My cousin was a professor of English literature who taught Kathleen Koen and was consumed with jealous over her success. It's practically the only thing he'll talk about at dinner parties. So for years I've wondered about this book, her debut that so embittered my dear cousin. Now that you bring it back to mind, I may need to read the darned thing.
+Steve Donoghue yes! I have to go back and add some books from your older videos, but currently the shelf has 15 books on it. You definetly deserve your own shelf.
Greetings!!! Let me say "Thank You!!!" for also having read "...And Ladies of the Club"!!!!!!!!! And mentioning to the RUclips public. My first copy was mass-market size; I read it so often, it split in half, the front cover being taped back on. I've a few hardcover copies now, as you've shown, also a trade paperback. I read it every summer. Also, another TY...for mentioning both Through a Glass Darkly and The Raj Quartet. The miniseries of the latter is a great one!! "...Ladies", I agree is NOT junk. It's a beautifully put-together novel. If people grow bored, the author herself had joked that people can just skip ahead to another part. Coming of age, love, marriage, children, death and repeating, just as LIFE does, then as well as now, obviously. Again, a big "Thank You!!!"
I love Lord of the Rings. I have lost track of how many times I have read it. One of our library staff recommended Elizabeth George to me, so I picked up A Great Deliverance! Whew! And yes, very difficult to describe.
This was a fun idea for a video! I just bought the Raj Quartet and plan to read it in the near future - only after I've finished A Suitable Boy - think I only want one huge chunker set in India going at the same time. I just started the Lynley series this year and it quickly has become one of my favorites! I'm very eager to read some of the thicker ones later in the series.
My favourite genre is fantasy so naturally I am no stranger to looooong books - but I love them! great video Steve and very interesting picks, I put a few of them on my to-read list. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell interests me the most!
Thank you, Steve! I don't know how many times I have told people on booktube and goodreads that The Lord of the Rings is NOT a series or a trilogy, but one novel. It happens to be one of my favourite books and I just noticed that four of my five current favourite books are around a 1000 pages long, so I guess this video is just right for me.
I had to do a double take to make sure I was on the right channel seeing you mention so many contemporary works in one video! Great selection. As I just mentioned in my video today, I didn't make it through Jonathan Strange & Norrell but it is a special book for sure and I will return to it.
OMG, all of these sound so interesting and intriguing! And you were so kind as to add a list of titles! THANK YOU! I'm definitely gonna look them all up and add them to my "want to get" list, for when the opportunity presents. I particularly want to read The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott. That was the one that called me the most, but the historical fiction ones and all of them sound fascinating.
Through a Glass Darkly sounds just like the summer read I am looking for. Thank you for these recommendations, I would love to dive into one great big book, pun intended !
I have to say; I just got into booktube and you are one of my favorites!! Best of luck to you on your future on RUclips because you are amazing!! Another great video!! 😃 So much detail in every video you do it should be done by other booktubers!
Through A Glass Darkly has been on my wishlist for years! It goes right up my alley for the time period and the countries - England and France. I love chunkers and historical ones get a plus on my book.
I completely agree with you about Elizabeth George. An amazingly deft proponent of the police procedural detective novel, with wonderful characterisation. I wonder, Steve, have you read any Neal Stephenson? He is a committed proponent of the chunker- and my favourite author.
Steve, every time I watch your videos, my wish list grows longer and longer. Some very interesting books in this video, and I do love a chunker. ☺️. I added 5 of these books .
I'm catching up on booktube vids and am grateful to stumble across this one! The Elizabeth George series looks amazing, and I'm interested in Karleen Koen's novel, despite not normally being a huge romance fan. Thanks for the recommendations!
Hello Sir, I was scrolling by and nearly stumbled over the word 'chunkers', a word familiar but never have come across even though it looks like it could be the name of a Madison Avenue advertising campaign for cookies.but in the same flash 'bigbooks?chunkersohlookfiction!'. GIGANTIC NOVELS! My favorite. "A very large novel is not a writer's success, it's an editors failure'. I like that.Funny and amusing.And telling. read them or nor everyone has something interesting to share about them.
I have had Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell on my wish list for a long time! Would you love to donate that to the eclectic library that is called "Jo's Place"? ☺️ Haha. This series on chunkers is a definite keeper! I am anxious to see them all!
When you get it Jo lets buddy read it because I have it and have had it since I started Booktube and haven't yet read it. Talk about intimidating! 😐 and it's fantasy/Sci-fi 😅
Most of the chunkers I read are either classics or fantasy but a couple of these sound very interesting, especially An Instance Of The Fingerpost, I've just picked myself up a copy of Arcadia so if I enjoy that I'll certainly have to give that a try too. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell was fantastic, I devoured it over a few days a couple of summers ago. Have you seen the adaptation the BBC did last year? I thought that was rather wonderful also, as BBC adaptations tend to be.
Really enjoy all your videos. Are James Michener's chunkers (ie- Hawaii or Texas) worth getting into if it means not being able to get around to classics or your other recommendations mentioned here and elsewhere? And if I've read James Clavell's Shogun is it worth reading any of his other books in that saga?
Kind of off topic but....I was thinking while watching this, abt huge books vs. series. I feel like a lot of series, especially in the YA genre, we're submitted as "chunkers" and they (the editor or publishing house) decided to chop it into multiple books. Whether it was an effort to stay under a page count or a grab for more money, I'm not sure. You can feel it in the writing though, either they are fatted out with filler or are just and incomplete standalone story. I would rather have had the big fatty than 3 or more incomplete stories.
I've long felt that YA publishers have been unashamedly after as much money as possible, to the detriment of the genre. It seems that every single new YA book is the first in a trilogy, standalone books don't seem to exist to them anymore. Many of the trilogy's should be at least one book shorter, most should just be a single book. I can't even take YA seriously anymore, I know publishing is about money but it's almost like they think we all are stupid or something!
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is absolutely delicious!! A germane observation is that when I read books from across the pond- I hear the dialogues in an English accent inside my head. Thoughts?
May I recommend Edward St Aubyn's Patrick Melrose novels. Tart, brutal, witty and contemplative. Just gorgeous writing. Originally 5 separate novels so not technically a chunker (though definitely one in Picador's recent bind up) tbh they should have made it 'c' format if that means anything. Thanks for the encouragement re: M&D. I got it sitting right here.....wary after sheer befuddlement trying to read 'V' years ago.
I gravitate towards big books because I have too much free time and want to get my moneys worth. Currently reading gravity’s rainbow...just got to page 500.
Well I hope to be reading The Luminaries in autumn. I'm really going to have to try for A Suitable Boy, however The Raj Quartet Sounds epic! I saw that that it's published in Everyman's Library edition too. I'm definitely going to try to make that as part of my immediate TBR
I have been looking for a long historical fiction novels as atmospheric and immersive as The Luminaries since I read it a couple of months ago. Through a Glass Darkly and The Dying Grass sound interesting. Other suggestions?
I've only read Whores of Gloria by Vollman and I quiet liked it. He's a very interesting person that a lot of things he has done sound unbelievable. Have you read that long thing he wrote about violence? I think they only came out in hardback and are expensive af. Actually, his books are a little bit more pricey than the standard, even the paperbacks. Great chunk recommendations.
Wow, I am going to have to go on a book-hunt Through The Glass Darkly immediately! That sounds right up my alley. Also, what is your opinion of Donna Tartt? Is The Goldfinch a chunker that you would consider worth reading?
Hooh yes, "The Goldfinch" is very much worth reading! It has its endemic flaws, as do all of Tartt's novels, but boy oh boy, when it sits you down and starts telling you stories, you won't want it to stop!
I just love "chunkers" I have copies of And the Ladies Of The Club & Jonathan Strange And Mr. Norrell I would love to read "The Underworld" It is not in my B&N Bookstore Can I order it from amazon" I sent the e-nail you asked for yesterday did you receive it?
+Gail Nichols I don't mean to interrupt your conversation, but I was so happy to a comment from you Gail! I miss your videos, I hope you are well! I've thought of you through the years! Take care!!
I am fine Alanna, at least for now I know it has been a while since I did a you tube video and I apologize for that and I intend to do more but I have been going through a lot physically but I am going to do a video very soon. Would you like to see a book haul or a book review? Thank you for asking about me you are very sweet.
Steve do you like or read any books in the fantasy genre? If you do which one would you recommend? I have read George RR Martin's Song of Ice & fire and would love to know what to read next.
My cousin was a professor of English literature who taught Kathleen Koen and was consumed with jealous over her success. It's practically the only thing he'll talk about at dinner parties. So for years I've wondered about this book, her debut that so embittered my dear cousin. Now that you bring it back to mind, I may need to read the darned thing.
Hi I love And Ladies of the Club! Thanks for this video.
I actually have added a shelf called "Steve recommendations" to my goodreads account
HAH! That's hilarious! Are you serious? Steve has many, MANY recommendations!
+Steve Donoghue yes! I have to go back and add some books from your older videos, but currently the shelf has 15 books on it. You definetly deserve your own shelf.
+Mary Beth this is actually a really good idea! I might have to copy you lol
+LuvFromCL please do, I like to remember why I put a book on my list.
Wow I now have a new list of books for my TBR....the all sound wonderful...time to check out local used bookshops!Thanks great video!
Greetings!!! Let me say "Thank You!!!" for also having read "...And Ladies of the Club"!!!!!!!!! And mentioning to the RUclips public. My first copy was mass-market size; I read it so often, it split in half, the front cover being taped back on. I've a few hardcover copies now, as you've shown, also a trade paperback. I read it every summer. Also, another TY...for mentioning both Through a Glass Darkly and The Raj Quartet. The miniseries of the latter is a great one!! "...Ladies", I agree is NOT junk. It's a beautifully put-together novel. If people grow bored, the author herself had joked that people can just skip ahead to another part. Coming of age, love, marriage, children, death and repeating, just as LIFE does, then as well as now, obviously. Again, a big "Thank You!!!"
My TBR wishlist just grew, thanks for the recommendations Steve.
I love Lord of the Rings. I have lost track of how many times I have read it.
One of our library staff recommended Elizabeth George to me, so I picked up A Great Deliverance! Whew! And yes, very difficult to describe.
I gravitate toward huge books because I need to escape from my reality!
This was a fun idea for a video! I just bought the Raj Quartet and plan to read it in the near future - only after I've finished A Suitable Boy - think I only want one huge chunker set in India going at the same time. I just started the Lynley series this year and it quickly has become one of my favorites! I'm very eager to read some of the thicker ones later in the series.
My favourite genre is fantasy so naturally I am no stranger to looooong books - but I love them! great video Steve and very interesting picks, I put a few of them on my to-read list. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell interests me the most!
I've had The Instance of the Fingerpost on my TBR since around 2000. You've reminded me that I really want to read it.
Thank you, Steve! I don't know how many times I have told people on booktube and goodreads that The Lord of the Rings is NOT a series or a trilogy, but one novel. It happens to be one of my favourite books and I just noticed that four of my five current favourite books are around a 1000 pages long, so I guess this video is just right for me.
So glad I found this video Steve!! Kate Howe and I are reading And Ladies Of the Club now!!
An Instance of the Fingerpost sounds like my kinda chunker! I had never even heard about it until now - thank you!
I had to do a double take to make sure I was on the right channel seeing you mention so many contemporary works in one video! Great selection. As I just mentioned in my video today, I didn't make it through Jonathan Strange & Norrell but it is a special book for sure and I will return to it.
Contemporary??? You ain't seen nothing yet! There's going to be an actual "contemporary" version of the In Praise of Chunkers series!
OMG, all of these sound so interesting and intriguing! And you were so kind as to add a list of titles! THANK YOU! I'm definitely gonna look them all up and add them to my "want to get" list, for when the opportunity presents. I particularly want to read The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott. That was the one that called me the most, but the historical fiction ones and all of them sound fascinating.
Through a Glass Darkly sounds just like the summer read I am looking for. Thank you for these recommendations, I would love to dive into one great big book, pun intended !
I have to say; I just got into booktube and you are one of my favorites!! Best of luck to you on your future on RUclips because you are amazing!! Another great video!! 😃
So much detail in every video you do it should be done by other booktubers!
Thank you very much!
Through A Glass Darkly has been on my wishlist for years! It goes right up my alley for the time period and the countries - England and France.
I love chunkers and historical ones get a plus on my book.
I completely agree with you about Elizabeth George. An amazingly deft proponent of the police procedural detective novel, with wonderful characterisation.
I wonder, Steve, have you read any Neal Stephenson? He is a committed proponent of the chunker- and my favourite author.
Steve, every time I watch your videos, my wish list grows longer and longer. Some very interesting books in
this video, and I do love a chunker. ☺️. I added 5 of these books .
I've been a danger to TBRs a lot longer than they've been CALLED that!
I hope these weren't all on the same bookshelf! 😝. The only book in this list that I have read is Susanna Clarke's book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
They're all from my obscenely-packed fiction bookcase! Which really ought to become TWO fiction bookcases ...
Great idea, even better video...the Raj Quartet is on the Wish List!
So many great recommendations! This is why I love this channel!
I'm catching up on booktube vids and am grateful to stumble across this one! The Elizabeth George series looks amazing, and I'm interested in Karleen Koen's novel, despite not normally being a huge romance fan. Thanks for the recommendations!
My mom was a chunker-lover. I remember her reading "And Ladies of the Club" and "The Raj Quartet."
Through A Glass Darkly and Dark Angeles were the first books I bought on audio. Time for a reread!
Hello Sir, I was scrolling by and nearly stumbled over the word 'chunkers', a word familiar but never have come across even though it looks like it could be the name of a Madison Avenue advertising campaign for cookies.but in the same flash 'bigbooks?chunkersohlookfiction!'. GIGANTIC NOVELS! My favorite. "A very large novel is not a writer's success, it's an editors failure'. I like that.Funny and amusing.And telling.
read them or nor everyone has something interesting to share about them.
I have had Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell on my wish list for a long time! Would you love to donate that to the eclectic library that is called "Jo's Place"? ☺️ Haha. This series on chunkers is a definite keeper! I am anxious to see them all!
When you get it Jo lets buddy read it because I have it and have had it since I started Booktube and haven't yet read it. Talk about intimidating! 😐 and it's fantasy/Sci-fi 😅
I'd be happy to send it to "Jo's Place"! I'll put it in the mail first thing on Tuesday!
Cool! :D
+Brown Girl Reading I would enjoy doing a buddy read with you! Steve seems to be making that possible!
+Steve Donoghue Thank you, my friend! That is awesome!
My boys both liked The Stand, and I was waiting for Umberto Eco and Hella Haase!
Pynchon's fattest is Against the Day. Now that's a chunker. Not a clunker though.
I must read _Through a Glass Darkly_! Is there anything better than the 18th c. in England and France?
Just re-viewing this video. Serendipity: my current novel is An Instance of the Fingerpost.
love these recommendation videos😍 so many books! definitely going to tackle a couple of those chunkers this year☺
Most of the chunkers I read are either classics or fantasy but a couple of these sound very interesting, especially An Instance Of The Fingerpost, I've just picked myself up a copy of Arcadia so if I enjoy that I'll certainly have to give that a try too.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell was fantastic, I devoured it over a few days a couple of summers ago. Have you seen the adaptation the BBC did last year? I thought that was rather wonderful also, as BBC adaptations tend to be.
Really enjoy all your videos. Are James Michener's chunkers (ie- Hawaii or Texas) worth getting into if it means not being able to get around to classics or your other recommendations mentioned here and elsewhere? And if I've read James Clavell's Shogun is it worth reading any of his other books in that saga?
Can The Dying Grass be read as a stand alone, or does one need to read the backlog of chunkers first?
It can indeed be read as a stand-alone! And it's fantastic - not sure if it's out in paperback yet ...
I've only read a small handful of chunkers and they have all been in the fantasy genre.
Fantasy is certainly the place to go for chunkers! I could do an entire video on them!
Kind of off topic but....I was thinking while watching this, abt huge books vs. series. I feel like a lot of series, especially in the YA genre, we're submitted as "chunkers" and they (the editor or publishing house) decided to chop it into multiple books. Whether it was an effort to stay under a page count or a grab for more money, I'm not sure. You can feel it in the writing though, either they are fatted out with filler or are just and incomplete standalone story. I would rather have had the big fatty than 3 or more incomplete stories.
I've long felt that YA publishers have been unashamedly after as much money as possible, to the detriment of the genre. It seems that every single new YA book is the first in a trilogy, standalone books don't seem to exist to them anymore. Many of the trilogy's should be at least one book shorter, most should just be a single book. I can't even take YA seriously anymore, I know publishing is about money but it's almost like they think we all are stupid or something!
I love chunkers, my TBR list just grew from this vid .....lol. But I am really looking forward to your video on non-fiction.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is absolutely delicious!! A germane observation is that when I read books from across the pond- I hear the dialogues in an English accent inside my head. Thoughts?
I hear all characters in the accent-free phrasings of Iowa ...
Haha!! :-)
Did you see the BBC adaptation? Pretty damn good I thought.
May I recommend Edward St Aubyn's Patrick Melrose novels. Tart, brutal, witty and contemplative. Just gorgeous writing. Originally 5 separate novels so not technically a chunker (though definitely one in Picador's recent bind up) tbh they should have made it 'c' format if that means anything.
Thanks for the encouragement re: M&D. I got it sitting right here.....wary after sheer befuddlement trying to read 'V' years ago.
I gravitate towards big books because I have too much free time and want to get my moneys worth. Currently reading gravity’s rainbow...just got to page 500.
So Steve have you read The Luminaries and A Suitable Boy? Those are 2 chunkers I would really like to get to eventually.
I've read and LOVED them both! They'll feature in my Chunkers - Contemporary Fiction installment!
Well I hope to be reading The Luminaries in autumn. I'm really going to have to try for A Suitable Boy, however The Raj Quartet Sounds epic! I saw that that it's published in Everyman's Library edition too. I'm definitely going to try to make that as part of my immediate TBR
I have been looking for a long historical fiction novels as atmospheric and immersive as The Luminaries since I read it a couple of months ago. Through a Glass Darkly and The Dying Grass sound interesting. Other suggestions?
MANY other suggestions! I'll be doing a much more contemporary Chunker fiction post very soon!
I've only read Whores of Gloria by Vollman and I quiet liked it.
He's a very interesting person that a lot of things he has done sound unbelievable.
Have you read that long thing he wrote about violence? I think they only came out in hardback and are expensive af. Actually, his books are a little bit more pricey than the standard, even the paperbacks.
Great chunk recommendations.
I'm pretty sure I've read everything he's written - I think I vaguely recognize the one you're alluding to here ...
Novel, n. - a short story, extended. / Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
I'm a novella lover but this kinda makes me want to grab a chunker next.
I love novellas too, but nothing pulls you in quite like a chunker!
Have you read This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson?
Wow, I am going to have to go on a book-hunt Through The Glass Darkly immediately! That sounds right up my alley. Also, what is your opinion of Donna Tartt? Is The Goldfinch a chunker that you would consider worth reading?
Hooh yes, "The Goldfinch" is very much worth reading! It has its endemic flaws, as do all of Tartt's novels, but boy oh boy, when it sits you down and starts telling you stories, you won't want it to stop!
I just love "chunkers" I have copies of And the Ladies Of The Club & Jonathan Strange And Mr. Norrell I would love to read "The Underworld" It is not in my B&N Bookstore Can I order it from amazon" I sent the e-nail you asked for yesterday did you receive it?
I got your email, yes indeed! But what's this talk about ordering things from Amazon? Why not let me send you "Underworld"?
Thank you very much I would appreciate that. It would make my day.
+Gail Nichols I don't mean to interrupt your conversation, but I was so happy to a comment from you Gail! I miss your videos, I hope you are well! I've thought of you through the years! Take care!!
I am fine Alanna, at least for now I know it has been a while since I did a you tube video and I apologize for that and I intend to do more but I have been going through a lot physically but I am going to do a video very soon. Would you like to see a book haul or a book review? Thank you for asking about me you are very sweet.
Steve do you like or read any books in the fantasy genre? If you do which one would you recommend? I have read George RR Martin's Song of Ice & fire and would love to know what to read next.