When I worked in a book shop I saw a small boy hugging a book and rocking back and forth he was that excited. The book was so big and long that it covered his chest! I didn’t want to put him off it but I was curious. I told him that he seemed happy about his book and what did he think about the number of pages. He broke into a huge grin and said “That means it will last longer!”
Exactly what I thought everytime I bought a big thick physical book and jumped in pure joy !!! Sad though that because of space issues now I have to lean on e books... 😒
Brothers Karamazov is just such a pleasure to read. I guarantee you, that you will fly through those pages like nothing. For me the 1200+ pages (German translation) felt like a 300 pages book.
I read it this year, twice in two months. The first time it took me 9 days. The second time I spent two and a half weeks on it. I am going to read it again later this year. I think about it every day. It is amazing.
READ EAST OF EDEN!!!! My native language is not even English and it was still sooo easy to get through, I didn't even feel the length of the book so don't let it intimidate you, just enjoy it ✨
The Count of Monte Cristo is the greatest book I have ever read. I read it when I was 15 and I’m 30 now. It’s due for a reread. Also, I read it in 5 days. Could not put it down. You end up being thankful that it is that big. If it makes it easier think about 50 pages a day, you’re done in 20 days. Or 100 a day, you’re done in 10 days about. :) Much less scary when you think about it that way.
I agree… a reread for me, too. I visit the Count, I comfort him, that all will be good… I use my time, like he used it in prison… I feel kind of 'at home' rereading it and am always thankful it’s so big. And a yes for 100 pages, too. For me, it’s an hour, after that I’m content and know, whether it’s the right time for this book. Greetings from Germany❣
I am currently reading it and halfway through, but I've got so much going on in my life, that sometimes I only read give pages per day or none at all. But I still come back to it every time because it's just so good.
The Brothers Karamazov is nothing short of a masterpiece. I remember being scared to read it and then the moment I finished all I wanted was to read more. It may have some tough chapters to understand but it's so worth it at the end.
We call these types of books squirrel killers. Definitely read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel it's fantastic. I read it over a week because I couldn't put it down. I'm working through Proust at the moment and it is a bit daunting.
I read East of Eden this year and it was very quick and easy to get through, the writing is so masterful and unique. The storytelling is also very compelling, I think you will really enjoy it. I rated it 4 stars even though I dislike family saga books!
I also read it this year and loved it! The last third or so especially had me by the throat. Cal Trask's arc is exactly the kind of thing I'm craving right now thematically. It was my first Steinbeck and I can't wait to read more of his work.
I totally agree with your assessment. East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are so readable. Unlike some classics that use a lot older language styles, Steinbeck is way more accessible. It’s a good place to start with intimidating looking books.
Middlemarch . You won’t regret it I’ve read multiple times ! Some characters you will fall in love with , other not quite so . But overall is so satisfying
The Count of Monte Cristo is amazing. And honestly reads very quickly. I'm reading it for the third time right now. And even reading only one chapter a day you'll finish in four months!
I just finished The Count of Monte Cristo and loved it. The main character Edmond Dantes has a fantastic character arc. I ended up reading 100-200 pages of this book in between other books, so it took me a few months, but I loved it. Dumas writing is very accessible as well.
East of Eden, wow one of my favorite books of all time and I cannot wait to hear your thoughts! I wish I could read it all over again for the first time. You got this!
Ok, today i just have finished “quiet flows the Don” and than i saw your video😅 What can I say about it?…It’s like a “War and Peace” just gives you this huge storyline of families and about the war. There is more war than in War and peace, because there are a war, a revolution, a civil war and more….It’s really heartbreaking and i don’t really want to say a lot about the main plot, because you need to read by yourself. There is a lot about history of Russia and that’s really interesting too. War and peace is bigger tan Quiet flows the Don, by the way. So, i really would recommend it to you)if you will have time for it, it costs that time❤
As The Iliad and Odyssey were told aloud from memory I think they'd fit audiobooks perfectly. My advice - for what it is worth - with big books is to set a number of pages you'd read in a day and just consistently read. When I read Proust I set 50 pages a day but you can set whatever number you like. After reading Proust I have no fear about big books. I just make sure I spend a bit of time planning before I start and make a little checklist so I can tick it off as I go. I've got Richardson's Clarissa to read, which is apparently the longest novel in the English language, but because it an epistolary novel I thought I light read it next year using the dates of the letters and spread it out over the year. Make it a fun project. The Illiad and Odyssey are both well-worth reading. Middlemarch is wonderful. I need to do a re-read.
I guessed The Count of Monte Cristo just by seeing the pile 🤣 I read it a couple of months ago for the first time and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!! I believe fear of big books may have something to do with reading goals and statistics because at the end of the day they are just pages. But it looks nicer on our wrap ups to say we've read ten books of 150 pages each instead of just one 1500 pages book. I say that to myself every time I see how my reading goal is not going well because I've spend 70 days on Monte Cristo instead of reading 3 or 4 books in that time 😐🥰
Loved East of Eden, Grapes of Wrath, and anything else by John Steinbeck including his shorter stuff. Do read it. If you want to balance your list with another book written by a woman, then read Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. This is my favourite classic novel, and Undset won the Nobel prize for literature largely on the strength of it. There are a couple of English translations. I prefer the one by Charles Archer for its language, but the newer translation by Tina Nunnally is more complete and coherent and is in plain, modern English. I read And Quiet Flows the Don as an unbearded youth over 50 years ago, and remember really enjoying it, though I can't remember the details of it.
Oh Carolyn! You need to read the Count of Montecristo! It's my favorite book ever. It has everything: love, friendship, loyalty, betray, adventure, mistery, comedy... It's so so good! I promise it's worth it 😊 I finished it a few days ago for the second time and it still blows my mind how fastinating I find the story! The Susanna Clarke book sounds interesting! And I think you are right with reading Dostoyevski 's work in chronological order, i think I should do that too 🤔 I read from him "the idiot" and "crime and punishment"
You need to read Middlemarch Carolyn, one page at a time! Remember! It's a beautiful novel and you just sink into it. Next to read, I recommend The Count of Monte Cristo. Extraordinary novel. Lastly you can't not delve into The Odyssey and The Iliad. Go for it!
Also reading The Count of Monte Cristo right now! Being on Kindle I didn't even realise how much of a chonker it is but honestly it just flew by, it's so easy to read and surprisingly (especially considering the theme) the least melodramatic tbh of all pre-XX century french novels I've read, that felt all doom and gloom and woe is me and 'people are opportunistic assholes and they suck'... sure, there are plenty awful people here BUT also plenty characters to love!
I didn't read any of these yet, but I read a huge book this year, which was David Copperfield, and I absolutely LOVED it! I read it in about a month but it felt like a lifetime (in a good way!) and it was like I was in grief when I finished it. It became one of my favourite books of all time 💜
All Steinbeck epics are easy to read because you aren’t slowed by the old English language usage. Don’t be afraid at all. East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are wonderful. And the Count of Monte Cristo is also huge and intimidating but not super difficult to read. And the story is great!
I have many books in this cathegory. Le Morte D'Arthur, Don Quijote, Os Lusíadas, Moby Dick, The Pilgrim's Progress, The Divine Comedy, Middlemarch, Clarissa, Paradise Lost, The Canterbury Tales, Atlas Shrugged, The Books of Earthsea...
You need to read Monte Cristo! It took me a couple months to get through, but I promise you that it will be a book that you will never want to put down, it is so accessible, entertaining, and adventurous, and you’ll end up loving it more than you could ever imagine! It is such a rewarding and emotional read that you’ll never forget :)
Jonathan Strange is a fantastic book! Two things that fascinate me about the vibe of the book: 1) The footnotes - they contain worldbuilding side tangents, and they also purport to cite references from books that were WRITTEN BY CHARACTERS IN THE STORY. 2) The writing style and ambience shift from the beginning to the end, mirroring the progression of the sorts of magicks the characters are using, and how English Magic itself shifts through the course of the story.
The brothers Karamazov is something special for me. If you would ask me what is my favorite book I would say brothers Karamazov, even tho it’s not my favorite book. It’s just something outstanding for me in the world of literature.
I listened to the count of monte Cristo on audio books while walking the dog each day. It’s amazing. I listened to Anna Karinina the same way. As I listened to each I realized that they are filled with just normal words. Nothing over my head. I will site read them next time. My big book is a biography of Sylvia Plath, 937 pgs
East of Eden put me in a reading slump, but every reader is different! I’m currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo, and I’d recommend you start there, while your friends are still gushing about it, and you can enjoy lively discussion about it to keep you moving through!
I read more in the Autumn so maybe the hibernation tendencies may help you read your big books. I love snuggling in my fleecy Blanket with my favourite Reindeer cuddly and a mug of Hot Chocolate and read so much more than during the Summer months.
I think it's better not to know anything about Middlemarch before reading it, to be honest! I knew nothing about it too and I was also intimidated by its length, but eventually I loved it and it's now one of my favourite books of all time!
Just finished the Brothers Karamazov not long ago. It's worth the patience you need to get through it. It's my favourite book now! Simply incredible. The writing, the concepts, the character development.
Having read all of Dostoyevsky 's works, I would rate The Brothers Karamasov second favourite to Crime and Punishment. However, please don't miss out on The Idiot because I am sure you will like it.
East of Eden and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell are both books where I didn't notice the length at all while reading. I found East of Eden so engaging, both emotionally and intellectually, and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell made me fall into its world in a way I hadn't experienced in a while.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is a MUST! I read it over the course of a month last year and it was one of those books where the length is totally worth it and the ending is totally perfect. I feel like it would be a great fantasy for someone who’s usually a classics reader because it’s paced and written a lot like a Victorian classic. The fantasy is introduced into the story gradually and the scale of the fantasy ramps up very slowly-we don’t start out with magical portals, fairy creatures, or powerful spells, we slowly make our way there from studying old magicians in a library. I think you would love it!
Carolyn, Do you think you'll ever read In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust (aka Remembrance of Things Past), the seven-volume novel? Or maybe you already have, I don't know. I have not yet because it's so huge, but it's always on multiple "top 10" lists for fiction. I just wish it wasn't so intimidating!
I'm reading the Iliad right now, and it's incredible. The emotions the characters feel are the same emotions we feel today, and it's surprisingly very easy to read. You should definitely read the whole thing!!
I read Middlemarch last year and I ABSOLUTELY loved it!!! I still think about it every now and then. I'm pretty sure that you'll really enjoy it too..!! You should try doing a readathon for these big books.. would love to read them along with you.
I love East of Eden and read it in a few days way up North at a cottage (Canada). No electricity, no running water and I fell in love with Steinbeck. As soon as I finished, I picked up The Grapes of Wrath. Absolutely loved it!!! I am now obsessed with Steinbeck and am devouring his short stories. I found all of these in a laundromat in the wilderness.
Oh! The Brothers Karamazov is one of my favorite books ever. I only have 2 favorites. I’m pretty picky when it comes to what I’d call a favorite. I don’t look forward to reading big books either. To my surprise though, The Brothers Karamazov kept me reading until I was finished. The book itself felt enlightening, at least to me. My copy was only 700 pages though 😂 It was the Barnes and Noble classics edition
I can't even explain how good the Brothers Karamazov are 😭🙊 I wanted to comment something about it but all i can say is that, it's worth the read ❤️ one of the books that you read and read you.
I've only read crime and punishment and the Brothers Karamazov, the other Dostoevsky's works I've started but cannot finish like the notes from underground it's too heavy for me i found 😗
@@amandaasmith741 Demons is Dostoevsky's worst major novel. It is too long, poorly written and deals with stuff very unique to Russian history and culture. I had to read it twice in order to get what even happened. I would advise you to leave that to last.
I think I just added a couple of books to my Wish List. 📚😅 Now, The Count Of Monte Cristo... when you decide to read it, I can assure you, Carolyn, you won´t feel it. It reads so easily. It reads very smoothly. It's like a good friend telling you a beatiful story. In my humble opinion, the most beautiful story ever written. 📖❤
Quiet flows the Don is such a wonderful book. My mom loves it, too. You should start with the biggest book on your TBR. And then it'll be less scary to read the rest of them:))
The Count of Montecristo is probably my favorite book. It’s so hard to read, and so many things I don’t understand completely. I’ve read it like three times now. One day I’ll read it again. Hope you read it soon and enjoy it.
I hope you read Grapes of Wrath soon! I would recommend reading it before East of Eden just because it's a little bit faster paced. Steinbeck does this really cool thing where he rotates between short scene-setting/context chapters and the family we follow between the book. It makes it go so quick, and the writing is the classic beautiful writing! Also I'm so excited to hear what you think about Middlemarch! It's not plot heavy, but very focused on in depth characterization and I feel like you really get the chance to know the people in the book. Good luck!
I'm working my way through Les Miserables right now. So...yeah 😄 I'm loving it but it's extraordinarily long. I think I am over my fear of large books at this point in my life as I've read a good number of 800-1200 page books (I tend toward adult fantasy books as a preference and "The Count of Monte Cristo" is my favorite book ever) at this point, but it's still a big commitment. "East of Eden" is my next classic to read after Les Miserables. It's one of my wife's favorites. "Atlas Shrugged" is a big classic by a woman. I hate what it preaches with a burning passion, but it fits that bill. And if you live in the US it's probably worth reading to understand its influence.
I already read some of those and they're so easy to read that you'll read them in a flash! The Count of Monte Cristo is so addictive, I coudn't stop, so I read it in 3 weeks. Steinbeck will change your life, like he changed mine and I'm not even american! Another idea is to read according to a chronological order, then, you would start reading the Iliad, a book that explains a lot about the narrative dynamics in the history of literature. It's very visual and explains so much about greek mythology too! Happy readings 😉
Speaking for myself, I fear a thin _hard-to-read_ book over a thick _easy-to-read_ book. A thin hard-to-read book (when I was young) was _Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man._ I got through it, but it was pulling teeth. I don't think I understood it very well. I'm still afraid to pick up Joyce. _East of Eden,_ on the other hand, was a treat! Easy-to-read. Also _The Count of Monte Cristo_ is easy-to-read; my favorite book as a teenager. You will love these two, guaranteed!
Hi, CarolynMarie, THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO, because there are so many interesting movies to study after… and it’s EASY to read. It’s one of the big books I read regularly again (same with Anna Karenina😉). I’m a bookowl my whole reading life (started with 5) and now I’m 67 and as enthusiastic as in the beginning. So I know almost all books you showed and love them. I’m not too much into fantasy, except Lord of the rings and Harry Potter. Maybe I’ll give the one you showed a chance… My life theme is injustice (haha: I worked as a jurist at court my whole work life), and the Monte Christo story is all about that, about things happening all of a sudden in happy times and change everything forever, of course about love, revenge… well, I’ve such a lot of more recommendations. Next one: the brothers Karamasow… next one: East of Eden… and maybe: Les Misérables from Victor Hugo… My advice for starting: grab ONE, prepare tea and cookies, fruit and set a timer for an hour, watch how many pages you read in an hour… after an hour I know, whether it’s the right time for this book. Russian authors in summer are amazing, in winter they can be a bit depressing for me. Have I mentioned GONE WITH THE WIND and JUBILEE TRAIL? Chunky, but always worth a revisit in hard times, because they are easy reads… Hope, that helped, love from MonikaMaria in Germany❣
Super late to this video, but you should definitely read the Count of Monte Cristo! I’m hoping to finish it soon, and it’s been an incredible read. The characters are wonderful and compelling and the story is absolutely gripping. I’ve been reading from the same edition you own, and I really like this translation. This prose is beautiful and pretty accessible without feeling “dumbed down”. I promise it’s not as daunting once you get into it. I hope you enjoy it!
I first read Grapes of Wrath when I was 19, in the days (1971) we were kept in hospital for 10 days after the birth of a first child. I would read it first, but East of Eden is great too. What I notice is the difference in the way books are published, in giant tomes that look pretty intimidating, but i suspect with much bigger margins and print. The really large books in my days were the likes of James Michener. I read Gone With the Wind over a 3 day holiday when my son was 3 weeks old - he was such an easy baby If i liked an author i would read as much as i could of their work. My suggestion is to stop counting pages and throw yourself in I wish I had those 50 years of reading all over again. Make the most of it you will never regret it. And thank you for your lovely posts, I enjoy them very much. You have got me keen to read the Russian classics again
Hello, "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas senior and his collaborating ghostwriter Auguste Maquet, is one of the biggest stories ever. If you have read the first few pages you are on a journey through time and it will take your breath away. Even if it is over 1000 pages, you will wish for 1000 pages more after finishing the book. Best wishes from Das BücherUniversum from Germany.
I too have been meaning to get to many of these, especially the Steinbecks and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell! I do really encourage you to give Middlemarch a go; it’s one of my very favourite novels and I think you might love it, too. Also, I really recommend finding someone to read Homer with. A friend and I did a little book club on The Iliad together last year, and that made the whole thing so much less daunting and more fun!
Brothers Karamazov is the most amazing book, you will have a full range of emotions and at times it will make you shed tears and wonder soo much about life. Please read it.
The biggest are the best, Carolyn! Great Tbr! I am currently reading War and Peace and i am loving it! Yes, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is fantastic! Hope you like it. 😍
I just finished the count of monte Cristo, and it was probably one of the most entertaining and accessible classics I've read. Also brothers Karamazov is a masterpiece, it's one of those books so impactful that will make you put it down for some minutes and stare at a wall, but I definitely recommend reading Dostoyevsky's works in order.
I also have “East of Eden” on my TBR and I want to start it next month (don’t know why it gives me autumn vibes). Maybe you should do a readathon video for this book! 🥲🤍
All right encouragement! Listen you had the ability to read War and Peace and Anna Karenina! And You LOVED them!!!! And every book you read can be your next Anna Karenina So take those lots of papers full of ink and stare at them and hallucinate for hours! (Reading😂) And you know…books suppose to be long because they’re caring a world inside them and you get to travel there
I’ve got East of Eden and The Brothers Karamazov on the floor right next to my bed whilst The Count of Monte Cristo and Middlemarch stare accusingly from my bookshelves. I wanted to read Doestovesky’s works in order too but then last week I randomly, in the most unexpected place read a spoiler for The Brothers Karamazov and i’m kicking myself. I just hope it’s a thing that happens early in the book but it does mean i will no longer be going in blind which i like to do. It might just be the push to start reading it. I’ve read Grapes of Wrath (which I really recommend). There’s this whole bit about a tortoise that sticks with me the most from it for some reason. The Iliad and the odyssey are must reads. I’ve got a few other doorstop modern classics on my TBR and Doctor Zhivago which i’m so excited for.
I've added Quiet Flows the Don and Trinity to my TBR... as if I need more big books 🤷♀ Most of the largest tombs I have on my shelves are nonfiction reads, usually history history (I love them, but read them in spurts!!).
Do not be intimidated by East of Eden! It's thrilling! It's my favorite book of all time. I feel like it's impossible to overhype. The character study is incredible.
currently making my way through middlemarch by george eliot, and the best advice I have for anyone wanting to read a big book is to just start it. once you start, it's easier to keep going ☺ east of eden & the Iliad are also pretty high up on my tbr 💖
I have several similar large books I want to read! middle March, East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are on my shelf. Middle March is next for me! I definitely recommend Brothers Karamazov, it is great!
The Count of Monte Cristo will remain one of my favourite books of all time. I read it more than 15 years ago and I still remember it, it is that good. On a side note, I never care how long a book is, I just start reading. If it's interesting enough, I will finish it in a matter of days. So don't look at the volume, just start reading 🙂
I feel this issue with long books. The longest books I've read were the fourth Harry Potter book, a german classic for school and Jane Eyre. They each took my like a month to read if not more, because I kind of DNFd the HP book in between. However, I have planned to read a few of the bigger books on my TBR in the next two months. They are by far not the biggest, but the biggest I'm currently interested in. Something that I like to do is tracking my progress in percent because it encourages me to continue. This month I want to read Dracula (454 pages) and possibly Tess of the D'Urbervilles (398 pages).
I think you are going to love so many of these! Homer, East of Eden, and The Count of Monte Cristo for sure!! (Personally, I did not enjoy Grapes of Wrath, though I loved, loved EofE.)
Yay for Middlemarch! A lot of these are on my tbr too. I have a great 3 volume edition of Strange & Norrell that will make it easier to hold at least :)) I'm seeing East of Eden everywhere lately, it's the one big Steinbeck I haven't read. Odyssey and Iliad are great, I'm going to read Emily Wilson's translations at some point (she's working on Iliad now) but don't sleep on the Aeneid! I haven't read Brothers K, I just finished a short collection of his from Pushkin Press, 'A Bad Business'. 'The Crocodile was our favorite story out of it. Count of Monte Cristo is great, but sooo long lol. I actually don't mind the abridged version, for once. I'm going to recommend another big book I think you'd like, Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. It's the life story of a strong willed girl in 14th century Norway. Written in the 1920s, she won a Nobel, largely for it.
Hi carolyn! I read the count of monte cristo a few months ago, it took me 2 months to get through, but honestly if you got through war and peace, you’ll certainly be able to read this. It’s incredibly easy to read (I was surprised by this, coming across a classic that almost seemed contemporary) and fun. The scenes are very visceral and almost movie-like. If there’s one book in that pile you shouldn’t be afraid to read, it’s the count of monte cristo. I feel you’ll definitely adore and appreciate everything about it. Good luck! 😊
"Trinity" is the one I haven't heard of, which is embarrassing because I've spent years building my expertise on Irish literature. Best of luck with that pile, Carolyn.
I'm getting to some of the big books you've read, like Don Quixote, I'm assigning a month that I will read them in, for example May-June next year for Don Quixote. So perhaps taking those 10 and assigning them a month within the next year or two when you will read them. Perhaps you can structure them like so: October 22: Jonathan Strange November-December, that really big Russian January: Iliad February: Karamazov March: Middlemarch (women's history month) April - may Count June Odyssey July East of Eden August Trinity
I recently got The Iliad and The Odyssey along with The Aeneid.A few days ago while out walking I found on the street a historical novel called The Mask Of Apollo set in ancient Greece.If the gods are trying to tell me something and now have chosen you as the oracle I don't stand a chance as to the course of my immediate future reads.😂✨
I was truly afraid of Middlemarch Carolyn because of the size but also because of George Eliot’s writing style. I knew I could do it after tackling the behemoth War and Peace (btw, you were my encouragement to read it😊). I ADORED Middlemarch. Now one of my favorite classics of all time. Please read it!😊😊
The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite classic! The translation is so good and engaging! Jonathan Strange was good and interesting but not the best for me.
Ah, lovely. Will read along with you if you pick up any of these. Funnily enough, pretty much got the same on my shelf. Although I read the Odyssey and the Iliad back in school. Greek school (you have to). 'The Tale of Genji' (Murasaki Shikibu) is another massive one I'd like to pick up sometime, hopefully...
Watched your video about “Big books worth your time,” and although not quite as big as these, I’ve started Jane Eyre on your recommendation. Having always had a fear of Classics in general, I’m surprised just how modern Charlotte Bronte’s writing is and so beautiful. Interested to see if you get to East of Eden soon. 😊📚🙏
a tip for dostoievski, there's a wonderful 5 volume bio made be joseph frank on him that makes the experience of reading so much more rewarding, soooo, something to keep in mind
and i've read the count of monte cristo and brothers kamarazov, the count has a wonderful pace for such a long book, is similar to david cooperfield in the way that you always want to read a bit more of it, brothers karamazov is more of a handful, i wont lie, but i love the premisse of each brother being the face of one ideal and the clash of it, so its a very profound and good read, and one its of the few appearances of the devil in a classic, which i wont lie it was also a seller for me, since the idea of fiodor version of the father of lies is a very entertaining one.
I would HIGHLY recommend to read V. V. Krestovsky 'Petersburg slums' (I guess there are more than 1000pages) and it is even better than Anna Karenina! a lot of drama in one book😍
East of Eden definitely did not feel like a 600 page book when I read it! And I read it quite soon after I had first gotten back into reading after a many year hiatus :)
If it’s a book that you love and really want to read then the number of pages doesn’t matter. I’ve read East of Eden and Count of Monte Cristo. Loved them both and hated for them to end. The bigger the better imo. The Goldfinch and The Secret History were also joys to read. Donna Tartt is amazing.
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When I worked in a book shop I saw a small boy hugging a book and rocking back and forth he was that excited. The book was so big and long that it covered his chest! I didn’t want to put him off it but I was curious. I told him that he seemed happy about his book and what did he think about the number of pages. He broke into a huge grin and said “That means it will last longer!”
Aw I love that so much!!!!!
That is an awesome story. ♥️ Thanks much for sharing.
Exactly what I thought everytime I bought a big thick physical book and jumped in pure joy !!!
Sad though that because of space issues now I have to lean on e books... 😒
lovely
This comment has made my entire week-- and it's Sunday.❤🔥
1:40 The Odyssey (Penguin Classics Deluxe Ed) 541 pgs
1:47 The Iliad (Penguin Classics Deluxe Ed) 704 pgs
3:44 East of Eden (Penguin Centennial Ed) 601 pgs
6:06 The Grapes of Wrath (Penguin Classics 1992 ed) 672 pgs
6:59 Middlemarch (Penguin Classics Deluxe Ed) 800 pgs
8:33 Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (Bloomsbury) 864 pgs
10:02 Trinity (Transworld Publishers) 886 pgs
11:15 The Brothers Karamazov (Penguin Classics) 985 pgs
13:38 The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics) 1243 pgs
14:50 Quiet Flows The Don (Carroll & Graf pub) 1362 pgs
Brothers Karamazov is just such a pleasure to read. I guarantee you, that you will fly through those pages like nothing. For me the 1200+ pages (German translation) felt like a 300 pages book.
Thank you for the encouragement!!! So glad you had a wonderful reading experience!
I read it this year, twice in two months. The first time it took me 9 days. The second time I spent two and a half weeks on it. I am going to read it again later this year. I think about it every day. It is amazing.
Приятно видеть, что людям нравится Достоевский
READ EAST OF EDEN!!!! My native language is not even English and it was still sooo easy to get through, I didn't even feel the length of the book so don't let it intimidate you, just enjoy it ✨
I was contemplating reading East of Eden but I chose The Grapes of Wrath instead.
No way will I add Easy of Eden to my 44 the brick books for 2024.
The Count of Monte Cristo is the greatest book I have ever read. I read it when I was 15 and I’m 30 now. It’s due for a reread. Also, I read it in 5 days. Could not put it down. You end up being thankful that it is that big. If it makes it easier think about 50 pages a day, you’re done in 20 days. Or 100 a day, you’re done in 10 days about. :)
Much less scary when you think about it that way.
I agree… a reread for me, too. I visit the Count, I comfort him, that all will be good… I use my time, like he used it in prison… I feel kind of 'at home' rereading it and am always thankful it’s so big. And a yes for 100 pages, too. For me, it’s an hour, after that I’m content and know, whether it’s the right time for this book. Greetings from Germany❣
Wait, that’s such a good way of thinking about it! 50 pages a day = finished in less than a month
I’ve read this greatest of revenge stories 4 times over 75 years. I expect to do it again next year.
Much better than this it just don’t get.
I can sometimes only read 10 pages a day though 😂 I’ve been thinking about reading this recently
I am currently reading it and halfway through, but I've got so much going on in my life, that sometimes I only read give pages per day or none at all. But I still come back to it every time because it's just so good.
The Brothers Karamazov is nothing short of a masterpiece. I remember being scared to read it and then the moment I finished all I wanted was to read more. It may have some tough chapters to understand but it's so worth it at the end.
We call these types of books squirrel killers. Definitely read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel it's fantastic. I read it over a week because I couldn't put it down. I'm working through Proust at the moment and it is a bit daunting.
I read East of Eden this year and it was very quick and easy to get through, the writing is so masterful and unique. The storytelling is also very compelling, I think you will really enjoy it. I rated it 4 stars even though I dislike family saga books!
I also read it this year and loved it! The last third or so especially had me by the throat. Cal Trask's arc is exactly the kind of thing I'm craving right now thematically. It was my first Steinbeck and I can't wait to read more of his work.
I totally agree with your assessment. East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are so readable. Unlike some classics that use a lot older language styles, Steinbeck is way more accessible. It’s a good place to start with intimidating looking books.
Yes! Surprisingly how the pages just melted away!
Middlemarch . You won’t regret it
I’ve read multiple times !
Some characters you will fall in love with , other not quite so . But overall is so satisfying
The Count of Monte Cristo is amazing. And honestly reads very quickly. I'm reading it for the third time right now. And even reading only one chapter a day you'll finish in four months!
I want to read East of Eden too! I've read so many books by Steinbeck but not that one...yet.
I just finished The Count of Monte Cristo and loved it. The main character Edmond Dantes has a fantastic character arc. I ended up reading 100-200 pages of this book in between other books, so it took me a few months, but I loved it. Dumas writing is very accessible as well.
Brothers Karamazov is my favorite book of all time!! You'll love ❤️ it, trust me
i am dyslexic and have adhd but I managed to read east of Eden and loved it I usually can't read books that long but I loooooved this one
East of Eden, wow one of my favorite books of all time and I cannot wait to hear your thoughts! I wish I could read it all over again for the first time. You got this!
So glad you love it!!! That’s how I feel about Anna Karenina!
You have intrigued me, thank you. Now it’s in my list
it's so comforting to know that even Carolyn gets scared of starting huge books
I most certainly do!!
Ok, today i just have finished “quiet flows the Don” and than i saw your video😅 What can I say about it?…It’s like a “War and Peace” just gives you this huge storyline of families and about the war. There is more war than in War and peace, because there are a war, a revolution, a civil war and more….It’s really heartbreaking and i don’t really want to say a lot about the main plot, because you need to read by yourself. There is a lot about history of Russia and that’s really interesting too. War and peace is bigger tan Quiet flows the Don, by the way. So, i really would recommend it to you)if you will have time for it, it costs that time❤
Grapes of Wrath is amazing!!! One of my favorite books of all time.
As The Iliad and Odyssey were told aloud from memory I think they'd fit audiobooks perfectly. My advice - for what it is worth - with big books is to set a number of pages you'd read in a day and just consistently read. When I read Proust I set 50 pages a day but you can set whatever number you like. After reading Proust I have no fear about big books. I just make sure I spend a bit of time planning before I start and make a little checklist so I can tick it off as I go. I've got Richardson's Clarissa to read, which is apparently the longest novel in the English language, but because it an epistolary novel I thought I light read it next year using the dates of the letters and spread it out over the year. Make it a fun project. The Illiad and Odyssey are both well-worth reading. Middlemarch is wonderful. I need to do a re-read.
reading anna karenina and war and peace made me less afraid of long books 😂if i can read them then i can read any other long books
Me too! But then I look at a big book and get scared again! 😂
Why??
Are they hard to read
I guessed The Count of Monte Cristo just by seeing the pile 🤣 I read it a couple of months ago for the first time and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!
I believe fear of big books may have something to do with reading goals and statistics because at the end of the day they are just pages. But it looks nicer on our wrap ups to say we've read ten books of 150 pages each instead of just one 1500 pages book. I say that to myself every time I see how my reading goal is not going well because I've spend 70 days on Monte Cristo instead of reading 3 or 4 books in that time 😐🥰
Loved East of Eden, Grapes of Wrath, and anything else by John Steinbeck including his shorter stuff. Do read it. If you want to balance your list with another book written by a woman, then read Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. This is my favourite classic novel, and Undset won the Nobel prize for literature largely on the strength of it. There are a couple of English translations. I prefer the one by Charles Archer for its language, but the newer translation by Tina Nunnally is more complete and coherent and is in plain, modern English. I read And Quiet Flows the Don as an unbearded youth over 50 years ago, and remember really enjoying it, though I can't remember the details of it.
Oh Carolyn! You need to read the Count of Montecristo! It's my favorite book ever. It has everything: love, friendship, loyalty, betray, adventure, mistery, comedy... It's so so good! I promise it's worth it 😊 I finished it a few days ago for the second time and it still blows my mind how fastinating I find the story!
The Susanna Clarke book sounds interesting!
And I think you are right with reading Dostoyevski 's work in chronological order, i think I should do that too 🤔 I read from him "the idiot" and "crime and punishment"
You’re getting me so excited to read it! Yay!!!
Dostoyevsky in order is an incredible way to see if life and writing journey! I highly recommend!
Jonathan Strange it's such a good book.
@@CarolynMarieReads I would however advise you to leave Demons, which he wrote between 1869-1872, till last. It is his hardest work.
You need to read Middlemarch Carolyn, one page at a time! Remember! It's a beautiful novel and you just sink into it. Next to read, I recommend The Count of Monte Cristo. Extraordinary novel. Lastly you can't not delve into The Odyssey and The Iliad. Go for it!
Ahhh okay!! Thank you for the encouragement!!!
I'm reading the count of Monte Cristo and it's an big book. I'm taking my time
Also reading The Count of Monte Cristo right now! Being on Kindle I didn't even realise how much of a chonker it is but honestly it just flew by, it's so easy to read and surprisingly (especially considering the theme) the least melodramatic tbh of all pre-XX century french novels I've read, that felt all doom and gloom and woe is me and 'people are opportunistic assholes and they suck'... sure, there are plenty awful people here BUT also plenty characters to love!
I didn't read any of these yet, but I read a huge book this year, which was David Copperfield, and I absolutely LOVED it! I read it in about a month but it felt like a lifetime (in a good way!) and it was like I was in grief when I finished it. It became one of my favourite books of all time 💜
All Steinbeck epics are easy to read because you aren’t slowed by the old English language usage. Don’t be afraid at all. East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are wonderful. And the Count of Monte Cristo is also huge and intimidating but not super difficult to read. And the story is great!
I have many books in this cathegory. Le Morte D'Arthur, Don Quijote, Os Lusíadas, Moby Dick, The Pilgrim's Progress, The Divine Comedy, Middlemarch, Clarissa, Paradise Lost, The Canterbury Tales, Atlas Shrugged, The Books of Earthsea...
i just read east of eden and it instantly became one of my favourite books ever, do read it, it's such an enriching experience!
Read Middlemarch, sounds good, and it’s floppy 😊
Thanks for the recommendations
You need to read Monte Cristo! It took me a couple months to get through, but I promise you that it will be a book that you will never want to put down, it is so accessible, entertaining, and adventurous, and you’ll end up loving it more than you could ever imagine! It is such a rewarding and emotional read that you’ll never forget :)
Jonathan Strange is a fantastic book! Two things that fascinate me about the vibe of the book: 1) The footnotes - they contain worldbuilding side tangents, and they also purport to cite references from books that were WRITTEN BY CHARACTERS IN THE STORY. 2) The writing style and ambience shift from the beginning to the end, mirroring the progression of the sorts of magicks the characters are using, and how English Magic itself shifts through the course of the story.
Never heard of this book. It sounds fascinating !
The brothers Karamazov is something special for me. If you would ask me what is my favorite book I would say brothers Karamazov, even tho it’s not my favorite book. It’s just something outstanding for me in the world of literature.
hey! just wanted to ask who was the translator of (english?) version you read
@@vishnugupta470 hey hi, I read it in Russian, so)
I listened to the count of monte Cristo on audio books while walking the dog each day. It’s amazing. I listened to Anna Karinina the same way. As I listened to each I realized that they are filled with just normal words. Nothing over my head. I will site read them next time. My big book is a biography of Sylvia Plath, 937 pgs
Please let us know how much you enjoyed Plath's bio, as I never tire hearing more about her and her work.
East of Eden put me in a reading slump, but every reader is different! I’m currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo, and I’d recommend you start there, while your friends are still gushing about it, and you can enjoy lively discussion about it to keep you moving through!
I read more in the Autumn so maybe the hibernation tendencies may help you read your big books. I love snuggling in my fleecy Blanket with my favourite Reindeer cuddly and a mug of Hot Chocolate and read so much more than during the Summer months.
I think it's better not to know anything about Middlemarch before reading it, to be honest! I knew nothing about it too and I was also intimidated by its length, but eventually I loved it and it's now one of my favourite books of all time!
Just finished the Brothers Karamazov not long ago. It's worth the patience you need to get through it. It's my favourite book now! Simply incredible. The writing, the concepts, the character development.
Having read all of Dostoyevsky 's works, I would rate The Brothers Karamasov second favourite to Crime and Punishment.
However, please don't miss out on The Idiot because I am sure you will like it.
My partner actually bought me the idiot and I am so excited to read it. I loved crime and punishment as well!@@apollonia6656
East of Eden and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell are both books where I didn't notice the length at all while reading. I found East of Eden so engaging, both emotionally and intellectually, and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell made me fall into its world in a way I hadn't experienced in a while.
You will love East of Eden, don't be afraid.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is a MUST! I read it over the course of a month last year and it was one of those books where the length is totally worth it and the ending is totally perfect. I feel like it would be a great fantasy for someone who’s usually a classics reader because it’s paced and written a lot like a Victorian classic. The fantasy is introduced into the story gradually and the scale of the fantasy ramps up very slowly-we don’t start out with magical portals, fairy creatures, or powerful spells, we slowly make our way there from studying old magicians in a library. I think you would love it!
Everything you said is literally perfect!!! My kind of fantasy book for sure! Thank you so much :)
Carolyn, Do you think you'll ever read In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust (aka Remembrance of Things Past), the seven-volume novel? Or maybe you already have, I don't know. I have not yet because it's so huge, but it's always on multiple "top 10" lists for fiction. I just wish it wasn't so intimidating!
I'm reading the Iliad right now, and it's incredible. The emotions the characters feel are the same emotions we feel today, and it's surprisingly very easy to read. You should definitely read the whole thing!!
I read Middlemarch last year and I ABSOLUTELY loved it!!! I still think about it every now and then. I'm pretty sure that you'll really enjoy it too..!!
You should try doing a readathon for these big books.. would love to read them along with you.
I absolutely LOVED Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.
Count of Monte Cristo is so action-packed and fun! Well worth the length :)
I love East of Eden and read it in a few days way up North at a cottage (Canada). No electricity, no running water and I fell in love with Steinbeck. As soon as I finished, I picked up The Grapes of Wrath. Absolutely loved it!!! I am now obsessed with Steinbeck and am devouring his short stories. I found all of these in a laundromat in the wilderness.
What a gift!!
Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrel is one of my favourite books too. I genuinely didn;t notice how long it was as I read it as I was loving it so much .
Oh! The Brothers Karamazov is one of my favorite books ever. I only have 2 favorites. I’m pretty picky when it comes to what I’d call a favorite. I don’t look forward to reading big books either. To my surprise though, The Brothers Karamazov kept me reading until I was finished. The book itself felt enlightening, at least to me. My copy was only 700 pages though 😂 It was the Barnes and Noble classics edition
I can't even explain how good the Brothers Karamazov are 😭🙊 I wanted to comment something about it but all i can say is that, it's worth the read ❤️ one of the books that you read and read you.
Ugh that’s sounds amazing! I love when a book “reads me” in return!!!
I'm afraid to read Brothers Karamazov 😅 I was trying to read "Demons" couldn't finish it:(
I've only read crime and punishment and the Brothers Karamazov, the other Dostoevsky's works I've started but cannot finish like the notes from underground it's too heavy for me i found 😗
@@amandaasmith741 Demons is Dostoevsky's worst major novel. It is too long, poorly written and deals with stuff very unique to Russian history and culture. I had to read it twice in order to get what even happened. I would advise you to leave that to last.
I think I just added a couple of books to my Wish List. 📚😅 Now, The Count Of Monte Cristo... when you decide to read it, I can assure you, Carolyn, you won´t feel it. It reads so easily. It reads very smoothly. It's like a good friend telling you a beatiful story. In my humble opinion, the most beautiful story ever written. 📖❤
Quiet flows the Don is such a wonderful book. My mom loves it, too. You should start with the biggest book on your TBR. And then it'll be less scary to read the rest of them:))
Sorry, forgot to ask you thus: have you read The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins ? It really is such a wonderfully written novel.
Scary? Why?
The Count of Montecristo is probably my favorite book. It’s so hard to read, and so many things I don’t understand completely. I’ve read it like three times now. One day I’ll read it again. Hope you read it soon and enjoy it.
I hope you read Grapes of Wrath soon! I would recommend reading it before East of Eden just because it's a little bit faster paced. Steinbeck does this really cool thing where he rotates between short scene-setting/context chapters and the family we follow between the book. It makes it go so quick, and the writing is the classic beautiful writing!
Also I'm so excited to hear what you think about Middlemarch! It's not plot heavy, but very focused on in depth characterization and I feel like you really get the chance to know the people in the book.
Good luck!
I'm working my way through Les Miserables right now. So...yeah 😄 I'm loving it but it's extraordinarily long. I think I am over my fear of large books at this point in my life as I've read a good number of 800-1200 page books (I tend toward adult fantasy books as a preference and "The Count of Monte Cristo" is my favorite book ever) at this point, but it's still a big commitment.
"East of Eden" is my next classic to read after Les Miserables. It's one of my wife's favorites.
"Atlas Shrugged" is a big classic by a woman. I hate what it preaches with a burning passion, but it fits that bill. And if you live in the US it's probably worth reading to understand its influence.
I already read some of those and they're so easy to read that you'll read them in a flash! The Count of Monte Cristo is so addictive, I coudn't stop, so I read it in 3 weeks. Steinbeck will change your life, like he changed mine and I'm not even american! Another idea is to read according to a chronological order, then, you would start reading the Iliad, a book that explains a lot about the narrative dynamics in the history of literature. It's very visual and explains so much about greek mythology too! Happy readings 😉
Wow! That’s a brilliant idea!! Thank you!
I studied Victorian literature in college and Middlemarch is my absolute favorite that I read! Probably my favorite classic
Speaking for myself, I fear a thin _hard-to-read_ book over a thick _easy-to-read_ book. A thin hard-to-read book (when I was young) was _Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man._ I got through it, but it was pulling teeth. I don't think I understood it very well. I'm still afraid to pick up Joyce.
_East of Eden,_ on the other hand, was a treat! Easy-to-read. Also _The Count of Monte Cristo_ is easy-to-read; my favorite book as a teenager. You will love these two, guaranteed!
Hi, CarolynMarie, THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO, because there are so many interesting movies to study after… and it’s EASY to read. It’s one of the big books I read regularly again (same with Anna Karenina😉). I’m a bookowl my whole reading life (started with 5) and now I’m 67 and as enthusiastic as in the beginning. So I know almost all books you showed and love them. I’m not too much into fantasy, except Lord of the rings and Harry Potter. Maybe I’ll give the one you showed a chance… My life theme is injustice (haha: I worked as a jurist at court my whole work life), and the Monte Christo story is all about that, about things happening all of a sudden in happy times and change everything forever, of course about love, revenge… well, I’ve such a lot of more recommendations. Next one: the brothers Karamasow… next one: East of Eden… and maybe: Les Misérables from Victor Hugo… My advice for starting: grab ONE, prepare tea and cookies, fruit and set a timer for an hour, watch how many pages you read in an hour… after an hour I know, whether it’s the right time for this book. Russian authors in summer are amazing, in winter they can be a bit depressing for me. Have I mentioned GONE WITH THE WIND and JUBILEE TRAIL? Chunky, but always worth a revisit in hard times, because they are easy reads… Hope, that helped, love from MonikaMaria in Germany❣
I love looooove big books idk why I think I like the idea of spending a big amount of time finishing a book
Yes, me too! But the hard part for me is actually deciding to open it! Once I do I’m good to go! 😂 Makes no sense!
Super late to this video, but you should definitely read the Count of Monte Cristo! I’m hoping to finish it soon, and it’s been an incredible read. The characters are wonderful and compelling and the story is absolutely gripping. I’ve been reading from the same edition you own, and I really like this translation. This prose is beautiful and pretty accessible without feeling “dumbed down”. I promise it’s not as daunting once you get into it. I hope you enjoy it!
I first read Grapes of Wrath when I was 19, in the days (1971) we were kept in hospital for 10 days after the birth of a first child. I would read it first, but East of Eden is great too. What I notice is the difference in the way books are published, in giant tomes that look pretty intimidating, but i suspect with much bigger margins and print. The really large books in my days were the likes of James Michener. I read Gone With the Wind over a 3 day holiday when my son was 3 weeks old - he was such an easy baby
If i liked an author i would read as much as i could of their work.
My suggestion is to stop counting pages and throw yourself in
I wish I had those 50 years of reading all over again. Make the most of it you will never regret it. And thank you for your lovely posts, I enjoy them very much. You have got me keen to read the Russian classics again
Hello, "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas senior and his collaborating ghostwriter Auguste Maquet, is one of the biggest
stories ever. If you have read the first few pages you are on a journey through time and it will take your breath away. Even if it is over
1000 pages, you will wish for 1000 pages more after finishing the book. Best wishes from Das BücherUniversum from Germany.
I too have been meaning to get to many of these, especially the Steinbecks and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell! I do really encourage you to give Middlemarch a go; it’s one of my very favourite novels and I think you might love it, too. Also, I really recommend finding someone to read Homer with. A friend and I did a little book club on The Iliad together last year, and that made the whole thing so much less daunting and more fun!
Brothers Karamazov is the most amazing book, you will have a full range of emotions and at times it will make you shed tears and wonder soo much about life. Please read it.
The biggest are the best, Carolyn! Great Tbr! I am currently reading War and Peace and i am loving it! Yes, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is fantastic! Hope you like it. 😍
I just finished the count of monte Cristo, and it was probably one of the most entertaining and accessible classics I've read. Also brothers Karamazov is a masterpiece, it's one of those books so impactful that will make you put it down for some minutes and stare at a wall, but I definitely recommend reading Dostoyevsky's works in order.
I also have “East of Eden” on my TBR and I want to start it next month (don’t know why it gives me autumn vibes). Maybe you should do a readathon video for this book! 🥲🤍
All right encouragement!
Listen you had the ability to read War and Peace and Anna Karenina! And You LOVED them!!!!
And every book you read can be your next Anna Karenina
So take those lots of papers full of ink and stare at them and hallucinate for hours! (Reading😂)
And you know…books suppose to be long because they’re caring a world inside them and you get to travel there
I’ve got East of Eden and The Brothers Karamazov on the floor right next to my bed whilst The Count of Monte Cristo and Middlemarch stare accusingly from my bookshelves.
I wanted to read Doestovesky’s works in order too but then last week I randomly, in the most unexpected place read a spoiler for The Brothers Karamazov and i’m kicking myself. I just hope it’s a thing that happens early in the book but it does mean i will no longer be going in blind which i like to do. It might just be the push to start reading it.
I’ve read Grapes of Wrath (which I really recommend). There’s this whole bit about a tortoise that sticks with me the most from it for some reason. The Iliad and the odyssey are must reads.
I’ve got a few other doorstop modern classics on my TBR and Doctor Zhivago which i’m so excited for.
You should read the count of monte christo, it is sooo good and interesting, I loved it. I read it with the big book club. 😊
Ahh okay!!! Getting me excited!
I've added Quiet Flows the Don and Trinity to my TBR... as if I need more big books 🤷♀ Most of the largest tombs I have on my shelves are nonfiction reads, usually history history (I love them, but read them in spurts!!).
The Count of Monte Cristo is worth the time. My son has read it twice. Happy reading!
I love men for so many reasons but mostly because they’ve written all of my favorite books. ❤️❤️❤️
The Count of Monte Cristo 🥰 The Brothers Karamazov 🥰 I still need to read Middlemarch and East of Eden.
Do not be intimidated by East of Eden! It's thrilling! It's my favorite book of all time. I feel like it's impossible to overhype. The character study is incredible.
Great Expetations isn't that long but the way it is written can slow you down compared to contemporary books that size.
currently making my way through middlemarch by george eliot, and the best advice I have for anyone wanting to read a big book is to just start it. once you start, it's easier to keep going ☺ east of eden & the Iliad are also pretty high up on my tbr 💖
I started it this June and intend to read it serially like it was at the time. Really enjoying it. I binge-read Book II yesterday.
The Count of Monte Cristo is a delightful and very easy read. I read it in a few days, and it flew by! One of my favorites, it's just breathtaking
I have several similar large books I want to read! middle March, East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are on my shelf. Middle March is next for me! I definitely recommend Brothers Karamazov, it is great!
The Count of Monte Cristo will remain one of my favourite books of all time. I read it more than 15 years ago and I still remember it, it is that good.
On a side note, I never care how long a book is, I just start reading. If it's interesting enough, I will finish it in a matter of days. So don't look at the volume, just start reading 🙂
I feel this issue with long books. The longest books I've read were the fourth Harry Potter book, a german classic for school and Jane Eyre. They each took my like a month to read if not more, because I kind of DNFd the HP book in between. However, I have planned to read a few of the bigger books on my TBR in the next two months. They are by far not the biggest, but the biggest I'm currently interested in. Something that I like to do is tracking my progress in percent because it encourages me to continue. This month I want to read Dracula (454 pages) and possibly Tess of the D'Urbervilles (398 pages).
I think you are going to love so many of these! Homer, East of Eden, and The Count of Monte Cristo for sure!! (Personally, I did not enjoy Grapes of Wrath, though I loved, loved EofE.)
I read the Odyssey and the Iliad one “book” a day. It takes a while but then you have all day to digest it!
Yay for Middlemarch! A lot of these are on my tbr too.
I have a great 3 volume edition of Strange & Norrell that will make it easier to hold at least :))
I'm seeing East of Eden everywhere lately, it's the one big Steinbeck I haven't read.
Odyssey and Iliad are great, I'm going to read Emily Wilson's translations at some point (she's working on Iliad now) but don't sleep on the Aeneid!
I haven't read Brothers K, I just finished a short collection of his from Pushkin Press, 'A Bad Business'. 'The Crocodile was our favorite story out of it.
Count of Monte Cristo is great, but sooo long lol. I actually don't mind the abridged version, for once.
I'm going to recommend another big book I think you'd like, Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. It's the life story of a strong willed girl in 14th century Norway. Written in the 1920s, she won a Nobel, largely for it.
Hi carolyn! I read the count of monte cristo a few months ago, it took me 2 months to get through, but honestly if you got through war and peace, you’ll certainly be able to read this. It’s incredibly easy to read (I was surprised by this, coming across a classic that almost seemed contemporary) and fun. The scenes are very visceral and almost movie-like. If there’s one book in that pile you shouldn’t be afraid to read, it’s the count of monte cristo. I feel you’ll definitely adore and appreciate everything about it. Good luck! 😊
Great choices with Homer's works! I miss reading those. If you don't read much fantasy, you just might start looking for more after finishing those.
"Trinity" is the one I haven't heard of, which is embarrassing because I've spent years building my expertise on Irish literature.
Best of luck with that pile, Carolyn.
I'm getting to some of the big books you've read, like Don Quixote, I'm assigning a month that I will read them in, for example May-June next year for Don Quixote. So perhaps taking those 10 and assigning them a month within the next year or two when you will read them.
Perhaps you can structure them like so:
October 22: Jonathan Strange
November-December, that really big Russian
January: Iliad
February: Karamazov
March: Middlemarch (women's history month)
April - may Count
June Odyssey
July East of Eden
August Trinity
I recently got The Iliad and The Odyssey along with The Aeneid.A few days ago while out walking I found on the street a historical novel called The Mask Of Apollo set in ancient Greece.If the gods are trying to tell me something and now have chosen you as the oracle I don't stand a chance as to the course of my immediate future reads.😂✨
Love that hahaha
I was truly afraid of Middlemarch Carolyn because of the size but also because of George Eliot’s writing style. I knew I could do it after tackling the behemoth War and Peace (btw, you were my encouragement to read it😊). I ADORED Middlemarch. Now one of my favorite classics of all time. Please read it!😊😊
The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite classic! The translation is so good and engaging! Jonathan Strange was good and interesting but not the best for me.
i just finished war and peace because you and emma inspired me! it was absolutely incredible and i honestly feel a lot less afraid of large books now
That’s amazing!!! So glad
I read East of Eden a couple months ago and it is one of my top 5 favorite books of all time!!
Ah, lovely. Will read along with you if you pick up any of these. Funnily enough, pretty much got the same on my shelf. Although I read the Odyssey and the Iliad back in school. Greek school (you have to). 'The Tale of Genji' (Murasaki Shikibu) is another massive one I'd like to pick up sometime, hopefully...
Middlemarch for the win!!
Watched your video about “Big books worth your time,” and although not quite as big as these, I’ve started Jane Eyre on your recommendation. Having always had a fear of Classics in general, I’m surprised just how modern Charlotte Bronte’s writing is and so beautiful. Interested to see if you get to East of Eden soon. 😊📚🙏
a tip for dostoievski, there's a wonderful 5 volume bio made be joseph frank on him that makes the experience of reading so much more rewarding, soooo, something to keep in mind
and i've read the count of monte cristo and brothers kamarazov, the count has a wonderful pace for such a long book, is similar to david cooperfield in the way that you always want to read a bit more of it, brothers karamazov is more of a handful, i wont lie, but i love the premisse of each brother being the face of one ideal and the clash of it, so its a very profound and good read, and one its of the few appearances of the devil in a classic, which i wont lie it was also a seller for me, since the idea of fiodor version of the father of lies is a very entertaining one.
I would HIGHLY recommend to read V. V. Krestovsky 'Petersburg slums' (I guess there are more than 1000pages) and it is even better than Anna Karenina! a lot of drama in one book😍
East of Eden definitely did not feel like a 600 page book when I read it! And I read it quite soon after I had first gotten back into reading after a many year hiatus :)
If it’s a book that you love and really want to read then the number of pages doesn’t matter. I’ve read East of Eden and Count of Monte Cristo. Loved them both and hated for them to end. The bigger the better imo. The Goldfinch and The Secret History were also joys to read. Donna Tartt is amazing.