I find long books more difficult

[Katsunami]

For some reason, it seems that many writers think:

Good Fantasy == Long Fantasy.

Maybe that's because LotR is 1200 pages (without appendices).

[wawasteele]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I've had more hesitation in starting a long book since I've been listening to a lot of audiobooks. When you know going in that something is going to need 30+ hours, it's sometimes hard to commit.

I agree. Two years ago I got two free books from Audible. Both are "Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow. The unabridged version is 41 hrs 57 minutes. The abridged is 14 hrs 20 mins. I would like to listen to one of these books, but haven't done so yet. I don't normally like abridged books so I haven't started that version, but the length of the unabridged is just overwhelming to me, so I haven't listened to it either.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by wawasteele

I agree. Two years ago I got two free books from Audible. Both are "Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow. The unabridged version is 41 hrs 57 minutes. The abridged is 14 hrs 20 mins. I would like to listen to one of these books, but haven't done so yet. I don't normally like abridged books so I haven't started that version, but the length of the unabridged is just overwhelming to me, so I haven't listened to it either.

I keep putting off listening to Les Mis because it's 57 hours long.

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by Anthem

Conversely, there have been short books I desperately wish would have been longer. Oh well, what are you going to do, right?

And there have been even more books that, IMO, are so good that they desperately beg for a sequel-that never comes out. Maybe if their copyrights ever expire some other writer will pick up the story.

[usuallee]

Pandora's Star by Peter Hamilton is a massive (1,000+ page) science fiction tome that is itself only half of an uber-long novel concluded in Judas Unchained. I was interested in it but put it off for years, due to the length. Finally decided to take the plunge, and I LOVED it. In fact, I only read a book or two in between before diving right back into Judas Unchained (believe or not, Pandora's Star, after that many pages, ends on a cliffhanger). Nary a word is wasted in these books, they are truly incredible.

Thus, I'll never discriminate against a book for being too long again! I've got a couple of doorstops I hope to read in 2014, the Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber and The Stand by Stephen King. And of course, the rest of Mr. Hamilton's works.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Well everyone should read Steinbeck's short novels, particularly Cannery Row!

Cannery Row is the only book I read this year that earned a 5-star rating from me.

[BelleZora]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Cannery Row is the only book I read this year that earned a 5-star rating from me.

It was one of only a handful of books that got 5 stars from me, also. Sweet Thursday, with the same characters, is also wonderful.