2013 Chunkster Challenge Recap

Challenge:  Chunkster Challenge
Host:  Chunkster Reading Challenge
2013 Level:  The Plump Primer (6 books) - FAILED!
Thoughts:  I managed 4 last year and this year, but 6 was just too much.
1. The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
2. The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough
3. The Thinking Woman's Guide to Magic by Emily Croy Barker
4. False Memory by Dean Koontz
5.
6.

False Memory

Title: False Memory
Author: Dean Koontz

Publisher: Touchstone
ISBN: 0-553-58022-1

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Chunkster

Thoughts: Very interesting premise, and for the most part, very engaging.  However, there were a few slow parts and it was simply too long.

Rating: 3 stars

The Darwin Elevator

The Darwin Elevator

by Jason M. Hough

published by Del Rey

July 2013

ISBN 978-0-345-53712-6

Why Read?: Net Galley, Book Club

Challenges: Aussie Authors, Chunkster, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Jason M. Hough takes an interesting spin on the sci-fi genre in The Darwin Elevator.  While firmly a dystopian novel, it also contains elements of space opera and zombie fiction, making it more accessible across genres and a truly entertaining read.

Skyler Luiken makes a decent living as a scavenger since he is immune to the animalistic disease that has affected everyone living outside of the aura of the space elevator that landed in Darwin, Australia.  No one really knows why the elevator is there or where the disease came from, but they know the Builders will be back…although only one man has an idea as to when.  Neil Platz is the richest man in Darwin, and his company leads all research into the Builders’ works.  Working for him is Tania Sharma, a brilliant researcher and daughter of his former partner.  When the elevator begins failing and the disease gets stronger, Platz hires Skyler’s crew to retriever some data cubes to aid in Tania’s research into the return of the Builders.  What they all discover is something that not even Platz could have predicted.

Hough presents some really great ideas in The Darwin Elevator.  The dystopian world he has created is raw and gritty, and the disease that turns humans into animalistic zombies is truly terrifying.  The characters are all very well-formed as we meet quite a few of the major players in Darwin – both on the ground and in space.  The one flaw was that a future date was actually given.  What made this harmful was that while research technology seemed to be realistically advanced for 250 years in the future, weaponry seems to have not aged a day, and this often would throw me out of the story.

Even though I am not the biggest fan of some of the subgenres that Jason M. Hough drew from, I really enjoyed The Darwin Elevator.  It is a fast-paced read that really pulls the reader in.  And the ending definitely left me eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Rating 4/5

2013 Chunkster Reading Challenge

Challenge:  Chunkster Challenge
Host:  Chunkster Reading Challenge
2012 Level:  The Chubby Chunkster (4 books) - COMPLETED!
2013 Level:  The Plump Primer (6 books)

1. The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
2. The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough
3. The Thinking Woman's Guide to Magic by Emily Croy Barker
4. False Memory by Dean Koontz
5.
6.

Chunkster Challenge Recap

Challenge:  Chunkster Challenge
Host:  Chunkster Reading Challenge
2012 Level:  The Chubby Chunkster (4 books) - COMPLETED!
Thoughts:  I did it this year!  It's hard, but fun trying.
Books:1. The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
2. Three Seconds by Anders Roslund & Borge Hellstrom
3. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
4. Of Time and Place by B. R. Freemont

Of Time and Place

Of Time and Place
by B. R. Freemont
published by Two Harbors
2012
ISBN 978-1-937928-72-8
Why Read?: Review
Challenges: Chunkster

B. R. Freemont takes a unique approach to storytelling in Of Time and Place, a novel firmly set in a scarily realistic future, but partly told through flashbacks - that are still in the future.

The mid-21st century has seen a global energy crisis like no one could have imagined.  Travel is severely limited with only the privileged and government able to afford electric cars.  After being in the thick of things at the Federal Energy Department, James Lendeman now finds himself living in Savannah but still working for the government - this time as a contractor.  Through flashbacks, James's life leading up to his installment in Savannah is told, but his life continues moving forward.

Freemont really takes his time telling James's story which allows the reader to truly become immersed in James's world - both his past and his present.  However, this slows the pace of the tale, making for a very long read.  Yet Freemont's writing warrants a leisurely pace as Of Time and Place is rich with intricate details not to be missed and warning of a future that is all too possible.  

Of Time and Place truly shows B. R. Freemont's strong storytelling abilities.  However, those looking for a fast-paced, action-packed sci-fi will probably prefer to pass.

Rating: 3/5

Three Seconds

Title: Three Seconds

Author: Anders Roslund & Borge Hellstrom
Publisher: Silver Oak
ISBN: 978-1-4027-8592-4
Why Read?: First Reads
Challenges:  Mystery & Suspense, Chunkster, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I could not get in to this and it took me forever to finally finish.  The last 100 pages were good and rather fast-paced, but it was just so incredibly slow getting there.  Also, I did not like any of the characters, which really distanced me from the story.  I have decided that Swedish crime fiction is just not for me.

Rating: 1 stars 

The Darkest Evening of the Year

Title: The Darkest Evening of the Year

Author: Dean Koontz
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 978-0-553-58912-2
Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges:  Mystery & Suspense, Book Blogger Recommendation, Chunkster, Dean Koontz, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: At times the suspense was so great that I didn't want to stop readings.  However, especially at the beginning, the animal scenes were so heart-wrenching, that I had to keep putting the book down.

Rating: 3 stars

Chunkster Challenge

Challenge:  Chunkster Challenge
Host:  Chunkster Reading Challenge
2011 Level: The Chubby Chunkster (4 books) - FAILED!
2012 Level:  The Chubby Chunkster (4 books)

1. The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
2. Three Seconds by Anders Roslund & Borge Hellstrom
3. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
4. Of Time and Place by B. R. Freemont

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Title: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Author: Steig Larsson
Publisher: Vintage Crime
ISBN: 978-0-307-45454-6
Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Chunkster

Thoughts: I know everyone seems to love this book, but I just found it so-so.  The first 200 pages or so were so slow, as were the last 100.  Also, I did not really care for Lisbeth.  What I did like was the mystery of Harriet's disappearance, and those parts of the book read fast and did somewhat make up for the slow parts.

Rating: 3 stars

Chunkster Challenge Recap

The Chunkster Challenge proved way harder than I thought.  The reason?  YA books didn't count.  I have read a ton of those that were over 500 pages, but so far, only 1 adult book (although I am almost finished with another).  Needless to say, I didn't come close to reaching the level of Chubby Chunkster (4 books) Here's what I did manage:

1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

2.

3.

4.

Chunkster Reading Challenge

I do have a few larger tomes to read, and while many are YA, I think I will have enough adult ones through the course of the year to play in the Chunkster Reading Challenge. I will go with the lowest level which is The Chubby Chunkster (4 books).

1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

3.

4.