I love Big Books and I can not lie

Was that title too much?

A very tiny Elton on an old bookshelf

Apparently as a society we no longer read big books. My definition of a big book is one being over 500 pages. Our obsession with Instagram and short snappy captions has supposedly affected our attention span.

The thought of a big book used to intimidate me, I would worry about the amount I would have to spend invested in a story. But when I started to read more I found the need for big books, there was a significant pace change. Once I got my kindle I was swayed slightly. Realising that it wasn’t committing to reading 700 pages it was that I just hated carrying the cumbersome 700 page physical book. How performative it felt lugging a hefty paperback. How physically awkward it is trying to snuggle up on the sofa with a big book. Lye in bed leisurely reading something that weighed a ton.

Then I started to realise how many of my favourite books, or books that left a lasting impression on me were said big books. Majority of them I was blissfully unaware of the page count as I tapped on my kindle.

We’ve become a culture that wants to read as much as possible, that at times we choose quantity over quality. Funny how every aspect of our life can so easily become about consuming more. We gravitate towards books 300 pages and under because we can finish them within a day or two and mark quickly on our Goodreads that we are on track for our reading goal. We can talk about more books to those who will listen, place more books on our bookshelves. Look at how much we read we can say. I did once used to look at a big book on my bookshelf and think I’d rather read 2 shorter stories that take you into two totally different worlds.

When I think about the large books I’ve read the majority I’ve loved. I think sometimes 300 pages isn’t enough and I want to explore more of the characters, their relationships. Possibly delve into their backstories a little more. Or go off on a tangent wondering where the hell the author is taking me. This is a fine line of something I love and hate in a novel. It takes a lot of talent to write a big book that keeps the reader engaged for 700 pages. It’s a serious craft to tell a story where each chapter or pag  works to move the character or plot forward. To let the reader know as an author you can write, plot and develop amazing characters and not worry about whether the reader will loose interest 100/200 pages in.

looking into my favourite big books in no particular order

• Most recently I’ve picked up Demon Copperhead, a book that’s sat on my kindle for a few weeks nudging me in its direction. A modern retelling of David copperfield. I loved it, the writing was so effortless you sailed through each page. Demon was a character you got to know as a child and a young man, I became so invested in his life all the challenges growing up poor in America brings. I don’t want to share too much of the plot but the characters are so well thought out, balance and push one another. Each person felt so real as if they were with you instead of on the page. It was clear that this book needed to be big to do the story justice.

• The book that I (personally) felt extremely conflicted on, which everyone else raved about was A Little Life. I found it just incredibly heartbreaking, and the amount of grim detail and darkness. It follows 4 school friends. But in particular Jude who has a had some insanely dark and deeply upsetting things happen to him, which the author goes into at detail. This childhood and adolescence obviously impacts Jude’s life as an adult. The longer I spent reading it (which was weeks) the more I dreaded it, the sadder I became. Despite not enjoying the book the writing was incredible. The character, especially Harrold have stuck with me for years. The storyline and the sadness it made me feel I can remember so vividly. The book might not have been right for me but even I can admit it was a well written novel.

• Pachinko was a book gifted to me by a friend. a generational story starting in 1900 about a Korean family living in Japan it is so well written. I loved how the story jumps through generations and you meet new family members and see the story told through their experiences. It was written so gently and captured so many characters perfectly making them feel so real. I’m looking forward to reading again.

• The Goldfinch, whose terrible movie almost ruined the book for me. The original book however I loved. The novel is layered and an amazing tale. Goes on quite a tangent at times, but it’s all character building. Tartt is an exceptional writer of big books. Her book The Secret History is a fantastic dark academia novel, so perfect to pick up as an autumnal read. there is the joke that it takes her 10 years to write a novel, so we should be expecting a new one from her any day now!

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Big Books on my Radar

The books that are firmly on my radar.

• Lonesome dove by Larry McMurtry

• White teeth by Zadie Smith

• Hilary Mantel Wolf Hall Trilogy

• The Lumanaries by Eleanor Catton

• 11/22/63 by Stephen King

What are your favourite big books?