Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books with a High Page Count (Share those doorstop books!)
Once upon a time if I saw a big, thick book on a bookstore shelf then there was every chance I would buy it. The bigger, the better! I even used to participate in a Chunkster Challenge. These days, I don't read that many chunksters. Also, if I am going to buy big books, it would most likely be an ebook that I can read on my Kindle.
Originally I was planning to refer to my spreadsheets and do this topic by looking for the books with the most number of pages. However, I decided to go with a simpler approach. Instead I scanned my overflowing bookshelves and looked for the thickest books I could find! The only rule/guideline I had was that I could only use one book per author. Of course, when I was putting them back on the shelves I found several other books that I should have used for this prompt too!
I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb -(863 pages) I swear that I got this book not long after it came out, but I still have never read it!
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - (1270 pages) I am currently doing a chapter a day readalong so after talking about reading it for 15 years I am finally doing it!
The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes - (614 pages) This is another one I haven't read yet. It almost feels like a pattern forming here right?
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon - (980 pages) Most of Gabaldon's books could fit this theme. I have read this one. (My review)
The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley - (672 pages)I am not even sure why I have a paper copy of this book because I listened to all 8 books in this series. That's a lot of listening time.
Bettany's Book by Tom Keneally - (599 pages) It looks like I got this off of a remainders table. I haven't read it yet and I am not really sure if I will or not. It survived the last cull of my bookshelves. It might not survive the next one whenever that happens!
A Song in the Daylight by Paullina Simons - (767 pages) I loved many of Paullina Simons's books, but this wasn't my favourite. I did see that she has just announced that she has a new book coming out. It sounds great, but I am not sure if I will rush out and read it or not.
Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor - (860 pages) Gosh I loved this epic book! Someone I know is reading this at the moment and called it a great romp, and that is the perfect description of the book! I used the words bawdy romp in my review.
When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman - (909 pages) SKP is another author who wrote big epic books!
Dawn on a Distant Shore by Sara Donati - (647 pages) This is a favourite series. I noticed when I took it off the shelf that there is a bookmark in it. I must have been intending to reread it at some point.
By looking at the variation in pages numbers on all the page numbers you can really see what a difference the way the book is produced from the thickness of the paper to the size of the font!
Do you love big books!
I love to sink into a big book! Of those in your photo, the only one I have read is I Know This Much is True. It's still on my keeper shelf and someday I'd love to read it again. You really should give it a read. :)
ReplyDeleteWar and Peace is one of my beefy bois as well. I didn't realize Keyes had written something so long!
ReplyDeleteI like your attitude about War and Peace. I hope to read Anna Karenina next year using that same sort of attitude.
ReplyDeleteGreat titles, and I haven't read any from your list. Thanks for the suggestions.
ReplyDeleteIn recent years my tastes have changed, and I find myself steering clear of chunky books. But when I did read them, they were almost always from the library.
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/ten-biggest-books-on-my-tbr/
When you see the actual books...wow!
ReplyDeleteI do love big books but have only read four of these. I had a negative experience with one of Lucinda Riley's books but I know most people love that series. Maybe I will try her again at some point.
ReplyDeleteSomeday I should read War and Peace.
ReplyDeleteDiana Gabaldon is hitting the lists of several bloggers for this challenge. My mum loves her books and keeps nagging me to start them.
ReplyDeletehttps://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/%f0%9f%93%9atoptentuesday-10-books-with-a-high-page-count-tuesdaybookblog-booktwitter-booktwt/
I’ve read a few of them. Donati is a favourite.
ReplyDeleteI have Diana Gabaldon on my list too - but Drums of Autumn. Lol. You are right, that series can pretty much be used entirely for this list.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic list! It's so relatable to get lost in a good "chunkster" book, and I love that you just went through your shelves to find your picks.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, I absolutely love big books! There's something so satisfying about the commitment and the feeling of getting completely lost in a long story.
awesome list!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteI have to agree - after having spent nearly 30 years as a receptionist - typing, writing, filing - any book over 350 pages has to be in ebook or audio. These poor hands can't hold those chunksters any longer. LOL
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
I forgot The Shadow Sister was so long! My TTT
ReplyDeleteI don’t mind a big book as long as it’s GOOD! You have a great list here! ~Carol @ ReadingLadies
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of big books so I never read them. The only ones that ever tempted me were the Diana Gabaldon Outlander books, but then they became a TV show and I watched instead of read :)
ReplyDeleteRecently, if I have a big book to read, or if a book is daunting, I commit to reading a chapter a day, until the story pulls me in (or not), then I am fully committed! It's how I read North and South. I didn't love it, but something about the writing kept me going.
ReplyDeleteChunksters were the thing in the 70s and 80s. Your post has reminded me that I forgot Outlander! lol
ReplyDeleteSeveral of those are unfamiliar to me. I do have the Outlander books on my TBR, though.
ReplyDeleteI have that exact copy of I Know This Much Is True!
ReplyDeleteI don't read a lot of chunksters. I did manage to find 9 that I had read that had over 600 pages, but I normally keep my books under 400. I need to read or listen to the Seven Sisters series.
ReplyDeleteSame! I don't exactly avoid chunksters these days, but I don't gravitate to them either. I usually read a few doorstoppers every year, that's it. I'm getting impatient in my old age, I guess!
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
I want to read War & Peace, Marg. Still haven't read Wally Lamb or Diana Gabaldon despite many recommendations. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/08/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books-with-high.html