Bryan's Big Book reading 2024

This is my 11th 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 47 books big books last year so I'm expecting about the same, but no pressure.
Good luck to all of us Big Book readers !

Happy New Year, Bryan!

Hello Bryan, Happy New Year mate. 47 BFB's was some effort mate and i am sure you could do 50, you got so close last year.

#2 Thanks Cecile, Happy New Year to you!

#3 Hi John, I would have read 50 last year if we didn't go travelling for 6 weeks, still no stress about totals. Good luck with your reading this year mate.

47! Wow, that is a great achievement. Those fantasy reads certainly help with the big books numbers.

Hi Bryan. Nice to see you here. I love reading BFB so I signed in again for another year. I'm a fantasy reader to and I know what you mean.

Hi Jayne, thanks and good luck with your 2024 big books!

Hi Connie, nice to hear from you and happy reading this year!

1. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith, 550 p.

I am not a crime fiction fan but a couple of reading friends recommended this series so I am trying it.
The story was interesting enough and I enjoyed the main characters Cormoran and Robyn so I'll continue with the series, next book The Silkworm. Of course it helps that the 7 books are all over 500 pages, a couple over a thousand pages I think.

1 big book ; 550 pages.

>8 bryanoz: I loved the whole series, Bryan. Still one more to go. Stromend Graf.

Did you know this is a pseudonym of J.K. Rowling?

Hi Connie, yes I knew and it explains the good writing I think. I'll read one book a month and so will take ages to finish the series, no hurry. Hope it is not too cold where you are, here in the Adelaide Hills we are having a sunny 24 degC, regards.

>10 bryanoz: You are in the Adelaide Hills? I lived in Belair as a child. A bit hotter than that here in Hamilton!

>10 bryanoz: It's -6C over here in the night and snowing right now. But it was much colder in the beginning of the week.

>11 JayneCM: Jayne I live up at Aldgate, near Stirling, a bit cooler and greener than Belair, warm to hot now.

>12 connie53: Connie forecast here is sunny and 31C, nice for reading in the shade.

>13 bryanoz:. Please send some this way.

Happy to Connie, in about 3 months! Lucky that any weather is reading weather!

I totally agree, Bryan.

2. A Dance to the Music of Time. 1st Movement by Anthony Powell, 732 p.

A Dance to the Music of Time is a 12 book series which has been collected into 4 volumes of 3 books each. The books follow the life of a young Englishman Nicholas Jenkins during the 1920s, as the people recover from the 'Great War' and look to move forward.
Powell's descriptions of the characters, the places and events are quite captivating with a thread of humour running through the work, it is a novel to be read slowly and pondered and I will be reading the other books, next one is Summer.

2 big books ; 1282 total pages ; 641 average pages.

3. The Bachman Books by Stephen King, 992 p.

This is a collection of 3 novels that King published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, I think partly to see if people would read and enjoy his stories without the famous name.
I also think that the stories were written earlier in his writing career before Carrie, and like that book I didn't enjoy them particularly. The Long Walk was interesting, but Roadworks and The Running Man I didn't enjoy, partly because the main characters were so unlikeable.

Last year I decided to read all of Stephen King's books, so far 41 out of 76.

3 big books ; 2274 total pages ; 758 average pages.

>18 bryanoz: Too bad you didn't read the original printing of The Bachman Books. The version I have (from 1985) still has Rage in it. It would have added a couple hundred to the page count. It was his high school shooting novel that he took off the shelf after 9/11. You can't buy it any more. But given your opinion of the 3, you probably wouldn't like Rage either. With his early stuff, he's still finding his footing.

If you're reading King, you'll have plenty of big books to choose from.

My wife and I have a theory that once an author gets a lot of success, its harder for their editor to say... Hey, you might want to cut some of that out. Him, Neal Stephenson and Hakuri Murakami, immediately come to my mind, they have some big books. Heck, King went back in and added about 400 pages back in to The Stand

>19 mahsdad: Hi Jeff, I'm happy to give Rage a miss, Stephen King didn't want it out there and that's good enough for me. I think you are right about the successful author/big rambling books, Brandon Sanderson is another author in that category. The bigger the better as long as it is a good story!
Regards.

4. Dune by Frank Herbert, 577 p.

I read this maybe 30 years ago and thought it was good, think it is great now!
The world-building and philosophy is balanced with the action to produce a classic narrative, reading as well now as in 1965 when it was published. I'll be reading the next five books in the series, next up is Dune Messiah, unfortunately not a big fat book.

4 big books ; 2851 total pages ; 713 average pages

5. A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab, 512 p.

Second in the Shades of Magic trilogy and although I enjoyed the first novel, I was disappointed with this one. Too full of teenagish angst and not enough of the darker aspects, the cliff-hanger at the end does leave me with just enough hope to read the third book A Conjuring of Light.

5 big books ; 3363 total pages ; 672 average pages.

6. Next of Kin by John Boyne, 502 p.

John Boyne is one of my favourite authors and this is one of his earlier novels I hadn't read yet.

"It is 1936 and London is abuzz with gossip about the affair between Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson.
But the king is not the only member of the aristocracy with a hard decision to make. Owen Montignac, the handsome and charismatic scion of a wealthy land-owning family, is anxiously awaiting the reading of his late uncle’s will. And when he discovers that he’s been cut out in favour of his beautiful cousin Stella, it’s time to prove just how cunning he can be."
Very enjoyable read.

6 big books ; 3865 total pages ; 644 average pages.

7. Danse Macabre by Stephen King, 512 p.

Published in 1981, this is a non-fiction account of horror in books, movies, TV, etc., from the 1950s to the 1980s. Some interesting points.

7 big books ; 4490 total pages ; 641 average pages.

8. Black House by Stephen King & Peter Straub.

This is the sequel to The Talisman, set 20 years or so after. Jack Sawyer is now a retired homicide detective who has largely forgotten his time in the Territories as a child.
A serial child killer has emerged and Jack gets pulled in to help. There is many nasty events, travelling between the two worlds, and some references to the Dark Tower series.
As I've mentioned, I enjoy King's forays into fantasy and this novel was an enjoyable read for me.

8 big books ; 5002 total pages ; 625 average pages.

9. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith, 580 p.

Second book in the Cormoran Strike crime thriller series and I am enjoying the character development of Cormoran and Robin. The crime and it's solution were interesting too, next is Career of Evil.

9 big books ; 5582 total pages ; 620 average pages.

10. A Dance to the Music of Time. 2nd Movement by Anthony Powell, 738 p.

This volume continues Nick Jenkins' story; a slow, exacting but somehow intriguing look at his interactions with various friends and relatives over years. The war with Germany is ominously looming and the military is playing an increasingly important part in people's lives.

10 big books ; 6320 total pages ; 632 average pages.

11. A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab, 667 p.

Finale of the Shades of Magic trilogy and a step up from the disappointing second book.
Still a predictable plot and characters that I found grating.

11 big books ; 6987 total pages ; 635 average pages.

Currently reading Lola in the Mirror at 496 pages and Career of Evil at 495 pages, not helping with my big book total !?

12. The Witchwood Crown by Tad Williams, 736 p.

Set 30 years after the events of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, Tad Williams continues the epic fantasy of the world of Osten Ard. I totally enjoyed being back in this world of great characters, relationships and Tad's exquisite prose. Next up is Empire of Grass but there are some other books to read first, but I can't wait!?

12 big books ; 7723 total pages ; 644 average pages.

13. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith, 650 p.

4th in the Strike crime novel series, great writing, great characters, next up is Troubled Blood!

13 big books ; 8373 total pages ; 644 average pages.

14. A Dance to the Music of Time: 3rd Movement by Anthony Powell, 725 pp.

Nicholas Jenkins' story continues as he finds himself in the British Army during World War 2.
Nicholas and friends reflect on life, love and purpose while endeavoring to survive.
Proust gets mentioned sometimes in this long narrative and the style of Powell's writing is reminiscent of the brilliant In Search of Lost Time.

14 big books ; 9098 total pages ; 650 average pages.

15. Skeleton Crew by Stephen King, 770 pp.

This is Stephen King's second collection of short fiction, published in 1985.
I am not the greatest fan of short stories but I did enjoy Mrs Todd's Shortcut, and The Reach particularly.

15 big books ; 9868 total pages ; 658 average pages.

16. Guns of the Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky, 658 pp.

My first Tchaikovsky novel and it won't be the last!
I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping story of war, families, courage and tragedy, with a twist or two as well.

16 big books ; 10,528 total pages ; 658 average pages.

17. The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson by Karen Brooks, 541 pp.

A Christmas present for the lovely Christine, this is 1600s historical fiction set in the London Restoration Theatre world. This is a thoroughly researched and entertaining story, my one criticism is that the author does not have to belabor the point of the unequal status of women on just about every page, but Chris would argue that I am hardly the best judge of such things!?

17 big books ; 11,067 total pages ; 651 average pages.

18. Empire of Grass, Tad Williams, 668 pp.

Second novel in the Last King of Osten Ard epic fantasy series and the plot is thickening wonderfully!
I am enjoying Tad Williams' writing style and at the conclusion of this series will be reading his other works. next up is Into the Narrowdark.

18 big books ; 11,735 total pages ; 652 average pages.

19. Children of Dune, Frank Herbert, 609 pp.

Third novel in the Dune saga and we are mainly concerned with Maud'dib's twin children Ghanima and Leto as they struggle to survive and fulfill their destinies. Plenty of intrigue and I will happily read on, next up is God Emperor of Dune.

19 big books ; 12,344 total pages ; 649 average pages.

20. Freedom of the Mask, Robert McCammon, 594 pp.

Sixth book in the historical adventures of Matthew Corbett, plenty of action, humour, nastiness and twists in this series, next up Cardinal Black.

20 big books ; 12,938 total pages ; 647 average pages.

21. A Dance to the Music of Time. 4th Movement, Anthony Powell, 804 pp.

This was the final three novels in the twelve book saga and it has been a gentle, intriguing journey as we follow Nicholas Jenkins and his associates through much of the English 20th century.

21 big books ; 13,742 total pages ; 654 average pages.

22. Troubled Blood, Robert Galbraith, 929 pp.

Fifth book in the crime series involving Cormoran Strike and his fellow detective Robin Ellacott, and best one so far with intriguing characters, great plot and excellent twists! Next up is The Ink Black Heart which at 1013 pages is my first 1000 page read this year, but not the last.

22 big books ; 14,671 total pages ; 667 average pages.

23. Into the Narrowdark, Tad Williams, 600 pp.

This epic fantasy series has just vaulted into fifth on my fantasy top 100 list!!
The final novel in the second series The Navigator's Children is published November this year and it will be awesome.

23 big books ; 15,271 total pages ; 664 average pages.

24. The Ink Black Heart, Robert Galbraith, 1013 pp.

Sixth book in the Strike Ellacott series and another long and satisfying episode in this enthralling crime saga. I didn't quite like this one as much as Troubled Blood, I think because of the many pages of computer speak that didn't advance the plot very much imo. Next up is The Running Grave.

24 big books ; 16,284 total pages ; 678 average pages.

25. 5 Novels, Daniel Pinkwater, 648 pp.

I hadn't read any Pinkwater for years and then Meredith reminded me of his irreverant, weird and funny books. It isn't easy to find his books in Australia but I managed to get this combined volume of five stories. Great fun of course, my favourites Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars and The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death.

25 big books ; 16,932 total pages ; 677 average pages.