I love tackling big books in the summer. Reminds me of getting lost in a book during my summer breaks in high school and collage when I was free to read whatever my heart desired. I was surprised you did not pull down the big chunkster on the shelf behind you (The Eighth Life). That one is waiting on my shelves too 😊
When you started to talk about big books The She’ll Seekers immediately came to mind. I need to reread it. I also love stories set in India, Marcia Willett and Maeve Binchy. Marjorie Morningstar, an oldie but goodie is on my summer TBR. My copy of Up the Down Staircase arrived yesterday on your recommendation.
Welcome to Big Book Summer, Jen! I was surprised I haven't been to your channel before because I've heard good things about it. And several people have already told me they hears about the challenge here, so thanks for spreading the word (and for adding your link to the list on my blog - I'll share it across social media). So glad you decided to join the fun this year! I remember The Thorn Birds miniseries, but I haven't read the book yet. And I've heard SO many people rave about Rosamund Pilcher and the Shell Seekers, but I haven't read any of her books yet - thanks for inspiring me! I love Tana French's Dublin Murder series and had heard about The Hinter (and The Searcher) but thought they were stand-alones. I didn't realize they're the start of a new series, so thanks for that, too! I read The Lincoln Highway last summer and LOVED it. Enjoy all your Big Books! You can also join the Goodreads group if you want to, to share your video link, see what everyone else is reading, and enjoy some Big Book chat all summer!
Thank you for the welcome, Sue! I did join the Goodreads group and will have to link my video there too. You should definitely read a Rosamunde Pilcher book at some point - she’s wonderful. I’m so glad I found your channel and this challenge. 😊
The Thorn Birds sounds intriguing! I've only read maybe a couple of long family sagas and enjoyed them (the one I can remember off the top of my head is The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy which I loved). Great reading plans! I hope you find some new favourites!
I had not heard of this challenge - thanks for pointing it out. I remember readingThe Thorn Birds ages ago and enjoying it. I like the suggestion in the comments to read a Kate Morton - I love her books. I also love Maeve Binchy, so that is another option.
Have you read The covenant of Water? This is a family saga set in India. It is a wonderful book. My hardbound edition is 715 pages. It was a fast read for me, even at this length!
Your recommendations sound good. I have picked books from my TBR cart for big book summer. I'm reading At Home In Mitford by Jan Karon at 540 pages, enjoying it so far! Happy Reading!
I remember my mum reading the Thorn Birds as well!!! I must read it. I just read the Feast. It was all about the seven deadly sins. Each character’s first letter of their name is a hint to the “sin”. 😮
Oh! I loved The Feast and it did not feel like a 400+ page book at all-it flew by! I plan to read In This House of Brede (R. Godden), a re-read of Our Mutual Friend (Dickens) and maybe a longer Anthony Trollope.
I think I said July for Shell Seekers but my book club is actually reading it over August and September! I may have trouble not reading it all in one go however!
Great recommendations! I should take part in this challenge, it seems all the books I've bought recently would qualify! I just started Lonesome Dove, and I am also planning to read The Thorn Birds (I saw the mini series ages ago but havent read it), The Feast, Sleeper's Castle by Barbara Erskine, and Rebecca by Daphne Dumaurier... my edition is 428 pages. I love Firefly Summer! I've read it, and most of Maeve Binchy's books, several times :)
Lonesome Dove is the group read for the challenge so if you are on Goodreads you could join the group for the discussions. 😊 And I’m so glad to hear you loved Firefly Summer. I’m a big Maeve Binchy fan too.
Hi Jen….The Shellseekers is my top read for the summer. I have never read it but I love Rosamunde Pilcher’s other books. That’s my main choice but I will also read some Agatha Christie, Barbara Pym and Elly Griffiths and of course Miranda’s Season of Story book club choice, One Month in the Country. I think it’s going to be a great reading summer!📖👏🏻🌺
Hi Jen: I have been following you since you started this channel and love 💕 your style and recommendations! We have such similar tastes … I always find new titles to add to my TBR. I have read many of your summer recommendations and loved them all. You must listen to The Lincoln Highway… the narration is fantastic.
Thank you for your kind words about my channel! I’m so glad you found me. 🩷 I am hoping so can get the audio of Lincoln Highway from my library in time to read it this month otherwise I’ll have to read the print version.
Great recommendations! I read The Thornbirds I my twenties and loved it! I'm reading Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens for Big Book Summer. Two other big books I loved were Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.
Hi Jen, I just reordered a big book that I loved back when I was a young woman, Pennmaric by Susan Howatch. It is a sweeping family saga. Have you ever read it? It is over 700 pages and I wonder if I still will love it again, 50 or so years later. Thank you.❤😊😊
I loved Penmarric - and find I recommend it quite often to people. Found it in the library a couple years ago, and was intrigued by the old edition. I also loved Cashelmara, I'm sure you've read that one as well.
I haven’t read it but I recently got a copy of her book Cashelmara (I think that’s the title?). Have you read that one? It’s definitely a big book! I’ll have to add Pennmaric to my TBR!
I haven't read Bridge of San Luis Rey but from looking at the synopsis, they sound like very different books even though they tackle a similar type of event.
I am intrigued by East of the Sun and The Far Pavilions! Those both sound super good. I'm part of a group reading Moby-Dick this summer, so that is definitely my Big Book Summer challenge option. I'm hoping to pick up some more fun books that are over 400 pages too, though. 😂I'm hoping to read an annotated version of Emma in Jane Austen July!
Hi Jen, your blouse is very cute and summery. Would like to hear more about M.M. Kaye bks. The Feast, Firefly Summer and the trio by Marcia Gillett sound good to me. Hope I can read some. Thanks
Reading Becoming Madam Secretary now for book club, 516 pages inc author note. On my June TBR, Lost Roses, sequel to Lilac Girls I read in May. It's 432 pgs. Any of Kate Morton's books are good choices for "big books", too
You would almost certainly love “And Ladies of the Club”, by Helen Hooven Santmyer. It’s definitely a chunkster, and it is about the lives of the women in their college club in Ohio. It follows two main best friends and their families, but also other women. The time period begins just post Civil War. It’s also about books!
I found that one secondhand a couple of months ago and really want to read it! You are right about it being a chunkster! I didn’t know it was about books too, that makes me even more excited to read it! 😁
It’s called the Cozy Reader Book Club. I will actually have a video going up soon all about the book club which my co-host and I are putting together. And anyone is welcome to join!
Oh the memories of my mom watching the Thorn Birds!
Same!
Nice video! I started talking to Sue Jackson when she only had 500 subscribers! I'm glad she's getting all this attention!
Her channel is wonderful and I’m so glad I found her! Thanks for watching my video. 😊
I love tackling big books in the summer. Reminds me of getting lost in a book during my summer breaks in high school and collage when I was free to read whatever my heart desired. I was surprised you did not pull down the big chunkster on the shelf behind you (The Eighth Life). That one is waiting on my shelves too 😊
I love big books for that reason too! I’m thinking of putting together a group read of The Eighth Life for anyone interested in the new year. 😊
@@jensreadinglifeif it works out for the new year, count me in!
@@maggieyoder5655 fantastic! 😁
Piles of possibilities!!
Piles and piles! 😁
Love the shell seekers!!! I just started coming home.
Enjoy! Coming Home is so so good!
Anxiously awaiting my copy of The Shellseekers to arrive. It sounds like a wonderful story and perfect for summer.
It is! I can’t wait to hear what you think.
When you started to talk about big books The She’ll Seekers immediately came to mind. I need to reread it. I also love stories set in India, Marcia Willett and Maeve Binchy. Marjorie Morningstar, an oldie but goodie is on my summer TBR. My copy of Up the Down Staircase arrived yesterday on your recommendation.
I adore Marjorie Morningstar! And I hope you enjoy Up the Down Staircase.
The Thorn Birds is one of my favorite books!!! 💕
It's so good!😊
Welcome to Big Book Summer, Jen! I was surprised I haven't been to your channel before because I've heard good things about it. And several people have already told me they hears about the challenge here, so thanks for spreading the word (and for adding your link to the list on my blog - I'll share it across social media). So glad you decided to join the fun this year! I remember The Thorn Birds miniseries, but I haven't read the book yet. And I've heard SO many people rave about Rosamund Pilcher and the Shell Seekers, but I haven't read any of her books yet - thanks for inspiring me! I love Tana French's Dublin Murder series and had heard about The Hinter (and The Searcher) but thought they were stand-alones. I didn't realize they're the start of a new series, so thanks for that, too! I read The Lincoln Highway last summer and LOVED it. Enjoy all your Big Books! You can also join the Goodreads group if you want to, to share your video link, see what everyone else is reading, and enjoy some Big Book chat all summer!
Thank you for the welcome, Sue! I did join the Goodreads group and will have to link my video there too. You should definitely read a Rosamunde Pilcher book at some point - she’s wonderful. I’m so glad I found your channel and this challenge. 😊
The Thorn Birds sounds intriguing! I've only read maybe a couple of long family sagas and enjoyed them (the one I can remember off the top of my head is The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy which I loved). Great reading plans! I hope you find some new favourites!
I would love to read The Forsyte Saga at some point! I think you would enjoy The Thorn Birds…it’s a captivating story. 😊
I had not heard of this challenge - thanks for pointing it out. I remember readingThe Thorn Birds ages ago and enjoying it. I like the suggestion in the comments to read a Kate Morton - I love her books. I also love Maeve Binchy, so that is another option.
I love Kate Morton too and should have mentioned her. She’s a great option!
I loved the Thorn Birds and the Feast. I would love to read any Kate Morton books this summer.
Kate Morton books are wonderful summer reads!
Have you read The covenant of Water? This is a family saga set in India. It is a wonderful book. My hardbound edition is 715 pages. It was a fast read for me, even at this length!
Yes! I read it last summer and loved it. 😊
Thank you for the recommendations. I’m really enjoying your videos.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you are enjoying them. 😊❤️
Thanks for being so enthusiastic about your reading life. ❤
You are welcome! Books bring me so much joy and I am having fun sharing that with all of you. 😊
Your recommendations sound good. I have picked books from my TBR cart for big book summer. I'm reading At Home In Mitford by Jan Karon at 540 pages, enjoying it so far! Happy Reading!
I love they this is a challenge where you can easily pick books off your own shelves! I loved At Home in Mitford when I read it years ago - enjoy!
I remember my mum reading the Thorn Birds as well!!! I must read it. I just read the Feast. It was all about the seven deadly sins. Each character’s first letter of their name is a hint to the “sin”. 😮
That is very interesting! I have The Feast on my shelves to be read. love the cover!
Oh that’s right! I forgot about that element! So clever. 😊 And definitely give The Thorn Birds a read, it’s wonderful!
Never knew that, and I love that book & the series. Cool, thanks
Oh! I loved The Feast and it did not feel like a 400+ page book at all-it flew by! I plan to read In This House of Brede (R. Godden), a re-read of Our Mutual Friend (Dickens) and maybe a longer Anthony Trollope.
The Feast is such a fast-paced read! And I really enjoyed In This House of Brede!
This is my second year on Big Book Summer and I also am going to read The Shell Seekers but not till August.
I think I said July for Shell Seekers but my book club is actually reading it over August and September! I may have trouble not reading it all in one go however!
Great recommendations! I should take part in this challenge, it seems all the books I've bought recently would qualify! I just started Lonesome Dove, and I am also planning to read The Thorn Birds (I saw the mini series ages ago but havent read it), The Feast, Sleeper's Castle by Barbara Erskine, and Rebecca by Daphne Dumaurier... my edition is 428 pages. I love Firefly Summer! I've read it, and most of Maeve Binchy's books, several times :)
Lonesome Dove is the group read for the challenge so if you are on Goodreads you could join the group for the discussions. 😊 And I’m so glad to hear you loved Firefly Summer. I’m a big Maeve Binchy fan too.
@@jensreadinglife hey, that's great, thanks! I'll join the group!
Hi Jen….The Shellseekers is my top read for the summer. I have never read it but I love Rosamunde Pilcher’s other books. That’s my main choice but I will also read some Agatha Christie, Barbara Pym and Elly Griffiths and of course Miranda’s Season of Story book club choice, One Month in the Country. I think it’s going to be a great reading summer!📖👏🏻🌺
You have some wonderful reading ahead of you! The Shell Seekers is fantastic. Enjoy your summer reading! 😊
Hi Jen: I have been following you since you started this channel and love 💕 your style and recommendations! We have such similar tastes … I always find new titles to add to my TBR. I have read many of your summer recommendations and loved them all. You must listen to The Lincoln Highway… the narration is fantastic.
Thank you for your kind words about my channel! I’m so glad you found me. 🩷 I am hoping so can get the audio of Lincoln Highway from my library in time to read it this month otherwise I’ll have to read the print version.
Great recommendations! I read The Thornbirds I my twenties and loved it!
I'm reading Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens for Big Book Summer.
Two other big books I loved were Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.
I love that you are tackling a Dickens this summer! Maybe I’ll do that next year! And yes to both Pillars and Gentleman as excellent big books!
@jensreadinglife 😀👍 I'm really liking it!
Hi Jen, I just reordered a big book that I loved back when I was a young woman, Pennmaric by Susan Howatch. It is a sweeping family saga. Have you ever read it? It is over 700 pages and I wonder if I still will love it again, 50 or so years later. Thank you.❤😊😊
I loved Penmarric - and find I recommend it quite often to people. Found it in the library a couple years ago, and was intrigued by the old edition. I also loved Cashelmara, I'm sure you've read that one as well.
I haven’t read it but I recently got a copy of her book Cashelmara (I think that’s the title?). Have you read that one? It’s definitely a big book! I’ll have to add Pennmaric to my TBR!
I just got a copy of Cashelmara so I’m glad to hear you love it!
is The Feast similar to Bridge of San Luis Rey? I remember startin that obok many years ago but didn't finish (not sure why)
I haven't read Bridge of San Luis Rey but from looking at the synopsis, they sound like very different books even though they tackle a similar type of event.
I am intrigued by East of the Sun and The Far Pavilions! Those both sound super good. I'm part of a group reading Moby-Dick this summer, so that is definitely my Big Book Summer challenge option. I'm hoping to pick up some more fun books that are over 400 pages too, though. 😂I'm hoping to read an annotated version of Emma in Jane Austen July!
Ok, I am also planning to read the annotated Emma for Jane Austen July! How funny is that! Another buddy read??? 😂
A story set during the summer in a seaside hotel in Cornwall?🏖 “The Feast” is tempting me with that setting.
The setting (and the book) is fantastic!
Hi Jen, your blouse is very cute and summery. Would like to hear more about M.M. Kaye bks. The Feast, Firefly Summer and the trio by Marcia Gillett sound good to me. Hope I can read some. Thanks
Thank you, Eileen! I hope you find some good books this summer. 😊
Reading Becoming Madam Secretary now for book club, 516 pages inc author note.
On my June TBR, Lost Roses, sequel to Lilac Girls I read in May. It's 432 pgs. Any of Kate Morton's books are good choices for "big books", too
Sounds like you are definitely set for big books this summer! I should have included Kate Morton because I love her books too!
Just found your channel, I really enjoyed the books! I saw the Thorn Birds when it came out, what a story! Thank you!
You would almost certainly love “And Ladies of the Club”, by Helen Hooven Santmyer. It’s definitely a chunkster, and it is about the lives of the women in their college club in Ohio. It follows two main best friends and their families, but also other women. The time period begins just post Civil War. It’s also about books!
I found that one secondhand a couple of months ago and really want to read it! You are right about it being a chunkster! I didn’t know it was about books too, that makes me even more excited to read it! 😁
What is the name of the book club.
It’s called the Cozy Reader Book Club. I will actually have a video going up soon all about the book club which my co-host and I are putting together. And anyone is welcome to join!
Do you know anything about Kate Howe? She hasn’t posted anything for awhile. I hope she is okay.
Kate is doing ok. She is taking a break from UA-cam for a bit due to her chronic illness. Hopefully she will be back when she is feeling up to it. 🩷
@@jensreadinglife Thank you! I was worried. Thanks for sharing! Have a blessed day!