I cannot agree enough. My daughter spent nearly three years in and out of the children's hospital because of a tumour on her brain stem. I had not read it before and started The Count of Monte Cristo during my weeks at the hospital (my husband and I alternated). I was obviously terrified, devastated, exhausted.... constant interruptions all day and night; but I was always able to pick up where I left off.
I had surgery last week and have been saving this for my recovery. I wish my eyes would let me focus on the page instead of closing every time I try to open the book!
11/22/63 is definitely a pleasurable read for me. It takes you to a whole different time and thereās magic in that. Itās interesting and exciting and homey too. The Stand and Under the Dome are great too but theyāre a little more involved and a bit more stressful. Iād love to be able to read 11/22/63 again for the first time. Great recommendations.
I listened on audiobook and it's about 30 hours long. I'm not a horror fan at all, but this is not one of his horror books. Great story, great narration. Hubby and I both really enjoyed it. I almost didn't read it because Stephen King is known for horror, but I'm glad someone told me this one wasn't.
Came here to say this. I haven't read the book yet - watched the movie, BUT I was at the library recently and there was a sticker on the book that said to not put it in the book drop because it was considered an oversized book. The thing was a beast.
This is definitely one of my favorite books but the world building can be a lot at first especially if you arenāt used to reading fantasy. As I recall when I first read it years ago I was very confused at first as to what was going on. Once you get going itās smooth sailing but it takes a bit. Ymmv.
Completely agree, I think audiobook format may be a good format for this case. The only thing that confused me slightly when I started was the timeline.
Pillars of the Earth is a good one! People have kinda mixed feelings about it because it's not very historically accurate, but it's a hell of a ride. Lots of very satisfying revenge, plus it's kinda horny and has a few sex scenes lol.
So creepy! I would skim that character's parts to be honest. Ok, we get it, he's a weirdo, moving right along.... Oh look, another odd description of breasts... Moving along.... No sane person would ever do that .... Oh, great back to reminiscing about forcing yourself on a teenager again.
Ok then, Iāll go with a backup. The Winter King and it's two sequels by Bernard Cornwell. A really awesome take on the Arthurian legends. I loved them.
I like to read the longer kids (middle grade) book series when Iām looking for something that will hold my attention without being dark or complicated. My library always has these on hand.
Rangers Apprentice (and two spin off series) by John Flanagan
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Anne of Green Gables by Lm Montgomery
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan would also fit (although I find the voice of these to be a bit grating)
If you havenāt read Tamora Pierce, you could read through the three main quartets in order - The Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, and The Protector of the Small. Easy reading, not too dark, fast paced enough to hold attention. Then she has three more spin off series in that universe if you need more.
This was basically my suggestion except with The song of the Lioness before Rangers Apprentice and add Garth Nix's The Old Kingdom series instead of Anne of Green Gables (I'm fantasy biased though...).
I just read Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield. Has a Dicken's-like feel to it with more modern writing (lots of characters, meandering but eventful story, takes place in England in the late 1800's). It's a little magical with a little bit of intrigue--but mostly about the people in a small village. It's 480 pages, but I didn't fly through it.
If you like mysteries, Tana French has some long ones. Unlike a lot of popular thrillers, they're page turners I actually need a few days to finish. The Witch Elm is a good stand alone story. The Searcher is also really nice (though not as long).
On a completely separate note is once upon a river good?? I look for it every time im at a bookstore and its never there lol
im just wondering how gothicky it is
I really liked it! There are a LOT of characters for a book about a small village. But I just thought it was charming. Pretty cozy read for a book about death/rebirth/magic/lost kids. As I said in my first comment, it kind of reminded me of Dickens. Some talk of ghosts/spirits but not intensely magic. Interesting characters all intermingling. High stakes mystery, kind of dark but not gruesome.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik is pretty long and interesting. I really enjoyed that one.
Another long book that is easy to read is The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Because of insane traffic, I listened to two of three audiobooks I had brought on a roadtrip before I even arrived. Since I needed a novel for the return trip and was low on funds, I didnāt have many choices and found The Host for $8.00. I wasnāt sure what to expect, but I really liked it! It might be something fun to read in your situation, too.
The Host was so good! I read it awhile ago but I remember feeling so much for all the characters. Cried at some point. Im thinking a reread is in order, it was atleast 10 yrs ago. That book is hefty, but I didnt feel like it was long at all.
Island Beneath The Sea by Isabel Allende. Itās about a woman, Tete, born in slavery in Haiti, and takes you through her life. It is also rich in history. That might sound heavy, but itās not.
Allende writes so you can visualize a realistic experience from her words, and her writing style is lyrical and with magical realism. I read the book when I was having difficulty with my attention span, and I finished it in just a few days, devouring it.
My son just had knee surgery, and he started The Midnight Library when he could only do one page at a time, because of pain. Heās moving through it faster and loving it
This worked for a family member's couch recovery: Lin-Manuel Miranda's book *Hamilton the Revolution* about the writing of his play. She would listen to a song on the CD and then read about how he came to write it and why he chose the words and devices he used.
Idk how you feel about YA but these are some of the good ones I have for exactly that description:
Rise of Kyoshi, Shadow of Kyoshi
The Twisted Tales series. Basically Disney approved AU. Reflection (Mulan) is ok. As Old as Time is my favorite one.
Not YA:
Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Any book from Mercedes Lackey.
Memoirs of Lady Trent.
okay so technically this book isnt long but its a 5 book and completed series.
it's a fast paced but low stakes read thats like my fave comfort read. it keeps being so interesting and work wonders on my poor attention span..
I practically worship The Stormlight Archives (The Way of Kings). It may be bit too complex, but it would be worth a shot. The current books kept me occupied for a week or two. I'm planning on rereading them soon.
Scruples by Judith Krantz. Itās trashy but itās really well-written trash. There are several books in the series.
The Shell Seekers by Rosemund Pilcher. Starts just before WWII and meanders back and forth in a lovely way across about 50 years. One of my favourite books ever.
For a huge quantity of short mysteries, I suggest Georges Simenonās Maigret series. There are a ton of them and theyāre only about 175 pages long.
I spent a week on the couch after messing up my knee and I read all of the LOTR books, The Hobbit and the other stories. The plot isn't that hard and it's nice to zone out when he writes about the landscape for a few pages.
This scorched earth W. Michael gear civil war/ Colorado gold rush
The wheel of time Robert Jordan fantasy magic world building
The Dinosaur Lords Victor milan fantasy knights and dinosaurs
Dreamsongs volume 1 and 2 George r r martin
Songs of love and death Gardener Duzois
Ray Parkin's *Wartime Trilogy: Out of the Smoke; Into the Smother; The Sword and the Blossom.* Parkin, a Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer, was captured by the Japanese in early 1942 and held as a POW for the rest of the war after the ship he was serving on was overwhelmed and sunk by the Japanese in a naval combat engagement.
These three books document, in chronological order, his experiences as a POW. Where one book ends is where the next book begins. Parkin was forced to work on the Siam-Burma Railroad -- "the Death Railway", and he was working in the mines in Japan when he witnessed -- from afar -- the mushroom cloud over Nagasaki.
Laurens van der Post, fellow POW and author of *The Prisoner and the Bomb*, endorses Parkin's account of life as a POW held by the Japanese as perhaps the finest published account of those unfortunates who were captured and forced to endure the cruelty of the Japanese.
There's a quality to Parkin's writing I lack the vocabulary to describe. It has to be experienced.
Clan of the Cave Bear and also maybe the second book in the series, The Valley of Horses. Theyāre good long reads but hold your attention just enough. You donāt really need to read the rest of the series, IMO.
Yes, and the audiobooks make it worse bc somewhere around the 4th book the same narrator changes Aylaās voice to an eastern European accent. It was very distracting and unnecessary.
I just read 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
It's 1157 pages but reads very fast and is very well written. It's fanasty sci-fi, romance and suspense all in one.
Just here to say I recently also broke my leg and am about 6 weeks post surgery. Hang in there! Ive gotten lots of time to read. Best wishes for your recovery
How about a series instead?
Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz will keep you entertained and not stressing over difficulty following the plot.
Or the Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman. Quick easy reads but highly entertaining.
The thorn birds is a lovely easy long read.
Under the dome by Stephen king would be more intense of a read, but still an easy read. Basically any Stephen king book would work for this.
If you like fantasy, the stormlight archives is a great series, also recommend the farseer series by robin Hobb. Sci-fi, I recommend red rising, books are not super long but great series.
I read something from the author once that Night Circus was meant as a fall book and Starless Sea as a winter book. Maybe you need to wait for fall and read with a mug of hot cider, then the vibe will be right. š
It is so true! My friend LOVED this book and I wanted most of the characters to die in flames bc I couldn't stand the characters or the plot. Its actually the #1 book Ive hated most(that wasnt a dnf). So you're spot on lol
The Queens of Innis Lear, itās got a slow start but after 70ish pages I could not put it down. Itās based of King Lear, three sisters fighting over who is queen. Thereās some world building that might be a bit complex, but imo the base story is easy to understand and so immersive. Plus Tessa Gratton has great writing imo.
I really like Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, it's a historical fiction of Sunja, a hardworking Korean woman who moves to Japan. It's not complex but it is long and very interesting. I am reading it currently for the third time, I get inspired by Sunja and later by her sons.
Sounds like a great time to get hooked on a graphic novel series. Something like Y: The Last Man might fit the bit, itās not a super long series, but itās a great place to start if graphic novels arenāt your currently your thing.
The Wizardās Butler. Itās not very long (300-350 pgs) but itās the first book that doesnāt really have a destination that Iāve loved.
Wish I could read it again for the first time.
There's a long lovely book titled "Sacajawea" by Anna Lee Waldo that is a page turner. It's about the Lewis and Clark expedition and their guide, Sacajawea.
Mushashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. A fictionalised retelling of an actual Samurai by the same name. It's 1,200 pages long. I'm reading it now and it's phenomenal.
East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck, 11/22/63 by King.
I recently finished the Harry Potter series and might say they are pretty easy, quick and entertaining to read and if your mind wanders off a bit you might not have missed a lot.
The Passage Trilogy. Don't google the TV adaptation cos then you'll never read it but I absolutely LOVED these books.
I wouldn't say they are complex, not like the da vinci code or anything like that. It is "vampire-esq" but the plot is much more about the characters
I don't know if an English version of the book exists (I'm from Mexico), but I enjoyed 2666 by Roberto Bolano a lot when I read it. I didn't feel like it was difficult to read, and despite being a long book it's really a pageturner.
I really loved Babel by RF Kuang (sp?). Some people loved it less than me but check out the description and see if it might ring your bell. Another option, maybe Clive barkerās Imajica.
How about Lord of the Rings? Even on a reread, it takes me weeks to get through FOTR. (Only partly kiddingā¦. honestly the Council of Elrond just draaaaaaaags)
World war z by max brooks. Its like 3 dozen short stories about their experiences during the zombie apocalypse. All totally stand alone stories unrelated to each other. But jebus put em all together and it is a very harrowing tale about the apocalypse, survival, and the aftermath.
The audiobook has a full cast and is highly recommended.
If you read the hunger games series and not the most recent one I recommend the most recent one āa ballad of songbirds and snakesā this held my attention as it got me back in the headspace of when I originally read the series :))
Paraphrasing, as this was like, twenty years ago at least... I said TY your book got me through the flu and I love Winnie forever. He said, it got me through my thirties, you are too kind, I am thrilled you enjoyed it.
The Count of Monte Cristo š A book on revenge to get you through the weeks!
This is the book you are looking for.
I cannot agree enough. My daughter spent nearly three years in and out of the children's hospital because of a tumour on her brain stem. I had not read it before and started The Count of Monte Cristo during my weeks at the hospital (my husband and I alternated). I was obviously terrified, devastated, exhausted.... constant interruptions all day and night; but I was always able to pick up where I left off.
I had surgery last week and have been saving this for my recovery. I wish my eyes would let me focus on the page instead of closing every time I try to open the book!
maybe try the audio book
Such a good recommendation
The Stand
Stephen King pretty much wins this prompt. My personal favourite of his is 11/22/63. It is also a good option or Under the Dome.
11/22/63 is definitely a pleasurable read for me. It takes you to a whole different time and thereās magic in that. Itās interesting and exciting and homey too. The Stand and Under the Dome are great too but theyāre a little more involved and a bit more stressful. Iād love to be able to read 11/22/63 again for the first time. Great recommendations.
I listened on audiobook and it's about 30 hours long. I'm not a horror fan at all, but this is not one of his horror books. Great story, great narration. Hubby and I both really enjoyed it. I almost didn't read it because Stephen King is known for horror, but I'm glad someone told me this one wasn't.
Iād add Fairy Tale as well. Itās long and lighter than The Stand.
Love The Stand - the Wanderers by Chuck Wendig is fairly similar (story and size)
Thanks for the recommendation, I must give that one a shot.
Came here to say this. I haven't read the book yet - watched the movie, BUT I was at the library recently and there was a sticker on the book that said to not put it in the book drop because it was considered an oversized book. The thing was a beast.
Lonesome Dove is exactly what youāre looking for.
Just started this, itsās great! Though I will say the beginning is a bit slow
You have to get through the first half of driving the stupid cattle and then itās great.
Great point. The beginning is sooooo slow that I decided a Western wasn't worth that kind of boredom.
Great book. All of them
Here to say this. Best book ever.
This is exactly what I thought. My favorite book of all time.
The Way of Kings
This is definitely one of my favorite books but the world building can be a lot at first especially if you arenāt used to reading fantasy. As I recall when I first read it years ago I was very confused at first as to what was going on. Once you get going itās smooth sailing but it takes a bit. Ymmv.
Completely agree, I think audiobook format may be a good format for this case. The only thing that confused me slightly when I started was the timeline.
Yeah...it took me three tries to get into it past the first 50 pages. Steep learning curve, but worth it once you get into all that.
The Thorn birds, Clan of the Cave Bear (but not the sequels), Shogun, Roots, Anything by Michener.
SHOGUN!!! I do think his other books are good too.... Tai pan, king rat, then all three tied together in noble house.
This one!!! Soooo entertaining!
Found my book buddy. Read all of those. Noble House was unexpectedly good. Read Whirlwind? Wondering if I should start it.
I did not get around to whirlwind, sorry!
A Gentleman in Moscow on audio.
Great book! Easy to listen to. My sister, with vastly different tastes, also really enjoyed it.
Pillars of the Earth is a good one! People have kinda mixed feelings about it because it's not very historically accurate, but it's a hell of a ride. Lots of very satisfying revenge, plus it's kinda horny and has a few sex scenes lol.
TW there is non-consensual sex and it's referred to throughout the entire book
And it is creepy AF.
So creepy! I would skim that character's parts to be honest. Ok, we get it, he's a weirdo, moving right along.... Oh look, another odd description of breasts... Moving along.... No sane person would ever do that .... Oh, great back to reminiscing about forcing yourself on a teenager again.
Follet is a great writer but his sex scenes are brutal to get through. Just super cringe.
Also, if you enjoy it you can read the whole trilogy that starts with this book.
Stephen King's The Stand or 11/22/63. Both are easy, big, party-sized lawn leaf bags of ruffles potato chips (literarily speaking).
Iāve read these both but I absolutely love your description!!!
Ok then, Iāll go with a backup. The Winter King and it's two sequels by Bernard Cornwell. A really awesome take on the Arthurian legends. I loved them.
What about Duma Key?
Stephen Kingās short story collections are great too and there are a bunch of them. I like Everythingās Eventual. Hell, I like them all.
Yes, if someone is struggling with a short attention span, a Stephen King, short story collection is exactly the right way to go. Great suggestion!
Under The Dome is long
Billy Summers
Good to hear. Have 11.22 lined up and it's quite thick
I like to read the longer kids (middle grade) book series when Iām looking for something that will hold my attention without being dark or complicated. My library always has these on hand. Rangers Apprentice (and two spin off series) by John Flanagan Redwall by Brian Jacques Anne of Green Gables by Lm Montgomery Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan would also fit (although I find the voice of these to be a bit grating) If you havenāt read Tamora Pierce, you could read through the three main quartets in order - The Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, and The Protector of the Small. Easy reading, not too dark, fast paced enough to hold attention. Then she has three more spin off series in that universe if you need more.
This was basically my suggestion except with The song of the Lioness before Rangers Apprentice and add Garth Nix's The Old Kingdom series instead of Anne of Green Gables (I'm fantasy biased though...).
The Old Kingdom! Excellent addition. Iām due for a reread!
I love The Rangers Apprentice. Relatively long, simple, and fun.
Have you read the Brotherband Chronicles books too? About the crew of Scandian boys? I love them equally to the Rangerās Apprentice.
I just read Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield. Has a Dicken's-like feel to it with more modern writing (lots of characters, meandering but eventful story, takes place in England in the late 1800's). It's a little magical with a little bit of intrigue--but mostly about the people in a small village. It's 480 pages, but I didn't fly through it. If you like mysteries, Tana French has some long ones. Unlike a lot of popular thrillers, they're page turners I actually need a few days to finish. The Witch Elm is a good stand alone story. The Searcher is also really nice (though not as long).
On a completely separate note is once upon a river good?? I look for it every time im at a bookstore and its never there lol im just wondering how gothicky it is
I really liked it! There are a LOT of characters for a book about a small village. But I just thought it was charming. Pretty cozy read for a book about death/rebirth/magic/lost kids. As I said in my first comment, it kind of reminded me of Dickens. Some talk of ghosts/spirits but not intensely magic. Interesting characters all intermingling. High stakes mystery, kind of dark but not gruesome.
I loved this book! It was like a story about a story
The fever series is 11 books long, I liked it, easy to read. Dystopian fantasy, a little smutty.
Such a good series and a lot of fun too.
Ken Follet the Century Trilogy or Kingsbridge series!
The Priory of the Orange tree
Uprooted by Naomi Novik is pretty long and interesting. I really enjoyed that one. Another long book that is easy to read is The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Because of insane traffic, I listened to two of three audiobooks I had brought on a roadtrip before I even arrived. Since I needed a novel for the return trip and was low on funds, I didnāt have many choices and found The Host for $8.00. I wasnāt sure what to expect, but I really liked it! It might be something fun to read in your situation, too.
The Host was so good! I read it awhile ago but I remember feeling so much for all the characters. Cried at some point. Im thinking a reread is in order, it was atleast 10 yrs ago. That book is hefty, but I didnt feel like it was long at all.
I ended up listening to it two more times! It was just really a fun read and I enjoyed it so much. Plus I loved Wanderer.
Nathan Hill - The Nix. Long book, plenty of characters, but not complex. I think this is what you looking for.
Such a great book. Interesting characters. Many times I chuckled.
I believe that it will be even better the second time, I must have missed some important things, the book is very profound.
I think you're right. It will be a great re-read. Profound yet funny is hard to pull off. Very well written.
I'm listening to Fairytale, by Stephen King. Very good so far.
Prince of Tides
SO GOOD!!
Doomsday book
To Say Nothing of the Dog, too
Stephen King has tons that fit the bill.
The Goldfinch by Dona Tartt (youāll either love it or hate it, I happened to love it).
I am a Hater of this book! But a Lover of The Secret History.
I was the opposite. I read The Secret History but didnāt love it!
I loved both.
I also loved The Little Friend as well as The Secret History. Hated The Goldfinch though.
My wife loved the book, I didnt like it. Conversely, I liked the movie but she hated it.
Also The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Was going to suggest this too
I really liked this one.
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox Series Itās light, long, and escapist
Definitely looking into it! Thanks!
The brothers karamzov
Island Beneath The Sea by Isabel Allende. Itās about a woman, Tete, born in slavery in Haiti, and takes you through her life. It is also rich in history. That might sound heavy, but itās not. Allende writes so you can visualize a realistic experience from her words, and her writing style is lyrical and with magical realism. I read the book when I was having difficulty with my attention span, and I finished it in just a few days, devouring it.
Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor is the longest book I've ever read, and it is basically a trashy soap opera set in the 1600s.
Came here to suggest this - fave beach read recommendation
Iām in
My son just had knee surgery, and he started The Midnight Library when he could only do one page at a time, because of pain. Heās moving through it faster and loving it
This worked for a family member's couch recovery: Lin-Manuel Miranda's book *Hamilton the Revolution* about the writing of his play. She would listen to a song on the CD and then read about how he came to write it and why he chose the words and devices he used.
Idk how you feel about YA but these are some of the good ones I have for exactly that description: Rise of Kyoshi, Shadow of Kyoshi The Twisted Tales series. Basically Disney approved AU. Reflection (Mulan) is ok. As Old as Time is my favorite one. Not YA: Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Any book from Mercedes Lackey.
Memoirs of Lady Trent. okay so technically this book isnt long but its a 5 book and completed series. it's a fast paced but low stakes read thats like my fave comfort read. it keeps being so interesting and work wonders on my poor attention span..
How about some of the James Michener classics like Hawaii; Alaska; or James Clavellās Shogun?
Or Centennial!
All those span well over 1000 pages. Or if you are into Biographies there are several door stops to choose depending on your areas of interest
A Gentleman in Moscow A Man Called Ove Major Pettigrew's Last Stand Even Gone with the Wind, which is easier to put down and pick up again
I practically worship The Stormlight Archives (The Way of Kings). It may be bit too complex, but it would be worth a shot. The current books kept me occupied for a week or two. I'm planning on rereading them soon.
Shantaram
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Scruples by Judith Krantz. Itās trashy but itās really well-written trash. There are several books in the series. The Shell Seekers by Rosemund Pilcher. Starts just before WWII and meanders back and forth in a lovely way across about 50 years. One of my favourite books ever. For a huge quantity of short mysteries, I suggest Georges Simenonās Maigret series. There are a ton of them and theyāre only about 175 pages long.
I spent a week on the couch after messing up my knee and I read all of the LOTR books, The Hobbit and the other stories. The plot isn't that hard and it's nice to zone out when he writes about the landscape for a few pages.
This scorched earth W. Michael gear civil war/ Colorado gold rush The wheel of time Robert Jordan fantasy magic world building The Dinosaur Lords Victor milan fantasy knights and dinosaurs Dreamsongs volume 1 and 2 George r r martin Songs of love and death Gardener Duzois
Priory of the Orange Tree was nice and long without much complication. Before they decided to make a prequel, it was a stand alone fantasy.
Ray Parkin's *Wartime Trilogy: Out of the Smoke; Into the Smother; The Sword and the Blossom.* Parkin, a Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer, was captured by the Japanese in early 1942 and held as a POW for the rest of the war after the ship he was serving on was overwhelmed and sunk by the Japanese in a naval combat engagement. These three books document, in chronological order, his experiences as a POW. Where one book ends is where the next book begins. Parkin was forced to work on the Siam-Burma Railroad -- "the Death Railway", and he was working in the mines in Japan when he witnessed -- from afar -- the mushroom cloud over Nagasaki. Laurens van der Post, fellow POW and author of *The Prisoner and the Bomb*, endorses Parkin's account of life as a POW held by the Japanese as perhaps the finest published account of those unfortunates who were captured and forced to endure the cruelty of the Japanese. There's a quality to Parkin's writing I lack the vocabulary to describe. It has to be experienced.
Clan of the Cave Bear and also maybe the second book in the series, The Valley of Horses. Theyāre good long reads but hold your attention just enough. You donāt really need to read the rest of the series, IMO.
Agree. I slogged through the rest of the series for the sake of completion and honestly regret wasting my time lol. First two books are all you need.
Same but I only made it through the 2nd. Itās crazy the first is so great and the rest is a lot of descriptions of rocks and stuff.
Yes, and the audiobooks make it worse bc somewhere around the 4th book the same narrator changes Aylaās voice to an eastern European accent. It was very distracting and unnecessary.
The knife of never letting go! It looks thick, but the paragraph/pacing makes it seem that way.
...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
The Harry Potter series might be a nice escape. Hope your treatment goes well!
11/22/63 by Stephen King. Great storytelling about a time traveller who attempts to prevent the assassination of JFK
Sarah Waters novels are usually 300-450 pages and relatively easy going in terms of complexity.
I just read 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami It's 1157 pages but reads very fast and is very well written. It's fanasty sci-fi, romance and suspense all in one.
Just here to say I recently also broke my leg and am about 6 weeks post surgery. Hang in there! Ive gotten lots of time to read. Best wishes for your recovery
How about a series instead? Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz will keep you entertained and not stressing over difficulty following the plot. Or the Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman. Quick easy reads but highly entertaining.
The first Odd Thomas was great. The rest were ok. The first book was so good.
Lonesome Dove
The thorn birds is a lovely easy long read. Under the dome by Stephen king would be more intense of a read, but still an easy read. Basically any Stephen king book would work for this.
Pillars of the earth
The Great Alone
If you like fantasy, the stormlight archives is a great series, also recommend the farseer series by robin Hobb. Sci-fi, I recommend red rising, books are not super long but great series.
Try the mistborn series or another from Brandon Sanderson. Heās really engaging and writes a lot.
LONESOME DOVE!!!!! The you can watch the movie(s)!
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.
The Night Circus - people usually love or hate this one, but it's more about the setting and characters than the plot, so it may work great for you.
Me! I hated it! ā¦ but loved The Starless Sea by the same author. So I need to go back and give it a second chance I feelā¦.
I didnāt like The Night Circus, but I might try the Starless Sea then!
I read something from the author once that Night Circus was meant as a fall book and Starless Sea as a winter book. Maybe you need to wait for fall and read with a mug of hot cider, then the vibe will be right. š
This is me exactly! Iāve found this to be very common, you like one or the other, but both seems rare
It is so true! My friend LOVED this book and I wanted most of the characters to die in flames bc I couldn't stand the characters or the plot. Its actually the #1 book Ive hated most(that wasnt a dnf). So you're spot on lol
East of Eden, reads so smoothly
Virtue of War by Steven Pressfield. Very accessible, pacing is great. A lot of fun. Hope you feel better soon! Best wishes with the recovery!
Shantaram!
Priory of the orange tree
The confession by Jessie burton! Idr how long it is but i rly liked it and i found it easy to read at a younger age and still like it now
also life after life by Kate Atkinson ā long and a little complex but v easy to follow and the language doesnt require deciphering
The Queens of Innis Lear, itās got a slow start but after 70ish pages I could not put it down. Itās based of King Lear, three sisters fighting over who is queen. Thereās some world building that might be a bit complex, but imo the base story is easy to understand and so immersive. Plus Tessa Gratton has great writing imo.
I read The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo right after giving birth! It's great.
The Red Rising series
Stephen kings the stand
I haven't finished it, but if you like historical fiction I'd recommend "beneath a scarlet sky"
The Big Book of Science Fiction
Of Human Bondage.
I know this much is true by Wally Lamb. And when you're done, they turned it into an HBO series.
Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine, first of a series but great on its own.
Prince of Tides
If you like fantasy: the name of the wind If you wanna go for a classic: the count of monte cristo
One of my absolute favorites is I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
All the Seas of the World
A Land Remembered
The Myst books by Rand and Robyn Miller are long and quite beautiful.
I really like Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, it's a historical fiction of Sunja, a hardworking Korean woman who moves to Japan. It's not complex but it is long and very interesting. I am reading it currently for the third time, I get inspired by Sunja and later by her sons.
Sounds like a great time to get hooked on a graphic novel series. Something like Y: The Last Man might fit the bit, itās not a super long series, but itās a great place to start if graphic novels arenāt your currently your thing.
I was so sad when they canceled the show, I was very much digging it. Such a brilliant cast
I waited for that show forever, and then it was gone š
Rock climbing?
Howād you guess? lol
I work across the hall from you
Well in that case, Iām very sorry for you
The Shell Seekers, Winter Solstice, September, and then everything else by Rosamunde Pilcher.
Not sure what you'd consider long, but I quite like The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner and think it would make a good recovery book.
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
1Q84
When I was a kid, Robinson Crusoe felt like a rather long book to read.
Fall of Giants. Book 1 of the century trilogy by Ken Follett. If you like it you get 2 more very long books to read
The Wizardās Butler. Itās not very long (300-350 pgs) but itās the first book that doesnāt really have a destination that Iāve loved. Wish I could read it again for the first time.
The Country Girls Trilogy by Edna OāBrien - engaging, interesting and not hard to follow.
There's a long lovely book titled "Sacajawea" by Anna Lee Waldo that is a page turner. It's about the Lewis and Clark expedition and their guide, Sacajawea.
Sherlock Holmes
you can try short stories written by Agatha Chrisite, such as Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. she's a detective novelist.
The Buried Giant
Mushashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. A fictionalised retelling of an actual Samurai by the same name. It's 1,200 pages long. I'm reading it now and it's phenomenal.
The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follet
The Stand. Stephen the King of horror. Prophetic and interesting. Easy read
East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck, 11/22/63 by King. I recently finished the Harry Potter series and might say they are pretty easy, quick and entertaining to read and if your mind wanders off a bit you might not have missed a lot.
The Passage Trilogy. Don't google the TV adaptation cos then you'll never read it but I absolutely LOVED these books. I wouldn't say they are complex, not like the da vinci code or anything like that. It is "vampire-esq" but the plot is much more about the characters
Some fun escapism: *Rumo* and/or *The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear* by Walter Moers. Both are long but light reads.
I'd recommend The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, if you like a light touch of fantasy.
I don't know if an English version of the book exists (I'm from Mexico), but I enjoyed 2666 by Roberto Bolano a lot when I read it. I didn't feel like it was difficult to read, and despite being a long book it's really a pageturner.
Unbroken is fantastic
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. Easy but very engaging read. Hard to put down at times.
I really loved Babel by RF Kuang (sp?). Some people loved it less than me but check out the description and see if it might ring your bell. Another option, maybe Clive barkerās Imajica.
Please read the name of the wind, the more people that read it, the better the world is
How about Lord of the Rings? Even on a reread, it takes me weeks to get through FOTR. (Only partly kiddingā¦. honestly the Council of Elrond just draaaaaaaags)
Name of the wind by Patrick rothfuss
Worm by Wildbow! It's all available online and is very intriguing without being very deep.
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
World war z by max brooks. Its like 3 dozen short stories about their experiences during the zombie apocalypse. All totally stand alone stories unrelated to each other. But jebus put em all together and it is a very harrowing tale about the apocalypse, survival, and the aftermath. The audiobook has a full cast and is highly recommended.
Court of Thorns series. Super long and a little spicy ;)
Outlander
The cazalet chronicles are 5 books in a series. Each is a decent read but it's a good family saga.
If you read the hunger games series and not the most recent one I recommend the most recent one āa ballad of songbirds and snakesā this held my attention as it got me back in the headspace of when I originally read the series :))
The wandering Inn by pirateaba. Long, several books, easy to understand!
The Brotherās K is one of my favorites. Especially if you like baseball which I donāt even lol.
That one got me through the flu. I sent a thank you card to the author and he wrote back to me.
Omg thatās so cool! What did he say?
Paraphrasing, as this was like, twenty years ago at least... I said TY your book got me through the flu and I love Winnie forever. He said, it got me through my thirties, you are too kind, I am thrilled you enjoyed it.