Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. and is currently being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is “Longest Books I’ve Ever Read.” I feel like I don’t pick up as many big books as I used to and I think being a book blogger is partially to blame for this. It’s hard to justify spending a week or two on one book when there are so many books to get to. Here are ten of the longest books I’ve read according to Goodreads. To ensure some variation, I limited myself to mentioning only one book in the same series. Example, several HP books would make this list, but I’m only listing Order of the Phoenix since it’s the longest. Covers are linked to Goodreads.
1. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke – Number of Pages: 1,056 – This book was so long that I literally paused in the middle of it, read another book, and then returned to finish it. Still impressed that I read this gigantic book.
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling – Number of Pages: 870 – This and Prisoner of Azkaban are my favorite HP books. Pretty sure I got through this in only a few days. I didn’t need sleep back then.
3. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – Number of Pages: 850 – I did a buddy read for this one and thankful I did because I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have been able to get through it otherwise. It wasn’t a bad book, just wasn’t really for me.
4. Winter by Marissa Meyer – Number of Pages: 827 – I’m surprised to find this one on the list, but yes, it was a big book. I wish I remembered it more vividly.
5. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke – Number of Pages: 699 – I do remember how big this one was because I took the whole series with me when I spent some time overseas and it wasn’t the best idea when I had to pack up and come back.
6. To Darkness Fled by Jill Williamson – Number of Pages: 681 – I read this series years and years ago. Don’t remember much, but they are all paperback, thick, and heavy. Couldn’t take them anywhere.
7. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas – Number of Pages: 648 – I always felt that SJM’s books never really needed to be as long as they were. Is that just me?
8. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick – Number of Pages: 640 – I almost didn’t put this one on my list because this novel includes illustrations, but hey, those count too.
9. A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab – Number of Pages: 624 – This is one of those big books that I loved partially because it was so long. It meant I got to spend more time with these particular characters.
10. Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier – Number of Pages: 608 – I’m so glad this one made it onto my list. I love Juliet Marillier’s books and this one is one of my favorites. I should totally reread this one soon.
What’s the longest book you’ve ever read? Have you picked any of these up? Let me know in the comments and be sure to leave me a link to your own TTT post, so I can visit.
Outlander and Harry Potter are on my list too. I agree with what you said about Outlander. It’s got great writing. Just not my cup of tea.
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Yeah, I understand why Outlander is so popular, but just not my thing.
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I didn’t realize the Lunar books were SO long. Guess I’d best get used to long reads IF I want to read these. 😀 I suspect lots of bloggers will have HP, Outlander and SJM on their lists today. 🙂
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Only a couple of them are long. This one being the longest. I expect to see all of these too.
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I always forget how long the Lunar Chronicles are. That’s because they’re so good, it barely feels like it! 😀
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I really enjoyed the series as well. I think it might have been the last sci-fi series I completed.
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I’ve seen Winter already showing up a bit. And ooh Marillier- I hear good things about her stuff!
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Juliet Marillier is a master at fantasy.
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Harry Potter made my list too. I haven’t read Outlander or Winter yet. My longest read is The Stand by Stephen King. Great book. Have you read it?
https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2018/10/top-ten-tuesday-longest-books-ive-ever.html
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I have not read The Stand, but I expect King to be on lots of lists today.
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Outlander is on my list too! And, confession : I’ve never read Inkdeath. I love and have Inkheart but I’ve never read beyond it. *forever on my TBR list* lol.
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Lol, I have many of those on my TBR too. I honestly think the first book is the best anyway.
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Oh my god I am so glad to see Son of Shadows on your list this week! I ADORED the first book in that series and liked the next two, but I don’t remember enough to continue on with the series so a reread is needed in my futures 🙂
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You should do a reread. I love her books so much, I need to find time to reread everything I’ve ever picked up by her.
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The longest books I’ve read have to be Stephen King’s IT and Terry Goodkind’s Stone of Tears, both were over 1000 pages long! The Lunar Chronicles is a series I so need to finish and Winter appeared on my list too 🙂
My TTT:
https://edwardsghostengine.wordpress.com/2018/10/09/ttt-longest-books-on-my-tbr/#more-6827
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Two 1000 page books is impressive. I don’t think I could get through one today.
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I’ve read Clarke and Gabaldon on audio and that definitely helped me. 🙂
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Was there a noticeable difference when listening to these two, considering the length, compared to other audiobooks?
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Well there were times when Outlander dragged, but the narrator was pretty fantastic. I loved Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – I don’t think I would have minded if it kept going. 🙂
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I haven’t read Outlander yet though I hear it’s a good book. One of the longest books I’ve read is East of Eden by John Steinbeck.
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Did you read it on your own or for school? I read his much small novel Of Mice and Men.
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I am so impressed by all over you, who have read a book over 1000 pages. I just don’t think I’d have it in me.
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It was just the one and I don’t think I could get through another one again. It took me so long to read it.
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The HP books and Lunar Chronicles made my list too. I don’t read a ton of big books anymore either. Blogging makes me always go for the shorter read!
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Yep. I kind of miss getting excited about longer reads, but they are always harder to justify.
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I should have limited mine perhaps. Most of my list were either Stephen King books or books from the Harry Potter series – although there was one from the Twilight series thrown in as well.
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Still worth bragging about in my opinion.
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Inkdeath is definitely one of the longest books I’ve read as well, and it’s amazing to realise that I actually read that book when I was like, 13!
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Yeah, they are pretty big books for being middle grade.
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Great list! Outlander and Harry Potter made my list as well. I never realized the Lunar Chronicles were that long – I haven’t had a chance to read them yet! Happy Reading!
My TTT: Longest Books I’ve Read!
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Only two of the Lunar Chronicles books are particularly long. Thanks!
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I had the same reaction to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
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Yep. Back in the day who needed sleep when you could read? Now, I’d need at least a week to get through it.
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I’ve read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and the Cornelia Funke series has been on my TBR for a while (I just need to figure out where the books ended up on my bookshelves after we moved).
Hope you have a great week. Here’s my TTT –> http://justanothergirlandherbooks.blogspot.com/2018/10/top-ten-tuesday-i-like-big-books-and-i.html
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I love the Inkheart series so much. Got me through some stressful times. Hope you find them!
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I probably should have limited myself to one book per series. Two series dominated my list, I could have had more variety!
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No shame in listing the big books even if they belong to the same series.
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Other books from the Outlander series are on my list — the books get longer and longer as the story goes along! I don’t know why Jonathan Strange didn’t show up for me — maybe I looked at the wrong edition? In any case, I did read it, and it would definitely count as one of my longest books ever!
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I can’t believe they get longer! Yes, it depends on the edition you read. But Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is huge in whatever edition you pick up.
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I’ve always wanted to read Outlander, but the length of that book and the size of the series is so overwhelming!
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Buddy reading it was really helpful to me. I think we read it over the course of one month, which made it easier.
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That’s a great idea!
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I have Outlander, Harry Potter and Winter on my list as well!
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I expect to see each on lots of people’s lists this week.
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Oh wow I forgot A Conjuring of Light was over 600 pages long…it felt like such a short ride though!
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Too true. I love when big books seem smaller. Great indication of compelling writing.
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Harry Potter made my list, too. When I was younger, I’d stay up all night to read the newest Harry Potter book. I can’t do that anymore!
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HP was on a lot of lists this week. I wonder how many of us stayed up late even on a school night to fin out what happened next. I can’t either!
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I haven’t read any of these books, but I’m definitely seeing new fantasy titles I should check out. Great post!
* TTT: Top 10 longest books I’ve read in 2018 🌻❤🌻❤
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Lots of fantasy titles in this week’s TTT. Thinking I need to try some out too. Thanks!
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I’ve read Queen of Shadows. The longest books I’ve read are in the 1500 page range.
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That’s really impressive.
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I didn’t realize Inkdeath was so big!
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It’s a big conclusion. I don’t remember it taking me a long time to get through, but have a feeling it would today.
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I love Juliet Marillier’s books so much too! I don’t remember them being too long, though my memory is kind of fuzzy…
I keep seeing HP and Winter in everyone’s lists and I would definitely include them in mine. Inkheart has been on my TBR for ages! I found the movie super cute and interesting.
Great post, Alicia 🙂
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Yay, another Juliet Marillier fan! It’s been a while since I picked up one of her novels too. I need to change that. The Inkheart movie is nothing compared to the charm of the book!
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Same here… I’m curious about her adult series but I think it won’t be as wonderful as Sevenwaters.
That’s great to hear! Though that’s usually the case hahaha
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Sometimes I stay away from longer books, because I get so intimidated by it and also because there are so many books that I want to read, so spending so much time on one book makes that a little harder. I usually get audiobooks of bigger books and listen to them while I’m working. That way I can focus my free time on other books that I want to read. Harry Potter and Winter were probably the longest books that I’ve read….although I listened to the audiobooks for both, haha.
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I’ve heard audio books is the way to go with longer books. I might try that.
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I sat in on a class called Victorian Universe one semester. We read three novels, and they were all 1,200 to 1,500 pages long. And these were not small books design-wise, either. We read Vanity Fair, Middlemarch, and Bleak House.
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Yikes. I can only imagine.
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I loved Outlander so I won’t complain about the length of the book. Gabaldon’s Outlander series tend to be on the thicker side so I have only got to book 4 but I do love the series.
A Game of Thrones series are hefty too, but I love them too. I think one is about 1100 pages? It’s been awhile since I read them but I do remember one book being really thick.
It takes me some time to get through thick books so I tend to steer away from them unless it’s from an author that I love.
Great discussion Alicia!
Dinh@Arlene’s Book Club
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I’m glad the length hasn’t affected how you’ve enjoyed the Outlander series. Yes, I’d have to really love an author to pick up some big books these days.
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I forgot about ADSOM series! I have had Inkdeath on my shelf for so long. The whole series, actually. I have been so intimidated by them! lol.
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I really love the Inkdeath series. It’s one of the most charming MG books I’ve read.
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Yay, good to know!!
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ACOL, Queen of Shadows and The Order of The Phoenix were all on my list this week too.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/09/top-ten-tuesday-180/
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Those are popular picks this week!
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They certainly seem to be!
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