Big Fat Bryan 2015

I'm in, thanks John for setting up the challenge, haven't started a BFB yet but there are plenty waiting, will be beginning Steven Erikson's House of Chains 1015 pages in a week or so.

Lets give 100 BFBs in 2015 a real shake !

Hi Bryan, welcome mate for the 2015 challenge, I see that you are going to be starting with a big one, that's the spirit.

Hello Bryan! Welcome back. I think 2015 will be a fun year for us here.
Happy New Year buddy.

Cheers John, will be reading Erikson's Malazan series this year, 7 to go and each one sizeable.

Happy New Year Belva and happy rest of the year as well !

Nice to see you again, Bryan, enjoy the BFBs!

Bryan, regarding your comment about Burial Rites (not a BFB) on another thread, I think it just might be possible that I have read my best of 2015. That book is so amazingly good and her first to boot!

Glad you enjoyed it Belva !
Actually I haven't heard anyone be less than complimentary, no pressure for her next book !
Any BFB on the horizon ?

Yes Bryan. I am 1/3 of the way through a book for the Virago Group Theme Read, 2015 & when I complete that I will move on to the BFB (my 1st of the year): The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt at 784 pages. Wish me luck. :-)

Read that one last year and thought it was a solid read Belva, good luck !

Can't get onto my BFB yet, have got library books to finish, and another one has just arrived... Nnnoo !

STOP THE INSANITY BRYAN!~!

I picked up my BFB from the library today. I hope to finish the book I am reading now by the weekend or Saturday P.M. at least. (will be sitting in the gym all day for the grandson's basketball jamboree so I can read when other teams are on the court) That will leave me just over 2 1/2 weeks in which to read The Goldfinch. I hope I can read 784 pages within that time frame.

OK I have settled somewhat Belva, although I choose to hold onto a little insanity, it helps me cope !

Hope you enjoy The Goldfinch, I have one more read then onto the BFB, probably start Monday, but with the NFL finals on this weekend we'll see !
Cheers.

Ohhhhhhhh, yes........there is that........."the NFL" playoffs this weekend. And no, one doesn't read during those. It just isn't done! Love the Cowboys but love our Seahawks more as they are the hometeam.
We may be starting our BFBs at about the same time Bry. Here's looking at you.

Go the Seahawks today !
I'm only a recent follower of NFL, since I go for the Adelaide Crows in Aussie Rules football, the Ravens seem a logical choice, and going good at half time today.
Happy to have the Seahawks as my second team, good luck !
Start BFB tomorrow, cheers Belva.

I finished my previous book Friday evening and so I began my first BFB of the year late that night. 519 pages in, I am being held hostage!
Good luck with yours.

1. House of Chains, by Steven Erikson; 1015 pages.

This is the 4th novel in Erikson's 10 volume epic fantasy saga - The Malazan Books of the Fallen.

This series is a little different to others I have read in that rather than follow a character or group through adventures, each novel looks at a particular event (usually an old fashioned all out war) in the Malazan world with a host of characters, some from previous books, many new.

Although at times I am not quite sure what's happening to who, I enjoy Erikson's imagination and humour in these epic books and will be onto the next one Midnight Tides when it arrives !

Congrats Bryan on completing your first BFB of 2015 mate.

Started my 2nd BFB Giles Goat-Boy by John Barth, 710 pages and a detailed slow read.

Knew I forgot to do something...

2. Giles Goat-Boy, by John Barth; 710 pages.

John Barth has a dig at the College system in this farcical story of a boy raised by goats on a college campus who decides to see what it is like to be human and go to college.
Not as good as his The Sot-Weed Factor but still a witty story that grows on the reader.

Have begun Midnight Tides, 932 pages, the 5th book in Steven Erikson's Malazan Books of the Fallen and beginning in true Erikson speak ;
"From the twisting smoke-filled clouds, blood rained down." !

YIKES!~! Blood rained down! This must be sci-fi fantasy. right?

Yes. Belva Erikson writes epic fantasy, first sentence of the previous book House of Chains ;
"Grey, bloated and pocked, the bodies lined the silt-laden shoreline for as far as the eye could see."
There is a theme here but the books are not too blood-thirsty and there is surprising humour sprinkled throughout.

Whew! Thank goodness Bryan. ;-)
I may very well be the only one here who doesn't read sci-fi. I do read a little Y/A fantasy but I do like a light touch with it. I have read some of the classic sci-fi books and enjoyed them. I envy all of you who read & enjoy these epic sci-fi fantasies.

Belva have you read any Juliet Marillier? She writes enchanting celtic fantasy without the 'epic - war - bodycount - blood' aspects, her Daughter of the Forest is a ggod start.

3. Midnight Tides, by Steven Erikson.

Fifth volume in the series and although not that connected with the earlier books is still a great read.
Won't attempt a story recount as there is too much happening but if you might like to try epic fantasy the first Malazan Gardens of the Moon or Bakker's The Darkness That Comes Before are good places to start.

Bryan, I went over to the book page to checked out what people had to say about Daughter of the Forest and immediately put a hold on the book at my library. No present holds on it so I should get it soon. It sounds delightful. I just need to finish a borrowed book and read some library Y/A and then I will begin it. (not a BFB, but one of the series is)
I have been trying to keep my reading light and brief as I just went through losing a brother with whom I spent the last 5 weeks of his life, 24/7. So it has been difficult to concentrate. But I am coming out of the darkness and things are getting better so I think I am ready for a fairy tale.
Cheers,

Belva hope you are looking after yourself and taking the time you need.

Also hope you like Daughter of the Forest, she has written many more and is still busy writing !

Just starting The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson; 1203 pages and 6th volume in his Malazan Books of the Fallen.

And you are on your 4th BFB of the year as well? WOW!~! I am so impressed with you guys!
I am looking forward to D of the F and as there were no other holds on it I should have it within a few more library days. Thank you so much for the reck. I am hoping to love it!

One of those days where one plans to read 250 pages or so, and ends up reading 30......hmm

4. The Bonehunters, by Steven Erikson ; 1203 pages.

Sixth novel in the Malazan series, brings together a few different plots nicely, Erikson's typical epic fantasy laced with some humour.
Next one - Reaper's Gale 1260 pages, need to read a few shorter novels hanging around and then onto it.

Two more library books in, and not BFBs ??

Finally starting a BFB, The Chronicles of Narnia, the classic fantasy of C.S. Lewis, 767 pages, children's fantasy but quite entertaining so far...

And a friend has lent us a signed copy of The Pillars of the Earth so I won't be able to avoid reading it for much longer...

Managed to finish the Narnia book, now onto The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide, the five novels, at 815 pages.

Couldn't put it off forever, have begun The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

Enjoy.

No big books read for a while and more library books waiting..??
Will start the next Malazan novel Reaper's Gale at well over a 1000 pages soon...

Haven't updated my BF reads, although I have updated the 2015 tally, much more important.

5. The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis, 767 pages.

6. The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide, by Douglas Adams, 815 pages.

7. The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett, 1095 pages.

8. Reaper's Gale, by Steven Erikson, 1260 pages.

Not sure about the next one, there are 3 Malazan Books of the Fallen to go.

Have just bought the new Neal Stephenson novel Seveneves at 861 pages, but still have his Baroque Cycle trilogy and Anathem, all BFBks, to go !??

Happy reading !

Started The Skull Throne by Peter V Brett, it's taking ages ??

9. The Skull Throne, by Peter Brett ; 751 pages.

review to follow....

Finally onto the next BFB, Toll the Hounds, next in the Malazan Books of the fallen series, 1269 very busy pages, aim to finish this month....

Oh well, barely over half way by end of August, life gets in the way sometimes....

Also plan for The Moonstone 632 pages and The Count of Monte Cristo 1243 pages in September.

Have a good Big Fat Book September everyone !

Is this the first time you read The Count of Monte Cristo? It's one of my absolute favourites.

Hi MissWatson, it will be my first read of the Count, I keep hearing great things so looking forward to it..

10. Toll the Hounds, by Steven Erikson ; 1269 pages.

Took me a while and I never really got caught up in this 8th instalment of the Malazan series, although there were some memorable scenes, particularly the altercation between Kruppe and Iskaral Pust, two of the comical characters of this series.
Trust the next volume Dust of Dreams will pick things up.

11. The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins ; 631 pages.

Published in 1868 and regarded as the first detective novel, this is an intriguing and satisfying read.
Collins was a contemporary of Dickens and in true Dickensian style the detail and meanderings mean this novel is perhaps 150 pages longer than it needs to be, but this adds to the mysterious atmosphere and also means I can add this novel to the Big Fat Book Challenge !

>41 bryanoz:, >42 MissWatson:, >43 bryanoz:
I am definitely with MissWatson! The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite books from childhood and I still read it every 5 years or so, I love it so much.
I also really enjoy Collins' The Moonstone. You are flying with some good company here with these authors, Bry.
Keep up the good reads bro!

I remember you raving about the Count to me a year or so ago, these things take time ! Cheers

Finally started The Count, 300 pages in and an engaging story so far...

Need to fit some more BFBs in before the end of the year so better get reading.

12. The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas; 1243 pages.

Finally got around to reading this big classic and of course it is a rewarding adventure story.

It's funny, when you look at the page count it seems daunting, but when I read it it felt like a quick read.

Another big one completed Bryan, as Miss Watson said, it seems daunting at first but once you get going it's just another novel. Keep up the good work mate.

Finally starting the penultimate Malazan novel Dust of Dreams 1278 pages, be good to get at least 15 BFBs for the year.

13. Dust of Dreams, by Steven Erikson, 1278 pages.

9th volume of the Malazan Books of the Fallen, epic fantasy on steroids as various armies, gods, creatures, and resurrected dead soldiers war, squabble, and try to survive.
I enjoy following my favourite characters, unfortunately one of them meets a particularly nasty end..:(
The Crippled God next, am interested to see how Erikson will tie up the innumerable threads.

Stepped straight into the last Malazan book The Crippled God at 1191 pages, there is another 3 BFBs on my radar for 2015.
Have read 102 books so far this year at an average of 417 pages so I'm happy with the overall state of my reading.

Go Bryan, Go Bryan, well done mate.

Cheers John and thanks for the inspiration...as page 999 is passed in another BFB !

14. The Crippled God, by Steven Erikson; 1192 pages.

Completes the Malazan Books of the Fallen 10 volume series, and a full-on epic fantasy series it was.
It's a complicated world and I can't claim to completely understand everything that happened, but i enjoyed Erikson's imagination and many of the characters.
He has begun a 'prequel' trilogy beginning with Forge of Darkness which I will get to but there are some other fantasy books/series to visit first.

15. Inferno, by Dan Brown, 620 pages.

Not my usual type of read but a friend lent it to us and it is over 600 pages. A Dan Brown page turner in the Da Vinci Code style, fans of Dante and Venice will have already read it, an interesting twist or two.

16. Devices and Desires, by K.J. Parker, 706 pages.

First of a fantasy trilogy and a great read, not your average fantasy - no magic, dragons, or wizards - one reviewer described it as "intelligent and compassionate" and I agree.

Well I thought I had 2 more Big Books in me this year but overseas visitors who don't read and other commitments mean I will struggle to finish one more, still Evil For Evil, the 2nd in Parker's Engineer trilogy is good so far..
Cheers to John and anyone else finishing a BFB this year

Sending Christmas greetings to you mate, enjoy the cricket and no doubts you will win again.

And a belated Merry Christmas to you and family John !
The Windies are not the side they once were, and seem disinterested in the test matches so far, bring on the next Ashes !

17. Evil For Evil, by KJ Parker ; 684 pages.

2nd in Parker's Engineer trilogy and an intriguing continuation of the series.

17 BFBs for me this year, a reasonable effort.

Managed 114 books this year at average of 427 pages..

Plenty of BFBs to get into next year, Neal Stephenson's Seveneves at 867 pages, A Brief History of Seven Killings 688 pages, and A Little Life 720 pages are joining me on Christmas travels.

Happy New Reading Year !

Enjoy your reading on your travels mate, 17 BFB's is a top effort mate and 114 books in total is stupendous. I am at 51 books read at a current average of 611pages and may get to 53 for the year with 25 BFB's.

I agree that the Windies are not the side they once were and it is very sad to see, When you see a man like Sir Gary Sobers in tears about the state of Windies cricket it is a serious wake up call that needs to be heeded.

Cheers mate, hope you will set up the 2016 BFB challenge, there are still plenty out there to read !

>65 bryanoz: I will mate, I have a lot on the shelves and will not be totally abandoning the BFB's. Happy new year mate, I know you are already celebrating.