 Editor in Chief Bill   | 10 Jul 2009 6:47 p.m. PST |
We have selected 15 of the best single volume behemoths – all true monsters of literature that could be judged on their weight alone. It is possible to find longer novels but we thought it would be unkind to recommend L Ron Hubbard books or horrendously lengthy self-published beasts. Those readers lacking stamina can look away now. However, for those people with short attention spans, we have included Twitter-style descriptions squeezing each mammoth novel into 140 characters or less. link Yes, I've read one of those titles… |
 Panzerfaust  | 10 Jul 2009 7:07 p.m. PST |
The great thing about reading a mammoth tome like that, if it's in hardback, is that you get a rigorous upper body workout while enriching your mind. |
| Regrebnelle | 10 Jul 2009 7:08 p.m. PST |
I've read one and have two others on the shelf for that really long winter storm that comes along about every 10 years. Mark |
 Parzival | 10 Jul 2009 11:55 p.m. PST |
I've read three of 'em, and am interested in a few of the others. |
| GarrisonMiniatures | 11 Jul 2009 2:25 a.m. PST |
Reminds me of an old comedy show from years and years and years ago….Never mind the quality, feel the width. |
| The Nigerian Lead Minister | 11 Jul 2009 6:50 a.m. PST |
I've read three. They were pretty good. But that was back in the day when I had the time for such an undertaking… |
 John the OFM | 11 Jul 2009 6:51 a.m. PST |
Shogun and the Far Pavilions for me. Where's the love for "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance"? Those are 1100 pages at least. I just polished off the first one last week, for the third time. I am still looking for the second. I know what room it's in… |
| Pictors Studio | 11 Jul 2009 8:06 a.m. PST |
I've only read one of them, but I've read it a couple of times. |
| jpattern2 | 11 Jul 2009 9:43 a.m. PST |
I've read five of them. Three of those were pretty hard slogs. I found "The Count of Monte Cristo" to be the easiest read. |
| Mapleleaf | 11 Jul 2009 11:53 a.m. PST |
Surprised to see 2 "Aussie" books on list. I have completed and read 7 and started but given up on 3 others. Main reason was a series of European literature courses in University. |
| Dan Wideman II | 11 Jul 2009 3:18 p.m. PST |
I've started 2 of those (Le Mis, and War and Peace). I made it about 100 pages into each before I thought to myself, "they call these classics?" I've decided I much prefer Fiction to Literature. The primary difference being that Literature seems to talk down to the reader, and has no sense of pacing, and usually sets out to educate in some way. Fiction on the other hand is just about telling a good story. None of the Literature I've read has qualified as a good story. |
| Zyphyr | 11 Jul 2009 3:36 p.m. PST |
I've read a few. Only Count of Monte Cristo was actually enjoyable. |
 McKinstry | 11 Jul 2009 5:50 p.m. PST |
Shogun, War & Peace and Monte Cristo. It would be four but Atlas Shrugged kicked my butt deep into near catatonic boredom and I wandered off. |
| vojvoda | 11 Jul 2009 7:33 p.m. PST |
What Atlas Shrugged is not up there? I thought John Galt's 50 or so page speach alone was a work unto it's own.
VR
James Mattes |
| Mapleleaf | 11 Jul 2009 9:58 p.m. PST |
James, Atlas Shrugged is there and a very deserving candidate too as world's most boring book. |
| AndrewGPaul | 12 Jul 2009 9:33 a.m. PST |
Of that lot, I've only read Cryptonomicon. On my bookshelf, The Sword of Shannara and Perdido Street Station are of a similar size. |
| Mikeeeean | 12 Jul 2009 7:30 p.m. PST |
I've read 4, Les Miserables,Atlas Shrugged,The Count of Monte Cristo,Shogun(twice), Shogun was probably my favorite followed by The Count . |
| Daffy Doug | 13 Jul 2009 9:00 a.m. PST |
What, no IT, no The Stand? I've read 3.5 (a condensed version of Les Miserables, only 500+ pages long)…. |
