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What scares you about picking up a Hefty Classic to read?

The bigger the book, the bigger the plot �� and that's just the beginning. You open the book, read the cover and flip through the pages.

Next thing you know you are shutting the book and putting it back on the shelf.

What stops you from picking it up, finding a bookmark and settling down with a book over 800 pages?

Nothing. I love big, long, challenging reads. Multi-volume, even better.

I am my own biggest problem. I have chosen too many challenges because they all sound interesting. The self-inflicted number of books I want to read makes it difficult to concentrate on longer books. That being said, I still want to read War and Peace this year!

Nothing in particular. When a book is interesting and has a gripping storyline..I actually never wanted it to finish on the first place. So are born the sequels.. like Harry Potter or the Hunger Games series and we even wanted more of them if it's been possible.
Right a few days ago I was reading The Tenent of Wildfell Hall and what struck me was the beautiful bond between a mother and her child. From the eyes of a mother, as I am, I wished to see the story developing a bit more and showing cute character of Arthur junior's journey and growing up under the noble guidance of her mom and friend cum stepfather Mr Markham.
I mean to say that a powerful mature plot can keep the reader glued at the end.
When completing a certain number of books as read and achieving the target categories within 365 days is the criteria for reading, then it will be a little difficult I am afraid to say:)

What scares me about this? Two things - past experiences & the length of time. I’ve read some wonderful classics, but also struggled to read others that I really dislike. Though I understand the need to allow plenty of time, personally I have no interest in any book that will take 3 months to read - if I like a book I want to read it, if I don’t like it why waste 3 months?!
I think Rachana got it right when she said “When a book is interesting and has a gripping storyline...�� Everyone likes different things, & just because a book is a classic it doesn’t mean we will all find it interesting.

Nothing really, but I prefer reading them like on holidays when I have less interruptions. And sometimes it helps reading them with a group if there is a good scheme or with a buddy.

There are so many books out there that I want to read - many I own in some capacity, some I don’t. I’m not afraid to add to the TBR list. When I look at an extremely long book, though, despite the excitement of the plot laid out in the synopsis, I worry about spending so much time on one book. The longest books I have read to date are without a doubt the later Harry Potter books. Clearly, I can read a long book in short time, if the plot and characters are great enough. Basically, I need to have reason to be invested. I have numerous hefty books on my TBR list with some on my challenges for this year. I am reaching for the stars�� or at least the high triple and even some quadruple digits.

My plan is to read some of those hefty classics this year since I have been putting them off for a long while. I read shorter books at the same time so I don't get bogged down.

Thank you Rosemarie!

We really are not saying it will take you three months, if you were to read it straight through. Just gives you and others a chance to read the Hefty book while reading others, and or living life.

As an example it takes an average of 32.63 hours to read War & Peace.
Crime and Punishment will average 11.79 hours.
Anna Karenina averages about 19 1/2 hours.

Compare to the Bible at about 45 hours.

Lesle wrote: "What scares you about picking up a Hefty Classic to read?

The bigger the book, the bigger the plot �� and that's just the beginning. You open the book, read the cover and flip through the pages.

N..."

For me it depends on the book. Russian and I don't really get along well so I know not to try a big book of Russian literature.

It doesn't stop me. In fact, it's an incentive.

I love Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy and Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time, all of it (I think Casanova's Chinese Restaurant is probably my favorite book title of all time), and I've read Paul Scott's Raj Quartet in its entirety more than once. And will again soon enough.

In fact, now that I think of it, all of the novels I love most are fairly significant tomes: Anna Karenina, The Magic Mountain, Hermann Broch's The Sleepwalkers.

If I'm going to try reading Russian literature I might try the children's one. I might have better change at understanding it.

Well, as you said Lesle, the bigger the book, the bigger the plot and its various subplots! It can be difficult to put it down, then pick up where you left off and remember them all. And they can also become simply tedious. 4-500 pages doesn't bother me. 800 pages-I'd think twice. Dante's Inferno falls under this category for me (have yet to complete it). War and Peace did not. Go figure.

I had to read so many hefty classics for university that I am now often heftied out.

Manybooks wrote: "I had to read so many hefty classics for university that I am now often heftied out."

I have been in that situation, but fortunately that was a long time ago.

Alicia wrote: "If I'm going to try reading Russian literature I might try the children's one. I might have better change at understanding it."

Hve you tried Ivan Turgenev . I thought his Fathers and Sons very readable.

Rosemarie wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "I had to read so many hefty classics for university that I am now often heftied out."

I have been in that situation, but fortunately that was a long time ago."

Having to read so many mega tomes of German literature has definitely made me shy away from Russian classics.

Carrie wrote: "I want too read so many books that the time commitment involved in reading hefty classics is by biggest barrier. I need to keep telling myself that I will not be able to every single book in my lif..."

Carrie, I look at it this way. I sincerely hope to have another 50 or so years of reading ahead of me. Therefore, I just keep adding to my TBR list for now and read what I feel in the mood for upon finishing one book. I also do not have children yet (hopefully one day in the next few years), which means I have more time than some do for reading. Furthermore, I should watch less television, anyway. :)

Samantha wrote: "Furthermore, I should watch less television, anyway. :)..."

I keep saying if they take away one more of my favorite channels and still raise my cable bill. I am going to just unplug it for good!
Maybe than I can get the TBR Mountain down to a pile again!

I don't stream or Netflix. I tend to be on here and watch TCM at the same time. But I also cannot get any TV without cable. Not sure how I would handle not seeing the news. I would have to learn to listen to NPR.

Claire wrote: "Alicia wrote: "If I'm going to try reading Russian literature I might try the children's one. I might have better change at understanding it."

Hve you tried Ivan Turgenev . I thoug..."

I might give them a try. Thank you.

Lesle wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Furthermore, I should watch less television, anyway. :)..."

I keep saying if they take away one more of my favorite channels and still raise my cable bill. I am going to just unpl..."

Lesle, the trick I've found is to convince yourself that most of the programming is not that good, anyway. Also, limit how much Netflix/streaming you allow yourself to watch. All very difficult, yes, but doable... sometimes. More doable when I remember how many books I want to read.

My problem is not so much the fear of reading a lengthy book, the challenge for me is enjoying the reading process and not making it into another obligation. I pick up books because I love reading and I am curious about anything that is considered to be a classic. And when I read, I end up searching for some great truth hidden in the book... but when I can't seem to find it (or don't agree with it), that's when I start counting the pages.

Carrie wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Carrie wrote: "I want too read so many books that the time commitment involved in reading hefty classics is by biggest barrier. I need to keep telling myself that I will not be abl..."

I bet that once I do have a baby, finding time for reading will be more difficult. I'll be 30 in a few months, and right now since I am not yet in a position to get pregnant, I will read as much as I can.

Carrie wrote: "I want to read so many books that the time commitment involved in reading hefty classics is by biggest barrier. I need to keep telling myself that I will not be able to every single book in my life..."

Me too. ~ When I was in my 30s and 40s, I read lots of hefty classics: Middlemarch, Vanity Fair, Clarissa, and so many more (though probably none quite as hefty as Clarissa). I would immerse myself in these books for weeks at a time and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But as I get older, I find myself choosing shorter books. I rarely read something over 350 pages and I'm very selective about the longish books I do occasionally read.

Susan wrote: "Carrie wrote: "I want to read so many books that the time commitment involved in reading hefty classics is by biggest barrier. I need to keep telling myself that I will not be able to every single ..."

Susan, I completely understand about being choosy for lengthy books. There are hefty books I want to read, but I limit which ones I hope to get to one day.

Nothing! I like to read books whatever the number of pages. And I generally read one huge book along with smaller ones. I've just finished Vanity Fair and I'm currently reading The Divine Comedy. But I'm also reading other books like The Color Purple and The Remains of the Day. So I mix genres, length, styles...

A problem for me is that Inoften start too many reading projects and then have trouble finishing them.

I just started an 800+ page book today. My goal is to finish it before the end of March. The English title is ���ܳٴ�-�岹-��é by the Nobel prize winning author Elias Canetti, but I am reading it in the original German.

Kudos Rosemarie!

Thanks. The book was a birthday present (from last year).

Oh! From the never ending TBR pile!

Exactly!

The TBR list is readers�� version of “This is the song that never ends…��

So true! 📚🎶

Big books usually have really sloooow beginnings.They take too long to introduce characters or situations and I completely lose interest by the time the plot begins to unfold.I have Gone with the wind and the LOTR omnibus bookmarked like this for the past 2 years.If anyone has some solution as to how to overcomethis please let me know.

Avanti wrote: "Big books usually have really sloooow beginnings.They take too long to introduce characters or situations and I completely lose interest by the time the plot begins to unfold.I have Gone with the w..."

I had the same problem with LOTR: I kept flagging before they even got to Rivendell. The way I dealt with it in that case was to bring LOTR, and only LOTR, on vacation with me. With nothing at else at hand to read for an entire week, I got to Rivendell, and from then on, it was smooth sailing.

I usually take a hefty classic with me on vacation, especially for those long plane or train trips.
I think I might take Tom Jones along on my next trip. I read it in 1978, so I know that it's a fun read.

I think for me it is all about the time it will take. I hate saying that, but it's true. There are so many books I want to read, and I know if I spend 4 weeks reading one book, that's 2-4 books I'm missing out on that month. I'll have to get over it though because Count of Monte Cristo is at the top of my list!

My arthritis.

The major drawback for me is all the other books I won't be able to read while I am reading that one hefty classic. If I do pick up too many other books during that time, I tend to get distracted and lose momentum through the big book.

I do, however, really love the hefty classics. I am re-reading Anna Karenina right now and I think it is most beautiful book novel ever written. I've read Middlemarch, Doctor Zhivago, and more...I'm hoping to read War and Peace when I'm done with this one. I think maybe 2 hefty classics a year is a good amount for me in my season of life right now.

Oddly, I feel like my life whole is more organized when I am committed to one long, engaging book. I pace myself better, through my reading and through my life. I take occasional reading breaks to think more deeply about what I've read rather than consuming too many books too fast.

Celia wrote: "My arthritis."

:-( I know the problem. I usually read them on an ereader or listen to them for that reason.

Celia wrote: "My arthritis."

When I read this Celia, I hate to say this but it made me giggle. Than it made me sad. I think this is where a Kindle version would be best. Even though I myself am definitely a hardback girl and would have a hard time enjoying the read.

Andrea wrote: "I take occasional reading breaks to think more deeply about what I've read rather than consuming too many books too fast. ..."

I like your thought process for reading a larger book Andrea. I will have to keep that in mind. Thanks!

I sometimes call large hardcover books weighty tomes because they can be heavy.
I like the fact that classic books are free or very low priced as ebooks, even though print books are still my preferred choice (usually larger soft covered books with decent sized print).
I have quite a few collected works of various authors on my ipad, years worth of reading in fact!

I love long books! And if its a good narration an audiobook can be great.

Lesle wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I take occasional reading breaks to think more deeply about what I've read rather than consuming too many books too fast. ..."

I like your thought process for reading a larger book ..."

I agree - this is an interesting point, thank you. Perhaps this is something I should try. A while ago I read Bleak House & enjoyed it - until just over half way through, when it seemed to drag on for ever. By the end I didn’t care how it ended, just wanted it to stop! Maybe Andrea’s approach would work better.

I sometimes start reading a long book a chapter per day, and as it gets towards the end I read it faster. I remember reading Pendennis by Thackeray this way. The book kept getting more entertaining with each chapter, so I upped the daily chapter count accordingly.

That is smart actually. I would not have thought of that either. Than there is no real pressure. I like it! 😁

I enjoy reading all kinds of books... and all sizes. Currently, I am over a 3rd of the way through Gone With the Wind, which is a hefty classic by any standard at over a thousand pages. Concurrently, I am a fifth of the way through Terra Nostra by Carlos Fuentes, which is not quite hefty or classic since it's just now 49 years old and 785 pages. I'm also finishing up Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond, which is over 600 pages and written in this century.

I have a theory that we can read as many hours as we like in a day. It's not that our brains get tired of reading. We just get tired of drilling the same track. I find that by switching back and forth in a day between books allows me to read the longer books without feeling 'washed out' by the one topic before I finish it.

Those 3 books I mentioned above are all related, and yet have very different writing styles to provide a break for each other. Fuentes book is bizarre metaphors & dreamlike hallucinations. And, Gone With the Wind is, well you know how air-headed & racist the heroine is made out to be much of the novel. Collapse is just the opposite of both, being heavily condensed nonfiction historical accounts of the causes of societal collapse, like that illustrated in the other two.

So, I think mixing it up a bit makes it easier to get through the heftier tomes we really want to read but find ourselves tiring of in the longterm.

There’s an app called serial reader:-)