Challenge Wrap-Ups: Chunkster and Novella

I find it ironic that both the Chunkster Challenge and November Novella Challenge end this month! Extra long books and extra short ones, here I come. ;)

Chunkster Challenge
The Chunkster Challenge began back in January, and I signed up for the highest, Mor-book-ly Obese level, which had participants read either 6 books over 450 pages or 3 books over 750 pages by the end of this month. But because I love big books, I decided to read 3 books over 1,000 pages (titles linked to my review):

• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, trans. Robin Buss (1,312)
• Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset, trans. Tiina Nunnally (1,144)
• A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth (1,488)

The best book: A tie between Kristin Lavransdater and A Suitable Boy
Any new authors? Yep-Undset and Seth. I’d like to read more of both of them!
Books I did not finish: I kind of scrapped my original challenge list once I decided I wanted to read three 1K-ers.
What did I learn from this challenge? That I’m possibly the only book blogger ever who didn’t enjoy Count of Monte Cristo! lol I liked how each of the chunkster I read brought me to a very different time and place; I feel like I know much more about medieval Norway and 50s India than I did beforehand. Those books made me feel richer. I would say that I learned not to be intimidated of 1K-ers, but honestly, a book’s large size is more likely to attract me than make me nervous! lol Not that I’m a fearless reader (let’s talk about the US literary authors scene if you want to know about books that make me nervous)…it’s just that I love huge books and how I can relax into them, knowing that I’ll be with the characters and in the world for some time. Also, y’all gave me a great list of recommendations for more chunksters, which I really appreciated. :D

November Novella Challenge
I signed up for the third level of the November Novella Challenge, which had me read 8 novellas during this month. I really should have signed up for the fourth level (‘as many you can freakin’ can’), since I surpassed that number already, and I’m eyeing a couple more before November officially ends (if that happens, I’ll come back and edit this list). Ones I’ve read (titles linked to review where possible-several I’m reviewing tomorrow, so I’ll come back and edit then):

• Disquiet by Julia Leigh
• “Little Star of Bela Lua” by Luana Monteiro
• “Hardboiled” by Banana Yoshimoto
• “Hard Luck” by Banana Yoshimoto
• The Girl with the Golden Shoes by Colin Channer
• Hush by Jacqueline Woodson
• The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
• Aura by Carlos Fuentes
• “Raise the Red Lantern” by Su Tong
• “Nineteen Thirty Four Escapes” by Su Tong
• “Opium Family” by Su Tong

The best book: I think my faves were the two novella Yoshimoto collection Hardboiled & Hard Luck, The Girl with the Golden Shoes, and The Woman in Black.
Any new authors? Su Tong, Carlos Fuentes, Colin Channer, Luana Monteiro, and Julia Leigh. I’d be happy to read more of all of those authors except Su Tong.
Books I did not finish: None! It’s difficult for me to abandon a novella knowing there isn’t a huge page commitment. That being said, the only two that I considered abandoning were Su Tong’s “Nineteen Thirty-Four Escapes” and “Opium Family”-the rest were all wonderful.
What did I learn from this challenge? I really should read more novellas! They’re a great way to get a taste of a new author, and I loved how I visited so many countries via them. It’s easier to read in a big variety when the books are slim. And I totally plan on checking out the reviews of other participants to get more novellas to put on my TBR list!