Beastmomma

**Unfortunately, I did not make my goal for 2011 of this challenge.  I read up to the explorer level. Hopefully, I will have better luck next year**

I failed miserably at this challenge last year, but I am determined to do better in 2011.  I have more than enough books on my shelves to qualify for this challenge, so maybe I can look at this as a reducing my TBR pile.

From Swapna's site, here are some basics:

There are two ways for a book to qualify for the South Asian Challenge

(1) A book must be by a South Asian author.  For these purposes, South Asia includes the following countries: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives. 

2) A book must be about South Asia.  In this case, it can be set in a South Asian country or be about South Asians living abroad.  It can also be a biography or memoir of a South Asian, or of a non-South Asian traveling or working in South Asia.  In this case, the author does not need to be South Asian, as long as the subject matter focuses on the region, peoples, or cultures in some way.

Any type book qualifies, as long as it meets one of the two guidelines above - a cookbook, short story or essay collection, travel guide - I’m not picky!

What dates does the challenge run?

January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

What are the levels?

South Asian Encounter - 1 book

South Asian Wanderer - 3 books

South Asian Explorer - 5 books

South Asian Adventurer - 7 books

South Asian Hero/Heroine - 10 books

South Asian Guru - Over 10 books (you can set your own goal)

I am going to be ambitious and aim for the South Asian Explorer level. Here are the books I completed for the challenge:

1. One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. The author is South Asian. My review here.
2. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. The author is South Asian. My review is here. 
3. The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee The author is South Asian. My review is here.

**I missed the goal by ONE book. Ugh. Better luck next time, I suppose** 

I really enjoyed this challenge last year and I actually completed it, so I am excited to try again!

February 1, 2011 through January 31, 2012

Below are the details and sign ups for 2011 ... I've made a few changes which I hope you will like...ie: I've added another level of participation AND I've changed the number of books you need to read for each level.

Definition of a Chunkster:

• A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) ... A chunkster should be a challenge.
• If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more ... The average large type book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.

The Rules:

• No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks. (**Please view THIS POST FOR EXCEPTIONS to this rule)
• No e-Books allowed - we are reading traditional, fat books for this challenge (please see this post to understand the rationale behind this rule; please see this post for exceptions to this rule)
• Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.
• Books may crossover with other challenges
• Anyone may join. If you don't have a blog, just leave me a comment on this post with your progress (and to let me know you are playing)
• You don't need to list your books ahead of time.
• Once you pick a level, that's it...you're committed to that level!

You must pick a level of participation:

1. The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who wants to dabble in large tomes, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. FOUR Chunksters is all you need to finish this challenge.
2. The Plump Primer - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to SIX Chunksters over the next twelve months.
3. Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the reader who can't resist bigger and bigger books and wants to commit to SIX Chunksters from the following categories: 2 books which are between 450 - 550 pages in length; 2 books which are 551 - 750 pages in length; 2 books which are GREATER than 750 pages in length (for ideas, please refer to the book suggestions page for some books which fit into these categories).
4. Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to EIGHT or more Chunksters of which three tomes MUST be 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

I am going to commit to the Chubby Chunkster level. The books I read for the challenge are:

1. The Chess Garden or the Twilight Letters of Gustav Uyterhoeven by Brooks Hansen: 481 pages. You can find my review here.

2. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese: 688 pages. You can find my review here. 

3. The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee: 570 pages. You can find my review here. 

From goodreads:

Captain Corelli's Mandolin is set in the early days of the second world war, before Benito Mussolini invaded Greece. Dr Iannis practices medicine on the island of Cephalonia, accompanied by his daughter, Pelagia, to whom he imparts much of his healing art. Even when the Italians do invade, life isn't so bad--at first anyway. The officer in command of the Italian garrison is the cultured Captain Antonio Corelli, who responds to a Nazi greeting of "Heil Hitler" with his own "Heil Puccini", and whose most precious possession is his mandolin. It isn't long before Corelli and Pelagia are involved in a heated affair--despite her engagement to a young fisherman, Mandras, who has gone off to join Greek partisans. Love is complicated enough in wartime, even when the lovers are on the same side. And for Corelli and Pelagia, it becomes increasingly difficult to negotiate the minefield of allegiances, both personal and political, as all around them atrocities mount, former friends become enemies and the ugliness of war infects everyone it touches.

Pages:436 (paperback)

Rating:9 out of 10

Source: Library at the recommendation of a librarian

For a book that started off so slowly, I cannot believe how much I was taken with this book by the time I got to the last page.  I wish I could write something profound and insightful, but I know that my limited time will make my review have a cliche flavor. I finished the book over a month ago and while I still have a general positive experience about the book, I know that I have forgotten a lot of specifics.

By completely drawing me into the story of Pelagia, I learned so much about history, feminism, and love. One of my favorite parts of the book is the evolution of Pelagia.  Her relationship with her father instills in her a thirst for knowledge and propels her to become a doctor.  The irritation she feels with her father for being so unconventional is part of their rich relationship. 

**Spoilers ahead**

She falls in love twice and each experience is shaped by her world view.  The first time she falls in love with Mandras; her relationship is marked by youth and propelled by lust.  After they begin corresponding, she realizes that they may not be as good of a match as she originally believed.  As a person who fell in love FOR REAL late in life, I was cheering as Pelagia found Corelli.  As they get to know each other, we find Pelagia more confident in who she is and who she wants to become.  I loved the exchanges that were filled with wit and banter.  I was also struck by the steps Pelagia took to protect herself from potentially having an unplanned pregnancy.  One of my favorite quotes from the book is from a conversation Pelagia has with her father about love:

Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides.  And when it subsides, you have to make a decision.  You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.  Because this is what love is.  Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement...Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. pg 281

I love the image of entwined roots!

In addition to the personal story, I also learned more about the history of the second world war.  I did not know a lot about how Greece was involved.  As Pelagia ages and finds her way in changing society, we see how her community is evolving. 

Finally, the beautiful imagery of the island made me long to visit Greece again.  Maybe I can convince Partner to take a vacation soon.

I am counting the book for the following challenges:

• Orbis Terrarum: The author was born in London, England
• World Party Reading Challenge: The book takes place in Greece which was the party destination for December.  I am late to the party, but at least I came!
• What's in a Name Three: The book title contains the word Mandolin which fulfills the music term category.
  
• 2011 Global Reading Challenge:The book took place in Greece which is part of Europe.