Hi All!
Hi All!
I have a real love hate relationship with long books. Sometimes- like now actually- I can get stuck behind one and feel like I am losing all my reading momentum. A new book in Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie series was released recently and patrons at the library are loving it. I haven’t read the series so I decided to give it a try. I was really liking Case Histories, the first book and feel like this series is going to be one I really love but I was finding it hard to get through the 434 pages. My attention span isn’t great right now so it was taking longer than I wanted it to and I put it down. I will get back to it but it wasn’t what my reading life needed at the moment.
But… all this got me thinking about long books that I LOVED so I thought I would share a few.
Here goes!
Greenwood (528 pages)- As a frequent Kindle reader, I often (like with Case Histories) get into a book without realizing it is a long one. This happened with Greenwood but I never felt its length. The structure and the characters of this story have stuck with me for a long time.
11/22/63 (880 pages)- I read 11/22/63 ages ago. It was my first Stephen King and even after reading a lot more by this amazing author, I think 11/22/63 remains my favorite of his. It is just a brilliant book that highlights what a remarkable story teller King is.
A Fine Balance (603 pages)- I had never heard of this book until I read it as part of a favorite bookstagrammer’s read-along a few summer’s ago. Reading experiences like this one are part of why I love social media- I have learned of so many titles because of it! I listened to A Fine Balance which, I think, was the perfect way to get the most out of this book.
A Little Life (833 pages)- I know a lot of people disagree with me but… I loved this book. It was dark and there was an awful lot of trauma but I was engrossed by all 833 pages of it. I can remember reading the last big chunk of it in one sitting- it was that kind of read for me.
The Covenant of Water (775 pages)- Much like A Fine Balance, I believe The Covenant of Water makes for an amazing listening experience. The author reads his own story and you can tell how much he loved creating his characters. I found the story completely immersive and still think about it often.
So… your turn! I would love to hear about your favorite long books!
xo,
Stacey
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Check It Out: "The Hours" Screening Brunch
OCTOBER 16- 11:00AM-1:30PM, Ridgewood Public Library
Join Lorri, Roberta & Stacey for a special Screening Brunch edition of "Check It Out."Â
11 am: Screening of The Hours starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman & Julianne Moore and directed by Stephen Daldry (2002; 1h 50m; PG-13); we'll provide coffee, bagels & fruit.Â
12:50 pm: Discussion of The Hours book (1998) by Michael Cunningham.Â
We will have copies of The Hours available at the Circulation Desk from September 18 on. We also encourage you to read Mrs. Dalloway (1925) by Virginia Woolf or watch Mrs. Dalloway the film (1997; 1h 37m; PG-13) starring Vanessa Redgrave.
I absolutely love 11/22/63 and A Little Life, which tore me apart.