When I was growing up, there was nothing I loved more than an extra-long book. In fact, I felt a good book couldn’t be long enough. After all, if a book was so good, why would I want it to end?
I don’t recall ever being intimidated by the page counts of the tomes I devoured in high school. In fact, when I was seventeen my English teacher assigned an essay on the topic, “What does everyone hate but you?” My answer: long books.
But somewhere along the way, things changed. Eventually I started not only shying away from doorstop novels but actively avoiding them in favor of shorter reads. The issue was opportunity cost: I could read five full-length novels in the time it would take me to read just one extra-long book. It became far easier to say I would read an extra-long book someday… but then someday never comes.
Lately I’ve been trying to change that. I hate to see any reader miss out on great titles because they categorically refuse to consider them, and I was in danger of becoming that reader, because I was so persistently dodging long books! Last summer I finally read The Count of Monte Cristo after putting it off for ages because of that 1300 page count. While I wouldn’t count it among my lifetime favorite reads, I’m glad I read it—and the reading experience has softened me towards other doorstop novels.
Lately I’ve been reading A LOT of hefty books: you’ll see two in my most recent edition of Quick Lit, I’m in the middle of Wolf Hall on audio, I’m debating The Whalebone Theater (tell me if it’s worth it in comments?).
I’m not the only one who hesitates to pick up long reads. Sometimes it helps to be reminded that these books are worth the time so I decided to put together a new collection of books that are more than 500 pages, including a few that are on my TBR. If you’re more of an audiobook listener, check out 20 extra-long audiobooks so you can get the most out of those credits.
I hope you enjoy this collection, and that you’ll share your own favorite long reads in comments!
Extra-long books that are worth your time
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Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
You may be familiar with Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela’s name but how much do you know about his life? His autobiography covers his upbringing and his fight against racial oppression in South Africa, from his time as the head of the anti-apartheid movement to his twenty-seven years in prison. Mandela did amazing things in his quest for freedom and as the eventual president of South Africa but he also readily admits his missteps and the way his activism negatively impacted his family and relationships. An inspiring and insightful account. 656 pages. More info →
Ducks, Newburyport
Shortlisted for the 2019 Booker Prize, this innovative novel, focused on an Ohio housewife and mother of four children, is one single long sentence. Yes, really! If you're wondering how that works: it’s written in a stream of consciousness style and indicates pauses with the phrase “the fact that.” We’re taken deep into this woman's worries about her family and the world at large as she spends her days baking pies for restaurants and watching old movies. The thoughts of this ordinary woman—who might otherwise be overlooked—range from the profound to the mundane, with meditations on everything from motherhood to politics to the significance of our memories. It’s an ambitious book that won’t work for everyone but most readers seem to have found value in the undertaking. I haven't read it yet myself because—1020 pages! More info →
A Promised Land
President Obama’s hefty fourth book—and the first of his presidential memoirs—covers his first term in the White House. He details the journey to the night he was elected the first Black president of the United States, the early days of setting up his cabinet, and the many situations he had to navigate in the Oval Office, including the killing of Osama bin Laden. He gives insight into his decision-making and where he felt he could have done better, making for a compelling, engaging read. I’ve heard the audiobook, narrated by the president, is excellent. 768 pages. More info →
The Brothers K
This one spent years on my TBR list, because so many friends with great taste called it THE best book they ever read. It took me a while to get through but I was glad once I finally read it. I don't remember what my expectations were about this book, but whatever they were, they were wrong. Duncan combines the Vietnam War, bush league baseball, Seventh Day Adventism, and family ties into an incredible, heart-wrenching story. The book is truly remarkable for the times when it reveals the deep joy present in a family's lowest moments. Due to some tough themes and a ton of language, this isn't for the faint of heart. 645 pages. More info →
Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver is back with a retelling of David Copperfield; no familiarity with the original required but if you have read it, you’ll appreciate her updates. Damon Fields, known as Demon Copperhead for his red hair, grows up impoverished in the southern Appalachian mountains in Virginia. We first meet him at age 11 and then follow along as his mother becomes addicted to opioids, he goes through the foster care system, and later wrestles with substance abuse himself. Just as David Copperfield was an impassioned work of social activism, this examines the ravages in southwestern Virginia and how the people Demon loves and identifies with are oppressed by those who have power. I found this big book to be worth every page. 560 pages. More info →
The Overstory
This sprawling saga is the kind of book they write about in Outside Magazine (and I've gotten some great book recs from Outside); it's also a Pulitzer Prize winner. In the early chapters, Powers explores the lives of nine different people in a series of stories, which share one common thread: they all involve dramatic experiences with trees. It's a slow build, but eventually the stories come together. This intricately crafted novel, which ultimately explores the connection between humans and nature, and the responsibility of one to the author, requires a patient reader. 512 pages. More info →
The Winners
The long awaited return of Backman’s beloved Beartown series is over! How does a town recover from tragedy or deal with corruption? When do they “protect their own” and what are the consequences of those actions? Two years have passed and everyone has tried to move on in their own way but nothing has worked out the way they hoped. And more change is ahead. Backman writes with great empathy and understanding of the human condition. You won't be able to turn the pages fast enough, even as this puts you through the wringer. Content warnings apply. 688 pages. More info →
The Huntress
Inspired by a true story she stumbled upon in the historical archives (which would totally spoil the big reveal—you’re going to have to read the author’s note to learn all!), Quinn weaves together three perspectives to tell a gripping story: Jordan is a Boston teenager who works in her father’s Boston antiques store, Ian is a British journalist determined to bring his brother’s killer— known as “the Huntress”—to justice, and Nina is a Russian fighter pilot and the only woman alive who can identify the Huntress. There’s no weak link in the story; each thread is fascinating—and when they began to come together I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. A mesmerizing tale of war crimes, coming of age, love and fidelity, and the pursuit of justice, with stirring implications for today. Note: the audio version is fantastic. 576 pages. More info →
Fingersmith
This is on my TBR, and comes highly recommended by MMD editor Leigh Kramer. She inhaled the last 400 pages of this Dickensian literary mystery and had to know what would happen next. The relationship between gentry and servant can be fraught—and even more so when one is running a con on the other. Maud and Susan are complex characters that beg a reaction (and a book club discussion), particularly when they do disagreeable things. With striking twists and turns, their relationship runs the full gamut of emotions, particularly because literary fiction is not known for giving queer characters a Happily Ever After. 592 pages. More info →
The Eighth Life
This was the Georgian novel that I didn't know my life was missing, and one of my favorite books of 2021. This family saga spans one hundred years, beginning in Tbilisi, Georgia in the years just before the 1917 revolution, and carrying almost to the present day, unfolding the story of each new generation. I couldn't wait to find out where the story would carry each character. The family possesses a magical chocolate recipe that they mix up at opportune moments, but whether it's a blessing or a curse remains to be seen. This book is a commitment but I'm so glad I read it. The ending is amazing. If you're considering picking it up, please know broad content warnings apply; if you're a sensitive reader, please do your due diligence before diving in. 944 pages, or, in my case, 41 hours on audio, as narrated by Tavia Gilbert. More info →
Greenwood
A family and its forest sit at the center of this elegantly structured novel, in which the author compares the exposition of the story to examining the rings of an old tree as the plot takes us from 2038 to 1934 and back again. It has much to recommend, with its British Columbia setting, interesting narrative structure, complicated family relationships, and a stunning narrative thread about a library. I found this eminently quotable, jotting down many great lines in my reading journal. ("People never make sense. You just learned that?") Many readers love this; it even won best novel at the 2020 Arthur Ellis Awards. I wanted to be one of them, but in practice I found it hard to follow. 528 pages. More info →
Fellowship Point
This sprawling saga and 2022 MMD Summer Reading Guide selection featuring two octogenarian protagonists reads like a 19th century novel. Agnes Lee and Polly Wister have been friends their whole lives, growing up alongside each other in Philadelphia Quaker families and summering together in Maine. Agnes is beloved by the world as a bestselling children’s author, but not a living soul—including Polly—knows she also pens the popular and critically praised Franklin Square series. Polly knows Agnes sees her as a pushover, especially when it comes to her family, but Polly never lets on she’s wiser than her friend gives her credit for. When an enterprising (and nosy) young editor begins pestering Agnes to write a memoir, she sets in motion a chain of events that tests the women’s lifelong friendship, and threatens to expose the long-buried secrets each has so carefully kept from the other. 592 pages. More info →
A Brief History of Seven Killings: A Novel
The real life assassination attempt on Bob Marley in 1976 is the springboard for this fictional examination of Jamaica from the dangerous, unstable 1970s to the 1990s. Boasting a large cast of characters, including assassins and ghosts, this is a gritty, twisting epic that uncovers corruption and conspiracies, while unveiling a deeper understanding of a complicated country. James does not go easy on his readers but trusts them to come along for the ride on this inventive, brutal tale. Content warnings apply. 704 pages. More info →
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Mr. Norrell, a recluse with an extensive library, agrees to use his magical efforts to help the British fight against Napoleon Bonaparte. When Jonathan Strange, an ambitious magician, arrives on the scene, Mr. Norrell eagerly agrees to teach him the ways of English magic. While Norrell is stuffy and rigid, Strange is wild and eager. Circumstances grow more and more dangerous as they uncover lost magic. If BBC miniseries are your cup of tea, then this vividly detailed novel might be for you. Fun/embarrassing fact: my brother loaned me this giant book years ago and I still haven’t read it (because I keep meaning to!). Talk me into it? 1006 pages. More info →
How do YOU feel about long books? What’s the longest book you’ve ever read? Please share in the comments!
P.S. 20 extra-long and totally readable books, and 20 extra-long audiobooks so you can get the most out of those credits. And tell us: How do you feel about long books?
200 comments
Usually, I am hesitant to pick up longer books because I worry that it’s going to mess with my goal of reading a certain number of books per month. I know this is ridiculous because I’m the only one who cares about my own reading goals. It’s silly to limit myself to shorter reads because I would much rather read one long beautifully written book than multiple forgettable books. Some of my very favorite books have been “doorstops”. “A Prayer for Owen Meaney” and “Lonesome Dove” are two of my favorite reads of all time. This year, my favorite books are “Demon Copperhead” and “Fellowship Point”. Thank you so much, Anne, for nudging me out of my comfort zone to tackle books that I might have not attempted because of their length. My goal for 2023 will be quality over quantity 🤞 📚 ❤️
I’ve been wanting to get back to Owen Meany and you have just supplied the impetus for me! Looking at Wolf Hall and Outlander, too.
Wolf Hall was fabulous. I listened to the audio version narrated by Simon Slater.
I need to get back into the following books!
I am almost done with the third book in The Outlander series. This book is nearly 900 pages long and the next one is over a thousand pages. I cannot even begin to convey how wonderful the many interwoven stories in these books are. I have not watched any of the TV series.
Owen Meany is fantastic and completely worth the read!!
I’m glad to see two autobiographies in your list. I love long biographies as they fill in the gaps of history that my classes or sometimes the nightly news only touched the surface of. A good biography gives you an idea of what in a person’s personal and broader history led them to act as they did. Plus you can put it down to read something else and if you have forgotten who someone is there is usually an index!
One of my favorite big biographies is Charles Darwin: Voyaging by Janet Browne. My reading of Catherine the Great: portrait of a woman by Robert K Massie overlapped with the invasion of Ukraine so gave me some deep history. I’m currently reading Frederick Douglass: prophet of freedom by David W. Blight. It is another fascinating doorstop.
When I was in high school I always picked the longer books so I couldn’t get the page requirement for English class out of the way with one book. Lol. I found some of my favorites that way though. Gone With The Wind and Exodus were favorites in high school. As an adult I’ve read almost every Leon Uris book and each one of them captivated me. Another quick read I loved was 11/23/63,I’m not a Stephen King fan usually but this one was fabulous. I have Demon Copperhead on my TBR list. Might have to pick that up next.
I just finished listening to 11.23.63 and thought it was fabulous. The narrator, Craig Watson was amazing! Demon Copperhead is truly one of her best.
Could not put down Ducks Newburyport
Really loved Ducks Newburyport.
Yes! thanks you for stating this and confirming that it’s ok to not have quantity be the driver for my TBR list!
Owen Meany is my all time fave
Owen Meany is one of my favorites of all times. Finish it, the ending is “the thing.” All the books noted are exceptional. Don’t deny yourself the opportunity. I’m in the middle of Demon Copperhead now, and thrilled.
Lonesome Dove was recommended to me many times…and I resisted because I just didn’t want to read a “western”. Then, on vacation one year, it was the only book left and I HAD to. I absolutely loved it! I was hooked by the end of the first chapter! And now I recommend it to people who have the same reservations I did. And, yes, let’s talk about A Prayer for Owen Meany–a lifetime personal favourite. My husband and I read it aloud to our kids when they were in high school (we started reading chapter books to them when they were small and we still all like to read to one another) and Owen Meany remains a family favourite as well. It’s worth it…these books may be doorstoppers, but you won’t want them to end!
Me Too! On the not interested in Westerns. Read years ago but It is still on my Best Books Ever Read. The story so intriguing. Especially remember the relationships between men & women. Now I know the real use of a bandanna!
Have not read ‘Owen Meany’.
I also loved Lonesome Dove. I have A Prayer for Owen Meany on my Kindle bookshelf – it has been there for many years. I need to read it for sure after hearing these raving reviews.
I stopped setting reading goals/#books for myself for that reason. Silly, right? But, I wouldn’t read a long book for that reason!! I look forward to Demon Copperhead and have read and loved the other 3 you mentioned.
Both are on my all time favorites list, too! And I am definitely going to tackle Demon Copperhead and Fellowship point soon, as well. I love finding readers after my own heart.
Yes! ‘Lonesome Dove’ and ‘Owen Meany’ are two of my all-time faves— both gave me terrible book hangovers. I wanted to just live in then and I mourned the fact that they ended. ❤️
I do not shy away from long books. However, I could not get into Whalebone Theater. Disappointing, and it was a DNF.
Same! I had high hopes but found it incredibly boring.
I love long books. I hesitate to read short books and rarely read short stories. My theory is that if you grew up reading in the 70s and 80s, you are inclined to like a doorstop because all the books of that time were at least 500 pages (Lace, The Thornbirds, John Jakes sagas, The Shell Seekers, etc.)
This summer, I read The Eighth Life and Fellowship Point. Both are well worth the read. Demon Copperhead and The Winners are on my nightstand while I read Babel. All on the longer side. Bring them on!
You are so right on! As a teen I never hesitated to pick up Lace, Any Judith Kranz, Stephen King’s The Stand, Clan of the Cave Bear and Light a Penny Candle and so many others. And like Anne, some of my most memorable/favorite reading experiences were being immersed in tomes like Gone with the Wind, Anna Karenina and one that I feel never gets enough glory, Herman Wouk’s Winds of War and War and Remembrance – each of which clocked in at around 1,000 pages.
Great observation Karen. I loved The Thornbirds, The Mists of Avalon, The Winds of War and War and Remembrance
Michelle, I too loved Herman Wouk’s Winds of War and War and Remembrance (although I’ve tried three other novels of his without success). It’s nice to encounter the titles in this comments section.
I just decided last night to put down Whalebone Theatre. I like it but not loving it. I am not sure what I am missing. I keep reading thinking this next chapter…maybe that will be it! I am not a multiple book reading person but I have to start now. I will pick up another book and maybe try a chapter or 2 from Whalebone until I finish. I really wanted to love it.
I have too many books recommended from your Podcast I want to read!
Our Mutual Friend. It is my favorite Dickens novel, with hilarious characters, mistaken identity, and a lovely resolution at the end. I have read it several times and will read it again.
My longest book: A Little Life. Intense wonderful read.
also loved this one!
So, so amazing! I loved this one also and felt sad when that world ended for me when I finished.
This is truly my favorite book.
Jonathon Strange & Mr. Norrel is a great read. My all time favorite long read is Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude.
My longest book, like so many others, was War and Peace. I am not sure I would tackle that one again. I am however re-reading Roots and it is even better the second time around. I would also include Lonesome Dove. There is a wonderful audio version but is THAT one ever a commitment!
I read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell when it first came out and loved it! Thanks for recommending a long, “Maine” novel — we vacation there semi-regularly, and I’m obsessed with living there one day. I adore long novels, but I have avoided them since becoming a mom 7 years ago because I don’t have the luxury of reading in long stretches anymore — and long novels deserve committed chunks of time.
You turned me onto Kate Quinn years ago and I loved The Huntress. I especially enjoyed that although it’s not about Russia/Ukraine there’s a bit about the historical context of what’s going on today.
I always find Rosamunde Pilcher’s books worth the time investment even though they are definitely long!
Have you read The Diamond Eye yet? The main character in that is Ukrainian–although, being the 1940s, that’s not how she’d have described herself! Another great one from Kate Quinn.
Ann turned me on to Kate Quinn as well. Every single on is fantastic!!!
I love long books but I was very disappointed in The Whalebone Theater. I didn’t like the characters and I didn’t find it believable.
I am really looking forward to Demon Copperhead.
I was super excited for The Winners but 200 pages in , I’m struggling. His writing is beautiful and I loved the first two in the series. But this one just seems so negative so far. I will persist as I almost put down Beartown. But I do think I will take breaks and mix in lighter reads.
Keep reading. You will get to the halfway point and then you will fly through the rest of it. The same thing happened with me.
I feel you. I was also excited ahead of time but struggled all the way through it. It was definitely unnecessarily long and I came away wishing that he had never written a third book.
I have read Fellowship Point, The Huntress, The Overstory which I think needed some serious editing and The Winners. Fredrick Backman writes his characters with such genius giving us the good and the bad.I adored his Beartown series reminding me of many of the 80’s sagas. I have also read Follett’s times. A Little Life is one that completely wrecked me emotionally . I know that such evil exists but reading about it was just more than I could handle. She is a gifted writer but I will never read her again.
Oops autocorrect should be tomes
One needs to remember that “long” is a relative term. I’ve always been a fast reader, so a larger page count doesn’t make me shy away. A great quote from one of the Outlander books, Voyager, comes to mind (paraphrased here): Some stories take longer to tell than others.
Well said ! I actually adore long books and could care less “how many” books I read. Quality vs. quantity… Often I find “shorter books” are forgettable, whereas the longer ones stay in your heart forever.
Surrendering my ‘I will read X amount of books per year” goal was key to reading big books. I love big books, and I was regularly shying away from them to hit my goal. Switching to a daily reading time goal solved the problem. Now, as long as I’m reading things I enjoy at a steady clip, I’m not as concerned with how many books I finish. Every now and then, I will purposefully chose a short book if I feel I’m losing momentum, getting bogged down or feeling discouraged, but otherwise, I let content vs page count guide my choices.
I read The Count of Monte Cristo a couple of years ago. Parts I really loved and parts dragged for me, but I’m glad I read it. I recently listened to A Promised Land. I was hesitant to dig in because of the length (29 hours!), but I enjoyed my commute for an entire month! Obama is an excellent narrator!
Surrendering my ‘I will read X amount of books per year” goal was key to reading big books. I love big books, but I was regularly shying away from them to hit my goal. Switching to a daily reading time goal solved the problem. Now, as long as I’m reading things I enjoy at a steady clip, I’m not as concerned with how many books I finish. Occasionally, I will purposefully choose a short book if I feel I’m losing momentum, getting bogged down or feeling discouraged, but otherwise, I let content vs page count guide my choices.
I have decided to reread an old favorite, Crosstalk by Connie Willis, 498 pages in the hardcover edition.
Connie Willis is my favorite long book author! Blackout and All Clear we’re published as two books, but she intended them to be one – no one wants to carry around a 1500+ page book! I loved Crosstalk too – I need to reread it!
I love her Blackout and All Clear too!
I love everything Connie Willis writes. I especially love To Say Nothing of the Dog and Bellweather (which is great on audio). I understand she is writing another Oxford time travel book and The Road to Roswell is due out soon.
The comments section reminded me of long books I’ve adored: A Prayer for Owen Meany, A Little Life, and Roots (the audio is fantastic on that one!) are among my all time favourites for sure. But I do shy away from longer reads. I guess I’m just afraid of getting bogged down. The only one on your list I’ve read, Anne, is Greenwood and, like you, I didn’t love it. There are several on your list I’ve wanted to read and some new ones to add. Maybe I will make More Long Books part of my 2023 reading goals!
I know that it is difficult to keep up with new novels and read longer novels as well but it is worth the effort. I loved all three of Hilary Mantel’s books about Thomas Cromwell – I can’t believe she’s died!
I read Anna Karanina when i was in my teens and want to reread it soon. I have just read two Thomas Hardy novels and I’m also reading Wives and Daughters by Gaskell. At the start of October I read Palmares by Gayl Jones and it was a long and absorbing read and i learnt quite a bit on the way!
I prefer a long read to disappear into.
@Sara – I just finished and LOVED Wives and Daughters. What a masterpiece.
I originally came here to say Anna -I loved it too. I decided to read it as a “project” one summer, and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it!
Thank you for your suggestions. Love a good, long, read.
Put down Overstory, it was too much for me. Depressing.
Fellowship Point needed an editor and left out some character development.
I have mixed feelings about long books… I like them when there is a lot happening in the story but sometime struggle to maintain interest with the slower paced, more reflective books. I’m about 80% complete with Fellowship Point, and although I like the two main characters, I am honestly bored with it right now and debating on whether or not to actually finish it. Does anyone else feel this way? I just got Winners from my library and am looking forward to diving into this one.
I think Fellowship Point sticks the landing. I think you’ll be glad you finished it. I was recently ambivalent about finishing The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz, and the last 1/4 redeemed the whole book for me.
Thanks for the encouragement! I loved the ending of The Latecomer too; the restoration and redemption between the siblings was a welcome change after the first 3/4 of the book!
The longest and most favorite book I have read: ….And Ladies of the Club (1500 pages). I felt like I was sitting on a park bench in the town in which the story took place, watching the characters enact the story. It was wonderful!
That was so, so good.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE The Brother’s K. It is one of the few books I’ve reread, and is probably in my all time favorites list. It isn’t a book I see very much on book lists (or that many people know about) so I’m really glad to see it here. 🙂
I have about 100 pages left of the Whalebone Theatre. I really wanted to love it, but it’s just okay. It gets better as time moves on, but it’s still just okay.
The Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead! First book I have read by this author and can’t wait to read her backlist
I’m currently reading A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth that clocks in at almost 1500 pages and listening to The Palace Papers (18 hours) I am going to follow up with some shorter books when I’m done. I usually have a shorter book in the go at the same time because carting around the ‘tome’ isn’t practical and one can’t leave the house without a book 🙂
I loved A Suitable Boy! It took me about a year to read it (it was a busy time of my life) but I always think of it fondly any time long books are mentioned.
I was scrolling through wondering how it’s possible that no one has mentioned A Suitable Boy yet, and then found these comments! Such a good read. Sticking with India, I also loved Shantaram.
Besides those, the entire Beartown series, The Bonfire of the Vanities, The Secret Keeper and Lonesome Dove round out my top long novels.
On the nonfiction side, Live from New York: An Uncensored History of SNL (2014 version) was fascinating and way more unputdownable than I anticipated.
Lonesome Dove is incredible! I’m surprised no one has mentioned Ken Follett’s “The Pillars of the Earth”. Wonderful read, did not want it to end. Just reread the Shell Seekers, which I rarely do and loved it all over again.
Just finished the Rose Code by Kate Quinn, it’s probably not in the category, but “The Huntress” was mentioned so I had to recommend it! Can’t wait to read the Huntress! I loved “the Women of Chateau Lafayette” by Stephanie Dray and “Eternal”by Lisa Scottoline. Both of these later books well researched and both stories are riveting and powerful. I also loved Mark Sullivan’s “Beneath the Scarlet Sky” and “The Last Green Valley”. Thanks for all the wonderful recommendations. I love reading the comments and finding great books by your recommendations!
I totally agree with Lonesome Dove & Pillars of the Earth! I too enjoyed Beneath The Scarlett Sky.
I forgot to mention Fredrick Bachman, love all his books! My Grandmother Asked Me to say she is Sorry is probably my favorite! Loved Beartown and anxious to read “Winners”!
Bachman is one of my all-time favorites as well. I listened to the audio version of And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer while cleaning debris out of pastures after hurricane Florence. Half way through I was crying so hard the horses came over to see what was wrong with me. Had to stay out there until I could compose myself enough to get to the truck and leave before anyone could see the state I was in. A very compelling book.
I loved The Pillars of the Earth too, and I also just finished The Rose Code and recommended it to all my friends. Now that I see The Huntress here, I will pick it up very soon. Thank you for all of the other recommendations – they are going on my list! (I have Beneath the Scarlet Sky on my bookshelf and have not gotten myself to read it, but now I will based on your recommendation, because I can see that we like the same kinds of books. Exciting!)
I love recommending books! Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini
Once upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye
The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
Ashes in the Snow by Ruta Sepetys
One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker
The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker
Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon
All Kristin Hannah books!
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
The Lincoln Highway by Amore Towles
Oil and Marble by Stephanie Storey
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray
Follow the River by James Alexander Thom
Before We were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Would love to hear your recommendations!!
I recall struggling through A Prayer for Owen Meany, and then at the end, realizing I really liked the book. I also read Les Miserables, just to prove to myself I could (it was worth it). I found Gone With the Wind a bit tedious to read, but I’m glad I read it. The Count of Monte Cristo was one of my favorite reads! So yeah, I like long books! Your posts are such a great resource; I keep adding more books to my list!
The key for me is short chapters. I’ll also do a chunkster for me bedtime read – as long as it’s not a library book, I feel less pressure to finish it in a timely manner. I tackled the Art of Fielding in print this year, but broke it up with a couple of quick romcoms. I’m about to start Middlemarch on audio – it might be my last listen of the year.
I read Barack Obama’s book which was self-serving, as most political postmortems are, but very good and interesting. The most recent 500+ books I’ve read are Churnow’s Alexander Hamilton that I read right before seeing the musical it’s based on (which greatly enhanced that experience) and Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals about Abraham Lincoln. Both were fantastic and this post is a reminder how enjoyable long books are. Alas, about 10 years ago I tried to make it through Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables because I so love the musical, but I put it down about half-way through, which as I recall was already 500-ish pages! I need to try again.
Have you read Stephanie Dray’s “My Dear Hamilton”? It is wonderful!!
I hesitate to read long books, because there are so many books I want to read. I know this is inherently ridiculous as quality is always better than quantity. But the feeling persists. So, in September I tried this: “The Ink Black Heart” one chapter per day. Steady enough that I keep track of the story and charactersbut I can still read other books. I just hit the halfway mark! It will take me to yearend, and that’s okay. This is a good strategy for meand I already am thinking of the long books for next year. Hilary Mantel’s “The Mirror and the Light” is at the top of the list.
Good idea, Susan! Thanks for sharing!
How is the Ink Black Heart? I adore adore adore the narrator and Strike and Robin, but the book had pretty negative reviews. Is it worth the time?
I’m currently reading The Ink Black Heart Book and just checked and it’s 1462 pages. All I know is that my kindle tells me it will take 12 hours to read it and I’m a fast reader. I’m 30-40% I think and I have until Monday night to finish it when it returns to the library.
I can remember years ago reading one of the Twilight books, maybe the last one and it was taking forever. I was reading it on the first kindle which didn’t give you time left or pages and I could not figure out why it was taking so long. I finally saw someone reading it on the subway in hardback and it was a doorstop of a book.
The Book Thief. You left this absolutely amazing read off the list. I’m positive it’s over 500 pages. One of the best books ever written in my opinion. Such an original narrator, enduring characters, and a plot that leaves you wanting even more. I was sad when it was over!
So good! That book still haunts me!
Another good long book is The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du BOIS by Honoree Fannone Jeffers. It is 800 pages and an amazing story!
The Brothers K is one of mr favorite books ever. So glad you mentioned it. Perhaps it is time for a reread! Also, heard the author has a new book coming out; perhaps in early 2023.
11/22/63 by Stephen King…summer of 2020 I committed to “tackling” this brick because I really wanted to experience his writing and the premise was fascinating. I figured if it took all summer that would be fine however it was a spectacularly fast read that just effortlessly pulled me along! One of my favorite reading experiences!
I just finished FairyTale which is similar in that it is more far out, thn truely scary. I liked both but my favorite King book is The Stand.
Similarly, I read SK’s The Stand last year (roughly 1100 pages). It took me about 3 months but I liked it.
The Thornbirds was my favorite book for a long time. I’m not sure how well it would hold up if I were to reread it today. I read it about 25 years ago and just loved it.
Hilary, I wondered how far down I’d need to scroll until The Stand made it into the list. I reread it every 6 or 7 years and it somehow gets better every time. 🙂
Yes! I read it this summer and just loved it. I started The Stand a few weeks ago. As for other long books I enjoyed: Paris by Edward Rutherfurd, Greenwood and The Goldfinch.
Yes! The Goldfinch is amazing. Her writing is so beautiful
I have been reading David Copperfield (600 pages) and LOVING it! Really surprised as I’m not a huge Dickens fan. I wanted to read it before diving into Demon Copperhead and am so glad I did.
I also read David Copperfield for the first time this year (though I am a Dickens fan) and I LOVED it. Favorite book so far this year.
…Which makes me nervous to read the Kingsolver retelling. At the least, I think I should leave some time and space between the original and a retelling!
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois – oh my word!! So good!
Favorite Doorstoppers
Pachinko by Min Lee LOVED it so much— if you liked The Good Earth—read it. Epic family saga. (So far the Apple+ version isn’t as good as the book)
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry —SO good. India—caste system—so much to discuss and think about.
Cutting For Stone – Abraham Verghese
One of my top 10 reads of all time.
Wives and Daughters, North & South – Elizabeth Gaskell —Besides Jane Austen—my fave author of the 19th century.
I absolutely adored Cutting for Stone. One of my all time favs. Pachinko and A Fine Balance are both on my LOOOONG TBR list, but sounds like I need to bump them both up to the top.
Cutting For Stone is also on my all time favorite list. Wish he would write another book
Wow! Such great books listed in the comments. I really enjoy big books. This year I finished The Eighth Life, Lonesome Dove and am at 75% through Fellowship Point right now. I am so looking forward to reading Demon Copperhead because I read David Copperfield on 2020. I appreciate everyone’s comments and have added a couple to my TBR;)
I rarely read long books but I was intrigued by The Rose Code, by Kate Quinn (who wrote the Huntress, which I also enjoyed). It’s 650 pp but I devoured it.
I have embraced big books this year and plan to start a buddy reading group next year that just reads big chunkers! I read and loved The Eighth Life this year, and am currently reading Demon Copperhead and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, AND getting ready to jump in to Babel as well. I have also struggled in the past with these books not contributing to my overall number of books read for the year as quickly, but am going to do a page goal next year instead.
butting in….. is this buddy read endeavor on social media or with IRL friends? That sounds like a a cool reading challenge.
I absolutely loved The Whalebone Theater! It’s not plot driven but character driven,the writing is superb. The place is also a character. It’s a slow moving family saga that I missed when I finished. The main character, Cristabel, is reason enough to read it.
For cool fall nights by the fire. Superb.
I feel the same way. I’m about a quarter of the way through the audio book and am enjoying it so much! But I love family sagas and character driven novels. And spunky children!
“The Far Pavillions” by M. M. Kaye not only introduced me to the culture of India but the transition of the ending of British colonization. Plus I have observed the changing light of the night skies so much differently and consciously since reading that book. I probably was short on sleep for about a week while I was reading it…
Far Pavillions is one of my all time favorites. I love all of her books based in India.
Gah! I wish I could recommend Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, but it’s one of the very few books I DNFd. I’m looking forward to reading Demon Copperfield. Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible is one of my all time favorite books.
I *love* long books – and having the time to really immerse myself. One of my favorites is definitely Vikram Seth’s “A suitable boy”. And another one would be Wally Lamb “The hour I first believed” – at around 700 pages only half as long as “A suitable boy” :-). And “A little life”. Yes, emotionally a tough read (as is Wally Lamb), but written with so much compassion.
Thank you for all the great suggestions, Anne, and everyone in the comments.
Well, I loved The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn, so happy to see another book by her that’s even longer! TDE finished to soon for me. I listened to it on audible and the reader was incredibly skilled. It was a highlight of my reading (and driving / traffic jam) year.
I’m surprised I haven’t seen either of my two favorite long books on this list:
I Know This Much is True – Wally Lamb (901 pages) &
Inheritance – Judith Michael (607 pages). Highly recommend both!
I loved “I Know This Much is True”!
My longest book this year, and a first time read for me- Gone With the Wind. I loved it, and can’t believe I waited this long to read it. Would be so worth discussing if a book club could manage such a long book.
I LOVE a long book. 11/22/63 by Stephen King, the entire Outlander series, the Throne of Glass series. Mmm so so good. I also really enjoy the Chronicles of Narnia in one tome. Such a delight.
I love long books because I love to be immersed in a world and spend some real quality time with characters, getting to know them well, even if they exasperate me with their choices!
I think there’s kind of a sense of surrender to the pace and sweep of a long book. If your goal is a certain number of books, it will definitely be more difficult to pick up the doorstoppers, but they can be so richly rewarding.
Some favorites: Middlemarch, David Copperfield, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (felt very Dickensian but with added magic), War & Peace, Wives & Daughters (which was amazing but tragically unfinished–though you can see where it’s going and she left notes about the ending).
I’ve been intending to read A Prayer for Owen Meany, so the comments in support are encouraging!
In praise of long books – War and Peace, and Anna Karenina are favourites of mine, and worth rereading. I’ve read The Thorn Birds, Middlemarch, Owen Meaney, The Yearling (Marjorie Rawlings), and others. If the story carries me along, I don’t find the length daunting. However, I did not make it through Count of Monte Cristo.
Wolf Hall Trilogy – be still my heart! So stunning. Hilary Mantel created a Tudor England world that is both shimmering and brutal. I just wanted to go back in time to experience it for myself! I have had The Mirror and The Light (3rd in trilogy) on my TBR since it was published 2 years ago, and finally decided to dive in when Hilary Mantel died suddenly a few weeks ago. (What a loss for English literature!) It is the longest of the trilogy at 750 pages. I had been almost dreading starting it, since I know the ending is not going to be kind to our protagonist. I do not want to see Cromwell meet his fate! The audio by Ben Miles is incredible (I have done all of these books tandem in print and audio). Highly, highly recommend the entire trilogy.
The Huntress flew by! Did not realize it was long. I try to read one long book a summer – loved American Gods; The Lincoln Highway and Angle of Repose (the last three I read).
The Rose Code is also by Kate Quinn. An excellent read.
Loved, loved, Loved North and South by Gaskil. Read it fast first time through and loved it. But when I took a bit more time in subsequent reads, found it filled with wisdom and God’s love and goodness. So, so good.
Also loved Les Miserable! Such a wonderful portrayal of God’s grace. And yes, I skim the sewer ‘mini book’, within. While fascinating once, I iche to return to the ‘real’ story. My all time favorite read is The Lord of the Rings! I’ve read it so many times, I’ve lost count. Regal and royal, it reminds me of how I ‘should’ live, even if my own life is not as adventuresome.
A great true crime book that is a long book is And the Sea Will Tell by Vincent Bugliosi. It’s over 700 pages and covers not just the murder that took place on a small tropical island but goes in depth into the investigation, the trial, legal arguments, etc. I couldn’t put it down!
Loved, loved, Loved North and South by Gaskil. Read it fast first time through and loved it. But when I took a bit more time in subsequent reads, found it filled with wisdom and God’s love and goodness. So, so good.
Also loved Les Miserable! Such a wonderful portrayal of God’s grace. And yes, I skim the sewer ‘mini book’, within. While fascinating once, I iche to return to the ‘real’ story. My all time favorite read is The Lord of the Rings! I’ve read it so many times, I’ve lost count. Regal and royal, it reminds me of how I ‘should’ live, even if my own life is not as adventuresome.
Yes to North and South!
I love a long book. Edward Rutherford’s books are amazing. I loved Lonesome Dove. I finally gave in and read Sacajawea recently. A Little Life is also very good.
Goodreads says: The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5) by Diana Gabaldon, clocking in at 1,443 pages. I would have guessed something by Ken Follett or George R.R. Martin, but the Outlander series makes sense too!
During a Dickens seminar in college, we had to read at an incredible pace — usually one week per book — and we were quizzed on minute details like a character’s mother’s name who was mentioned once. I ended up reading each book 2-3 times before the quiz. The professor claimed one of his goals was to teach us to read a lot of content and still retain information, and I would say it’s one of the most useful and practical classes I took in college! I use that speed + comprehension skill every day of my adult life.
No list of great long books is complete without a mention of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. 800 pages of heartbreaking perfection. My only regret is that I cannot read it again for the first time.
Has anyone read Shantarum? It’s on my bookshelf.
I do too!! Hoping someone chimes in.
I used to love long books. Like you, have moved away from them recently but I’ve been reminding myself of their joys so this post is very timely. Some excellent long novels I’ve read are A Prayer for Owen Meany, A Widow for One Year, Roots, The Century Trilogy (3 long books) and Gone With the Wind.
I like self-selected long books but not as much if my book clubs have selected them. Some long books that I’ve enjoyed (partial list): Middlemarch by George Eliot (I loved her wit and human insights; Gone With the Wind; Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy; Grant by Ron Chernow.
For the past couple of years I have been setting a number of books read for my reading goal. I am reconsidering reverting to a page number count so that I don’t end up putting aside the larger, door-stop books. It’s silly that book count influences my reading life, but it seems to have that effect so a different approach may make sense for 2023.
interesting… i am likely on a short list of people who couldn’t get through the first 100 pages of the Overstory. it was incredibly depressing, and i love trees!
I just started the Inkheart trilogy….yes they are YA, but still each book is quite lengthy. I try to read at least 3-4 long (500+ pages) each year.
Thanks for the recommendations! I have added more books to my TBR list. I loved the Robert Caro series about Lyndon Johnson. I listened to the first four (hopefully the fifth one will be out soon) on audio and loved them. The first one, Path to Power, is my favorite, but they are all great.
My big reading goal this year was to read more BIG books and I managed to dedicate the time for Life After Life, Coming Home, The Books of Jacob, The Weight of Ink, The Shell Seekers, September, Lonesome Dove, and now I’m nearly finished with Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. In November I’m planning to read Babel and Tomb of Sand. It is so nice to be focusing on quality over quantity this year!
I would wholeheartedly recommend JS&MN, Anne! I started it in April but it wasn’t the right timing for me… I picked it up again a couple of weeks ago and have been reading about 40 pages a day – and I am so in love! It’s cozy, funny, smart, and atmospheric. Totally worth the time!
The Weight of Ink is such a pleasure to read
I totally agree, Mary! I’d been wanting to read it for a long time but never wanted to put in the effort. I’m so glad by I changed my attitude about long books this year 😀
Have always loved long books.
Am now listening to The Greenlanders by J Smiley.
Sagas are the best ways to make the daily walks even longer.
Jane Smiley’s Greenlanders is still one of my favorites. 20 or so years later, it still haunts me. Nice to see it mentioned! I do love long books and have enjoyed reading all of the comments – now with MORE books on my TBR!
The Huntress was amazing. I did not care for The Overstory, although I finished it. My favorite recent long books have been Lonesome Dove (exquisite), The Eye of the World (haven’t decided if I loved it enough to tackle all the big books in the series), and I’m currently tackling Taliesin by Stephen Lawhead. Hoping to read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and A Prayer for Owen Meany really soon!
I just picked up Cloud Cukoo Land by Anthony Doerr at the LIbrary. It’s hefty but I’m going in!
Cloud Cuckoo Land is worth it. I made my book club pick it so I would have a deadline, and I couldn’t believe they all agreed to read it with me! Everyone finished it! So that should tell you the length is not a problem. There are a lot of months everyone doesn’t finish and the book is half that length. Enjoy!!
I think it’s interesting to see what people consider “long” in regards to books. Some of those listed, coming in around the 500 page length, I would consider more medium length (more than that is definitely long territory though!). I don’t have an issue with long books – I’ve read Gone With the Wind 8 times and a few of those listed here are on my TBR (at least one is on my bookshelf).
I was thinking the same thing. The Eighth Life is long, Les Mis is long…but Gone with the Wind or Lonesome Dove or The Book Thief? I guess I don’t consider those long, more medium length. I also don’t consider Doris Kearns Goodwin or Ron Chernow books as “long”, though they are dense (I love both of these authors and am a DKG completist!).
I am currently reading “The Winners” and thoroughly enjoying it. I am a Fredrik Backman completist. I have had mixed experiences with longer books. Good audio versions have helped me get through a few longer books. The Serial Reads app does a good job breaking some of the classics into bite sized pieces. I have enjoyed all of Amor Towles books.
Does anyone like The Whalebone Theatre? I hope I soon hear good things. I was so excited to read it that I sprung for it and it’s on my TBR pile. Oh well, maybe I’ll be the one to like it. I am currently reading The Hour Of The Witch by Chris Bohjalin. It’s over 500 and we’ll worth the read. Definitely a page-turner. Fellowship Point is also on my pile. I’m also working my way through Moby Dick. I do love the language but I keep having to look up the mariner terms.
I don’t even remember A Prayer For Owen Meany being a long book, that’s how much I loved it when I read it years ago.
Another long and much-loved book is Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald. I’ve read it twice, and could easily devour it a third time. Probably some triggers for some readers.
I read and enjoyed the Huntress, but I never thought of it as a large book/long story. I think that must be a mark of good storytelling! Conversely, I tried so hard to like Jonathan Strange, but after getting 2/3 the way through, I just wasn’t interested enough to push to the end.
This is why I wish Goodreads would have a Total Pages (instead of Total Books) Reading Challenge, and why I have yet to participate as it stands!
I’ll definitely be reading the new Backman, the new Kingsolver (super excited to have finally read David Copperfield as part of a MMD BookClub buddy-read in 2021!), and still have Lonesome Dove & 18Q6 towards the top of my TBR…
I love long books! 🙂
Long books I read this year and highly recommend:
–Roots, by Alex Haley
–Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois, by Honorée Fannone Jeffers, and
–Stamped from the Beginning, by Ibram X. Kendi
Haha! Goodreads does measure your book challenge by pages. You’ve been missing out! 🙂
Loved Greenwood (eventually). For anyone tackling it, I recommend hanging in there until the first 1934 section. For me it picked up *a lot* from that point forward.
I’m re-reading the Outlander series right now. I do most of my reading with audio books these days and realized how long these are compared to the “average” book. Just about to start Book 3 and it’s 43 hours long!
I think Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follet) is the longest book I’ve read.
I love a good chonker and usually end up reading one a year. Right now I am working on Shogun by James Clavell and still have about 300 pages to go. I often read shorter stuff alongside them though, especially the denser ones.
I think War and Peace is the longest book I’ve read for fun. I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, though, so 500 pages is probably about average to a little below average for those books. I’m definitely not intimidated by a 500-1,000 page book.
As soon as I read the title of the article, I thought to myself, “Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell” better be on that list! Last one, but it made it… I was starting to sweat 😂 It’s such a fun, twisted read, I hope you do read it!
I love your lists of long books! There is something about the promise of getting lost in a story that you know will last a while. They tend to sit in my kindle the longest but I anticipate them the most if that makes any sense. 11/22/63 is my favorite book but I have many on this list and just bought Demon Copperhead.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is one of my all-time favourite books, and it may well be my husband’s favourite. I don’t re-read books all that often, but I’ve read this twice and feel I’m due for another read soon. My husband wanted to start a re-read the minute he finished it! It reads as more of a Victorian novel than a historical or fantasy one; a number of times during the book I found myself thinking, “I didn’t know that. I’ll have to look up more information about that later.” – completely forgetting in the moment that it was fiction! Cannot recommend this book highly enough.
It’s funny, I don’t usually know whether I’m reading a long book or not because I read 90% of my books as e-books through Libby and the page count is not the same as physical books so I never pay attention to it. I generally only know when Goodreads tell me the longest book I’ve read that year and it’s usually a surprise to me – like The Overstory. I was very surprised at the end of the year to learn that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was over 500 pages because I definitely felt like I flew through that.
My longest in recent memory is probably one of the Outlander series (I’ve read them all).
Goodreads lists A Breath of Snow And Ashes as 980 pages. I’ll take their word for it.
I have tried and failed to read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It is listed as 771 pages, but felt more tedious than Gabaldon’s books.
I remember clearly that I was putting in reading installments nightly when my first grandson was a baby. He & his parents had moved in with us & I’d given them my bedroom & was sharing a room with my younger daughter. Funny the things we remember in relation to the where & when while reading certain books.
That will be 10 years ago in Nov. I know bc I know my grandson’s age, lol.
Bottom line is: I did not finish The Goldfinch. It was a library copy and despite my rechecking it, I did not get back to it.
I own a copy now & it is definitely on my bucket list. I remember enjoying the writing very much.
I would like to add two series written by Ken Follett. The Pillars of the Earth trilogy and The Century Trilogy. Each book in each series is almost 1000 pages.
I have read Anna Karenina,Ramona by Helen Jackson.Ivanhoe,Gone With The Wind, North and South by John Jakes,My Dear Hamilton,The First Daughter,1916,1921,Mary Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser,The Last Tudor Queen,Tale Of Two Cities and Roots.
Marion
I forgot The Patriots
Marion
A Suitable Boy and The Eighth Life were both more than 1000 pages and well worth lugging around for a few months. Stories of that length are so rich, they become a part of you and you never forget them.
The Huntress is TOTALLY worth it and it doesn’t feel that long because you just want to keep reading. Her newer book The Diamond Eye is also long and also amazingly worth it! The Winners – poignant, funny, tragic and heartbreaking. Fredrik Backman could write a 2000 page novel and I would jump at it. One of the best authors ever!
The Winners! I cried buckets! I have always been a huge hockey fan, and this series just brought it to a new level!
As for long books…The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irvine Stone is a must. It tells the story of Michelangelo and it is fascinating. I listened it it mostly, but I had to go buy a copy so I could highlight so many of the great quotes.
The extra long books I have read are The Dublin Series:The The Irish Prince and The Irish Rebel,Wives and Daughters,Gone With The Wind,David Copperfield, North and South by John Jakes,Great Expectations,Anna Karenina,A Tree Grows In Brooklyn,Mary Queen Of Scots,America’s First Daughter,Ivanhoe,My Dear Hamilton,Roots,1916 and 1921.
Marilyn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is my favorite book ever!!
As someone who primarily reads fantasy, I am definitely not afraid to read long books. Some of my favorites have been The Priory of The Orange Tree, Cloud Cuckoo Land, The Greenbone Saga, and The Bloodsworn Saga
It seems like most of the books I read these days are 500+ pages. I’m not sure if the longest book I’ve read but some I recall fondly are The Pillars of the Earth, The Cider House Rules, A Court of Thorns and Roses, I Know This Much Is True…. just off the top of my head.
I think the longest book I have read has to be the Harry Potter fan fiction All the Young Dudes by MsKingBean89. So good.
Enjoy and love reading the more the better.
During the pandemic I picked up the longest book I’ve ever read to reread, …and Ladies of the Club. But I didn’t just plow through it. Every night I’d read just one turn of the page savoring it all. I still have a ways to go but I usually read so much and so fast (all those sped up audiobooks) so having this to return to night after night is such a gift.
Whalebone Theater is absolutely worth it! Loving it on audiobook 💕
An older book, but one that I loved and my book group did too (read it 25 years ago) is ‘Mists of Avalon’ by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Its page count is 876 and totally worth the time.
‘Poisonwood Bible’ by Barbara Kingsolver is also hefty at 545 pages, but I’ve read it twice and I’m not typically a re-reader.
A footnote about Barbara Kingsolver – she’s going to be in Lexington tomorrow at the Kentucky Book Festival so I’m headed south to see her!
I am over 100 pages into The Whalebone Theater, and I love it. I am absolutely immersed in the world she has built. I just picked up my reserved copy of Demon Copperhead and the new John Irving (over 900 pages) from the library, so I am going to be very busy in the next few weeks!
I could not get into “Count of Monte Carlo”. Reading “Witching Hour” now and I can’t put it down!!! Very seasonally appropriate. Add that one to your list. Happy reading!
Sorry… “Count of Monte Cristo”…
I just had this thought the other day, that next year’s goal should be to read long books only, 500+ pages each. The reason being that I want to get out of reading a certain number of books per year. I want to get immersed in a book and not want it to end. I read Fellowship Point at your suggestion and although it has some bad reviews on Goodreads, I absolutely loved it! It could be because I’m a New Englander from MA though. 🙂
So glad Cloud Cuckoo Land came up – extraordinary! Big fan of Mark Helprin too: A Winters Tale one of my favorites, but read anything of his. Michael Chabon, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Elizabeth Gilbert, The Signiture Of All Things. (Haven’t done page counts, but I believe these are all 500 pages +.) Must note Anthony Marta’s A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, though it’s only 400ish pages.
….that’s Anthony Marra – not Marta
love A Winters Tale
My favorite long book is Shogun. I re-read it every few years. It has something for everyone. Warfare, romance, cultural differences…truly masterful historical fiction.
Norrell & Strange would be a top contender if I was forced to pick a favorite book. It’s a fun story with such an interesting use of footnotes to kind of flesh out and solidify the world building.
I just read The Rook last week, which was one of your podcast recommendations! It was a bit of a departure for me but I picked up because I DEVOURED the Harry Potter books as a kid.
I happened to find it on Libby audio at the same time, so I was able to get through it a little faster by putting it on while I was doing chores or driving to work.
I was definitely intimidated by the heft of that book — nearly 500 pages, which felt slow at times. BUT, I think this one worked because it kept having “cases” arise at work, so it felt kind of episodic in that regard.
I love long books and books that are a series. I’m always sad when they end. But I like regular novels too.
I plan to finally read Lonesome Dove this season, as well as The Terror, both intimidatingly long books on my shelves. I, too, used to never shy away from long books, but have noticed that with the uptick of my reading life, shorter books have led the way. I like the concept of a “slow but steady” and that’s how I plan to approach these books this winter.
Harry Potter and the Outlander series are the longest books I think I’ve read. And I loved them and inhaled them, so much so that I’ve listened to the Outlander series on audio multiple (3-4 times), as well as all the spinoff novels.
My reading life has been a little “blah” lately, so maybe the return to longer books is just what I need. Cheers!
I read Fellowship Point and ever since I’ve been looking for another big book like it. It was just a perfect book for me since I turned sixty this year, days after my mother passed away at age 94, and I moved to Maine.
I’d love suggestions for another BIG book like Fellowship Point. Thank you!
I do love a good doorstop of a novel, and this has been a great year for reading them! I read close to 100 books this year (haven’t counted, but I think it’s in that ballpark), and among them were Stephen King’s The Stand (I think it’s about 1200 pages?) as well as the four novels of Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive, all of which clock in at about 1200 pages. And I loved them! I’d like to read Demon Copperhead this year, it has also been recommended to me by my local librarian.
Posting on Anne’s repost! Love long books. Reading Babel now (footnote situation like Norrell & Strange which I have yet to read). Really like Babel so far and have to get through it at a reasonable pace because Age of Vice is coming soon. So many big ones on TBR pile – Cloud Cuckoo Land, Eighth Life, Crossroads (Franzen). Which should I tackle first?
Okay, you’ve outdone yourself! I want to read every one of these books. And, by the way, a book doesn’t even register with me as a long book unless it hits 800 pages or so!
I’m a slow reader with ADHD, so long books tend to scare and intimidate me. I was proud of myself for reading The Diamond Eye and The Good Left Undone. I really enjoyed both of those books and they were both over 400 pages. Maybe one day I will be able to read something longer.
Debra, that’s fabulous! I hope you found the long page counts to be worth your while.
Just finished “The Running Grave” by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K.Rowling). At 945 pages, it kept me fully engaged for 8 days!
Fingersmith is VERY Good! It will fly by. (I love all her books. Also, speaking of not too scary horror novels, I’ll recommend The Little Stranger.)
oh, also – “The Goldfinch” is one I avoided for years because of the length and then it flew by like a good movie.
My goal for 2024 will be to read those long books I have been putting off! Count of Monte Cristo, Lonesome Dove, Kristin Lavransdatter, Middlemarch, maybe a Tolstoy or Doestoevsky, Angle of Repose, etc. We will see. I am sure I will need some palette cleansers in between. I am looking forward to curling up with some long books!
I read Ducks this summer. It was a trip. On Reddit many people suggested reading it slowly to no become overwhelmed–I just read it. It look a few weeks. But I did enjoy it.
Here are a handful of long novel recs for those who enjoyed Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. All four of these books are on my Favoritest Favorites shelf, right next to DS&M.
Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon (773 pp)
and
The three books in Neil Gaiman’s Baroque Cycle:
Quicksilver (927 pp)
The Confusion (815 pp)
System of the World (891 pp)
Love to try and read one long book a month. Covenant of Water is the longest I’ve read lately. Prior to that was Fellowship Point, as recommended by you. I’ve slowly been reading Ducks, Newburyport over the past year. 🤪