The BIGGEST books on my TBR...help!

Рет қаралды 41,576

Жыл бұрын

Here are the BIGGEST books on my TBR!
Hi friends!
After filming my "how to read big books" video, I looked at my own shelves...and what did I find? HUGE books that I was terrified to read because of their length!
So I'm holding myself accountable, and I'm hoping to take my own advice!
I'd love to know if you've read any of these books, and if so, what did you think of them? I need all the encouragement I can get!!!
I'd also love to know what big books are on your TBR!
I hope you're having a wonderful week!
Best wishes,
Carolyn Marie :)
Video mentioned -
**How to *stop fearing BIG books (especially classics) - • How to *stop* fearing ...
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***About me -
I'm a freelance illustrator and writer who recently graduated from college at the Fashion Institute of Technology with my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration with a minor in English/Writing.
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Happy Reading :)
#classicbooks #tbr #booktube

Пікірлер: 427

@DebMcDonald Жыл бұрын

When I worked in a book shop I saw a small boy hugging a book and rocking back and forth he was that excited. The book was so big and long that it covered his chest! I didn’t want to put him off it but I was curious. I told him that he seemed happy about his book and what did he think about the number of pages. He broke into a huge grin and said “That means it will last longer!”

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

Aw I love that so much!!!!!

@hyacinthh6900 Жыл бұрын

That is an awesome story. ♥️ Thanks much for sharing.

@stefan3876 Жыл бұрын

Exactly what I thought everytime I bought a big thick physical book and jumped in pure joy !!! Sad though that because of space issues now I have to lean on e books... 😒

@catedoge3206 Жыл бұрын

lovely

@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293 11 ай бұрын

This comment has made my entire week-- and it's Sunday.❤‍🔥

@kaiserrino8774 Жыл бұрын

Brothers Karamazov is just such a pleasure to read. I guarantee you, that you will fly through those pages like nothing. For me the 1200+ pages (German translation) felt like a 300 pages book.

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the encouragement!!! So glad you had a wonderful reading experience!

@DressyCrooner Жыл бұрын

I read it this year, twice in two months. The first time it took me 9 days. The second time I spent two and a half weeks on it. I am going to read it again later this year. I think about it every day. It is amazing.

@maxim.j22 Жыл бұрын

Приятно видеть, что людям нравится Достоевский

@leenah8212 Жыл бұрын

READ EAST OF EDEN!!!! My native language is not even English and it was still sooo easy to get through, I didn't even feel the length of the book so don't let it intimidate you, just enjoy it ✨

@apollonia6656 4 ай бұрын

I was contemplating reading East of Eden but I chose The Grapes of Wrath instead. No way will I add Easy of Eden to my 44 the brick books for 2024.

@EminAnimE1 Жыл бұрын

The Brothers Karamazov is nothing short of a masterpiece. I remember being scared to read it and then the moment I finished all I wanted was to read more. It may have some tough chapters to understand but it's so worth it at the end.

@milicaminic7265 Жыл бұрын

The Count of Monte Cristo is the greatest book I have ever read. I read it when I was 15 and I’m 30 now. It’s due for a reread. Also, I read it in 5 days. Could not put it down. You end up being thankful that it is that big. If it makes it easier think about 50 pages a day, you’re done in 20 days. Or 100 a day, you’re done in 10 days about. :) Much less scary when you think about it that way.

@monikamarsollek3493 Жыл бұрын

I agree… a reread for me, too. I visit the Count, I comfort him, that all will be good… I use my time, like he used it in prison… I feel kind of 'at home' rereading it and am always thankful it’s so big. And a yes for 100 pages, too. For me, it’s an hour, after that I’m content and know, whether it’s the right time for this book. Greetings from Germany❣

@sweetestaphrodite Жыл бұрын

Wait, that’s such a good way of thinking about it! 50 pages a day = finished in less than a month

@GilbertHorn1 Жыл бұрын

I’ve read this greatest of revenge stories 4 times over 75 years. I expect to do it again next year. Much better than this it just don’t get.

@connorbooth7207 Жыл бұрын

I can sometimes only read 10 pages a day though 😂 I’ve been thinking about reading this recently

@dieuraltemorla1658 Жыл бұрын

I am currently reading it and halfway through, but I've got so much going on in my life, that sometimes I only read give pages per day or none at all. But I still come back to it every time because it's just so good.

@mrodriguez377 Жыл бұрын

it's so comforting to know that even Carolyn gets scared of starting huge books

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

I most certainly do!!

@stephanievillot21 Жыл бұрын

reading anna karenina and war and peace made me less afraid of long books 😂if i can read them then i can read any other long books

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

Me too! But then I look at a big book and get scared again! 😂

@wandering0wonderland Жыл бұрын

I read East of Eden this year and it was very quick and easy to get through, the writing is so masterful and unique. The storytelling is also very compelling, I think you will really enjoy it. I rated it 4 stars even though I dislike family saga books!

@subtlefire7256 Жыл бұрын

I also read it this year and loved it! The last third or so especially had me by the throat. Cal Trask's arc is exactly the kind of thing I'm craving right now thematically. It was my first Steinbeck and I can't wait to read more of his work.

@hollyc4624 Жыл бұрын

I totally agree with your assessment. East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are so readable. Unlike some classics that use a lot older language styles, Steinbeck is way more accessible. It’s a good place to start with intimidating looking books.

@coopaloopmex Жыл бұрын

Yes! Surprisingly how the pages just melted away!

@CourtneyReads Жыл бұрын

The Count of Monte Cristo is amazing. And honestly reads very quickly. I'm reading it for the third time right now. And even reading only one chapter a day you'll finish in four months!

@elinamorrison Жыл бұрын

East of Eden, wow one of my favorite books of all time and I cannot wait to hear your thoughts! I wish I could read it all over again for the first time. You got this!

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

So glad you love it!!! That’s how I feel about Anna Karenina!

@ooh29 Жыл бұрын

You have intrigued me, thank you. Now it’s in my list

@betinaceciliafeld9854 Жыл бұрын

I guessed The Count of Monte Cristo just by seeing the pile 🤣 I read it a couple of months ago for the first time and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!! I believe fear of big books may have something to do with reading goals and statistics because at the end of the day they are just pages. But it looks nicer on our wrap ups to say we've read ten books of 150 pages each instead of just one 1500 pages book. I say that to myself every time I see how my reading goal is not going well because I've spend 70 days on Monte Cristo instead of reading 3 or 4 books in that time 😐🥰

@paulmichaud3230 4 ай бұрын

1:40 The Odyssey (Penguin Classics Deluxe Ed) 541 pgs 1:47 The Iliad (Penguin Classics Deluxe Ed) 704 pgs 3:44 East of Eden (Penguin Centennial Ed) 601 pgs 6:06 The Grapes of Wrath (Penguin Classics 1992 ed) 672 pgs 6:59 Middlemarch (Penguin Classics Deluxe Ed) 800 pgs 8:33 Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (Bloomsbury) 864 pgs 10:02 Trinity (Transworld Publishers) 886 pgs 11:15 The Brothers Karamazov (Penguin Classics) 985 pgs 13:38 The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics) 1243 pgs 14:50 Quiet Flows The Don (Carroll & Graf pub) 1362 pgs

@brittanyallemanayers3447 Жыл бұрын

I just finished The Count of Monte Cristo and loved it. The main character Edmond Dantes has a fantastic character arc. I ended up reading 100-200 pages of this book in between other books, so it took me a few months, but I loved it. Dumas writing is very accessible as well.

@kathy2539 Жыл бұрын

You need to read Middlemarch Carolyn, one page at a time! Remember! It's a beautiful novel and you just sink into it. Next to read, I recommend The Count of Monte Cristo. Extraordinary novel. Lastly you can't not delve into The Odyssey and The Iliad. Go for it!

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

Ahhh okay!! Thank you for the encouragement!!!

@zinaberger8211 Жыл бұрын

I'm reading the count of Monte Cristo and it's an big book. I'm taking my time

@VampireHeart518 Жыл бұрын

Also reading The Count of Monte Cristo right now! Being on Kindle I didn't even realise how much of a chonker it is but honestly it just flew by, it's so easy to read and surprisingly (especially considering the theme) the least melodramatic tbh of all pre-XX century french novels I've read, that felt all doom and gloom and woe is me and 'people are opportunistic assholes and they suck'... sure, there are plenty awful people here BUT also plenty characters to love!

@mcatenagajate Жыл бұрын

Oh Carolyn! You need to read the Count of Montecristo! It's my favorite book ever. It has everything: love, friendship, loyalty, betray, adventure, mistery, comedy... It's so so good! I promise it's worth it 😊 I finished it a few days ago for the second time and it still blows my mind how fastinating I find the story! The Susanna Clarke book sounds interesting! And I think you are right with reading Dostoyevski 's work in chronological order, i think I should do that too 🤔 I read from him "the idiot" and "crime and punishment"

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

You’re getting me so excited to read it! Yay!!! Dostoyevsky in order is an incredible way to see if life and writing journey! I highly recommend!

@elyse49 Жыл бұрын

Jonathan Strange it's such a good book.

@DressyCrooner Жыл бұрын

@@CarolynMarieReads I would however advise you to leave Demons, which he wrote between 1869-1872, till last. It is his hardest work.

@marianaharrison6307 Жыл бұрын

I didn't read any of these yet, but I read a huge book this year, which was David Copperfield, and I absolutely LOVED it! I read it in about a month but it felt like a lifetime (in a good way!) and it was like I was in grief when I finished it. It became one of my favourite books of all time 💜

@MusicBlik Жыл бұрын

Jonathan Strange is a fantastic book! Two things that fascinate me about the vibe of the book: 1) The footnotes - they contain worldbuilding side tangents, and they also purport to cite references from books that were WRITTEN BY CHARACTERS IN THE STORY. 2) The writing style and ambience shift from the beginning to the end, mirroring the progression of the sorts of magicks the characters are using, and how English Magic itself shifts through the course of the story.

@h.natasha4103 Жыл бұрын

Grapes of Wrath is amazing!!! One of my favorite books of all time.

@kathy4873 Жыл бұрын

You need to read Monte Cristo! It took me a couple months to get through, but I promise you that it will be a book that you will never want to put down, it is so accessible, entertaining, and adventurous, and you’ll end up loving it more than you could ever imagine! It is such a rewarding and emotional read that you’ll never forget :)

@Lokster71 Жыл бұрын

As The Iliad and Odyssey were told aloud from memory I think they'd fit audiobooks perfectly. My advice - for what it is worth - with big books is to set a number of pages you'd read in a day and just consistently read. When I read Proust I set 50 pages a day but you can set whatever number you like. After reading Proust I have no fear about big books. I just make sure I spend a bit of time planning before I start and make a little checklist so I can tick it off as I go. I've got Richardson's Clarissa to read, which is apparently the longest novel in the English language, but because it an epistolary novel I thought I light read it next year using the dates of the letters and spread it out over the year. Make it a fun project. The Illiad and Odyssey are both well-worth reading. Middlemarch is wonderful. I need to do a re-read.

@ooh29 Жыл бұрын

The brothers Karamazov is something special for me. If you would ask me what is my favorite book I would say brothers Karamazov, even tho it’s not my favorite book. It’s just something outstanding for me in the world of literature.

@vishnugupta470 Жыл бұрын

hey! just wanted to ask who was the translator of (english?) version you read

@ooh29 Жыл бұрын

@@vishnugupta470 hey hi, I read it in Russian, so)

@hollyc4624 Жыл бұрын

All Steinbeck epics are easy to read because you aren’t slowed by the old English language usage. Don’t be afraid at all. East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are wonderful. And the Count of Monte Cristo is also huge and intimidating but not super difficult to read. And the story is great!

@Alessandra-yx8hp Жыл бұрын

I think it's better not to know anything about Middlemarch before reading it, to be honest! I knew nothing about it too and I was also intimidated by its length, but eventually I loved it and it's now one of my favourite books of all time!

@eweindesign Жыл бұрын

East of Eden put me in a reading slump, but every reader is different! I’m currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo, and I’d recommend you start there, while your friends are still gushing about it, and you can enjoy lively discussion about it to keep you moving through!

@juliangross3192 Жыл бұрын

i just read east of eden and it instantly became one of my favourite books ever, do read it, it's such an enriching experience!

@annamattos8627 Жыл бұрын

I have many books in this cathegory. Le Morte D'Arthur, Don Quijote, Os Lusíadas, Moby Dick, The Pilgrim's Progress, The Divine Comedy, Middlemarch, Clarissa, Paradise Lost, The Canterbury Tales, Atlas Shrugged, The Books of Earthsea...

@athenapalladi1197 Жыл бұрын

Quiet flows the Don is such a wonderful book. My mom loves it, too. You should start with the biggest book on your TBR. And then it'll be less scary to read the rest of them:))

@apollonia6656 4 ай бұрын

Sorry, forgot to ask you thus: have you read The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins ? It really is such a wonderfully written novel.

@kylaelbaespeleta Жыл бұрын

I can't even explain how good the Brothers Karamazov are 😭🙊 I wanted to comment something about it but all i can say is that, it's worth the read ❤️ one of the books that you read and read you.

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

Ugh that’s sounds amazing! I love when a book “reads me” in return!!!

@amandaasmith741 Жыл бұрын

I'm afraid to read Brothers Karamazov 😅 I was trying to read "Demons" couldn't finish it:(

@kylaelbaespeleta Жыл бұрын

I've only read crime and punishment and the Brothers Karamazov, the other Dostoevsky's works I've started but cannot finish like the notes from underground it's too heavy for me i found 😗

@DressyCrooner Жыл бұрын

@@amandaasmith741 Demons is Dostoevsky's worst major novel. It is too long, poorly written and deals with stuff very unique to Russian history and culture. I had to read it twice in order to get what even happened. I would advise you to leave that to last.

@evamyers8836 Жыл бұрын

Just finished the Brothers Karamazov not long ago. It's worth the patience you need to get through it. It's my favourite book now! Simply incredible. The writing, the concepts, the character development.

@apollonia6656 4 ай бұрын

Having read all of Dostoyevsky 's works, I would rate The Brothers Karamasov second favourite to Crime and Punishment. However, please don't miss out on The Idiot because I am sure you will like it.

@evamyers8836 4 ай бұрын

My partner actually bought me the idiot and I am so excited to read it. I loved crime and punishment as well!@@apollonia6656

@amodiekka Жыл бұрын

Ok, today i just have finished “quiet flows the Don” and than i saw your video😅 What can I say about it?…It’s like a “War and Peace” just gives you this huge storyline of families and about the war. There is more war than in War and peace, because there are a war, a revolution, a civil war and more….It’s really heartbreaking and i don’t really want to say a lot about the main plot, because you need to read by yourself. There is a lot about history of Russia and that’s really interesting too. War and peace is bigger tan Quiet flows the Don, by the way. So, i really would recommend it to you)if you will have time for it, it costs that time❤

@jameshealy9976 Жыл бұрын

I'm reading the Iliad right now, and it's incredible. The emotions the characters feel are the same emotions we feel today, and it's surprisingly very easy to read. You should definitely read the whole thing!!

@peggymccright1358 Жыл бұрын

I listened to the count of monte Cristo on audio books while walking the dog each day. It’s amazing. I listened to Anna Karinina the same way. As I listened to each I realized that they are filled with just normal words. Nothing over my head. I will site read them next time. My big book is a biography of Sylvia Plath, 937 pgs

@jamesduggan7200 Жыл бұрын

Please let us know how much you enjoyed Plath's bio, as I never tire hearing more about her and her work.

@eleanorball7906 Жыл бұрын

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is a MUST! I read it over the course of a month last year and it was one of those books where the length is totally worth it and the ending is totally perfect. I feel like it would be a great fantasy for someone who’s usually a classics reader because it’s paced and written a lot like a Victorian classic. The fantasy is introduced into the story gradually and the scale of the fantasy ramps up very slowly-we don’t start out with magical portals, fairy creatures, or powerful spells, we slowly make our way there from studying old magicians in a library. I think you would love it!

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

Everything you said is literally perfect!!! My kind of fantasy book for sure! Thank you so much :)

@suzanyildirim5431 Жыл бұрын

You should read the count of monte christo, it is sooo good and interesting, I loved it. I read it with the big book club. 😊

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

Ahh okay!!! Getting me excited!

@racheldemain1940 Жыл бұрын

I read more in the Autumn so maybe the hibernation tendencies may help you read your big books. I love snuggling in my fleecy Blanket with my favourite Reindeer cuddly and a mug of Hot Chocolate and read so much more than during the Summer months.

@mabelmoreno1 Жыл бұрын

I think I just added a couple of books to my Wish List. 📚😅 Now, The Count Of Monte Cristo... when you decide to read it, I can assure you, Carolyn, you won´t feel it. It reads so easily. It reads very smoothly. It's like a good friend telling you a beatiful story. In my humble opinion, the most beautiful story ever written. 📖❤

@nikkivenable3700 Жыл бұрын

I love men for so many reasons but mostly because they’ve written all of my favorite books. ❤️❤️❤️

@nandhiniselvam802 Жыл бұрын

I read Middlemarch last year and I ABSOLUTELY loved it!!! I still think about it every now and then. I'm pretty sure that you'll really enjoy it too..!! You should try doing a readathon for these big books.. would love to read them along with you.

@allisongiesbrecht2890 Жыл бұрын

I hope you read Grapes of Wrath soon! I would recommend reading it before East of Eden just because it's a little bit faster paced. Steinbeck does this really cool thing where he rotates between short scene-setting/context chapters and the family we follow between the book. It makes it go so quick, and the writing is the classic beautiful writing! Also I'm so excited to hear what you think about Middlemarch! It's not plot heavy, but very focused on in depth characterization and I feel like you really get the chance to know the people in the book. Good luck!

@efluvial Жыл бұрын

I have several similar large books I want to read! middle March, East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are on my shelf. Middle March is next for me! I definitely recommend Brothers Karamazov, it is great!

@carolinaao3075 Жыл бұрын

The Count of Montecristo is probably my favorite book. It’s so hard to read, and so many things I don’t understand completely. I’ve read it like three times now. One day I’ll read it again. Hope you read it soon and enjoy it.

@juliagats4302 Жыл бұрын

Hi carolyn! I read the count of monte cristo a few months ago, it took me 2 months to get through, but honestly if you got through war and peace, you’ll certainly be able to read this. It’s incredibly easy to read (I was surprised by this, coming across a classic that almost seemed contemporary) and fun. The scenes are very visceral and almost movie-like. If there’s one book in that pile you shouldn’t be afraid to read, it’s the count of monte cristo. I feel you’ll definitely adore and appreciate everything about it. Good luck! 😊

@georgianatrutescu Жыл бұрын

I also have “East of Eden” on my TBR and I want to start it next month (don’t know why it gives me autumn vibes). Maybe you should do a readathon video for this book! 🥲🤍

@themhayonnaise Жыл бұрын

Omg I am looking for big books recs! Perfect timing! 💕

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

So glad!!

@M-T-123 2 ай бұрын

Middlemarch . You won’t regret it I’ve read multiple times ! Some characters you will fall in love with , other not quite so . But overall is so satisfying

@kseniyasbooknook4172 Жыл бұрын

Grapes of Wrath was amazing! I couldn’t stop reading it and finished it in less than three weeks during winter break

@regisneilson5414 Жыл бұрын

I too have been meaning to get to many of these, especially the Steinbecks and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell! I do really encourage you to give Middlemarch a go; it’s one of my very favourite novels and I think you might love it, too. Also, I really recommend finding someone to read Homer with. A friend and I did a little book club on The Iliad together last year, and that made the whole thing so much less daunting and more fun!

@connorbooth7207 Жыл бұрын

Oh! The Brothers Karamazov is one of my favorite books ever. I only have 2 favorites. I’m pretty picky when it comes to what I’d call a favorite. I don’t look forward to reading big books either. To my surprise though, The Brothers Karamazov kept me reading until I was finished. The book itself felt enlightening, at least to me. My copy was only 700 pages though 😂 It was the Barnes and Noble classics edition

@dasbucheruniversum9164 Жыл бұрын

Hello, "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas senior and his collaborating ghostwriter Auguste Maquet, is one of the biggest stories ever. If you have read the first few pages you are on a journey through time and it will take your breath away. Even if it is over 1000 pages, you will wish for 1000 pages more after finishing the book. Best wishes from Das BücherUniversum from Germany.

@catarinaduraomachado6856 Жыл бұрын

I already read some of those and they're so easy to read that you'll read them in a flash! The Count of Monte Cristo is so addictive, I coudn't stop, so I read it in 3 weeks. Steinbeck will change your life, like he changed mine and I'm not even american! Another idea is to read according to a chronological order, then, you would start reading the Iliad, a book that explains a lot about the narrative dynamics in the history of literature. It's very visual and explains so much about greek mythology too! Happy readings 😉

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

Wow! That’s a brilliant idea!! Thank you!

@jodihowe7274 Жыл бұрын

Recently finished a reread of Middlemarch, same edition, it is so so good and reads quickly! I usually read big books during the fall and winter (cozy) You have some very nice choices 👍🤞

@reneepasich Жыл бұрын

I read East of Eden a couple months ago and it is one of my top 5 favorite books of all time!!

@MegaCynthia7 Жыл бұрын

The Count of Monte Cristo 🥰 The Brothers Karamazov 🥰 I still need to read Middlemarch and East of Eden.

@johnathanrhoades7751 Жыл бұрын

I'm working my way through Les Miserables right now. So...yeah 😄 I'm loving it but it's extraordinarily long. I think I am over my fear of large books at this point in my life as I've read a good number of 800-1200 page books (I tend toward adult fantasy books as a preference and "The Count of Monte Cristo" is my favorite book ever) at this point, but it's still a big commitment. "East of Eden" is my next classic to read after Les Miserables. It's one of my wife's favorites. "Atlas Shrugged" is a big classic by a woman. I hate what it preaches with a burning passion, but it fits that bill. And if you live in the US it's probably worth reading to understand its influence.

@claireadams2448 Жыл бұрын

Count of Monte Cristo is so action-packed and fun! Well worth the length :)

@BookZealots Жыл бұрын

The Count of Monte Cristo is worth the time. My son has read it twice. Happy reading!

@ria9924 Жыл бұрын

I've been meaning to read East of Eden for years! I am planning to read Count of Monte Cristo soon :) heard that it's engaging and reads fast. wish the best of luck to both of us x

@monikamarsollek3493 Жыл бұрын

Hi, CarolynMarie, THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO, because there are so many interesting movies to study after… and it’s EASY to read. It’s one of the big books I read regularly again (same with Anna Karenina😉). I’m a bookowl my whole reading life (started with 5) and now I’m 67 and as enthusiastic as in the beginning. So I know almost all books you showed and love them. I’m not too much into fantasy, except Lord of the rings and Harry Potter. Maybe I’ll give the one you showed a chance… My life theme is injustice (haha: I worked as a jurist at court my whole work life), and the Monte Christo story is all about that, about things happening all of a sudden in happy times and change everything forever, of course about love, revenge… well, I’ve such a lot of more recommendations. Next one: the brothers Karamasow… next one: East of Eden… and maybe: Les Misérables from Victor Hugo… My advice for starting: grab ONE, prepare tea and cookies, fruit and set a timer for an hour, watch how many pages you read in an hour… after an hour I know, whether it’s the right time for this book. Russian authors in summer are amazing, in winter they can be a bit depressing for me. Have I mentioned GONE WITH THE WIND and JUBILEE TRAIL? Chunky, but always worth a revisit in hard times, because they are easy reads… Hope, that helped, love from MonikaMaria in Germany❣

@__rishikasingh Жыл бұрын

Eagerly waiting for your classics collection video !!! 🥳

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

It’s coming (hopefully soon)!!!

@rakamazumder4450 Жыл бұрын

i just finished war and peace because you and emma inspired me! it was absolutely incredible and i honestly feel a lot less afraid of large books now

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

That’s amazing!!! So glad

@tiffworthy1610 Жыл бұрын

Middlemarch is amazing!

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

Yay!

@janetseager4069 Жыл бұрын

I first read Grapes of Wrath when I was 19, in the days (1971) we were kept in hospital for 10 days after the birth of a first child. I would read it first, but East of Eden is great too. What I notice is the difference in the way books are published, in giant tomes that look pretty intimidating, but i suspect with much bigger margins and print. The really large books in my days were the likes of James Michener. I read Gone With the Wind over a 3 day holiday when my son was 3 weeks old - he was such an easy baby If i liked an author i would read as much as i could of their work. My suggestion is to stop counting pages and throw yourself in I wish I had those 50 years of reading all over again. Make the most of it you will never regret it. And thank you for your lovely posts, I enjoy them very much. You have got me keen to read the Russian classics again

@MarisaAndChew Жыл бұрын

Would love a 24 hour long book reading challenge! It would be fun to see you go through a larger portion of a big book in a vlog like that! Plus, you would probably finish the challenge feeling quite successful even if you didn't finish it as you would be able to see you got through so much in one day!

@kategravelle653 Жыл бұрын

I read the Odyssey and the Iliad one “book” a day. It takes a while but then you have all day to digest it!

@benmartizz8238 Жыл бұрын

I love looooove big books idk why I think I like the idea of spending a big amount of time finishing a book

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

Yes, me too! But the hard part for me is actually deciding to open it! Once I do I’m good to go! 😂 Makes no sense!

@megancooper7086 Жыл бұрын

I just finished Middlemarch and it is now in my top favorite books. It is so good!

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

So glad!!

@denisefreitas6727 Жыл бұрын

The biggest are the best, Carolyn! Great Tbr! I am currently reading War and Peace and i am loving it! Yes, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is fantastic! Hope you like it. 😍

@mattkean1128 Жыл бұрын

Yay for Middlemarch! A lot of these are on my tbr too. I have a great 3 volume edition of Strange & Norrell that will make it easier to hold at least :)) I'm seeing East of Eden everywhere lately, it's the one big Steinbeck I haven't read. Odyssey and Iliad are great, I'm going to read Emily Wilson's translations at some point (she's working on Iliad now) but don't sleep on the Aeneid! I haven't read Brothers K, I just finished a short collection of his from Pushkin Press, 'A Bad Business'. 'The Crocodile was our favorite story out of it. Count of Monte Cristo is great, but sooo long lol. I actually don't mind the abridged version, for once. I'm going to recommend another big book I think you'd like, Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. It's the life story of a strong willed girl in 14th century Norway. Written in the 1920s, she won a Nobel, largely for it.

@Praire22 Жыл бұрын

I was truly afraid of Middlemarch Carolyn because of the size but also because of George Eliot’s writing style. I knew I could do it after tackling the behemoth War and Peace (btw, you were my encouragement to read it😊). I ADORED Middlemarch. Now one of my favorite classics of all time. Please read it!😊😊

@zissizalana6850 Жыл бұрын

I love East of Eden and read it in a few days way up North at a cottage (Canada). No electricity, no running water and I fell in love with Steinbeck. As soon as I finished, I picked up The Grapes of Wrath. Absolutely loved it!!! I am now obsessed with Steinbeck and am devouring his short stories. I found all of these in a laundromat in the wilderness.

@Rizahawkstang 11 ай бұрын

Super late to this video, but you should definitely read the Count of Monte Cristo! I’m hoping to finish it soon, and it’s been an incredible read. The characters are wonderful and compelling and the story is absolutely gripping. I’ve been reading from the same edition you own, and I really like this translation. This prose is beautiful and pretty accessible without feeling “dumbed down”. I promise it’s not as daunting once you get into it. I hope you enjoy it!

@tracy9000 Жыл бұрын

I'll add my recommendation to the chorus of Monte Christo admirers. It's fast paced and so much fun to read. I'm glad I read Grapes of Wrath, but it was difficult due to the subject matter. I think I'll find East of Eden easier. Middlemarch was so good. Try the first chapter. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was not my favorite, but it's so rich with story. I had to stop to read all of the footnotes as I went and wonder how it reads for people who skip those until later or never read them.

@richy267 Жыл бұрын

East Of Eden is fantastic. A joy to read from start to finish.

@crescentpages Жыл бұрын

So many of these are on my tbr! I think I’m most excited for the count of monte cristo because of Sarah haha

@jamie_lynn_ Жыл бұрын

Do not be intimidated by East of Eden! It's thrilling! It's my favorite book of all time. I feel like it's impossible to overhype. The character study is incredible.

@JusteVertige Жыл бұрын

I went into the grapes of wrath without knowing anything about it, and with quite a bad feeling about it for we learn quickly about it in France while studying the 1929 us crisis, but it's now one of my favorite books. East of Eden is beautiful too, I'm a Steinbeck Stan haha. The Odyssey was much easier than I thought it'd be and fast to read too ! I got middle march this summer and the length scares me too but I really need to get into it because I'm kind of sure I'm going to love it !

@jennyyeh4730 Жыл бұрын

East of Eden first ! Easiest read to sink into out of all of them !

@LoverofLiszt Жыл бұрын

I'm on a quest to start (and preferably finish) a 1000+ page book each month this year. It's going well so far, but september first... I'm starting In Search of Lost Time. It's 4211 pages long 😱

@jmsl910 Жыл бұрын

y i k e s!!! queen

@jamesduggan7200 Жыл бұрын

Try to post about it when you can, because I'm reading it now and would enjoy chatting with someone from time-to-time.

@kandywestmoreland5164 Жыл бұрын

I’m reading The Search now. I think it’s going to a life long read for me.

@LoverofLiszt Жыл бұрын

@@jamesduggan7200 Ok, I finished it in 29 (extremely intensive) days. It's beautifully written and has many quote worthy passages, but the story itself isn't that interesting. 3/5 stars; glad I've read it but wouldn't do it again.

@jamesduggan7200 Жыл бұрын

@@LoverofLiszt I'm reading it in French, which is my 2d language, so it's been a delight and a chore at the same time. I had to put it down around the 90% mark because other things were backing up. I'm re-reading the Shakespeare plays now, but when I finish them sometime next month I expect to finish IN Search of Lost Time. I"m glad that you were able to sail through it, and I agree completely that the only story there is is hidden beneath innuendo, suggestion, and human knowledge of what things happen at parties.

@lightscamerasashley. Жыл бұрын

currently making my way through middlemarch by george eliot, and the best advice I have for anyone wanting to read a big book is to just start it. once you start, it's easier to keep going ☺ east of eden & the Iliad are also pretty high up on my tbr 💖

@DressyCrooner Жыл бұрын

I started it this June and intend to read it serially like it was at the time. Really enjoying it. I binge-read Book II yesterday.

@AdamFishkin Жыл бұрын

"Trinity" is the one I haven't heard of, which is embarrassing because I've spent years building my expertise on Irish literature. Best of luck with that pile, Carolyn.

@leonkamitsis7167 2 ай бұрын

Brothers Karamazov is my favorite book of all time!! You'll love ❤️ it, trust me

@Kpopheaven Жыл бұрын

I'm also scared of big books! This video was nice to watch :) And it's good to know that I'm not alone with my fear of big books :D One thing that bothered me a little bit is you apologizing about most of the books in this video being written my male authors. I think that women usually read more books by female authors and that seems natural. I, also, do usually read more books my female authors than by male authors but that's not intentional. But there is no need to apologize that you want to read some (big) books by male authors. That actually sounded strange, like it's a bad thing to read books by male authors. I don't wanna sound stupid but this thing just stood out to me in this video.

@de_hobbyhoarder50 Жыл бұрын

I am currently reading the Iliad. Like you, I had only read excerpt, mostly in school, because I took a lot of classical myths and Greek history classes. It is taking my forever to get through it. It's so good and I'm getting so much more out of the story, but I'm starting to feel like I'll never finish.

@RoadReads Жыл бұрын

I think you are going to love so many of these! Homer, East of Eden, and The Count of Monte Cristo for sure!! (Personally, I did not enjoy Grapes of Wrath, though I loved, loved EofE.)

@stevenklinden Жыл бұрын

There are some great books on this list! The Iliad and the Odyssey are both, of course, masterpieces - and in my experience they actually read fairly quickly (after all, 600 pages of poetry is a lot fewer words than 600 pages of prose). East of Eden was a book we read in high school, and I found myself surprised by how much I liked it. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is delightful - if you like Dickens, there's a good chance you'll love it. It's one of my favourites of all time. The Brothers Karamazov is deservedly revered - I preferred Crime and Punishment, but I can't deny that Karamazov is great. Speaking of big books, something I will always recommend to fans of Dickens is Charles Palliser's The Quincunx, a brilliant pastiche-cum-subversion of all the Dickensian tropes.

@luluraheem8487 Жыл бұрын

The Count of Monte Cristo is a delightful and very easy read. I read it in a few days, and it flew by! One of my favorites, it's just breathtaking

@mrodriguez377 Жыл бұрын

I had to read The Aeneid for a class (I chose Fagles's translation as well) and my strategy was to read the complete introduction first and annotating it (I did refer back to it while I was reading the poem) and searching a KZfaq video that recapped and explained the context of each book/part before I started reading said part, so that I was sure of understanding what I was reading. This made it so much easier and so fun and interesting.

@mrodriguez377 Жыл бұрын

fun fact: I was supposed to read the aeneid throughout the semester in order to work on a final project due on the last week of classes, but I was so daunted by it that I kept pushing it back until (quite literally) the last possible moment and ended up reading the first half (the first 6 books that I had to write my essay on) in a single night. It was quite an experience lol.

@lisainbookland Жыл бұрын

Oh I know you will love Trinity! When you push through the start it is such a fast and addictive read with great characters. You will love Connor!

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

I can’t wait to read it! I’ll make a mental note to look out for Connor :)

@stephanieellison7834 8 ай бұрын

I know the feeling. When you read books like this, understand that you may not remember much of what happened at the beginning. I don't! I have a series of a Hindū scripture called "Mahābhārata" from Gītā Press in India (where I have lived for the last 5 years). Altogether, including 7 big volumes (including an Appendix) and one small diversionary volume in Sanskrit and Hindī, AND the English translation, the whole thing runs 12,500 pages. I started in September 2017, and I only reached volume 4 on August 1st this year. I'm LESS than halfway through this, so I have another 5-7 years to go! That stack of books is close to what the Sanskrit/Hindī part of the series look like, only bigger, hard-bound, and very thin pages. I am also reading hundreds of comic books and quite a few books over the years. And I am profoundly deaf on top of this. You got this. You can do it!

@TheJoaninhaMendes Жыл бұрын

I absolutely LOVED Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.

@lydia.m Жыл бұрын

East of Eden definitely did not feel like a 600 page book when I read it! And I read it quite soon after I had first gotten back into reading after a many year hiatus :)

@anniestrooo Жыл бұрын

That specific translation of the odyssey flys by! It’s so accessible!!! I am going to go for the Iliad as soon as I get the chance!!!

@popovamim Жыл бұрын

The Count of Monte Cristo will remain one of my favourite books of all time. I read it more than 15 years ago and I still remember it, it is that good. On a side note, I never care how long a book is, I just start reading. If it's interesting enough, I will finish it in a matter of days. So don't look at the volume, just start reading 🙂

@user-tk1ef2pt8t Жыл бұрын

All right encouragement! Listen you had the ability to read War and Peace and Anna Karenina! And You LOVED them!!!! And every book you read can be your next Anna Karenina So take those lots of papers full of ink and stare at them and hallucinate for hours! (Reading😂) And you know…books suppose to be long because they’re caring a world inside them and you get to travel there

@OrlandoOrtiz570 4 ай бұрын

Great choices with Homer's works! I miss reading those. If you don't read much fantasy, you just might start looking for more after finishing those.

@robertocatrone715 3 ай бұрын

I love large books. For me and this may help you and others, Read every thick books as if it was only released in serial format. Just like Charles Dickens did with his books. Read 2-4 chapters at a time then put it down and have at another large book and repeat. Before you know it, you'll have multiple books going simultaneously without any stress or intimidation. Keep up your great work. ciao bella

@jadeddiamonds9983 Жыл бұрын

I’ve tried East of Eden and I do love it, I just got a little intimidate and I think it will be a nice cozy read for November.. also, The Idiot by Fyodor Doestoyeky is sooo wonderful, I read about 180 pages and also stopped that one as well. Wanna read the two of those this fall/winter.

@hhira7225 Жыл бұрын

I've read none of them. But, I'm curious to see if I love any of them which I think I will! Anyway, good luck on your journey. You've got this!❤✨

@LexieMoon321 Жыл бұрын

I absolutely LOVED Middlemarch! It took me about a month to read it! Also…if you are scared of big books then I’d steer away from Stephen King lol

@CarolynMarieReads Жыл бұрын

So glad to hear that!!! Yes haha I have yet to read any of his books…

@jolowry1047 Жыл бұрын

I am a big fan of Dostoyevsky's work. I recently read Notes from Underground and I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to see how you end up liking all of his works!