I generally prefer books that are concise and to the point. However many great works of literature are several hundred pages long, and the longer book has come back into fashion in recent years.
Which long books are your favourites and sustain themselves successfully over, say, 500 pages plus? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Hmmm i tend to listen rather than read, so not sure how many pages, but it was a 25 or 26 hour long listen...pretty epic!
"The great circle" by Maggie Shipstead
Fantastic - definitely recommended - shortlisted for 2021 Booker |
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"Hmmm i tend to listen rather than read, so not sure how many pages, but it was a 25 or 26 hour long listen...pretty epic!
"The great circle" by Maggie Shipstead
Fantastic - definitely recommended - shortlisted for 2021 Booker "
Not read that one - what's it about? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Hmmm i tend to listen rather than read, so not sure how many pages, but it was a 25 or 26 hour long listen...pretty epic!
"The great circle" by Maggie Shipstead
Fantastic - definitely recommended - shortlisted for 2021 Booker
Not read that one - what's it about?"
Loss, obsession, sacrifice and survival |
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"Hmmm i tend to listen rather than read, so not sure how many pages, but it was a 25 or 26 hour long listen...pretty epic!
"The great circle" by Maggie Shipstead
Fantastic - definitely recommended - shortlisted for 2021 Booker
Not read that one - what's it about?
Loss, obsession, sacrifice and survival "
So it's about my average Saturday night? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Hmmm i tend to listen rather than read, so not sure how many pages, but it was a 25 or 26 hour long listen...pretty epic!
"The great circle" by Maggie Shipstead
Fantastic - definitely recommended - shortlisted for 2021 Booker
Not read that one - what's it about?
Loss, obsession, sacrifice and survival
So it's about my average Saturday night?"
Story of my life! |
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I quite enjoy The Count of Monte Cristo, the original unabridged copy, which is quite voluminous. It's a labyrinthine tale of sub-plots and elongated rites of passage woven into the main story.
It does go on. |
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I loved House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski which is long because it has lots of experimental stuff going on in the storytelling and the formatting. I remember enjoying a couple of Norman Mailer's longer novels - The Naked And The Dead, Ancient Evenings, Harlot's Ghost. I'm sure there are others that will come to me. |
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"Perdido Street Station by China Meiville 
Oh yes, I read that one years ago. Totally forgot about it. Lots of world building in it pushing up the page count."
... Should a world not be built? The rest of the trilogy are okay, but I've always adored that one. |
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"Perdido Street Station by China Meiville
Oh yes, I read that one years ago. Totally forgot about it. Lots of world building in it pushing up the page count.
... Should a world not be built? The rest of the trilogy are okay, but I've always adored that one."
I didn't mean it was a bad thing. World building takes time and so takes pages. |
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"I didn't mean it was a bad thing. World building takes time and so takes pages. "
... So anything that isn't set in the present or a commonly known world or environment requires world building. So particularly needed in sci fi and fantasy.
It's hardly in Tolkien realms of wasting hours on describing pointless trees or feasts. The world building feels mostly organic within the story as far as I'm concerned. |
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Quite a few of C J Sanson's Shardlake books have a hefty page count. They are still too short when you come to the end of one.
Historian William Dalrymple will keep you busy with his brilliant three part history of the British East India Company |
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"I didn't mean it was a bad thing. World building takes time and so takes pages.
... So anything that isn't set in the present or a commonly known world or environment requires world building. So particularly needed in sci fi and fantasy.
It's hardly in Tolkien realms of wasting hours on describing pointless trees or feasts. The world building feels mostly organic within the story as far as I'm concerned."
I'm not criticising the book. I'm just pointing out that it does world building as part of the reason that it's a longer book. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. |
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"Hmm how about Ghormenghast? Can't remember how many pages... Cracking read tho"
If you mean the trilogy then it's three books in a series that these days are published together so doesn't count 
But yes, excellent. There's supposed to be a new TV adaptation coming of it. |
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"Hmm how about Ghormenghast? Can't remember how many pages... Cracking read tho
If you mean the trilogy then it's three books in a series that these days are published together so doesn't count
But yes, excellent. There's supposed to be a new TV adaptation coming of it."
That's good news. I liked the last adaptation. I enjoy these things more when it's a while since I've read them and I'm not too precious about the finer details |
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"Hmm how about Ghormenghast? Can't remember how many pages... Cracking read tho
If you mean the trilogy then it's three books in a series that these days are published together so doesn't count
But yes, excellent. There's supposed to be a new TV adaptation coming of it.
That's good news. I liked the last adaptation. I enjoy these things more when it's a while since I've read them and I'm not too precious about the finer details "
Yeah the last adaptation was nicely quirky and had all those great character actors we used to have in it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Hmm how about Ghormenghast? Can't remember how many pages... Cracking read tho
I'm not alone in thinking the third part was a disappointment. Still a marvelous creation though"
Definitely the weakest link |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Hmm how about Ghormenghast? Can't remember how many pages... Cracking read tho
If you mean the trilogy then it's three books in a series that these days are published together so doesn't count
But yes, excellent. There's supposed to be a new TV adaptation coming of it."
Another one, oh gosh.. I mean how the heck do they plan to do it justice |
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By *apidaryMan
over a year ago
Chipping Norton |
Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy ticks the boxes; a marvellous, enchanting book. (And his Golden Gate is there if you fancy something equally sparkling that you can read in an hour.)
Don Quixote, War & Peace, Moby Dick are all worthy of their fame. Takes a bit of nerve to commit to such weighty volumes, but it's like diving off a platform into some warm inviting Mediterranean waters - once you're in, you don't want to leave. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy ticks the boxes; a marvellous, enchanting book. (And his Golden Gate is there if you fancy something equally sparkling that you can read in an hour.)
Don Quixote, War & Peace, Moby Dick are all worthy of their fame. Takes a bit of nerve to commit to such weighty volumes, but it's like diving off a platform into some warm inviting Mediterranean waters - once you're in, you don't want to leave."
Moby dick... Noooo! I can't get on with that at all |
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"Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy ticks the boxes; a marvellous, enchanting book. (And his Golden Gate is there if you fancy something equally sparkling that you can read in an hour.)
Don Quixote, War & Peace, Moby Dick are all worthy of their fame. Takes a bit of nerve to commit to such weighty volumes, but it's like diving off a platform into some warm inviting Mediterranean waters - once you're in, you don't want to leave."
I read Don Quixote a few months ago. I have to say Book 2 dragged, even though I liked the conceit that he was now famous because of Book 1 and everyone treats him accordingly. |
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I'm like you, OP. 300 pages is about my sweet spot.
Neither of epic proportions, but:
'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara is fantastic (but also harrowing, so not sure I could ever read it again).
And it only creeps over the 500 page mark, but is one of my all time favourite books, so has to get a mention: 'The Line of Beauty' by Alan Hollinghurst. |
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"Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy ticks the boxes; a marvellous, enchanting book. (And his Golden Gate is there if you fancy something equally sparkling that you can read in an hour.)
Don Quixote, War & Peace, Moby Dick are all worthy of their fame. Takes a bit of nerve to commit to such weighty volumes, but it's like diving off a platform into some warm inviting Mediterranean waters - once you're in, you don't want to leave.
I read Don Quixote a few months ago. I have to say Book 2 dragged, even though I liked the conceit that he was now famous because of Book 1 and everyone treats him accordingly."
I read it in Spanish. Took a while! |
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"Hmm how about Ghormenghast? Can't remember how many pages... Cracking read tho
I'm not alone in thinking the third part was a disappointment. Still a marvelous creation though
Definitely the weakest link"
What about the fourth volume, the "lost" book of Gormenghast? Before his death, Peake wrote the first few pages of a continuation for the story of Titus, and left the barest notes for what was intended to follow. Peake's wife Maeve Gilmore completed the writing but never published the book, and the manuscript was lost when she died. Nearly thirty years later the papers were found in the attic by her granddaughter, and eventually published as "Titus Awakes" in 2011.
To be completely honest I don't feel it has anything like the richness of the first two volumes, it continues the minimalist style of Titus Alone (Peake was already very ill by the time he wrote Titus Alone). However it is a fascinating glimpse of what might have been in some parallel universe where Peake retained his health into later years.
PS. My own choice of a good long read which seems to be known by few in England, is "Lanark" by the Scottish writer Alasdair Gray. |
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"Hmm how about Ghormenghast? Can't remember how many pages... Cracking read tho
I'm not alone in thinking the third part was a disappointment. Still a marvelous creation though
Definitely the weakest link
What about the fourth volume, the "lost" book of Gormenghast? Before his death, Peake wrote the first few pages of a continuation for the story of Titus, and left the barest notes for what was intended to follow. Peake's wife Maeve Gilmore completed the writing but never published the book, and the manuscript was lost when she died. Nearly thirty years later the papers were found in the attic by her granddaughter, and eventually published as "Titus Awakes" in 2011.
To be completely honest I don't feel it has anything like the richness of the first two volumes, it continues the minimalist style of Titus Alone (Peake was already very ill by the time he wrote Titus Alone). However it is a fascinating glimpse of what might have been in some parallel universe where Peake retained his health into later years.
PS. My own choice of a good long read which seems to be known by few in England, is "Lanark" by the Scottish writer Alasdair Gray."
I’ve read a number of Alasdair Gray novels. Lanark is wonderful. I always thought Iain Banks owed him a huge debt (and I love Iain Banks). |
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"Hmm how about Ghormenghast? Can't remember how many pages... Cracking read tho
I'm not alone in thinking the third part was a disappointment. Still a marvelous creation though
Definitely the weakest link
What about the fourth volume, the "lost" book of Gormenghast? Before his death, Peake wrote the first few pages of a continuation for the story of Titus, and left the barest notes for what was intended to follow. Peake's wife Maeve Gilmore completed the writing but never published the book, and the manuscript was lost when she died. Nearly thirty years later the papers were found in the attic by her granddaughter, and eventually published as "Titus Awakes" in 2011.
To be completely honest I don't feel it has anything like the richness of the first two volumes, it continues the minimalist style of Titus Alone (Peake was already very ill by the time he wrote Titus Alone). However it is a fascinating glimpse of what might have been in some parallel universe where Peake retained his health into later years.
PS. My own choice of a good long read which seems to be known by few in England, is "Lanark" by the Scottish writer Alasdair Gray."
Lanark is a marvelous book |
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"Hmm how about Ghormenghast? Can't remember how many pages... Cracking read tho
I'm not alone in thinking the third part was a disappointment. Still a marvelous creation though
Definitely the weakest link
What about the fourth volume, the "lost" book of Gormenghast? Before his death, Peake wrote the first few pages of a continuation for the story of Titus, and left the barest notes for what was intended to follow. Peake's wife Maeve Gilmore completed the writing but never published the book, and the manuscript was lost when she died. Nearly thirty years later the papers were found in the attic by her granddaughter, and eventually published as "Titus Awakes" in 2011.
To be completely honest I don't feel it has anything like the richness of the first two volumes, it continues the minimalist style of Titus Alone (Peake was already very ill by the time he wrote Titus Alone). However it is a fascinating glimpse of what might have been in some parallel universe where Peake retained his health into later years.
PS. My own choice of a good long read which seems to be known by few in England, is "Lanark" by the Scottish writer Alasdair Gray."
Oh I keep hearing people rave about Lanark. I need to give it a go. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Counte of Monte Christo by Alexander Dumas.
I haven't read it for years, as I haven't been able to set the time aside to read it over in regular installments. |
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"I recall Sarum being a long read & also the uncut version of Stephen King's the Stand was a lengthy tome - luckily it was a decent read!  "
I thought The Stand needed editing down when I read it. Can only think SK's money and ego allowed it to become even longer |
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By *lexm87Man
over a year ago
Various |
"Hmm how about Ghormenghast? Can't remember how many pages... Cracking read tho
I'm not alone in thinking the third part was a disappointment. Still a marvelous creation though
Definitely the weakest link
What about the fourth volume, the "lost" book of Gormenghast? Before his death, Peake wrote the first few pages of a continuation for the story of Titus, and left the barest notes for what was intended to follow. Peake's wife Maeve Gilmore completed the writing but never published the book, and the manuscript was lost when she died. Nearly thirty years later the papers were found in the attic by her granddaughter, and eventually published as "Titus Awakes" in 2011.
To be completely honest I don't feel it has anything like the richness of the first two volumes, it continues the minimalist style of Titus Alone (Peake was already very ill by the time he wrote Titus Alone). However it is a fascinating glimpse of what might have been in some parallel universe where Peake retained his health into later years.
PS. My own choice of a good long read which seems to be known by few in England, is "Lanark" by the Scottish writer Alasdair Gray.
Oh I keep hearing people rave about Lanark. I need to give it a go."
Manchester should make a decent substitute Unthank, just change the place names and add a new layer to it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm surprised noone has mentioned Lord of the Rings."
I found it incredibly hard going(despite being turned into three wonderful movies), The Hobbit on the other hand was a wonderful book (despite being turned into three woeful movies)
Children of Hurin is wonderful though and never likely to be made into a woeful/amazing movie. |
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By *ty31Man
over a year ago
NW London |
"I rarely read fiction. I read books about music or history and they tend to be in the 500-800 page range. They take me a long time because I'm slow but I like what I learn from it. Luke "
Same, I generally prefer non fiction like The State of Africa by Martin Meredith and of Max Hastings work (Vietnam, Korea- The Forgotten War etc).
I do really respect the amount of research and detail that goes into producing them. |
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I don't read as much as I used to, but I checked and much of my non fiction is around 400 pages.
In my opinion, a longer book gives the author more chance to craft a good story.
I have read Lord of the Rings and the set starting with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, amongst others.
The only books I've struggled with are Wuthering Heights, Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy (I was only about 14) and 50 shades because it's incredibly poorly written.
I think a lot of it is personal taste in literature not lengthof the book that matters.
Nita |
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"I don't read as much as I used to, but I checked and much of my non fiction is around 400 pages.
In my opinion, a longer book gives the author more chance to craft a good story.
I have read Lord of the Rings and the set starting with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, amongst others.
The only books I've struggled with are Wuthering Heights, Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy (I was only about 14) and 50 shades because it's incredibly poorly written.
I think a lot of it is personal taste in literature not lengthof the book that matters.
Nita"
But do you not find sometimes that there's a good story in a book that's swamped by not being edited properly? I've given up on more than one of the later Iain M Banks Culture novels because 200 pages in and the story still hasn't really started - lots of stuff about planets and spaceships but they're only interesting to me when part of an actual story. Earlier in his career I suspect an editor would have told him to get to the story quicker, but how do you tell an author as popular as Banks what to do? And that dilemma isn't unique to Banks. |
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