While New Year’s is often heralded as a time for new beginnings, I’ve always associated new beginnings with spring. Freezing weather finally starts to recede, the sun makes an appearance, and, as I thaw, I start thinking about changes I want to make for the rest of the year. Lately, I’m thinking about the idea of starting fresh and realizing that I need to make a little more space in my house. I’m usually good about not keeping too many books on my shelves, but that’s always a losing battle. For every book I donate or give away, it feels like ten take its place. This year, for the sake of space, I’m focusing on reading books with the most pages. Hopefully, dropping the weight will make my bookshelves stop creaking so much. So for this Top Ten Tuesday, I’m highlighting ten of the longest books from my to-be-read pile.
And Ladies of the Club
1,433 pages
by Helen Hooven Santmyer
Goodreads
What It Takes: The Way to the White House
1,072 pages
by Richard Ben Cramer
Goodreads
On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen
896 pages
by Harold McGee
Goodreads
The End of the Party: The Rise and Fall of New Labour
802 pages
by Andrew Rawnsley
Goodreads
The Lies of Locke Lamora
752 pages
by Scott Lynch
Goodreads
The Art of Eating
749 pages
by M.F.K. Fisher
Goodreads
Songs in Ordinary Times
740 pages
by Mary McGarry Morris
Goodreads
Crashed: How a Decade of Financial Crises Changed the World
720 pages
by Adam Tooze
Goodreads
May at Ten
706 pages
by Anthony Seldon and Raymond Newell
Goodreads
The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear
704 pages
by Walter Moers
Goodreads
Note: Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Be sure to check out her weekly post to find other participants.
I read And the Ladies of the Club years ago. All I remember of it was how long it was. I think it is over 1000 pages. My TTT Spring Cleaning post
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s definitely a behemoth of a book, but I’m looking forward to finally getting around to it.
LikeLike
Looks like you have a lot of reading to do 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
No kidding! Fingers crossed I can find the time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I listened to the audiobook of The Lies of Locke Lamora and highly recommend that 🙂
My TTT: Book’s I’ve taken off my TBR.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been thinking that’s the way to go. I don’t usually listen to audiobooks, but I’ve heard that one’s particularly good.
LikeLike
I had no idea The Lies of Locke Lamora was that long! That would definitely end up on my longest books list if I decided to do this topic. Great use of freebie week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is one of the funny things about different editions: it looks like the hardcover sits around 500 pages, but the mass market paperback clocks in at over 700. Deceptively hefty!
LikeLike
Wow, those are some long books!
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-about-fresh-starts/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know! So many pages to get through.
LikeLike
I have a copy of Captain Bluebear on my shelf too! My daughter read it a few years ago and loved it, so she says I can’t get rid of it until I actually pick it up and read it first. 🙂 I like the idea of clearing out the longer books to make way for more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that! Fingers crossed that it’s as good as it sounds … especially if it comes so highly recommended!
LikeLike
We definitely need a bigger shelf. LOL
“Songs in Ordinary Time” is also on my TBR pile though not in my TTT list.
We used to watch “Captain Bluebear” with our boys when they were little. He had such a nice Northern German accent. Walter Moers is a very famous comic writer here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Walter Moers seems like a remarkable writer, and I’ve read snippets of his work, but never an entire book. I’m really looking forward to finally diving in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy. My son read several of his books. He really enjoyed them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! Happy reading.
LikeLike
Over 1000 pages? The longest book I’ve ever read was over 900 and I had to switch to audio because it was just too long. Over 1000 would break me!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/03/09/top-ten-tuesday-306/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! For me, there’s something both great and terrifying about books that long. It’s such a massive commitment, but when they’re good, they’re worth it.
LikeLike
See it took me over a year to finish a book that was almost 1000 pages so I’m never going near a book that long ever again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These will definitely make some room on your shelves, hope you get to them soon. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/spring-book-unhaul/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here’s hoping! These shelves need a break. Happy reading!
LikeLike
The Scott Lynch one look interesting. Happy reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, so here’s hoping it’s as great as it sounds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been wanting to read The Lies of Lock Lamora for some time. But dang, nearly 800 pages? LOL
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know! Definitely a commitment. To be fair, this is the mass market paperback edition. The hardback is a more manageable 500.
LikeLike
I’ve read On Food and Cooking. It was a required read for one of my Nutrition classes. It is a big book. I’m trying to remember if I still have it on my shelf, or if I unhauled it. I hope you enjoy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that’s really cool! It sits high up on one of my shelves right now, just staring down at me. Mildly intimidating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great list! I loved The Lies of Locke Lamora–it is a bit of a chunk, but it’s so easy to read that the pages flew by for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard a lot of people say that, so I’m really looking forward to finally diving in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m amazed you’ve kept track of your TBR pile, but then I know you’re a very organized reader, so it also makes complete sense. One of my own reading goals for 2021 is to keep better tabs over my TBR pile, so this Top 10 Tuesday was hopefully an important step.
~ Lex (lexlingua.co)
P.S. Lies of Locke Lamora has been on my TBR AND my audio TBR pile for the longest time ever. For some reason, I just can’t bring myself to start that book, eeps!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel the same way about Locke Lamora! It looks great and I’ve heard so many wonderful things about it, but I just haven’t made myself start it yet. Maybe this will be our year!
And to be fair, my TBR pile is only organized because of Goodreads. I just add books on there … and often forget about them. But it’s a nice way to see what books I’ve been holding onto the longest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Long books always feel somewhat intimating to start!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They really can be. But when they’re good, they’re so rewarding. Getting to spend that much time in a world you love can truly be a treat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the Ladies of the Club is a lifetime favorite of mine. It is wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I love hearing that! I don’t see it talked about often, but I loved the blurb for it. I think I’ll try to start it soon.
LikeLike
It is so good. I have read it cover-to-cover at least 5 times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow you’ve got some reading to get through there! I have to admit I get a bit intimidated by longer books to be honest, I can’t help thinking about how many shorter books I could pack in in the same amount of time! Lies of Locke Lamora has also been on my list for a long time, and there’s a few longer titles in my TTT.
My post: https://thebookbrief.wordpress.com/2021/03/09/top-ten-tuesday-spring-cleaning-edition/
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s such a good point—and it’s why I prefer to shake things up. If I read a very long book I almost have to follow it up with something very short. Kind of like a cleanse.
LikeLike
This is a different sort of self-challenge. I hope you enjoy it. Not a lot of picture books coming up this year for you.😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Funny you mention it, I really have been slacking on picture books this year. Still haven’t made it to any of these beasts either … hmm, better pick up the pace!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, so many pages! I have a difficult time sitting through a book as is, especially as I’ve gotten older, so there’s no way I’d be able to read any of these. I can sometimes manage 500+ pages with fantasy, but that’s rare for me to do now. I wish you the best in getting through these!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I kind of cycle with this. Last year, I was all about sinking into a nice, long book. This year? I’ve been loving shorter books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“For every book I donate or give away, it feels like ten take its place.” –SUPER relatable! I give myself permission to indulge in book-buying way too easily 😂 Also, I had no idea Locke Lamora was that long! I have it but… I swear it doesn’t look/feel that hefty? My edition has *very* small text though so maybe that’s why it seems pretty okay length-wise? 🙈 Good luck and happy reading! Hope you enjoy all of these.
LikeLike
The Lies of Locke Lamora is one of my favorites. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard so many great things!
LikeLike
Pfew, 1433 pages sounds super intimidating, but I hope it’ll be a great reading experience anyway! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
And it’s a topic that I really wouldn’t expect to take that many pages! But the blurb sounds great, so fingers crossed that the rest of it is.
LikeLike
Those are some big books! I hope you like them as you read them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fingers crossed that they’re as good as they sound!
LikeLike
You obviously have more patience than I do Christopher. I hope you enjoy them all as you get to them. I like my 400 or under page books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I go back and forth with them. Sometimes sinking into a long book is worth it, but sometimes I’d rather devote that time to three or four shorter ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True, I have read a few really long ones, that I enjoyed and would not have wanted to miss.
LikeLiked by 1 person