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| Isn't this a fantastic cover? |
The Big Book Summer Challenge, hosted by Sue at Book by Book, is one of the few challenges I do each year. It's really a no-brainer as I tend to always have a big book or two (+400 pages) on the go. The challenge is Memorial Day to Labor Day.
I started Game of Kings, by Dorothy Dunnett, a week ago. It's the first in her Lymond Chronicles series and is part of my Reading Scotland project.
I also plan to read another historical Scottish book, The Crucible of Secrets, by Shona Maclean.
I have a hankering to reread some of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books since I've been rewatching the TV show.
And, I am almost done with a reread of Tolkien's The Hobbit and am considering a reread of The Fellowship of the Ring. It's been well over 50 years since I read any Tolkien, so it is definitely time for a reread.
In the nonfiction category, I am now committed fully to reading How the Scots Invented the Modern World by Arthur Herman. I opened it in May but didn't actually start reading it until about two weeks ago.
I certainly cannot fathom reading 20 books this summer as many other bloggers are setting out to do, but I know I can handle a few biggies!
Happy Solstice! And happy reading!
You always have good reading projects going on. And a reread of Tolkien and The Hobbit are a great idea. What did you think of The Hobbit after decades away from it .... does it hold? I read it as a teenager so might go back to it sometime. Good luck with your Big Books this summer.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying The Hobbit so much! It is a great adventure story, and I had forgotten most of the details. Really fun!
DeleteGame of Kings is great but slow going. I was confused the first time I read it although had grown up hearing about it from my mother.
ReplyDeleteI am unfamiliar with Shona MacLean but that book looks like it is third in a series?
My nephew recently finished The Lord of the Rings for the first time and suggested we have a family movie night. Although some of the actors were perfect (not Frodo who seemed very wimpy), the book is certainly better! Too many orcs and too many battles in the movie.
Game of Kings takes focus, but I am finding it easier going that Niccolo Rising. Honestly, the premise kind of reminds me of a Robin Hood story, but we'll see :)
DeleteYes, I am about to start the 3rd book in Maclean's Alexander Seaton series.
I never finished The Return of the King myself--too many wars when i was a 17 year old. I did see the Fellowship of the Ring movie ages ago, but what I am really interested in finding is well illustrated versions of the books.
Good luck with the Summer Challenge and one or two big books reac during the summer perfectly fine.
ReplyDeleteI need to read books about Scotland and I think the first book to go for would be The Outlander. So much I don't know. The Jacobins, Mary Queen of Scots and what Scotland is like today.
I am having so much fun with my deep dive into Scotland, history and culture. Outlander is great--some rough parts though for sure.
DeleteI can also recommend the Scottish History Podcast. Nice short posts on a wide variety of topics.