So I started reading The Terror by Dan Simmons and stalled almost halfway through. Yeah, I’ll finish it. I didn’t stop because the story wasn’t good, but because it’s so darned long — almost 800 pages. Long books have that effect on me. Take this one: Cervantes’ Don Quixote. I have the coolest version, an Oxford World Classics hardback, perfectly palm-sized. But at 1,000 plus pages, its sheer enormity keeps me from wading in.
I know, it’s probably psychological. I mean, if I can read two 350 page books with no problem, why can’t I read one 700 pager? I’ve asked myself that question many times. Anyway, here’s 10 really long books (well over 500 pages) that I’d like to read, but whose long shadow intimidates to no end.
What about you? Are there any books whose sheer size intimidates you?
I just wanted to chime in and say that I too have been reading Dan Simmons for a while. I’m reading Summer of Night. It’s really good, and I’m dedicated to finishing it (p425/600). One good thing about this book is the characters are so well identified that I could put it down for a while if need be and still remember who and what is going on. I hate being a slow reader because it sometimes comes down to “Do I read fifteen pages or watch an entire tv show?”
The Name of the Wind or the remaining books in A Song of Ice and Fire would be my future choices if I weren’t such a slow reader. Maybe the rest of the Dune books as well. But, since I’m not, I prefer shorter books or short stories.
Stumbled on your post looking for something me-related, so here is my take from one Mike Duran to another: the upside of long books is that if you are really into the story being told then you get to savor it all the longer.
As for the books you listed I only have experience with two. The Stand is a great read, and fast despite its length. The writing flows well and it’s not a book that should wind up being too much of a chore. Infinite Jest is a book I got down to the last two hundred pages or so but never did quite finish. The writing is great, but it’s not a friendly book to pick up if you might have to put it down for a couple of months while reading, because the storyline is fairly complex and you’ll probably need a refresher (when I tried to pick it back up after a few months away I was completely lost). David Foster Wallace was an excellent writer, however, and his shorter books are definitely worth giving a go if you haven’t already.