Reviews Round-up

We’re only two months into the Chunkster Challenge and we have almost thirty reviews posted by participants. Way to go! Just in case you haven’t been able to visit other participants, every other month you’ll see a post just like this one that features several reviews from Chunkster readers.

Christina from The Literary Bunny has already read our first Chunky Book Club pick, 11/22/63 by Stephen King. In her review she wrote that the tale is

“Highly recommendable both for longtime King fans and for newcomers. King has done his homework and have managed to create a persuasive story of what could happen if someone from our present travelled back”.

Michelle at That’s What She Read reviewed A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. This is a book that’s been receiving a lot of reviews from fellow bloggers since its publication last year. Michelle starts off her review with,

 “Have you ever read a book that made you smile for its entirety? A book where everything about it was enjoyable, from the descriptions to the characters to the plot and beyond? One that took a storyline that has been rehashed one too many times and made it completely new and exciting again? If you have, then you too must have experienced Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches. If you have not, well then, get thee to a bookstore or library and read it immediately!”

If that paragraph doesn’t make you want to go and pick up A Discovery of Witches, I don’t know what will.

Despite being more than 900 pages long, Roberto Bolano’s 2666 was a very popular book when it was first published in the U.S. in 2008. The Misanthropologist didn’t let that stop her and read 2666 for her first chunkster of the year. One of the things that I really enjoy about this review is that The Misanthropologist summarizes all five parts of the book.

“Reading 2666 may seem daunting at first because of its size, but readers will discover right away that it is quite an easy read, despite its shifts in narrative styles, non-linear storytelling, and numerous, seemingly inconsequential side stories.  It is a barrage of images, ideas, philosophies, facts, characters, and stories which will leave readers entertained, amused, confused, frustrated, and even angry.”

Last but not least is Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man reviewed by Heather at Between the Covers. Here’s a beautiful excerpt from her review:

"To be human is to be an individual, and when one’s individuality is taken away or ignored, so is their humanity. This is the main way in which oppression is carried out without the conscience of the oppressor getting in the way–if a person’s individuality and humanity are stripped away through prejudice and stereotyping, it is easier for the oppressor to see the oppressed as simple objects to be treated and used accordingly. And the narrator bends and shifts to fit into these roles, all the while thinking that he’s doing it for his own benefit. That is, until the epiphany of his invisibleness hits."

There are so many great reviews linked up by participants but I'm unable to summarize them all. Thanks to every one who has read a chunkster, wrote a review, and spent the time linking it up. If your review wasn't featured in this post, there's always the chance that one of your reviews will be featured in the future. 

Happy reading!