my books picked out. I intend to complete the rest of the Fantasy series I started at the end of 2012.
You'll find the logo and link on my side bar and below you will find all the rules and regs you will need to get started also.

Definition of a chunkster:

A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature, whether non-fiction or fiction. A chunkster should be a challenge.

If you read books in large print, your books will need to be 525 pages or more. The average large type book is 10-15% larger or more so it’s a fair estimate.

The rules:

• No audio books. (There are exceptions to this rule.)
• No e-books allowed. This was discussed in much detail in the 2011 challenge. The short version: a chunkster isn’t a challenge if you’re reading it on an e-reader. (There are exceptions to this rule.)
• Essay, poetry, and short story collections will be allowed. Collections have to be read in their entirety to count. If you’ve needed a reason to finally pick up your copy of The Collected Works Of ____ now is the time.
• Books may crossover with other challenges.
• Anyone may join. (If you don’t have a blog, just leave a comment on this post with your challenge level and your progress throughout the challenge.) 
• You don’t need to list your books ahead of time.
• Once you’ve picked a level, that’s it. You’re committed to it!

You must pick a level of participation:

1. The Chubby Chunkster – this option is for the readers who want 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.
2. The Plump Primer - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to SIX Chunksters over the next twelve months. 
3. 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).
4. 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.

Want Suggestions of what to read? 

Check out the Chunky Book Suggestions page. Throughout the year, we will be adding new books to this page.

To review or not to review, that is the quesion...Reviews are not mandatory, but they are strongly encouraged. We will be putting up a Mr. Linky at the beginning of the challenge for links to your reviews. We will also be posting a Mr. Linky for wrap up posts at the end of the challenge.

To sign up, please use Mr. Linky below by linking DIRECTLY to your post about the challenge (please, please - do NOT link to your main blog page!!). If you do not have a blog, please just leave a comment telling me you are joining the challenge. Thanks! There is NO deadline for sign ups - sign up whenever you want through the end of the challenge period.

Completed The Chunkster Challenge

I have successfully completed the Chunkster Challenge for 2012 with the last book on the list below:

1. The Scottich Prisoner---Diana Gabaldon--534 pgs.
2. Rebels & Traitors---Lindsey Davis--742 pgs.
3. 1632---Eric Flint--552 pgs.
4. Time Spike---Eric Flint & Marilyn Kosmatka--467 pgs.
5. Wizards First Rule---Terry Goodkind--820 pgs.
6. Stone of Tears---Terry Goodkind--979 pgs.


The last book Stone of Tears is the longest so far and it is the second in a series of 8. The rest of the series are all Chunksters and I plan on using them for my entries in next years contest.
If you are a fan of Fantasy Fiction this is a good series to invest in. The characters are good and evil. So far good has prevailed. There is lots of adventure and dire fixes that the characters get themselves into and have to figure out solutions for. My only complaint with this second book was toward the middle it got a little too much description of every little thing and then when I got past that the author picked up the pace again and came in with a smashing finish to lead you to the next book in the series.
I still liked it well enough that I will continue with the series so far.
Sometimes I just need a little bit of magic and fantasy to relieve the stresses of everyday life.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥ 

Wizard's First Rule by: Terry Goodkind

I just got through reading my 5th Chunkster, I have one more to go before Dec. 31st. I think I will read the second in this series to finish off my Chunkster list for this year.
I've become a big fan of Diana Galbadon and I have been a fan of Christopher Paolini for a long time. Not only did I like Wizard's First Rule, but I found that Terry Goodkind has a very similar writing style.
Good characters with personalities that make you empathize with them sometimes even the mean characters, which is good because there is a little bit of bad in all of us.
I liked the way the story evolved over the 820 pages and for me it had a very satisfying ending. Even though I know this is quite a long series if for some reason I did not know that or was unable to get the next books the author brought all events and characters to an ending that would be happy enough to be a stand alone book. However, since by the time you're finished you're so invested in the characters that it's nice to know there's more to the story.
There is magic, monsters, and even a special dragon. If you're a fan of Fantasy you'll like this one.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Time Spike by: Eric Flint & Marilyn Kosmatka

I have checked my challenges and I'm close to my 100 books for the year but after reading Time Spike I've got 2 more Chunksters to read.
I'm back into Sci-Fi and Fantasy right now. I find I need a little escape reading and escape is what you do when you read Time Spike.
Eric and his co-author Marilyn have created a very interesting scenario for us. Lots of people, animals, and decisions of what to do about good guys, bad guys, animals, and plants they don't know much about.
There are quite a mix of characters in this book so you need to keep your thinking cap on to keep everyone straight as to who belongs with whom, but even though we love to root for the good guys in stories and real life, you might be surprised, you might end up rooting for some of the bad guys in this one.
The book starts out in a prison, but don't be put off by the first 5 to 10 pages keep reading for some adventure and surprising situations.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Silver Shawl by: Elisabeth Grace Foley

The Silver Shawl is set in Colorado in the late 1800's. As you may or may not know back in that time of history when people went West in the U.S. they didn't necessarily give out a lot of information about themselves. So it's no surprise that our heroine's intended doesn't know that much about her when she turns up missing and the local sheriff and a detective start asking questions trying to help find her.
However, her astute neighbor across the hall of her rooming house, Mrs. Meade, seems to be able to suss out clues the men in charge don't seem to catch onto.
This is a plot that has been dressed up in many different kinds of times, clothes, and  characters, but the author has given it a fresh perspective with the introduction of Mrs. Meade.
A quick read with some interesting twists and turns, but I won't tell about the ending. You'll have to read to see how the story turns out.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥ 

The Bowl of Souls Series by: Trevor H. Cooley

This is a YA Series, but as I've said before I'm just a big kid at heart and I love to read about good triumphing over evil.
Unfortunately, if you don't have an E-Reader you won't be able to pick this one up. Mr. Cooley has had to E Publish himself. Shame on the big publishing houses for not saying yes to this author.
I never thought I would enjoy my Kindle Fire because I have been a reader of real books all my life. There's just something about opening a new book, the smell of the ink on paper, just no description for that since I'm not a writer.
The first in the series is Eye of the Moonrat, the second: Messenger of the Dark Prophet, and the third is: Hunt of the Bandham.
All the good characters are very likeable, and all the bad characters are very bad. Just the right mix to keep you rooting for the good guys throughout the series.
Mr. Cooley story has good flow which keeps you turning the pages and when you get to the end of one book you're wanting to read the next. When I got to the end of #3 I was so glad to find that he is working on #4.
If you're up for a bit of fantasy adventure this is a series you might want to check into.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥