ŷ������

Tell us about the Big Book you finished! If you'd like, include a short review or a link to your blog post, video, or YouTube review. No spoilers!

Has anyone seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French 541 pages, 5 🌟
A character study and part police procedure of two families torn apart by a missing family member. Found this to be hard to put down and a fast read for me. I wouldn't call it a thriller or fast-paced at all. But the dynamics of the families and the small insular town were fascinating and couldn't stop reading it. My first Nicci French definitely not my last.

I've been working on reading 'Anna Karenina' (Leo Tolstoy) since the beginning of May and finished it up. For years I have felt too intimidated to pick it up. Part of my worry was that I would get halfway through and abandon it, having wasted a bunch of reading time. However, it was fairly easy to stay interested; while some chapters were very slow, there were many times I found it hard to put down. Tolstoy's ability to explore human experience was very impressive. He was able to put onto page emotions, internal struggles, decisions, and relationships in a way that was so relatable. I am so glad to have finally read this masterpiece.

I finished The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (534 pages). Magical!!

Julie Ann wrote: "Has anyone seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French 541 pages, 5 🌟
A character study and part police procedure of two families torn apart by a missing family member. Found this to be hard to put dow..."

I have not, but I do enjoy Nicci French so I will check this one out.

Michael wrote: "I finished The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (534 pages). Magical!!"

Just put it on my TBR. Thanks.

Finished my first big book, #6 in Val McDermid's Karen Pirie series, Still Life. Solid police procedural.

Wow, I can't believe you've finished some Big Books already! You guys are much faster readers than I am - ha ha

Michael wrote: "I finished The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (534 pages). Magical!!"

I LOVE Brian Selznick's books! The combination of his written words and his illustrations are just fabulous.

Powered through A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci. A well written courtroom drama taking place in Virginia in the 1960's. A page turner for sure. Great story and characters. Recommend.

Just finished �� All the Colors of the Dark��, 597 pages. Full of fascinating characters, it’s a little bit mystery and a lot about how one event can have decades long impact on people and their relationships.

Julie Ann wrote: "Has anyone seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French 541 pages, 5 🌟
A character study and part police procedure of two families torn apart by a missing family member. Found this to be hard to put dow..."
I'm intrigued. Thanks for the recommendation.

Linda Brown wrote: "Just finished �� All the Colors of the Dark��, 597 pages. Full of fascinating characters, it’s a little bit mystery and a lot about how one event can have decades long impact on people and their rela..."

I've been hearing great things about this novel! Thanks for the description.

I finished "11/22/63" by Stephen King today. I had a hard time putting it down on vacation. It definitely didn't feel like I was reading 842 page book. I've never read Stephen King before, as I don't like to be scared by my books, but this was much different than that kind of experience. This was more of a historical fiction with some magical realism mixed in. The main character is an ordinary teacher that helps a friend and is entrusted with the task of preventing the assassination of JFK. Anyway, I enjoyed the book.

Holly wrote: "I finished "11/22/63" by Stephen King today. I had a hard time putting it down on vacation. It definitely didn't feel like I was reading 842 page book. I've never read Stephen King before, as I don..."

That's one of my favorites, Holly!! And definitely my favorite of Stephen King's, though all of his books are great. I love any kind of time travel story, but he did this so well, with such great historical detail. The TV mini-series was actually a very good adaptation.

The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre 500 pages, 5 🌟
A mind-bending Miss Marple, Philip Marlowe esque murder mystery, loved it.

Suzan wrote: "Holly wrote: "I finished "11/22/63" by Stephen King today. I had a hard time putting it down on vacation. It definitely didn't feel like I was reading 842 page book. I've never read Stephen King be..."

Oh my goodness, I didn't know there was also a mini-series.

Finished God of the Woods by Liz Moore. Currently reading Fairy Tale by Stephen King.

Linda Brown wrote: "Just finished �� All the Colors of the Dark��, 597 pages. Full of fascinating characters, it’s a little bit mystery and a lot about how one event can have decades long impact on people and their rela..."

I really loved this book. Had my sister read it too so we could discuss.

Suzan wrote: "Holly wrote: "I finished "11/22/63" by Stephen King today. I had a hard time putting it down on vacation. It definitely didn't feel like I was reading 842 page book. I've never read Stephen King be..."

Loved this one. It was a book club book for us a few years back. The TV adaptation was a let down. Glad I read the book!

Dawn wrote: "Finished God of the Woods by Liz Moore. Currently reading Fairy Tale by Stephen King."

what did you think of God of the Woods? I was a little disappointed in it. I really didnt get the big hype of this one.

I've finished The Last Rose of Shanghai (429 pages). It was interesting. Very intense. I think I need a light-hearted palate cleanser before I go on the next one. :)

I finished The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, 476 pp. Good, solid mystery. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Linda Brown wrote: "Just finished �� All the Colors of the Dark��, 597 pages. Full of fascinating characters, it’s a little bit mystery and a lot about how one event can have decades long impact on people and their rela..."

Finished this one last month. Thought it was so well done. Highly recommend.

Linda "Lilybug's Library" wrote: "Suzan wrote: "Holly wrote: "I finished "11/22/63" by Stephen King today. I had a hard time putting it down on vacation. It definitely didn't feel like I was reading 842 page book. I've never read S..."

Yes, Linda! SO GOOD! They recreated the time period beautifully. My husband and I both enjoyed it. It's older, but it's available on a few streaming services (or we actually bought the DVD a few years back).

Dawn wrote: "Finished God of the Woods by Liz Moore. Currently reading Fairy Tale by Stephen King."

God of the Woods was the IT book of Big Book Summer 2025! And I still haven't read it. Thanks for the reminder, Dawn. I think I'll get it for y husband for Father's Day so I can read it, too - ha ha

Linda "Lilybug's Library" wrote: "I've finished The Last Rose of Shanghai (429 pages). It was interesting. Very intense. I think I need a light-hearted palate cleanser before I go on the next one. :)"

I like to do that, too, Linda!

Michael wrote: "I finished The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, 476 pp. Good, solid mystery. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"

That was the #1 book read for Big Book Summer 2025, Michael! Glad you enjoyed it - I still need to read it.

i finished Maybe You Should Talk to someone by Lori Gotlieb. It was great. my first big book.

My next one will be either The Favorites, or We Rip The World Apart

Hadn’t intended it for big books, but it was over 400 pages. The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy Foley. It’s different from her mysteries that I have read. This was a dual timeline historical fiction. Slow start but interesting characters and storyline. One in mostly 1930’s and the other in mid-1980’s. Worth a read.

Finally, read Doomsday Book by Connie willis, 5 🌟 608 pages. This was a gut punch.

I finished two books in the past two days that qualify. I read Pope Francis: The Struggle for the Soul of Catholicism which I gave 4-stars /review/show...

And I listened to The Woman Who Knew Everyone: The Power of Perle Mesta, Washington’s Most Famous Hostess another definite 4-star. /review/show...

Finished Stephen King’s Fairy Tale. It was quite the adventure!

I finished Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. It took me a while to get into the cadence of the language but once adjusted the pages flew. In Austen’s time there was no such thing as spare language or getting to the point. But it was enjoyable once I stopped concentrating on every word. Most of the events of the novel don’t even occur until the last third and as I was warned it takes a “dark turn�� but not as bad as I feared especially in the context of today’s morals. There was one event that surprised me very much but I cannot talk about it here because of spoilers.

I just finished Tess of the D'urbervilles. I went into it blind and it was not anything like I expected. Still processing what I thought of it. It was 592 pages.

Allen wrote: "i finished Maybe You Should Talk to someone by Lori Gotlieb. It was great. my first big book.

My next one will be either The Favorites, or We Rip The World Apart"

I've been meaning to read that book for the last few years, Allen - glad to hear it was worthwhile!

Abby wrote: "Hadn’t intended it for big books, but it was over 400 pages. The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy Foley. It’s different from her mysteries that I have read. This was a dual timeline historical fictio..."

I didn't know Lucy Foley wrote historical fiction. That sounds good! Glad you enjoyed it.

Julie Ann wrote: "Finally, read Doomsday Book by Connie willis, 5 🌟 608 pages. This was a gut punch."

Wasn't it amazing??? One of my all-time favorites, definitely 5 stars. Have you read the 2-book series Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis yet? Part of that same time travel series and, if possible, even better than Doomsday Book!

Dawn wrote: "Finished Stephen King’s Fairy Tale. It was quite the adventure!"

I love Stephen King but don't read much fantasy, so I've been wondering about this one. Glad you enjoyed it!

Janet wrote: "I finished Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. It took me a while to get into the cadence of the language but once adjusted the pages flew. In Austen’s time there was no such thing as spare language or ..."

I have to admit, I haven't read much Austen, Janet (only Emma). Do you recommend Mansfield Park vs. her other novels? I've been thinking I really should give her another chance.

Linda "Lilybug's Library" wrote: "I just finished Tess of the D'urbervilles. I went into it blind and it was not anything like I expected. Still processing what I thought of it. It was 592 pages."

That one's been on my want-to-read list for quite a while, Linda! You'll have to let me know what you think of it after you've had some time with it.

Just finished the Women by Kristin Hannah. Loved Frankie and felt her emotions along with her through this book. Was not a fan of the adultery etc. but gave the book a 4.5-star rating. I liked how the ending tied everything together and did not leave you guessing. I also liked the friendships portrayed in the book. I am glad the women of Vietnam finally got recognition too!

I've read Blackout years ago, and I have bought physical copies of Blackout and All Clear this week to read this summer.

Finished In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan 4 🌟 415 pages. Techno Thriller, where one of the cop duo is AI. This was a fast read and had me on the edge of my seat, highly entertaining.