Bryan's Big Book Reading 2023

This is my 10th year of these challenges and although I don't have a particular goal total in mind, plenty of the fantasy and classic novels that I read are well over 500 pages, so here I am.
The only reading goal I have is to read at least 100 books a year, a challenge that I have managed since 2010.
I managed 43 books big books last year so I'm expecting about the same, but no pressure.
Good luck to all of us Big Book readers !

I’m reading my first BFB of 2023 now. It’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. I am also hoping to read “movements” 3 and 4 of Anthony Powell’s Dance to the Music of Time. Each “movement” contains three separate novels but they are each bound in a single very BFB!

Hi Finn, your reading to come looks great, you might want to start your own thread, cheers.

Wow, Bryan....43 BFB's in a year! Kudos!

Hi Bryan, mate, welcome once again on here. I shall be making more visits here this year and want to hit a minimum of 12 BFB's after a poor showing last year.

Thanks Tess and John, happy big book reading !

My big book reading is off to a slow start, it is the January school holidays here so I have chosen The Complete Sherlock Holmes to tackle, 50 pages or so a day and am enjoying the stories, 397 pages so far.
Up soon is Tad Williams' Memory and Thorn trilogy, beginning with The Dragonbone Chair at 783 pages, and then the Powdermage trilogy by Brian McClellan starting with Promise of Blood at 548 pages.
Sometime early in the year I want to get to The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischvili, 935 pages, and want to reread Dostoyevsky's The Idiot at 732 pages, plenty to be getting on with !

Happy reading in 2023, Bryan! 43 BFBs is quite a feat!

Hi Bryan, good to see you back. Good luck with your BFB-reading this year.

Thanks MissWatson and Connie, good luck with 2023 life and reading !

With Sherlock Holmes we have just solved the Norwood Builder case, page 633, and I have just begun Tad William's The Dragonbone Chair, slow to start but I am enjoying the castle setting and the immanent intrigue.
I forgot that I had one more Terry Pratchett reread to do, the Johnny Maxwell trilogy at 560 pages, reading a couple of chapters a day and about half way through.

>9 bryanoz: I really like The Dragonbone Chair and its sequels, it is such a marvelous world!

>10 MissWatson: Yes Birgit, nearly 300 pages in and the plot thickening nicely, I think I will enjoy Simon's world, I'll be reading the sequels in Feb and March, regards.

1. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams, 783 p.

The first couple of hundred pages was a gradual introduction to the fantasy world and the main character Simon and others, then things quickly develop with sorcery, intriguing fantastical beings and war looming. I'm invested in the narrative and looking forward to The Stone of Farewell in February.

2. The Johnny Maxwell Trilogy by Terry Pratchett, 560 p.

Almost finished my Pratchett rereads, only Good Omens to go, this is a collection of his three YA novels starring Johnny Maxwell. Good fun.

2 big books ; 1343 total pages ; 671.5 average pages.

3. The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1182 p.

Many enjoyable hours spent with the master detective Holmes and Watson, I particularly enjoyed A Study in Scarlet, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Valley of Fear.

3 big book ; 2525 total pages ; 842 average pages.

4. The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart, 548 p.

Second in the Drowning Empire trilogy and a weirdly interesting and original fantasy story.

4 big books ; 3073 total pages ; 768 average pages.

5. Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams, 589 p.

Second in the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn fantasy trilogy and an engaging story that has me invested for sure! Next month is the finale To Green Angel Tower, over a thousand pages!

5 big books ; 3662 total pages ; 732 average pages.

6. Salem's Lot by Stephen King, 751 p.

Stephen King's second novel where he modernises Bram Stoker's Dracula. The novel takes its time to build up the tension to good effect, a satisfying but not too scary vampire story.
Pet Sematary next in March.

6 big books ; 4413 total pages ; 735 average pages.

7. What Ho! The Best of Wodehouse by P.G. Wodehouse, 560 p.

Thoroughly enjoyable to spend sometime every day with the witty writings of the irrepressible Wodehouse !

7 big books ; 4973 total pages ; 710 average pages.

8. Lost Illusions by Honore de Balzac, 682 p.

An interesting account of both provincial France and Paris in the early 1800s, and the precarious nature of attempting to rise above one's social status to achieve fame and wealth.

Number 162 on the greatest books list.

8 big books ; 5655 total pages ; 707 average pages.

9. Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope, 526 p.

Second of the six novels in the Chronicles of Barsetshire and an ironic and enjoyable look at political/religous manoeuvres in an 1800s English town. Most importantly, who will marry Eleanor ?

9 big books ; 6181 total pages ; 687 average pages.

10. To Green Angel Tower by Tad Williams, 1083 p.

The epic and satisfying conclusion to the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy published in 1993.
I note Tad Williams has returned to this fantasy world with the recent Last King of Osten Ard series and I will be reading it soon.

10 big books ; 7264 total pages ; 726 average pages.

11. The Storm of Echoes by Christelle Dabos, 540 p.

The fourth and final volume of The Mirror Visitor fantasy series, an endlessly imaginative YA series.

Great to see the author has a new book out later this year.

11 big books ; 7804 total pages ; 709 average pages.

12. Independent People by Halldor Laxness, 544 p.

An Icelandic classic, we follow Bjartur who is a struggling farmer obsessed with sheep and not being reliant on anyone else. Interesting read.

12 big books ; 8348 total pages ; 695 average pages.

13. Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope, 593 p.

Third book in the Chronicles of Barsetshire series and a cosy, predictable story of money, marriage and love. Trollope seems more confident in his abilities in this novel, with many asides between author and reader, which I enjoyed.
"I quite feel that an apology is due for beginning a novel with two long dull chapters full of description. I am perfectly aware of the danger of such a course. In doing so I sin against the golden rule which requires us all to put our best foot foremost, the wisdom of which is fully recognised by novelists, myself among the number." p.20
"It has been suggested that the modern English writers of fiction should among them keep a barrister, in order that they may be set right on such legal points as will arise in their own little narratives, and thus avoid that exposure of their own ignorance of the laws, which now, alas! they too often make." p.525
Stuck at home with a cold so read this in 3 days.

13 big books ; 8941 total pages ; 688 average pages.

14. Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan, 556 p.

Debut novel and first in the Powder Mage fantasy trilogy. Combining an intriguing magic system and engaging plot and characters, I'm happy to see where the series goes, next up The Crimson Campaign.

14 big books ; 9497 total pages ; 678 average pages.

15. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, 640p.

My local library had this on the shelf so it is next in the Stephen King Project.
Sequel to The Shining, Dan Torrance has grown up into a troubled man who uses his shining skills to assist the dying. He encounters a girl with far more power than he has but she is about to be in mortal danger.
A good read.

15 big books ; 10,137 total pages ; 676 average pages.

16. Boy's Life by Robert McCammon, 610 p.

I really enjoyed this coming of age saga of 12 year old Corey growing up in southern USA in the early 60s. Entwined with his family life and friends is murder, civil rights, gun fights, dinosaurs, and much more. An engaging and rewarding read and I will definitely read more McCammon. His Matthew Corbett historical fiction series looks really interesting.

16 big books ; 10,747 total pages ; 672 average pages.

Two weeks of school holidays here so I have lined up some big fat books - Under the Dome at 1074 pages, The Sea, the Sea at 587 pages, and Framley Parsonage at 580 pages.
As always there will be a fierce contest between the lovely Christine wanting us to get busy on various home/garden projects, and me just wanting to relax and read. No doubt a compromise swayed too far Chris' way will result:)

17. Under the Dome by Stephen King, 1074 p.

Published in 2009, this is a sci-fi novel that looks at what might happen if a small US town was suddenly cut off from the outside world. As one might expect from Stephen King the situation quickly descends into a nasty power struggle and the reader is left wondering how the chaos will resolve and who will survive?

17 big books ; 11,821 total pages ; 695 average pages.

18. The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch, 603 p.

19. Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope, 580 p.

19 big books ; 13,004 total pages ; 684 average pages.

20. Different Seasons by Stephen King, 679 p.

A collection of four novellas, all of which were interesting reads, particularly Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption and the amazing Apt Pupil.

20 big books ; 13,683 total pages ; 684 average pages.

21. The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan, 596p.

Second book in the Powder Mage trilogy and I'm engaged in the characters and story and happy to read on.

21 big books ; 14,279 total pages ; 680 average pages.

22. The Dead Zone by Stephen King, 595 p.

An interesting premise, as Johnny Smith awakens from a long-term coma with psychic abilities, which leads to the question, if you knew ahead of time that someone was going to start wars and kill millions, should you take them out?

22 big books ; 14,874 total pages ; 676 average pages.

Wow Bryan, you are definitely the BFB King! Your reading pace is amazing. Do you read your books on audio, print or some of each?

I see you finished The Small House at Allington. How did you like it? Last month I finished the series (re-reads for me). The Last Chronicle of Barset has a very different feel from the Small House, although both Lily Dale and Johnny Eames make an appearance.

Hi Kathy, thanks for the compliment, I prefer to read proper books but sometimes listen to audio, particularly for a reread. I enjoyed The Small House at Allington but not as much as Doctor Thorne or Barchester Towers. I read The Last Chronicle of Barset years ago as part of my The Novel 100 challenge, not realising that it was the finale of a series. I cannot remember much about it so will revisit the novel next month.
What a coincidence that we have read the same series at almost the same time !
I will read Trollope's Palliser series probably January to June next year, Regards.

23. The Small House at Allington by Anthony Trollope, 745 p.

Fifth volume of Trollope's Barsetshire series and I am enjoying spending time with the charming and eccentric characters of this part of England in the 1800s, particularly the Dale family in this case.

23 big books ; 15,619 total pages ; 679 average pages.

>35 bryanoz: Yes, I agree about the Small House. I really loved The Last Chronicle of Barset, though (except for one minor side plot). Rev Crawley is such a penetrating study in character.

I think my next Trollope re-read is going to be He Knew He Was Right. I'm also following along with a 2-year read of all of Dickens, and picking & choosing which ones I want to re-read. In between those I will probably start a re-read of the The Pallisers on audio.

Also, tentatively scheduled in July on LT in is a group read of Trollope's The Claverings led by Liz (lyzard). If you're interested, let me know & I'll copy the link over here when it starts.

>37 kac522: Kathy please let me know when The Claverings read is on, sounds good.
I'm jealous of your 2 year Dickens plan, for me they would be rereads and mostly great. I'm not very good at rereading the classics with so many novels I haven't read once.
Happy reading!

>38 bryanoz: Yes, the Dickens are all re-reads for me, too. It is being run by a booktuber I watch, Katie Lumsden, who loves Dickens (she's read them all at least 3 or 4 times). She is doing it in order of publication; so far, I have skipped Pickwick, Oliver & Old Curiosity Shop, but did participate with Nicholas Nickleby and right now finishing up Barnaby Rudge. I plan to do most of the rest, although I did re-read Copperfield last year, so probably not that one.

I will let you know when The Claverings starts. Some years ago Liz led the Barsetshire & Pallisers, so now we're doing the stand-alones (in publication order). To get an idea of what the group read is like, here's a link to our last group read in January, The Belton Estate:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/347197

> 39 I have come across Katie's channel and was tempted by her Dickens read along. One day I'll get to Great Expectations, David Copperfield (my favourite), Bleak House and The Pickwick Papers. Have you read Katie's novel The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, I just have and it was very good, quite the Gothic experience.
I'll check out that link in the next few days, cheers Kathy.

>40 bryanoz: I just got Katie's book from the library (was on the waitlist), so I should be reading it within the next couple of weeks, and am looking forward to it.

>41 kac522: I'm sure you will enjoy it Kathy, hope she is busy on her next novel.

24. The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan, 580 p.

Finale of the Powder Mage trilogy, I found it an ok fantasy series, I was a little disappointed in the last book as my favourite character Ka-poel was hardly seen.

24 big books ; 16,199 total pages ; 675 average pages.

25. The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe, 731 p.

Read this modern classic as part of my Greatest Books project, it is ranked 183.
The novel begins with Sherman McCoy who lives in New York with a high-flying job, beautiful wife and child, the perfect life. However with one wrong turn his whole life is over-turned and he is plunged into a living hell. Enjoyed this frenzied parable of not taking our lucky lives for granted.

25 big books ; 16,930 total pages ; 677 average pages.

26. Needful Things by Stephen King, 933 p.

A stranger opens a new shop in Castle Rock. Anyone who enters finds a very desirable object, which they can just afford, as long as they play a 'prank' on someone else in the town.
As more people become involved the town edges closer to chaos.
I found the story quite compelling and noticed some connections to other King novels. Some were to Cujo, the novella The Body, and I think The Dark Half which I haven't read. Next I am reading Mr Mercedes and the other novels in the series leading up to the new Holly in September, but after that I will probably read King's other books in their publication order so as to best get the connections.

26 big books ; 17,863 total pages ; 687 average pages.

Bryan: Liz posted a heads-up announcement for the Group Read of The Claverings:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/346744#8173562

Thanks Kathy, I just have to find a copy, and could you let me know when a start date is announced, just in case I miss it, thanks again.

Will do.

Very excited to be starting a new epic fantasy trilogy, beginning with The Forgetting Moon by Brian Lee Durfee, 775 pages.
Two weeks of School holidays coming up so three more big books lined up and ready!

Bryan, the July Group Read for The Claverings is here:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/351958

Thanks Kathy, I’m in!

Good! I think you will enjoy Liz's "tutoring." Makes you really appreciate the book.

27. The Forgetting Moon by Brian Lee Durfee, 775 p.

Debut fantasy novel and first of a trilogy, this was a very epic, original and absorbing fantasy story, I will definitely reading the sequels The Blackest Heart and The Lonesome Crown.

27 big books ; 18,638 total pages ; 687 average pages.

28. Speaks the Nightbird by Robert McCammon, 792 p.

I thoroughly enjoyed McCammon's Boy's Life and so tried his historical fiction set in 1699 South Carolina. Well, another fantastic read with action, intrigue, romance, and more. I was hooked from the first chapter and read keenly until the very satisfying end. This is the first of the Matthew Corbett series and I am in!

28 big books ; 19,430 total pages ; 694 average pages.

29. The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope, 928 p.

Final book of the six novel series based in fictional Barsetshire in the 1850s (I think).
We follow up on important characters from the previous novel, Lily Dale and John Eames, and the storylines of the Crawleys, Grantlys, Hardings and Proudies continue.
A fitting end to a very enjoyable series and I will be reading Trollope's Palliser series, also six books, early next year.

29 big books ; 20,358 total pages ; 702 average pages.

30. Collected Stories and Other Writings by John Cheever, 1040 p.

My next read in thegreatestbooks.org challenge was John Cheever's short stories, published from the 1940s to 1970s. I enjoyed many of these, particularly The Enormous Radio, The Swimmer, and Montraldo. His thought on short fiction :
"But one does not ask of a short story does something happen? One asks is it interesting."
And his stories are certainly that.

30 big books ; 21,398 total pages ; 713 average pages.

31. The Claverings by Anthony Trollope, 650 p.

I read this classic as part of a Librarything Group Read (thanks Kathy and Liz) and although it was not as accomplished as The Way We Live Now or the Barset series I was happily engaged right to the pleasing (although I was a little worried about Harry's temptation for riches) conclusion.

31 big books ; 22,048 total pages ; 711 average pages.

Slowly making my way through Richardson's Pamela and finding the story excruciating, but have just begun Durfee's The Blackest Heart and thrilled to be back in his epic fantasy world!

>58 bryanoz: Yeah, I only made it through about 1/3 of Clarissa and gave up. Apparently Jane Austen loved Sir Charles Grandison, but I don't know if I have the stamina to give it a go.

Hi Kathy I struggled through Clarissa (1500 pages) some years ago and Pamela reminds me of it, luckily pamela is just over 500 pages. No more Richardson for me !

>60 bryanoz: Good luck and carry on!

32. Pamela by Samuel Richardson, 538 p.

I found this a painful read as the heroine goes from being cruelly harassed by her boss to then marrying him as he decides to treat her nicely.
Reminded me of Clarissa, another Richardson with another narrative I didn't like, no more Richardson needed.

32 big books ; 22,586 total pages ; 706 average pages.

>62 bryanoz: "no more Richardson needed." 🤣🤣🤣

33. The Blackest Heart by Brian Lee Durfee, 960 p.

Second in his Five Warrior Angels trilogy and this is epic fantasy at it's finest! I'll be getting to the final book The Lonesome Crown(1067 pages) soon and it will be awesome!

33 big books ; 23,586 total pages ; 713 average pages.

34. The Queen of Bedlam by Robert McCammon, 656 p.

Second book in the Matthew Corbett series and it is a rivetting historical mystery based in 1702 New York.

34 big books ; 24,202 total pages ; 712 average pages.

35. The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence, 566 p.

First book in the new fantasy trilogy by Lawrence, but somehow the story lost me; started well but I was quickly confused (happens more often than I think it should?).
I finished the book but am in no hurry for the next one.

35 big books ; 24,768 total pages ; 707 average pages.

36. Night Shift by Stephen King, 538 p.

King's first collection of short stories published in 1976, some good and some okay, I enjoyed 'Quitters, Inc.' and 'The Man Who Loved Flowers.'

36 big books ; 25,306 total pages ; 703 average pages.

37. Firestarter by Stephen King, 575 p.

As the result of college experiments on her parents, a girl is born with the ability to create fire by thinking about it. Of course secret government agents are desperate to capture her and her father and in typical Stephen King fashion this does not go to plan! Not his best work but still an engaging story.

37 big books ; 25,881 total pages ; 699 average pages.

Started reading my copy of Brian Lee Durfee's The Lonesome Crown only to find the book is missing about 70 pages in the middle?? So there is a hold up while a new copy is sent and as we are away travelling until early November this much anticipated read will have to wait.

38. The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding, 824 p.

First in an epic fantasy series that has an intriguing plot, engaging characters, cliffhangers and humour. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will soon be reading the recently published sequel The Shadow Casket!

38 big books ; 26,705 total pages ; 703 average pages.

39. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, 784 p.

The first Verghese I have read and a very enjoyable Indian family saga it was, straight onto ‘Bryan’s Best 100 Novels’ and highly recommended. I will find and read his earlier Cutting for Stone which is also a big book.

39 big books ; 27,489 total pages ; 705 average pages.

40. The Shadow Casket by Chris Wooding, 834 p.

Fitting finale to a very enjoyable epic fantasy story.

40 big books ; 28,323 total pages ; 708 average pages.

41. Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese, 667 p.

"A sweeping, emotionally riveting first novel - an enthralling family saga of Africa and America, doctors and patients, exile and home."
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed The Covenant of Water his earlier novel was an easy choice and it is a similar type of family saga with twists and turns, love and loss, and very good novel.

41 big books ; 28,990 total pages ; 707 average pages.

42. The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell, 884 p.

43. Christine by Stephen King, 749 p.

44. The Lonesome Crown by Brian Lee Durfee, 1067 p.

Final book in the Five Warrior Angels trilogy and a satisfying end to a gripping epic fantasy series.

44 big books ; 31,690 total pages ; 720 average pages.

45. New Grub Street by George Gissing, 556 p.

45 big books ; 32,246 total pages ; 716 average pages.

46. The Thief of Time by John Boyne, 523 p.

Boyne's first novel for adults, published in 2000 and a very enjoyable story. Matthieu Zela was born in 1743 in France but stopped ageing in his fifties, and experienced the French Revolution, 1920s Hollywood, the Wall Street Crash, and many other events in the twentieth century.
In a less accomplished writer's hands this unlikely premise would be grating, but Boyne crafts a memorable, touching narrative of adventure, love and loss.

46 big books ; 32,769 total pages ; 712 average pages.

One more big book for me this year The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub, at 981 pages. I am enjoying the adventure, more fantasy than horror, and zooming through!

47. The Talisman by Stephen King & Peter Straub, 981 p.

I think I prefer King's fantasy stories than his horror ones, and The Talisman is an earlier fantasy book. His originality and dark edge I find fascinating and I was happily taken on Jake's journey to find the Talisman and save his Mother. I'll read the sequel Black House soon.
That's probably all for 2023, it has been a good year of reading and there are plenty more big books to be going on with next year. Happy holidays!

47 big books ; 33,750 pages ; 718 pages.