Here’s another selection of titles from my To Be Read shelf. The thing that these ones have in common is that they are the 13 longest books I own but have not yet read. All of these are over 600 pages long – some are considerably longer than that. Maybe it is the sheer size of these books that has put me off reading them. Anyway, friendly TTers, can you tell me anything about any of these? Any that you recommend? Any that you would like to warn me not to bother reading? All opinions and comments will be most welcome.
WARLOCK by Wilbur Smith (642 pages) The third novel of Ancient Egypt that Wilbur Smith has written. The first two were excellent, so I expect good things from this one.
A MAN IN FULL by Tom Wolfe (787 pages) I’ve read a couple of Wolfe’s books and enjoyed them. I’ve had this for a few years and I’m not sure why I haven’t tackled it yet.
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BODYGUARD OF LIES by Anthony Cave Brown (821 pages) This looked very interesting when I saw it on Amazon, and I’m sure it is, but I had no idea it was so long. Small print too.
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UNDER THE DOME by Stephen King (1072 pages) This is one big-ass book! How does he manage to churn them out? Does he have elves typing away in his attic?
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THE BASTARD by John Jakes (634 pages). I have had this one on my TBR shelf for ages. Like, maybe, since 1996. I bought it in a thrift shop in Walnut Creek, CA, when I was taking a holiday in the Bay Area with my ex-wife (before she was ex, of course). It’s the first volume in an eight-book series.
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ONE DOOR AWAY FROM HEAVEN by Dean Koontz (757 pages) A pretty long novel from a writer who seldom disappoints.
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BLEAK HOUSE by Charles Dickens (723 pages) I’ve seen two TV adaptations of this, and enjoyed them both, so I know the story of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce and the characters involved. One day I’ll tackle the book.
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FALL OF GIANTS by Ken Follett (850 pages) I really enjoyed both of Follett’s medieval novels (
The Pillars of the Earth and
World Without End) so I’m curious to see how he does with Europe a mere 100 years ago. I suspect he’ll do very well!
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PIECE OF CAKE by Derek Robinson (667 pages) This writer has a reputation, not entirely unjustified, for debunking accepted historical conceptions. When this novel was made for TV it was very controversial. I look forward to finding out.
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A WORLD UNDONE by G. J. Meyer (715 pages) Another history of the First World War, a subject that fascinates me.
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EMPEROR: THE GATES OF ROME by Conn Iggulden (624 pages) I like historical novels (as opposed to period romances - ugh!) and this looks quite good. The author’s name looks like an anagram so it must be genuine!
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NEW YORK by Edward Rutherfurd (1017 pages) This writer specializes in long novels set in one place, over a span of many generations. I’ve read his
Sarum and
London and enjoyed both. So this should be good.
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THE WAR LORD by Malcolm Bosse (736 pages) See the blurb on the cover comparing this to
Shogun ? I didn’t enjoy
Shogun, so that has put me off somewhat. Still and all, I suppose I should give it a try.
br /> Hmmm... That little lot come to 10,045 pages. I’d better get reading!
I read The Bastard in the 1990s and remember absolutely nothing about it. (Except the cover.) I don't know if that's more a reflection on the book, or me.
Posted by: The Gal Herself | August 25, 2011 at 02:18 PM
That IS a lot of pages!
Posted by: Claire | August 25, 2011 at 02:42 PM
I read The Dome, pretty good! Saw a piece on TV about Dean Koontz recently...interesting man and back story!
Posted by: Janet | August 25, 2011 at 02:59 PM
Oh, I'd like to get to the new King and Koontz books--I didn't know they were out. Thanks.
Posted by: Brenda | August 25, 2011 at 04:40 PM
Sometimes I wish we could hold a book to our head and mind meld with it like Dr. Spock.
Posted by: colleen | August 25, 2011 at 10:41 PM
If you're going to read 'Under the Dome' do it quickly - I just read yesterday that this is being made into a TV series.
Or, you could just skip reading it & wait until it's on the tube.
I haven't read that Koontz book yet, though I've read several others by him - the Odd Thomas books being my favorite & the Christopher Snow books running a close second. The only problem I've found with his books is that I go through them too quickly - his stories are such fast reads.
True story: I first learned the word 'Bastard' when I was very young & saw a copy of 'The Bastard' on my mother's bookshelf. I didn't understand why she told me to watch my tongue when I asked her, "Mom, who's the bastard?".
Posted by: Rasmenia | September 02, 2011 at 09:25 AM
I'm sure I've read some of these. Just popped in to say hullo! (waving!) Life has been full and challenging. Good to see you're still blogging away. :)
Posted by: darkdaughta | September 04, 2011 at 01:28 PM