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!
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.
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’ve read several of those titles and enjoyed them all, but my longest book from 2025 was Tom’s Crossing by Mark Z. Danielewski at 2,229 pages.
When I went to pick it up at the library I was stunned by its size but persevered and I’m glad I did! It was an amazing story - I highly recommend it !
This book is unlike any I’ve ever read … I’m completely in awe at it all. The characters (good and bad), the writing style, the adventure, the ghosts, the beauty found in nature and the animals, especially the animals!
I’d like to say I loved it so much that I’m gonna read it again, but at 1,229 pages, I know that’s not going to happen … at least not anytime soon. However, it’s that good … it’s gonna stay with me for a very long time!
Gravitys rainbow, don quixote, Giles goat boy, Moby dick, brothers Karamozov, infinite jest? I loved reading all of these (and anything else by pynchon or barth btw).
Great book. It was the first book I ever read at the age of 20 in 1981. Been reading ever since. Nowhere near as many as you I’m sure but probably a couple of hundred now at least.
I see in a previous post of yours you mention you liked non-fiction history books.
At just over 700 pages Donald Millers “The Story of World War II” was amazing for me.
It covers the entire war in Europe and the Pacific in one book and does a great job.
I'll add it to my list! If it's well-written, I'm all about a good nonfiction history book. Have you read "When the Sea Came Alive" by Garrett M. Graff, about D-Day? It's incredible.
If you enjoyed Anna Karenina despite the long discourse on agricultural economics, and you enjoy history and Russia, you will LOVE War and Peace, truly
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!
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!
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.
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!
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 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 :)
Wow!!! Excellent! BookMarking for later
Atlas Shrugged and The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich are my two favorite long reads.
I’ve read several of those titles and enjoyed them all, but my longest book from 2025 was Tom’s Crossing by Mark Z. Danielewski at 2,229 pages.
When I went to pick it up at the library I was stunned by its size but persevered and I’m glad I did! It was an amazing story - I highly recommend it !
I’ve never heard of that one but lm going to check it out!
This book is unlike any I’ve ever read … I’m completely in awe at it all. The characters (good and bad), the writing style, the adventure, the ghosts, the beauty found in nature and the animals, especially the animals!
I’d like to say I loved it so much that I’m gonna read it again, but at 1,229 pages, I know that’s not going to happen … at least not anytime soon. However, it’s that good … it’s gonna stay with me for a very long time!
Sorry for the typo, only 1,229 pages in Tom’s Crossing!!
Gravitys rainbow, don quixote, Giles goat boy, Moby dick, brothers Karamozov, infinite jest? I loved reading all of these (and anything else by pynchon or barth btw).
Couldn’t agree more about “The Stand.”
Great book. It was the first book I ever read at the age of 20 in 1981. Been reading ever since. Nowhere near as many as you I’m sure but probably a couple of hundred now at least.
I see in a previous post of yours you mention you liked non-fiction history books.
At just over 700 pages Donald Millers “The Story of World War II” was amazing for me.
It covers the entire war in Europe and the Pacific in one book and does a great job.
https://a.co/d/2P7Nl6h
I'll add it to my list! If it's well-written, I'm all about a good nonfiction history book. Have you read "When the Sea Came Alive" by Garrett M. Graff, about D-Day? It's incredible.
Exactly.
Good writing certainly can make up for mediocre subject matter.
The writing in “The story of World War II” is great.
“When the sea Came Alive.”
I have not read it but will.
Thank you for the recommendation.
If you enjoyed Anna Karenina despite the long discourse on agricultural economics, and you enjoy history and Russia, you will LOVE War and Peace, truly
I already decided I was going to try to tackle Les Mis this year, but if I finish that one, this will be my next long one! Thanks for reading!