2019 Big Book Summer

About 8 years ago, I came up with the idea to use the relaxed freedom of summer to tackle some of the biggest books on my TBR shelf that I'd been wanting to read but never seemed to have the time for.  One of my book groups takes time off during the summer, so with fewer interfering commitments, I declared it The Summer of the Big Book and really enjoyed delving into some hefty tomes, like The Passage and Pillars of the Earth.

It was so much fun that seven years ago, I created this challenge so that YOU can join me. And here it is Memorial Day weekend again and the unofficial start of summer 2019. So join in the fun!

And please note that if it is the start of winter where you live, you are still welcome to participate!

The Details:
Hey, it's summer, so we'll keep this low-key and easy!

  • Anything 400 pages or more qualifies as a big book.
  • The challenge will run from Memorial Day weekend (starting May 24 this year) through Labor Day weekend (Labor Day is September 2 this year).
  • Choose one or two or however many big books you want as your goal. Wait, did you get that?  You only need to read 1 book with 400+ pages this summer to participate! (though you are welcome to read more, if you want).
  • Sign up on the first links list below if you have a blog (or in the comments below or on Goodreads if you don't have a blog).
  • Write a post to kick things off - you can list the exact big books you plan to read or just publish your intent to participate, but be sure to include the Big Book Summer Challenge pic above, with a link back to this blog (no blog? No problem - see below).
  • Write a post to wrap up at the end, listing the big books you read during the summer.
  • You can write progress posts if you want to and/or reviews of the big books you've read...but you don't have to! There is a separate links list below for big book reviews or progress update posts.
That's it!  Go check out your shelves and your TBR list and sign up below!

Don't have a blog? No problem! You can still participate in the challenge - just leave a comment in the Comment section below, stating your goals for the Big Book Summer Challenge, or sign up in the Goodreads group.

Whether you have a blog or not, join the group on Goodreads for the 2019 Big Book Summer Challenge, where we can talk about Big Books and our progress on the challenge. If you don't have a blog, you can also use the Goodreads group to sign up for the challenge, post updates, and show which Big Books you are reading.

Check out my own list of books to read for the challenge this summer.

At the end of the summer, there will be a Big Book Giveaway! After Labor Day, I'll select one name from among the participants (bloggers who leave a link below as well as those without a blog who leave a comment to announce their participation or participate through the Goodreads group) and will send the winner an Amazon gift certificate.

And help spread the word on Twitter with #BigBookSummer (you can follow me at @suebookbybook).
   

Link-up your 2019 Big Book Summer Sign-Up Posts here - be sure to include a link to your kick off blog post (not your homepage):


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Come back to this page during the summer to add a link whenever you review a Big Book or post a progress report.

Add links here to your reviews of Big Books and any progress updates or wrap-up post: 


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


20 comments:

  1. I've finished my first big book! I'll try to get a page posted about my selections soon.

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    Replies
    1. Yay! Glad you're joining again this year!

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  2. Posted and officially in!

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  3. I'll spend some time considering this and doing my maths to see if I can get Lonesome Dove finished by September!

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    Replies
    1. That would be a good one for this challenge, Kathryn!

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  4. Hi, I discovered your challenge on Goodreads! I have just started my own blog and this is the first challenge I am going to tackle. #excited TY for hosting this!

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Daph!

      That is SO exciting that you just started your own blog! I am honored to be hosting your first official reading challenge as a blogger :)

      Sue

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  5. I'm so glad to have linked up again, this year! Thanks for hosting, Sue. Now I'm off to join the Goodreads group...

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    Replies
    1. Welcome back, Shaye! Glad you are joining again this year!

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  6. In once more..
    Thanks for hosting, Sue!
    📚 🎧

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    Replies
    1. Wonderful! So glad you are joining in again! Just leave your link in the first list up above :)

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  7. I'm in again--off to a bit of a slow start as I am trying to finish up my spring reading, but looking forward to tacking a few big books this summer. Thanks for hosting again!

    https://janegs.blogspot.com/2019/06/big-book-summer-challenge.html

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    Replies
    1. Wonderful, Jane!

      Please add your link to the sign-up list above so that others can find it!

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  8. I'm joining. I'll post tomorrow morning and link up then. I need help with getting through Count of Monte Cristo! :)

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    1. Welcome, Ruth! So glad you joined the fun! You have a big one to get through, but I've heard nothing but great things about it :)

      Sue

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  9. Hi Sue,
    I'm very excited about this challenge. It fits me perfectly. I'm late signing up, but as my blog entries show, I've read two books over 400 pages since May 24th. I just finished reading The Last of the Mohicans, so I have yet to post that review.
    Something weird happened when I posted my thumbnail--Reader in the Wilderness is the name of my blog. Two other thumbnails showed up somehow. I'm hoping they can be deleted. Sorry to make a mess of things. Thank you for hosting. BTW, I found your challenge via Jane's post at Reading, Writing, Working, and Playing.

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    1. Welcome, Judith! Sorry for the delay in replying - I had no internet for most of this week! trying to catch up now.

      So glad you decided to join the Big Book Summer Challenge!

      Hey, no problem with the extra thumbnail/link that popped up - it's happened before. It's some sort of spam, and I can't get rid of it! Have no idea how it happens, but no worries - it's not you :)

      Enjoy your Big Books this summer!

      Sue

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  10. I think I will be joining. Thanks for sharing this with us.

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    Replies
    1. Wonderful! I look forward to your sign-up and to hearing about your Big Books this summer!

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