I did Middlemarch as part of A level English 35 yrs ago. I had a brilliant teacher who taught in such a way that you forgot how big the book was and learned to love it
Hi Simon, thank you for this video! I tend to looooove big books!! My favorite big books are: _Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (probably my favorite novel ever) _The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien _All the books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin _His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman _Sodom and Gomorrah by Marcel Proust _Metamorphoses by Ovid _The Invention of Angela Carter by Edmund Gordon _Bleak House by Charles Dickens (I didn't want this book to end…) _The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates _Bellefleur by Joyce Carol Oates (I prefer this one to The Accursed) Thank you for your recommendations! I hope you can discover good books (and new favorites!) with mine!
I’m curious how do you not crack the spine of such of big books?? I need instructions! Btw you need to read East of Eden or Cannery Row to appreciate Steinbeck.
Loved A Little Life. Couldn't turn my eyes away it broke my heart. A few favorite long reads: The Goldfinch, Lonesome Dove, A Winters Tale, Cutting For Stone.
So happy-nostalgic, even-to hear you talk about Pilcrow again since it was your recommendation on The Readers years ago that made me aware of its existence and caused me to read it. I really liked it, felt maybe that it could have been a hundred pages shorter but maybe not because I find myself thinking and feeling a lot about it often - I think it’s high time I got to the sequel!
Found you through your Gladstone vlog, I'm interning there this summer! Loving your channel. I want to read A Little Life, I own it but I just haven't gotten round to reading yet
Just found your channel and loved this video. I am hopelessly drawn to big books so this was right up my ally. Thanks for so many great recommendations I can’t wait to pick up some of these!
As a new subscriber, I'm coming to this video "late", but I am so glad to see East Lynne mentioned. I loved the Victorian melodrama with its convoluted plot and went on to read several Wilkie Collins books. Oh!! There's Armadale- loved that too!
Oooh, love me some laudanum 😵 with you 100% on Collins and would love a Sensational video for the long winter evenings. Another thoughtful video, Simon. Gone a bit SF with Kim Stanley Robinson's New York 2140 ( 614 pages ) for my BBW.
Loved Small Island & The Narrow Rd. As you know I bought Gillespie & I this month thanks to you ☺ Recommendations - I recently read Under A Pole Star & loved it. Would also recommend Cutting For Stone if you didn't read it a few years ago.
Hi Simon! I love Murakami, I recently bought his new short story collection but haven't read it yet. I bought The Crimson Petal and the White because of Jen but haven't read it yet.
Small Island sounds right up my street! I love world war 2 books! I have Armadale on my shelf but have never picked it up....you have really made me want to read it now 😊 A Little Life is my favourite book of this year....not over it yet 💔
Can I make a confession? I'm a book wimp. I started A Little Life. Got half way through and couldn't go on. If I love a character and think something awful is going to happen to them, I stop reading. Remember how Joey in Friends hid The Shining in the freezer? That would be me.
Great list! Pre-ordered Flanagans book when it came out, but didn't get to it untill now, so this is a good motivation to do so :). Have you tried Ken Folletts century trilogy and/or his Pillars of the earth series? Both series are historical fiction masterpieces and really worth the effort, I think you will enjoy them as well :).
I came across The Narrow Road to the Deep North in a charity shop some time ago, looked it up on Goodreads, saw you'd given it 5 stars and immediately took it home. Haven't picked it up yet though, but that will now happen quite soon! Also planning to pick up A Little Life this summer!
I'm pacing myself on Murakami because I really enjoy him, so Kafka is still sitting unread on my shelves. As are a few others you've mentioned here... :)
Your new glasses look great! Well chosen! Started The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. Maybe I will start another one, too. Like your kicking to start a big book, I have some on my shelf for a long time already. But I wish I would have some holidays not only a weekend to go through.
Ive not read the novel Small Island (although I think I tried to once). Have you seen the film adaptation with Benedict Cumberbatch in? It’s very good if you haven’t!
Pilcrow sounds really interesting. I will have to pick it up soon. Armadale also sounds intriguing; I’ve never read Wilke Collins. Also, the new glasses are great. Very classy!
I adore Wilkie Collins! And Armadale is so good. I also loved Law and the Lady, Basil, Woman in White, No Name, and Man and Wife - all of which have that great Collins sensationalism. Rogues Life is hilariously funny but atypical for Collins.
I'm liking this camera set up! I was hoping A Little Life would be in this collection haha, I took so much away from that book. Narrow Road sounds so incredible!
Great video and totally agree re The Narrow Road. Stunning novel. Yes to a sensation novel video. I have only read The Women in White but adored it. Off to order Armadale.... and East Lynne and Peyton Place.. oops
I love the Victorian era too!! Kafka on the Shore has been on my TBR list for soo long and Wilkie Collins too! All the books you mentioned sound absolutely fantastic! Geat video!
I know the feeling where the mouth cannot keep up with the brain 😂 awesome collection of books. My husband is in a wheelchair and I’m nervous about reading A Little Life because of this. The glasses look great btw and I hope you are having a fab weekend 😽
I love reading big books! A couple of my favourites are The Goldfinch (and the other books by Donna Tartt), the biography of Roald Dahl by Donald Sturrock and the whole ‘My Struggle’ series by Karl Ove Knausgård (except for the last instalment which is mostly a big incomprehensible disquisition on art, literature and also Hitler). Definitely found some interesting ones in this video as well :)
Oh I got so many new books to read!! I've been meaning to read Flanagan's book for years, and I never do it. I also loved A Little Life, although I don't know if I will be able to read it again. Great video!!
New glasses? Love the T shirt 😍I was at my local library today. It's teeny/tiny. Hadn't been in library in years. Forgot how comforting they are. In terms of MH we need libraries as calm osais in modern life.
I would love a video on sensational novels!!!!! I haven’t read many of them but I’ve always been interested in them. I haven’t read any Wilkie Collins outside of The Moonstone and The Woman in White, both of which I love.
A Little Life is the only book I have ever read that made me cry. It's brilliant and I don't understand the hate it gets. Also, Kafka on the Shore was my first Murakami, too! It's on my must reread, TBR. I read East Lynne in an undergrad Victorian Lit class and really enjoyed it. It's long, but it's such a page-turner that it doesn't feel long at all. Now I'm off to look into some of your other suggestions. I love videos like this.
I can't believe I've never heard of the Crimson Petal and the White. It sounds amazing and similar to something Sarah Waters would write. (I remember in a past video you mentioned wanting to read Fingersmith - did you end up getting around to that one? I'm eager to hear what your thoughts are!)
Loving The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber - Outstanding. Peyton Place by Grace Metalious - OMG Sunday nights at my Gran's house. I think I was in P2 or P3 primary school. Happy days.
A Little Life destroyed me in the best possible way. I’m so glad to see some love for it as I feel it’s been particularly torn apart on booktube... and I do fully understand why it’s not for everyone. But I love it so deeply. And this video is great, I love getting recommendations for big books. I really love Les Miserables, East of Eden, and The Heart’s Invisible Furies as well.
I’ve just added several of these to my GR want to read list. I don’t read many big books, but my favorite is American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I really liked (most of) The Secret History by Donna Tartt also.
What a juicy collection! I've never read Wilkie Collins, and because like you I don't care much for Dickens it's time I gave Collins a go. I have often been tempted by Pilcrow, but have always been hesitant. I shall now seek it out. I've got The Wind Up Bird Chronicle in my pile, which I expect to be equally crazy as Kafka on the Shore. Favourite big books are always so difficult to decide upon. Some of the more accessible are Middlemarch (just love Dorothea), This Thing of Darkness about captain Fitzroy of The Beagle fame and his great voyage. Just fabulous. At Swim Two Birds a great story of a young gay man against the backdrop of the Easter Rising, and The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni, a classic criminally little read outside of Italy, but featuring lovers torn apart by a wicked nobleman, venal priests, war, famine, mysterious characters etc etc. Highly recommended.
Ooo I'm actually currently reading Kafka on the shore and I'm enjoying it so much (even though I just read that horrific scene with Johnny Walker 😓 ). One of my favourite big books is Odinsbarn by Siri Pettersen. It's the first book in a norweigan fantasy trilogy, and I don't think it's translated into english yet unfortunately. But it's just amazing!
Big books are my favorite. They're the flame to my moth-self. I wish more people read The Luminaries (on a random note), it's the book I see on more people's videos that remains unread and it's so good. Shout out to that amazing shirt🚀
Have you tried House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski? This one is a favorite of mine and was a thrilling big book with an overall unique structure/set up.
Hi Simon! I've just watched the video, first time in your channel! Loved it! Thanks for the big books suggestions. I'm from Brazil and I teach English here. Could you tell me where you are from? I'll recommend your channel to my students and they'll certainly ask me (because of the accent). Booktube is amazing for us - foreigners studying English - as we can be in contact with different accents while hearing about the books and their stories, characters, context. I'll watch more of your videos now :-D
Love big books! ♥ Thanks for sharing your faves, Simon. Some of the wonderful, big books I have loved throughout the years are: "The Far Pavilions" by M.M. Kaye, "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth, "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry, "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, "Shantaram" by Gregory Roberts, "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, "Lord of the Rings" by Tolkien, "Shogun" by James Clavell, any book written by James Michener which are all beautifully written (and weighty), and I would say "The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu, but I still have not completed it as yet...I am over halfway through, and have been for quite awhile...it has 1216 pages, and the story is immense and beautiful...I will pick it up, and dive into it again, soon.) I also enjoyed "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett (and all of his follow-up books which were long, as well,) and as you mentioned, "Crimson Petal and the White" by Faber was really great, which I read upon Jen's recommendation, as did many of us. :)
i'm 600 pages into "the crimson petal and the white" and my only complaint is that it's so big to hold...wish they'd put it out in two volume edition...some of my favorite big books are "dombey and son" by dickens. "les miserable" by hugo "middlemarch" by eliot.."the sunlight dialogues" by john gardner and "the golden notebook" by doris lessing and '1Q84" by murakami..
Oh I should not have watched this, my TBR mountain just grew even taller! So many instances too of, yes, I have that one, I need to get to it! Anyway, I vote enthusiastically for a sensational novels video & a Jane Harris spotlight video. Enjoy the rest of your weekend - I have to work all of it, oh the joys of the retail life 🙄
If you enjoy Murakami's wackiness and a big long read, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is exceptional! It is a tie between that one and Stephen King's The Stand as my favorite big book.
My first Murakami was 1Q84, which was a weird experience because I loved the first two parts, but the third part made me feel like I had been watching a fantastic series, and was then given a double final episode that was just an intro with a voiceover constantly saying "Previously on 1Q84."
The voice of Harriet Baxter will stay with me always. Jane Harris is the MVP!! I’ve just bought Sugar Money and I’m saving it for me hols. I’m on the other team for A Little Life I’m afraid, I found it didn’t stand up to scrutiny in many ways. My fave big book is The Cider House Rules by John Irving. He’s a real rambler but if you’re not in a rush, it’s a lovely ride.
Okay. I do rather believe that I have recommended this book before as it is really my favourite chunker in years and it is The Quincunx by Charles Palliser. Currently reading The Observations, so yes, Mr. Savidge, let's do have a discussion of Ms. Harris' books. I might need more convincing to read Sugar Money ( I am tempted).
One of my favourite big books is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (obviously!) Also Bleak House by Charles Dickens, after having a poor experience trying to read Great Expectations for my English Language and Literature A-Level, years later I listened to an unabridged edition of Bleak House and I loved it. It's just a full on soap (in a way) in one novel, it's got dual narrators, themes relevant to today, and I just loved it.
I love Small Island, my favourite use of multiple narrators in a novel. I studied Armadale but never actually read it (English student life) so I should really get to that one as well as Richard Flanagan, I've had them too long. I also love Our Mutual Friend by Dickens (he's not all bad I promise), Middlemarch and Annabel by Kathleen Winter, I think you'd really like that one if you haven't read it. It's about a hermaphrodite and plays with gender a lot. Great video!
I've been curious about Peyton Place for a long time, since I heard it referenced in Gilmore Girls. Your description of it makes me think a bit of Shirley Jackson, which makes me think I'd really get on with it!
I didn't hate a Little Life , just struggled with it. Try Middlemarch by George Eliot. A beautiful read and great if you are a people watcher and Love Gossip as this book is full of Both!!
I loved A Little Life, although it was not perfect and have been astonished that some people hate it. I so agree that it is the diverse reactions to books that make reading interesting. BUT I must confess do I get grouchy when the reasons someone dislikes a book either shows they didn't understand it or that they have "silly" reasons for disliking it. Favorite big books: A Fine Balance by Rohinson Mistry; The Heart's Invisible Furies bt John Boyne, and don't shoot me but Ulysses by James Joyce (Bloomsday, June 16, is my birthday).
Biggest books I've read this year Four past midnight - Stephen King - although that doesn't count as it's 4 novellas The dark tower 3 - also by Stephen King - boy does he write big books not always a good thing. This one needed a good edit! I am also reading with Katie from Books and Things, Bleak House. She has organised a Victorian Readalong, so we are reading it as published, in monthly parts, and it will take a year and half to finish!
East Lynne looks dressing an powerful- I'm sold. Oh My God the cover design you have for Kafka on the shore is so wrong! It's far to cute; brilliant book though. I've never read crimson Petal, but other people have said I'd like it. I still have A Little Life wrapped up on my shelf ( because of your warning, it never got sent to mum, or unwrapped either) I'm interested that you mentioned male friendships, its very true I haven't seen many that do?
one fav big book is lord of the ring trilogy, just because its lord of the rings lol. I love fantasy. Game of thrones as well are all big books but only read the first two. I want to read It as well, but big books are intimidating to me. There are several on this video i'm interested in but would probably take me all year to read them! Oh, and Outlander as well
I love that you're not talking about Steinbeck or Dickens. Everybody's heard of them. If there's one thing I love about your videos, it's that I often have never heard of most of the books that you highlight and that's so refreshing. I'm really impressed by how varied your reading choices are. I definitely want to check out Small Island and Peyton Place now. They both sound quite interesting. I think I might suggest Small Island for my book club actually. I just finished a big book recently, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and I really enjoyed it. So many twists and turns, beautiful writing, wonderful mystery. I liked it so much more than I expected to.
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I did Middlemarch as part of A level English 35 yrs ago. I had a brilliant teacher who taught in such a way that you forgot how big the book was and learned to love it
Hi Simon, thank you for this video! I tend to looooove big books!!
My favorite big books are:
_Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (probably my favorite novel ever)
_The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
_All the books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin
_His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
_Sodom and Gomorrah by Marcel Proust
_Metamorphoses by Ovid
_The Invention of Angela Carter by Edmund Gordon
_Bleak House by Charles Dickens (I didn't want this book to end…)
_The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates
_Bellefleur by Joyce Carol Oates (I prefer this one to The Accursed)
Thank you for your recommendations! I hope you can discover good books (and new favorites!) with mine!
I’m curious how do you not crack the spine of such of big books?? I need instructions!
Btw you need to read East of Eden or Cannery Row to appreciate Steinbeck.
Valentina García Yes! East of Eden!!!
I loved A Little Life! I read it 2 years ago and still think about it.
Loved A Little Life. Couldn't turn my eyes away it broke my heart. A few favorite long reads: The Goldfinch, Lonesome Dove, A Winters Tale, Cutting For Stone.
So happy-nostalgic, even-to hear you talk about Pilcrow again since it was your recommendation on The Readers years ago that made me aware of its existence and caused me to read it. I really liked it, felt maybe that it could have been a hundred pages shorter but maybe not because I find myself thinking and feeling a lot about it often - I think it’s high time I got to the sequel!
Love the new glasses! The books all sound great, thank you.
Found you through your Gladstone vlog, I'm interning there this summer! Loving your channel. I want to read A Little Life, I own it but I just haven't gotten round to reading yet
Just found your channel and loved this video. I am hopelessly drawn to big books so this was right up my ally. Thanks for so many great recommendations I can’t wait to pick up some of these!
As a new subscriber, I'm coming to this video "late", but I am so glad to see East Lynne mentioned. I loved the Victorian melodrama with its convoluted plot and went on to read several Wilkie Collins books. Oh!! There's Armadale- loved that too!
I love the sensation novels of the Victorian era.
Oooh, love me some laudanum 😵 with you 100% on Collins and would love a Sensational video for the long winter evenings. Another thoughtful video, Simon. Gone a bit SF with Kim Stanley Robinson's New York 2140 ( 614 pages ) for my BBW.
ENORMOUSLY enjoyed this ;)
Loved Small Island & The Narrow Rd. As you know I bought Gillespie & I this month thanks to you ☺
Recommendations - I recently read Under A Pole Star & loved it. Would also recommend Cutting For Stone if you didn't read it a few years ago.
Hi Simon! I love Murakami, I recently bought his new short story collection but haven't read it yet. I bought The Crimson Petal and the White because of Jen but haven't read it yet.
Jane Harris, yes!! She is a recent discovery and I have so enjoyed her books. This was a great post Simon, thank you.
Small Island sounds right up my street! I love world war 2 books! I have Armadale on my shelf but have never picked it up....you have really made me want to read it now 😊 A Little Life is my favourite book of this year....not over it yet 💔
Can I make a confession? I'm a book wimp. I started A Little Life. Got half way through and couldn't go on. If I love a character and think something awful is going to happen to them, I stop reading. Remember how Joey in Friends hid The Shining in the freezer? That would be me.
Don't worry, so did I!! You are not alone!!
Great list! Pre-ordered Flanagans book when it came out, but didn't get to it untill now, so this is a good motivation to do so :). Have you tried Ken Folletts century trilogy and/or his Pillars of the earth series? Both series are historical fiction masterpieces and really worth the effort, I think you will enjoy them as well :).
I came across The Narrow Road to the Deep North in a charity shop some time ago, looked it up on Goodreads, saw you'd given it 5 stars and immediately took it home. Haven't picked it up yet though, but that will now happen quite soon!
Also planning to pick up A Little Life this summer!
the sensational books video sounds amazing, can't wait!😄
I'm pacing myself on Murakami because I really enjoy him, so Kafka is still sitting unread on my shelves. As are a few others you've mentioned here... :)
Your new glasses look great! Well chosen!
Started The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. Maybe I will start another one, too. Like your kicking to start a big book, I have some on my shelf for a long time already. But I wish I would have some holidays not only a weekend to go through.
Great list! East Lynne, Armadale and Gillespie and I are all on my TBR. I would love to hear more about sensation novels and some of your favorites.
Ive not read the novel Small Island (although I think I tried to once). Have you seen the film adaptation with Benedict Cumberbatch in? It’s very good if you haven’t!
Pilcrow sounds really interesting. I will have to pick it up soon. Armadale also sounds intriguing; I’ve never read Wilke Collins. Also, the new glasses are great. Very classy!
I adore Wilkie Collins! And Armadale is so good. I also loved Law and the Lady, Basil, Woman in White, No Name, and Man and Wife - all of which have that great Collins sensationalism. Rogues Life is hilariously funny but atypical for Collins.
I'm liking this camera set up! I was hoping A Little Life would be in this collection haha, I took so much away from that book. Narrow Road sounds so incredible!
haha loving the ending! Definitely going to buy The Crimson Petal !!
I can’t even remember the end of this video. Ha.
Great video and totally agree re The Narrow Road. Stunning novel. Yes to a sensation novel video. I have only read The Women in White but adored it. Off to order Armadale.... and East Lynne and Peyton Place.. oops
I love the Victorian era too!! Kafka on the Shore has been on my TBR list for soo long and Wilkie Collins too! All the books you mentioned sound absolutely fantastic! Geat video!
I know the feeling where the mouth cannot keep up with the brain 😂 awesome collection of books. My husband is in a wheelchair and I’m nervous about reading A Little Life because of this. The glasses look great btw and I hope you are having a fab weekend 😽
I love reading big books! A couple of my favourites are The Goldfinch (and the other books by Donna Tartt), the biography of Roald Dahl by Donald Sturrock and the whole ‘My Struggle’ series by Karl Ove Knausgård (except for the last instalment which is mostly a big incomprehensible disquisition on art, literature and also Hitler). Definitely found some interesting ones in this video as well :)
Oh I got so many new books to read!! I've been meaning to read Flanagan's book for years, and I never do it. I also loved A Little Life, although I don't know if I will be able to read it again. Great video!!
New glasses? Love the T shirt 😍I was at my local library today. It's teeny/tiny. Hadn't been in library in years. Forgot how comforting they are. In terms of MH we need libraries as calm osais in modern life.
Subbed to you over the weekend and have been binge watching your videos .... You are blooming brilliant!! ... Loving your recommendations xx
I would love a video on sensational novels!!!!! I haven’t read many of them but I’ve always been interested in them. I haven’t read any Wilkie Collins outside of The Moonstone and The Woman in White, both of which I love.
A Little Life is the only book I have ever read that made me cry. It's brilliant and I don't understand the hate it gets. Also, Kafka on the Shore was my first Murakami, too! It's on my must reread, TBR. I read East Lynne in an undergrad Victorian Lit class and really enjoyed it. It's long, but it's such a page-turner that it doesn't feel long at all. Now I'm off to look into some of your other suggestions. I love videos like this.
I can't believe I've never heard of the Crimson Petal and the White. It sounds amazing and similar to something Sarah Waters would write. (I remember in a past video you mentioned wanting to read Fingersmith - did you end up getting around to that one? I'm eager to hear what your thoughts are!)
Loving The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber - Outstanding. Peyton Place by Grace Metalious - OMG Sunday nights at my Gran's house. I think I was in P2 or P3 primary school. Happy days.
A Little Life destroyed me in the best possible way. I’m so glad to see some love for it as I feel it’s been particularly torn apart on booktube... and I do fully understand why it’s not for everyone. But I love it so deeply. And this video is great, I love getting recommendations for big books. I really love Les Miserables, East of Eden, and The Heart’s Invisible Furies as well.
Yes, to sensation novels! Please do a video about this before fall.
I’ve just added several of these to my GR want to read list. I don’t read many big books, but my favorite is American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I really liked (most of) The Secret History by Donna Tartt also.
I LOVED A Little Life. It's one of the best books I have ever read.
What a juicy collection! I've never read Wilkie Collins, and because like you I don't care much for Dickens it's time I gave Collins a go. I have often been tempted by Pilcrow, but have always been hesitant. I shall now seek it out. I've got The Wind Up Bird Chronicle in my pile, which I expect to be equally crazy as Kafka on the Shore.
Favourite big books are always so difficult to decide upon. Some of the more accessible are Middlemarch (just love Dorothea), This Thing of Darkness about captain Fitzroy of The Beagle fame and his great voyage. Just fabulous. At Swim Two Birds a great story of a young gay man against the backdrop of the Easter Rising, and The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni, a classic criminally little read outside of Italy, but featuring lovers torn apart by a wicked nobleman, venal priests, war, famine, mysterious characters etc etc. Highly recommended.
I loved A Little Life!! Got your back!
Loved this Simon! The big book that comes automatically to my mind is obviously Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, it is absolutely fantastic 😍
Ooo I'm actually currently reading Kafka on the shore and I'm enjoying it so much (even though I just read that horrific scene with Johnny Walker 😓 ). One of my favourite big books is Odinsbarn by Siri Pettersen. It's the first book in a norweigan fantasy trilogy, and I don't think it's translated into english yet unfortunately. But it's just amazing!
I was going to pick up the narrow road a few days ago but settled for song of Achilles. it seems like a good read and I may go back for it.
Big books are my favorite. They're the flame to my moth-self. I wish more people read The Luminaries (on a random note), it's the book I see on more people's videos that remains unread and it's so good.
Shout out to that amazing shirt🚀
Have you tried House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski? This one is a favorite of mine and was a thrilling big book with an overall unique structure/set up.
Hi Simon! I've just watched the video, first time in your channel! Loved it! Thanks for the big books suggestions. I'm from Brazil and I teach English here. Could you tell me where you are from? I'll recommend your channel to my students and they'll certainly ask me (because of the accent). Booktube is amazing for us - foreigners studying English - as we can be in contact with different accents while hearing about the books and their stories, characters, context. I'll watch more of your videos now :-D
Love big books! ♥ Thanks for sharing your faves, Simon.
Some of the wonderful, big books I have loved throughout the years are:
"The Far Pavilions" by M.M. Kaye, "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth, "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry, "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, "Shantaram" by Gregory Roberts, "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, "Lord of the Rings" by Tolkien, "Shogun" by James Clavell, any book written by James Michener which are all beautifully written (and weighty), and I would say "The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu, but I still have not completed it as yet...I am over halfway through, and have been for quite awhile...it has 1216 pages, and the story is immense and beautiful...I will pick it up, and dive into it again, soon.)
I also enjoyed "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett (and all of his follow-up books which were long, as well,) and as you mentioned, "Crimson Petal and the White" by Faber was really great, which I read upon Jen's recommendation, as did many of us. :)
Small Island sounds great! I had never heard of it before.
i'm 600 pages into "the crimson petal and the white" and my only complaint is that it's so big to hold...wish they'd put it out in two volume edition...some of my favorite big books are "dombey and son" by dickens. "les miserable" by hugo "middlemarch" by eliot.."the sunlight dialogues" by john gardner and "the golden notebook" by doris lessing and '1Q84" by murakami..
Oh I should not have watched this, my TBR mountain just grew even taller! So many instances too of, yes, I have that one, I need to get to it! Anyway, I vote enthusiastically for a sensational novels video & a Jane Harris spotlight video. Enjoy the rest of your weekend - I have to work all of it, oh the joys of the retail life 🙄
If you enjoy Murakami's wackiness and a big long read, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is exceptional! It is a tie between that one and Stephen King's The Stand as my favorite big book.
My first Murakami was 1Q84, which was a weird experience because I loved the first two parts, but the third part made me feel like I had been watching a fantastic series, and was then given a double final episode that was just an intro with a voiceover constantly saying "Previously on 1Q84."
Hahahaha.
Hi Simon, I see your face is sunburnt😰 please please wear SPF.
Take care of yourself and many thanks for all great recommendations ♥️
I read The Observations a few years ago, but have never read anything else by Jane Harris. I might have to try her other books.
Loved Narrow Road. Amazing Book
The voice of Harriet Baxter will stay with me always. Jane Harris is the MVP!! I’ve just bought Sugar Money and I’m saving it for me hols.
I’m on the other team for A Little Life I’m afraid, I found it didn’t stand up to scrutiny in many ways.
My fave big book is The Cider House Rules by John Irving. He’s a real rambler but if you’re not in a rush, it’s a lovely ride.
Okay. I do rather believe that I have recommended this book before as it is really my favourite chunker in years and it is The Quincunx by Charles Palliser.
Currently reading The Observations, so yes, Mr. Savidge, let's do have a discussion of Ms. Harris' books. I might need more convincing to read Sugar Money ( I am tempted).
HE'S GOT NEW GLASSES!
Also, Small Island sounds amazing.
How about Strumpet city? Written by James Plunkett. It's a very good big book that is very easy to read.
One of my favourite big books is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (obviously!) Also Bleak House by Charles Dickens, after having a poor experience trying to read Great Expectations for my English Language and Literature A-Level, years later I listened to an unabridged edition of Bleak House and I loved it. It's just a full on soap (in a way) in one novel, it's got dual narrators, themes relevant to today, and I just loved it.
A Little Life YES 👍, absolutely great book...
I love Small Island, my favourite use of multiple narrators in a novel. I studied Armadale but never actually read it (English student life) so I should really get to that one as well as Richard Flanagan, I've had them too long. I also love Our Mutual Friend by Dickens (he's not all bad I promise), Middlemarch and Annabel by Kathleen Winter, I think you'd really like that one if you haven't read it. It's about a hermaphrodite and plays with gender a lot. Great video!
I've been curious about Peyton Place for a long time, since I heard it referenced in Gilmore Girls. Your description of it makes me think a bit of Shirley Jackson, which makes me think I'd really get on with it!
I didn't hate a Little Life , just struggled with it. Try Middlemarch by George Eliot. A beautiful read and great if you are a people watcher and Love Gossip as this book is full of Both!!
Never stop the big book puns.
I loved A Little Life, although it was not perfect and have been astonished that some people hate it. I so agree that it is the diverse reactions to books that make reading interesting. BUT I must confess do I get grouchy when the reasons someone dislikes a book either shows they didn't understand it or that they have "silly" reasons for disliking it. Favorite big books: A Fine Balance by Rohinson Mistry; The Heart's Invisible Furies bt John Boyne, and don't shoot me but Ulysses by James Joyce (Bloomsday, June 16, is my birthday).
Biggest books I've read this year
Four past midnight - Stephen King - although that doesn't count as it's 4 novellas
The dark tower 3 - also by Stephen King - boy does he write big books not always a good thing. This one needed a good edit!
I am also reading with Katie from Books and Things, Bleak House. She has organised a Victorian Readalong, so we are reading it as published, in monthly parts, and it will take a year and half to finish!
East Lynne looks dressing an powerful- I'm sold. Oh My God the cover design you have for Kafka on the shore is so wrong! It's far to cute; brilliant book though. I've never read crimson Petal, but other people have said I'd like it. I still have A Little Life wrapped up on my shelf ( because of your warning, it never got sent to mum, or unwrapped either) I'm interested that you mentioned male friendships, its very true I haven't seen many that do?
East Lynne and Aramadale please, some big classics that aren’t Dickens, Eliot or Trollope and I loved The Moonstone!
ouch to the sunburn and have to say loved A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
one fav big book is lord of the ring trilogy, just because its lord of the rings lol. I love fantasy. Game of thrones as well are all big books but only read the first two. I want to read It as well, but big books are intimidating to me. There are several on this video i'm interested in but would probably take me all year to read them! Oh, and Outlander as well
I absolutely loved, loved, loved, The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
It’s a fantastic book isn’t it!
@SavidgeReads it most certainly is. It was such an eye opener for me as well.
Ha! East Lynne is crazy! I read it as a teenager after my old lady neighbour lent it to me.
I like that you're liking all my comments from 3 years ago!! 😂
Villainess, Laudanum Addict, husband poisoner. Sign me up.
I have a copy of “Kafka on the Shore” in trade paperback.
You’re ace Simon!
Sensation novels? Yes please!
LOVE that tee 💜
Please do a sensation book recommendations video!!
I love that you're not talking about Steinbeck or Dickens. Everybody's heard of them. If there's one thing I love about your videos, it's that I often have never heard of most of the books that you highlight and that's so refreshing. I'm really impressed by how varied your reading choices are. I definitely want to check out Small Island and Peyton Place now. They both sound quite interesting. I think I might suggest Small Island for my book club actually. I just finished a big book recently, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and I really enjoyed it. So many twists and turns, beautiful writing, wonderful mystery. I liked it so much more than I expected to.
I love Jane Harris !!! Yes do a video please
Sadly Jane has become a huge TERF so I have distanced myself from her as I’m not transphobic. I find transphobia abhorrent.
Shantaram.... great big book x
Neeru chopra One of my all time favorite books!
Did he just say, that he doesn't like Charles Dickens?