I have a new-ish candidate, the 1,229 page "Tom's Crossing" by Mark Z. Danielewski. It is masterfully plotted and creates a whole world of characters in a mountain town of Utah. Danielewski is best known for his "House of Leaves" but his oeuvre shows a very wide range of style and subject.
You’re the second person who has recommended this one! I’d never heard of it but am definitely adding it to my TBR. It sounds just like my kind of book.
I remember staying up all night to finish Johnathan Strange & Mr Norrell in high school and I've always looked back on that as the kind of peak reading experience that is hard to replicate, especially in adulthood. Funny enough, Locke Lamora is one of my husband's favorite books and he loaned it to me when we were first dating - I do think it brought back a little of that late night teen feeling!
Great list. I've read quite a few of these, most recently Anna Karenina. I'm one of those strange people that's innately drawn to large books. When I'm perusing a bookstore I immediately look to see what some of the largest books are as my first criteria. I love getting lost in the world of the author's imagination. Years ago I plowed through all of Stephen King's works, and many of them are considered pretty large. The fantasy genre in particular seems to have some huge books these days.
There are so many good Stephen King books that are long. I would have included more but will make a different post at some point about the best of SK. Thanks for reading!
Great list—- and totally agree on: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin (916 pages)! If you’re not a history buff— doesn’t matter. DKG’s exceptional storytelling is pure gold, and she tells the compelling and overlapping intricacies of our greatest president with wit, insight and integrity! You won’t be sorry….
The Warmth of Other Suns was outstanding. It was like taking a college course. I learned so much. I also loved All the Colors of the Dark. Thanks for the list. Will add a few to my reading list.
Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser. 656 pages. Pulitzer Prize 2018. A stunning nonfiction book on the life story of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter. It’s told within the context of the Indian wars through the Great Depression while it unpacks our national myth of self-reliance.
I did -- she is an incredible historian. It's not written in a narrative style like TWOOS, but it was still a great book. It might be a little better in print instead of audio (although I think I did the opposite - read Warmth and listened to Caste!).
I just looked and it was you 😂 i have noted it and am filing it away. There were so many recommendations on that post that I’m going to do a whole post about it!
Fabulous list! Great suggestions. I recently listened to "The Stand" by Stephen King. Absolutely LOVED it! I can actually say it's one of my all time favorites. I've read several others on your list as well. I'm currently listening to "The Passage" by Justin Cronin. Glad to know it was a great read for you. BTW-- I watched "The Never Ending Story" with my kids when they were growing up no less than a 100 times! LOL Great Movie! I agree whole heartedly with you.
I have a new-ish candidate, the 1,229 page "Tom's Crossing" by Mark Z. Danielewski. It is masterfully plotted and creates a whole world of characters in a mountain town of Utah. Danielewski is best known for his "House of Leaves" but his oeuvre shows a very wide range of style and subject.
You’re the second person who has recommended this one! I’d never heard of it but am definitely adding it to my TBR. It sounds just like my kind of book.
I remember staying up all night to finish Johnathan Strange & Mr Norrell in high school and I've always looked back on that as the kind of peak reading experience that is hard to replicate, especially in adulthood. Funny enough, Locke Lamora is one of my husband's favorite books and he loaned it to me when we were first dating - I do think it brought back a little of that late night teen feeling!
I'm not surprised you've read both of these!
This is a great list! I would add East of Eden to it as well
Thanks for reading! I haven’t read that one yet but definitely want to.
The Power Broker by Robert Caro
I’ve heard of the author but never read anything by him — I’ll have to check it out!
Great list. I've read quite a few of these, most recently Anna Karenina. I'm one of those strange people that's innately drawn to large books. When I'm perusing a bookstore I immediately look to see what some of the largest books are as my first criteria. I love getting lost in the world of the author's imagination. Years ago I plowed through all of Stephen King's works, and many of them are considered pretty large. The fantasy genre in particular seems to have some huge books these days.
There are so many good Stephen King books that are long. I would have included more but will make a different post at some point about the best of SK. Thanks for reading!
Huge SK fan 👏
Yay! What are your favorites?
I love his short stories, 11/22/63, Misery, Mr. Mercedes trilogy, Shawshank, The Shining, Pet Semetary… and on and on ☺️
A few others in fiction:
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Non-Fiction:
The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam
The Power Broker by Robert Caro
Thanks for the recommendations!
A few others in fiction:
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Non-Fiction:
The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam
The Power Broker by Robert Caro
Great list—- and totally agree on: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin (916 pages)! If you’re not a history buff— doesn’t matter. DKG’s exceptional storytelling is pure gold, and she tells the compelling and overlapping intricacies of our greatest president with wit, insight and integrity! You won’t be sorry….
Thanks for reading!
The Warmth of Other Suns was outstanding. It was like taking a college course. I learned so much. I also loved All the Colors of the Dark. Thanks for the list. Will add a few to my reading list.
Not yet. On my list.
Have you read Wilkerson’s most recent book, Caste? It also taught me so much!
Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser. 656 pages. Pulitzer Prize 2018. A stunning nonfiction book on the life story of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter. It’s told within the context of the Indian wars through the Great Depression while it unpacks our national myth of self-reliance.
I’m so glad you mentioned this one! I already have it on my TBR!
Ok, I was near the bottom and thought “she HAS to read The Warmth of Other Suns!!” Wasn’t it so good? Sooo long and I didn’t want it to end.
It is probably one of my favorite books of all time. Have you read Caste, her more recent book?
I haven’t, but can’t remember why. I listened to Warmth.. and I can’t remember if I tried listening to Caste. Did you like it?
I did -- she is an incredible historian. It's not written in a narrative style like TWOOS, but it was still a great book. It might be a little better in print instead of audio (although I think I did the opposite - read Warmth and listened to Caste!).
Have you read The Starbridge Series by Susan Howatch?
I just looked and it was you 😂 i have noted it and am filing it away. There were so many recommendations on that post that I’m going to do a whole post about it!
No, but someone recommended it on my post about my favorite book series!
Ok it was probably me! Ha! I forget which sub stacks I follow!! LOL
Stimulating list; I am currently rereading Lonesome Dove and Roots. The length is a plus for great sagas; I am going to read The Passage.
I hope you love it!
Fabulous list! Great suggestions. I recently listened to "The Stand" by Stephen King. Absolutely LOVED it! I can actually say it's one of my all time favorites. I've read several others on your list as well. I'm currently listening to "The Passage" by Justin Cronin. Glad to know it was a great read for you. BTW-- I watched "The Never Ending Story" with my kids when they were growing up no less than a 100 times! LOL Great Movie! I agree whole heartedly with you.
If you liked The Stand you might also like his Dark Tower series… stay tuned for tomorrow’s post!
Peter the Great, Robert Massie
I love Robert Maddie! I read many of his books long before I tracked my reading but I need to revisit them.
Here are two very long books you might consider: A Suitable Boy and The Far Pavilions.
I’ve never heard of either — looking them up now. Thanks for reading!
The Edmund Morris trilogy about Theodore Roosevelt was really good, at a combined 2500-ish pages. Currently reading the 1000 page Twain biography.
War and Peace and Count of Monte Cristo are two of my favorite fiction books. I agree with you on The Stand, and have also started Les Miserables.
Good lord I need to pick some shorter books.
I hear you, haha! I have to intersperse my long book reading with shorter books :)