I loved Leslie and the banter her and Bick have. I gave up pretty quickly on the words I didn't know and only looked them up when I though Edna made up a word completely. It was a RICH text.
I watched the movie already and it's a long one but it was nice to see those amazing actors in these roles!
STILL HAVEN’T GOTTEN A COPY! My library doesn’t have it, my wonderful independent used bookstore didn’t have it, they’ve ordered me a copy but it still hasn’t arrived, and I REFUSE to give Jeff Bezos any of my money. Help!!!
I'm with you on trying to cut Amazon spending as much as possible. Do you like used books? I ordered mine from Better World Books because I love a used copy I can write all over without feeling bad! ThriftBooks is another option.
Not ashamed to tell you guys it is sitting at the top of my TBR pile along with everything else I am not reading. Devoting my time to school, work, an internship and studying for my COMPS exam. However…you guys are motivating me! I want to get it finished before the movie. I have a little road trip and spring break coming up, so wish me luck!!
I TORE through the audiobook, and, as a sixth generation Texan, have been recommending it to all my friends and family, most of whom were aware of the movie but didn’t know it was first a book. Very excited to watch & discuss with you all!
I’m a little over half done. Her vocabulary is wild and makes me miss my English major days!! Lots of dictionary side quests for sure. I also really enjoy Bick and Leslie’s relationship. They’re flawed and deeply in love. And while they would like the other to change certain things, they also try to understand each other when the change won’t or can’t happen.
It is a LOT! But I loved the family dynamics and how Leslie just kept on making changes, little by little…not all at once and she was a strong woman to stand up to Jordan/Bick. I really loved it
I'm about 40% through and I'm loving the writing style. I definitely have mixed feelings about several characters and will be interested to see how they move through the rest of the story.
I started it three days ago and just this minute finished Chapter 14. I might as well just dedicate myself to reading the rest straight through tonight cause when I’m not reading it, I’m thinking about it and can’t get anything done. I absolutely love it!! I have read two books by Ferber in the past (So Big and Showboat) and I knew I’d love the writing style but these characters and settings are phenomenal!
I’m surprised at how much I’m loving it! I’m listening to the audio because it was available on Hoopla, and I love the voice acting! As a Texan, I wish I could say the Texas pride was overblown. But I don’t think it is. 😄 I lived in Illinois for 5 years for graduate school, and I remember being home one Christmas break and crying driving down I-35 to meet a friend because I missed that sense of bigness. 🙄
I also laughed so hard at Leslie asking if the wind blew like that all the time. I live in west Texas, and the wind is THE WORST.
Did the movie watch party happen? What did everyone think of it? I don’t know if I “see” Elizabeth Taylor as Leslie so I’m curious to watch at some point. Not because I don’t LOVE ET’s performances, just in my mind Leslie looks physically different. Curious to read others thoughts.
I am liking the book and the opportunity to read it as I never would have picked it up on my own.
I am also loving the book and not sure if I would've come across it on my own.
I haven't finished the movie yet but I think I know exactly what you mean about Elizabeth Taylor. I imagined Leslie as more awkward. In the very beginning of the movie (I haven't made it very far yet), the ET version of Leslie doesn't feel quite self-possessed enough.
I was wondering about the watch party, too! I tried to sign on for it on Sunday and never could. Zoom said the "meeting" was scheduled for this coming Sunday, 3/22. I don't know if it was technical difficulties on my end or something else. But if the watch party is actually this Sunday 3/22, I'll definitely join!
I’m about halfway through and loving it! I’m short on time with small kids and just naturally being a slower reader, so I’ve been toggling between the audio book and the hard copy. The narration is fantastic. The way she read Bick saying to Leslie on the train, “You know, sometimes I think you’re ten years old and not real bright.” (p. 103) had me rolling. Having spent almost no time in Texas myself, I’m completely in awe of the vivid imagery Ferber is able to paint with words, especially describing Leslie’s first days on the ranch. Wow.
I have not even started and I have no shame but I am looking forward to reading the book and watching the movie for the hundredth time.
Fun story about the character of Leslie. I loved Elizabeth Taylor's character so much in the movie that "Leslie" was on my short list for girl names until I married my husband who has an ex-wife (and mother of his oldest son) named Leslie and that would have been awkward. We're friendly but we're not that friendly, lol.
I read it pretty quickly and can’t stop thinking about it! I had never heard of it before, I also learned that the movie was one of my grandma’s favorites.
I feel a bit silly commenting here, but I thought the Giant watchalong was today, and I've been trying to sign in to the Zoom, but it says the "meeting" is scheduled for March 22nd, and nothing happens. Have others had trouble signing in, or is it indeed next Sunday and I made a mistake?
I would never have picked up Giant on my own without your recommendation, Sarah, but I am really enjoying it! I think it is a great selection for helping us understand American history and culture during our 250th year celebration. Thank you!
I loved Leslie and the banter her and Bick have. I gave up pretty quickly on the words I didn't know and only looked them up when I though Edna made up a word completely. It was a RICH text.
I watched the movie already and it's a long one but it was nice to see those amazing actors in these roles!
Yep! Leslie is the person keeping it all hanging together for me.
STILL HAVEN’T GOTTEN A COPY! My library doesn’t have it, my wonderful independent used bookstore didn’t have it, they’ve ordered me a copy but it still hasn’t arrived, and I REFUSE to give Jeff Bezos any of my money. Help!!!
Someone else had suggested bookshop.org and I love them because they support independent booksellers and you have access to a wide network. I moved from Audible to Libro and I cannot recommend the audiobook enough. Libro is the audiobook version of Bookshop.org - support goes to independent booksellers! Here's a link to the audiobook through Libro. https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780062884862-giant?srsltid=AfmBOor_XXANnSLJQDQpb-bVmtXRKF46xYxA_iGCQvZf58eT7Sf0GKkf
I listened to the audio on Libro and it was fantastic!
I'm with you on trying to cut Amazon spending as much as possible. Do you like used books? I ordered mine from Better World Books because I love a used copy I can write all over without feeling bad! ThriftBooks is another option.
Yep I get all my books on eBay now!
It moves pretty fast, so hopefully once you track a copy down somewhere, you should be able to catch up pretty quickly.
Have you ever ordered from bookshop.org? I’m not sure if they would have it any faster but I’ve been buying books there instead of Amazon when I can.
I’m going to reach out to my bookstore today to see if there’s an update on my order. If there’s no progress, I’ll try this. Tks!
Would an audio book help? Or e-book? I’ve been able to borrow e-books faster from my library than the physical copies.
I got mine at Better World Books. I couldn’t find it at my library.
Not ashamed to tell you guys it is sitting at the top of my TBR pile along with everything else I am not reading. Devoting my time to school, work, an internship and studying for my COMPS exam. However…you guys are motivating me! I want to get it finished before the movie. I have a little road trip and spring break coming up, so wish me luck!!
I TORE through the audiobook, and, as a sixth generation Texan, have been recommending it to all my friends and family, most of whom were aware of the movie but didn’t know it was first a book. Very excited to watch & discuss with you all!
I’m a little over half done. Her vocabulary is wild and makes me miss my English major days!! Lots of dictionary side quests for sure. I also really enjoy Bick and Leslie’s relationship. They’re flawed and deeply in love. And while they would like the other to change certain things, they also try to understand each other when the change won’t or can’t happen.
I completely agree! I'm about 36% of the way through and am fully invested in watching their relationship grow.
It is a LOT! But I loved the family dynamics and how Leslie just kept on making changes, little by little…not all at once and she was a strong woman to stand up to Jordan/Bick. I really loved it
I'm about 40% through and I'm loving the writing style. I definitely have mixed feelings about several characters and will be interested to see how they move through the rest of the story.
I started it three days ago and just this minute finished Chapter 14. I might as well just dedicate myself to reading the rest straight through tonight cause when I’m not reading it, I’m thinking about it and can’t get anything done. I absolutely love it!! I have read two books by Ferber in the past (So Big and Showboat) and I knew I’d love the writing style but these characters and settings are phenomenal!
I’m surprised at how much I’m loving it! I’m listening to the audio because it was available on Hoopla, and I love the voice acting! As a Texan, I wish I could say the Texas pride was overblown. But I don’t think it is. 😄 I lived in Illinois for 5 years for graduate school, and I remember being home one Christmas break and crying driving down I-35 to meet a friend because I missed that sense of bigness. 🙄
I also laughed so hard at Leslie asking if the wind blew like that all the time. I live in west Texas, and the wind is THE WORST.
Isn't the voice acting incredible!? I'm obsessed with the audiobook, but bought a physical copy to mark pages and passages.
Did the movie watch party happen? What did everyone think of it? I don’t know if I “see” Elizabeth Taylor as Leslie so I’m curious to watch at some point. Not because I don’t LOVE ET’s performances, just in my mind Leslie looks physically different. Curious to read others thoughts.
I am liking the book and the opportunity to read it as I never would have picked it up on my own.
I am also loving the book and not sure if I would've come across it on my own.
I haven't finished the movie yet but I think I know exactly what you mean about Elizabeth Taylor. I imagined Leslie as more awkward. In the very beginning of the movie (I haven't made it very far yet), the ET version of Leslie doesn't feel quite self-possessed enough.
I was wondering about the watch party, too! I tried to sign on for it on Sunday and never could. Zoom said the "meeting" was scheduled for this coming Sunday, 3/22. I don't know if it was technical difficulties on my end or something else. But if the watch party is actually this Sunday 3/22, I'll definitely join!
I’m about halfway through and loving it! I’m short on time with small kids and just naturally being a slower reader, so I’ve been toggling between the audio book and the hard copy. The narration is fantastic. The way she read Bick saying to Leslie on the train, “You know, sometimes I think you’re ten years old and not real bright.” (p. 103) had me rolling. Having spent almost no time in Texas myself, I’m completely in awe of the vivid imagery Ferber is able to paint with words, especially describing Leslie’s first days on the ranch. Wow.
I have not even started and I have no shame but I am looking forward to reading the book and watching the movie for the hundredth time.
Fun story about the character of Leslie. I loved Elizabeth Taylor's character so much in the movie that "Leslie" was on my short list for girl names until I married my husband who has an ex-wife (and mother of his oldest son) named Leslie and that would have been awkward. We're friendly but we're not that friendly, lol.
I read it pretty quickly and can’t stop thinking about it! I had never heard of it before, I also learned that the movie was one of my grandma’s favorites.
I feel a bit silly commenting here, but I thought the Giant watchalong was today, and I've been trying to sign in to the Zoom, but it says the "meeting" is scheduled for March 22nd, and nothing happens. Have others had trouble signing in, or is it indeed next Sunday and I made a mistake?
I would never have picked up Giant on my own without your recommendation, Sarah, but I am really enjoying it! I think it is a great selection for helping us understand American history and culture during our 250th year celebration. Thank you!