When I was a teenager, I did read Thorn Birds. It was such a SCANDALOUS book at that time. Covered the book in brown paper so no one knew I was reading it. Lol.

@CriminOllyBlog

9 күн бұрын

Ha ha nice work!

@johnoleary5293

8 күн бұрын

My mother wasn’t a huge reader but she did read Thornbirds and I’ll never forget her describing it as ‘filthy but fascinating’. I read it later and indeed it’s trashy.

@nikkivenable73

7 күн бұрын

I actually lived Thornbirds in a way. I was 14 when a priest "fell in love" with me. He was exceptionally inappropriate with me until I was 18. He even considered leaving the priesthood for me. Unfortunately, I had parents that didn't believe me and were, in general, checked out. I found the book to be fairly true to life and the conflicted feelings that come with these relationships.

Shogun is in my top 3 novels of all time. The length is daunting, but it is such a wonderful look at a time, place, and culture.

The Count of Monte Cristo is wonderful. In my top 5 of all time favourites.

The Count is amazing , absolutely worth your time!

I've read Les Miserable a few times. Actually, the first time was an abridged version. And I immediately got the full version and devoured it.

At a mere 704 pages, you should read Ian Pears' An Instance of the Fingerpost. Historical, murder, really really fabulous. It's the same story told by 4 separate protagonists, all involved in the action one way or another, and all aware of not just the basic shape of events, but certain individual sets of facts as well. I really loved it.

Shogun is one of those books that seems a lot more intimidating than it is, and it's a great read - Clavell's King Rat is also fantastic. The Count of Monte Cristo is totally worth reading, but having read the complete version, I can't help but feel like an abridged version would be better in some ways. I'd imagine that's an unpopular opinion on Booktube, but it simply seemed like a great deal of it could have been left out. Maybe it's because it was originally serialized. I've had both 2666 and The Pillars of the Earth on my shelves for quite some time and haven't read either of them. I once read a review of 2666 which said it was the only book the reviewer had ever read where it felt like the writer actively hated the reader, and that's probably the reason I haven't tried it yet, and the plot seems pretty disturbing, too.

I loved Shogun. Brilliant characters and such an interesting look at two contrasting societies.

Interesting list. I haven't read any of the recent stuff but probably would like to read Shogun since I spent several years in the Far and Middle East, though not in Japan. As regards the books I am familiar with, I think you should start with Gone With The Wind. Slavery and the Civil War really are not what the book is abolut. It´s about survival by two characters who, whatever their background, never fit in to the Pre'war Southern society. Scarlett though she was a Plantation Princess wasn't interested in the plight of the slaves, and by nature she wasn't a Southedrn Lady as society defined that characteristic. She was spoiled,, selfish and rather blunt to the point of crudeness in going out to get what she wants. When all her privileges came crashing down as the result of the war she sets out to get as much back as she can no matter what. She was a survivor. Rhett was already an outlier as well. He at first avoided involvement in the war, and only joined the Confederate Army after rescuing Scarlet from the burning of Atlanta, when it was clear the South had lost. Rather Quixotic on his part. But though he has good manners, he really isn't a Southern Gentleman and never aspired to be. What appeals to him in Scarlett is her unladylike shamelessness. If you want to understand the American Way of Love and the Battle of the Sexes species Americanus, Gone With The Wind is the best place to start. II's rather like Vanity Fair in some respects. Becky Sharpe is a nasty piece of work and the Napoleonic Wars are the backdrop. Becky is a social climber, Scarlett is a survivor. But neither of them care much about anyone but themselves. Speaking of War, I know you cannot push your way through War and Peace but has it ever púzzled you why the greatest novel of the Napoleonic Wars was written in Russia and not in France ? In War and Peace the Russians do care about the war, they too, are affected by it in various ways and they do the best they can to defend their country and cope with the personal losses they endure. I want to make a separate post about The Count of MonteCristo and Les Miserables, because this post is too long. Cheers !

I think The Fireman by Joe Hill is an underrated long book, maybe due to the inevitable comparisons with The Stand. Also if anyone's interested in football then Red or Dead by David Peace is just as good as (but much longer than) The Damned United

Loved your Long Book Series! I have 8 of the 11 on my shelf and of the ones I have read The Pillars of the Earth is my favorite. As far as Gone With the Wind, I thought the burning of Atlanta was one of the best literary scenes I've read.

Even though, as you say, Gone with the Wind is "problematic", it provides an intimate view into a culture that no longer exits. Juxtaposing this novel with current global awareness brings to light destructive patterns that lead to lack or loss of human rights. Perhaps it is of use in understanding the bacteria that led to the disease? It provides the reader with the opportunity to struggle with questions like "How could these people have . . .?" The characters are well developed and, even though the reader would not make the same choices, the author authentically presents their thought processes. Reading the novel should not be seen as supporting slavery - just an attempt to try to understand it so history never repeats itself like this anywhere on the planet.

Les Miserables is amazing! I am reading it now, I am about 700 pages in and love it. The Count of Monte Cristo is so good, I read it as a kid and loved it.

The two you mentioned that I've read are The Pillars of the Earth and The Count of Monte Cristo. Both are worth reading. I didn't love Pillars as much as some people do, but I did like it, and I found it relatively easy to read. Monte Cristo is quite good, and I can see why people like it. If it matters, I read the unabridged Robin Buss translation from Penguin, which from all I've heard seems to be the best English version.

I wish you really well with Jerusalem. I bought it as three separate smaller softcover books, as the size of the hardcover was very daunting. I DNF'd it after 60 pages. Alan Moore is so popular, I thought maybe it was just me. I don't seem to be a fanboy or girl, for that matter, of him. I just love long books so I gave it a go. Cheers to anyone who made it through and enjoyed it at that!

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

It does seem incredibly dense!

@shaunosborne786

8 күн бұрын

@@CriminOllyBlog I've got it on my shelf too. All in one paperback version. Dense is an apt description - think I may have to split it into digestable lumps.

I live in the middle of nowhere and before kindle getting my hands on a really long book always felt like the best thing in the world. I guess I still kind of feel that way. I’ve read Thornbirds Shogun and the Count. Really enjoyed them all and believe you will too.

Pillars of the Earth is fantastic and goes by quicker than you’d imagine it would. For me personally, Gone with the Wind is problematic, yes, but it’s worth reading.

Whenever people recommend me books they always seem to recommend books that are either part of a series that has fifteen billion sequels or they recommend a book that is so long that I could use it as a stool. I got so many books that I wanna read but man they are long. Great video!

Great video! I loved Pillars Of The Earth, but can totally understand why others may not feel the same way. Shogun is a great book, loved being immersed in an alien culture.

I loved Cryptonomicon! Must have read it over twenty years ago at this point. Definitely time for a reread.

Count of Monte Cristo was pretty good and worth a read - the first and last 300 pages were fantastic, but the middle 600 or so could be a chore to get through at times lol

@baxtersmom279

8 күн бұрын

I read the abridged version at about 700 pages. I enjoyed that. Not sure I could get through the unabridged version.

#1....Count of Monte Cristo....read it 3x....Les Miserables......Shogun....Thorn Birds...all good reads........Gone with the Wind....do not judge this book by the movie.....I did not go for V. Leigh as Scarlett.....The characters are much more in depth in the book...especially Rhett Butler....A wonderful read.

Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favourite books of all time. There's a biggish section halfway through that threatens to send it off the rails, but it reels itself in and finishes very strongly. Great read.

I inherited but still haven't gotten to three of these: The Thorn Birds, Gone with the Wind and Shōgun. I hope you'll enjoy the one you pick.

The Count is great, but make sure you get the Penguin Classics edition. It's uncut and the translation is amazingly readable. A pretty much perfect novel, I reckon.

Pillars Of The Earth is second only to Lonesome Dove as the best novel I have read, they both have characters you will love (or love to hate!) I did enjoy Shogun but it didn't have quite as much impact on me as it seems to do on so many other people and to my shame although I was thoroughly enjoying The Count Of Monte Cristo, I left it unfinished at over the half way mark and just never went back to it.

I love this video, Olly! I did read The Thorn Birds in the 1970’s. I was a teenager, and I loved it then. I am not sure how I’d feel about it today. I just read Les Miserables for the first time with Classics and Company, and I absolutely loved it! I don’t know what took me so long to read it! I hope you enjoy which ever of these that you do read. 😊

Honestly, I wouldn’t read most of these titles even if I regularly attended literary dinner parties. My tip is to read Clavell’s first, and shortest book, King Rat first. Then, if you enjoy his writing, continue on with the others in the Asian Saga. I remember King Rat being very good, but I read it in secondary school. I have read all his works except Whirlwind, and liked them very much. Shogun was such a favorite that I read it twice in one week. Obviously I had more free time as s teenager. The Thorn Birds is probably the simplest title on your list, and should be a breeze. You might want to save it for GarbAugust, lol. Gone With the Wind is also an easy read. While distasteful in many ways, it has its place as a snapshot in time during the American Civil War and the attitudes that prevailed in the South at that time. I very much preferred Seven Eves over Cryptonomicon, but it’s a matter of taste. Les Miserables might bog you down during the chapters on prostitution and the Paris sewer system. You can safely skip both chapters and not miss much of the overall story. Good luck in your reading adventures! 😺✌️

I've read half these books, and I have to admit that when I was reading them (some go back 40 years or more), I never really thought of them as long books, just books. Of the rest, most sound intriguing, so more on my reading list.

Oo I want to read 2666 too - just looked and it's being reissued here in September with a nice new cover! I dnf'd ducks as it made me anxious 😅 siân xx

I was hoping to see A Suitable Boy on here. It's one of my faves. Same with Pillars of the Earth and Count of Monte Cristo.

This year, I've read War & Peace, Les Miserables and A Suitable Boy. I highly recommend Les Mis. The Count of Monte Cristo is one I hope to read before the end of the year.

Gone with the Wind is incredibly racist but at the same time, Scarlett O'Hara is a fascinating character. Probably one of the most compelling female characters of the 20th century and she speaks to the Great Depression more than the Civil War. Problematic? Completely. But a kind of great read.

@CriminOllyBlog

Күн бұрын

Interesting! Maybe I'll give it a try after all...

Last month I found up a copy of Shogun at a free little library that looked brand new. I don't know when I'll give it a try because I push big books off until later...which never comes.

I just bought ShoGun from our library book sale. I have tried to read it as well. I have read The Count and really enjoyed it

The Pillars of the Earth is such an easy read. Follett likes the story to turn every 4-6 pages.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

I’ve read a lot of his shorter work and always had a good time

What a fantastic list of books. I think you'll be surprised by how exciting and compelling several of them are despite their length. Cheers!

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

Thanks Troy!

Because of you I bought Flicker and am gonna start it soon.

@CriminOllyBlog

9 күн бұрын

Hope you like it!

I own the silpcase version of Jerusalem that splits the book into three smaller books. I hope it will make it easier to get through.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

Definitely easier to fit in your bag!

Gone With The Wind is a masterpiece! It's filled with horrible people making awful choices, but oh my, it's a page turner! If you do decide to read A Suitable Boy, I would love to buddy read it with you! That's one I'm super interested in but it's so long so I would need someone to keep me accountable.

Your mention of the style of Ducks, Newburyport reminded me of persevering through The Cold Six Thousand by James Ellroy which is over 800 pages and all written in very short sentences

I don't like long books to be honest, mostly because I feel like they rarely need to be that long, but when they work, they work. I loved The Thorn Birds as a kid. I don't know what I'd think now. Pillars of the Earth is incredible. It feels long, but not boring, if that makes any sense! Count of Monte Cristo is on my list, too. I read Les Mis in 9th grade because we had to pick a historical fiction book, and I loved the play. Thus cementing my place as a nerd forever.

As a history buff, Cryptonomicon is one of my favorite books. Not giving any spoilers away, there's one character in the WWII time period who's a bit of an idiot savant, who finds himself in the middle of the Pearl Harbor attack. Despite the obvious seriousness of what's happening, seeing it unfold through his odd mental perspective is literally laugh out loud funny.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

Oh interesting! Funny is not something I expected from it

Shogun is good... a few times during it, it lagged, but I'm glad I stuck with it, it's worth it. Count of Monte Cristo is GREAT. The best part is the first half, so the "revenge" gets to be a bit of a letdown, but it's still essential. One guy I used to work with re-read it every year. I've never read Gone With the Wind but I know some people who've read that more times than they can count, so it's apparently good. Haven't read Le Mis, but I did read Hunchback of Notre Dame, and it was good. I'm not a fan of Alan Moore at all, absolutely hate him, but I won't go into why since you like him. I sure won't be on board with that one, but... good luck! :)

I read the Thorn Birds a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. Colleen McCullough does an excellent job of really bringing Australia in the early 20th century to the page. My very long book I haven’t read but am curious about is Shantaram. I keep eyeing it up but can’t quite make the commitment.

Awesome video! My copy of Count of Monte Cristo is thankfully much shorter. I’m still not sure I want to try it given how angry 3 Musketeers made me. Gone with the Wind I vaguely remember from Georgia History

Count on monte Cristo is absolutely wonderful!!

We're around the same age and i have been telling myself I would read Shogun since I was ten... but soon! Soon! After reading Derek Raymond, George Pelecanos, the rest of the Hap and Leonard books, Amber Cowie, and Craig Terlson, and, etc, etc, etc,

What a great list! I am still trying to work myself up to The Suitable Boy-and also Pillars of the Earth (which one of my friends adores) and Ducks, Newburyport. I just found out that there is an audiobook version of Ducks, which I cannot imagine. Good luck-to us both!

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

Oh, the audiobook version of Ducks seems like a really interesting way to experience it! I might try that.

💚🖤 You Definitely need to pick The Count of Monte Crisco & Les Miserables

The CoMC is a fantastic book that I never even thought about how long it was while reading it.

I loved loved the Count of Monte Cristo! I feel like this book has so much modern crime drama elements and this book came before all if it! The most recent movie from 2002 could not be more different. I just started the audiobook of Shogun last night. The new tv show was fantastic.

Loved The Thorn Birds, Shogun, Les Miserables and The Count of Monte Christo. Pillars of the Earth and A Suitable Boy are on my list too… and now I’m going to have to add Cryptonomicron 😊

Shogun is worth the read! I’ve done it twice. Great historical fiction in my opinion.

Those are some long ones! I tried to read Count of Monte Cristo twice and finally read the manga version simultaneously to help me through it😂. I also want to read Shotgun one day, I was lucky enough to snag that gkrgeous black hardcover special edition before they got so hard to find.

Your description of Scarlett O'Hara as a young woman who's trying to make her way in the world made me laugh out loud. I guess technically that's true, but doesn't capture the sheer self-absorption and bull-headedness that is our heroine. GWTW is great fun and one of the great modern classic love stories. It's problematic in that it doesn't depict slavery as awful (all the main families in the book "treat their slaves well"), but the book isn't "about" slavery, rather it's about the end of an era, the upheaval of war, and the rebuilding of society by the losers of that war in the aftermath. And it's about Scarlett and Rhett, Ashley and Melanie. It's a soap opera set in tumultuous times. I've read it several times. I just started Les Mis - I'm going to take it in little chunks and try to absorb it slowly, in the hopes that soon I won't be able to put it down. I've never seen the play or the movie, so I don't know the plot at all.

I would second the Count. Well worth the effort. Go well Olly.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

Cheers, Nathan!

I just finished 2666 and it was awesome. It's difficulty is definitely extremely overstated. It's not really challenging at all, not like Pynchon or Faulkner for example.

I've got the ebook of Jerusalem. That physical copy looks like it would be beyond my limited abilities. As I've not read any of these my opinion probably doesn't matter much, but Count of Monte Cristo and Les Mis seem like the major classics on there, particularly the first.

I'm a very speedy reader, so I'm always looking for a good, long book. I'll have to try the ones on here I've not read yet.

I’ll never read The Thorn Birds. I don’t want reading it to affect my boyhood crush on Rachel Ward that resulted from watching the mini series. 2666 is depressing, but sometimes great. I feel the same away as you about Ducks Newberry Port. I will read Tge Count if Monte Christo. I have no/little interest in reading the others.

@CriminOllyBlog

Күн бұрын

LOL at your Thorn Birds comment

Monte Cristo is the greatest revenge novel, I think it and Don Quixote are essential reads, great books

I feel good that I’ve read three of these.

Thornbirds is great. It’s on the same vain as Lace and Princess Daisy. And Pillars is wonderful. The characters will break your heart. Les Mis was tough in the beginning set in a church or monastery so I dnf. Count of montecristo has been on my tbr for a long time. I love revenge stories so I’m looking forward to your review.

Cryptonomicon is incredible, but Anathem is even better IMO

@CriminOllyBlog

9 күн бұрын

I do have that one too!

@circa1890

9 күн бұрын

Feel the same way - Anathem is much better but liked them both.

Jerusalem has been sitting on my shelf for years. Just haven't got to it. I'd be curious to see what you think.

Very nice list. Quite a variety. I read the Thorn Birds when it first came out. It certainly caused a lot of controversy. I loved The Pillars of the Earth. I read Gone With The Wind a very long time ago, and really enjoyed it. I suppose a lot of people would disagree with me, but you really have to take into account the time in which it was written. If you can look at it as historical fiction like a book from WWI or WWII. The book was so much better than the movie.

I first saw the book 2666 in a Patti Smith blog. Bolano is one of her fav authors I believe. Currently reading The Fisherman since seeing it on your channel. So far so good. TY for that recommendation.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

Glad you’re enjoying The Fisherman

I couldn't finish Thorn Birds but did quite like The Pillars of the Earth. You are going to love The Count of Monte Cristo.

Count of Monte Cristo is in my top 5 of all time. Read it several times! Read it first!

Pillars if the earth is wonderful!!!

I enjoyed The Pillars of the Earth and Shogun and haven't read any of the others. Pillars of the Earth is an easier read than Shogun, but if you are really impatient to watch the TV show, start with Shogun. That TV series was good. I plan to read The Count of Monte Cristo this year. If I like it, I may try The Three Musketeers.

I really want to read the Thor birds again. It's the first book I remember reading that I couldn't put down.

@CriminOllyBlog

9 күн бұрын

I’m looking forward to it!

I just finished Pillars of the Earth, of which I was initially skeptical, especially as a former academic medievalist; however, I greatly enjoyed it and it’s got far more going on than mere cathedral building. I’m Halfway through the sequel, A World without End, & it’s not quite as enjoyable but nonetheless still worth the effort so far. If you like medieval history (Follett gets some stuff right and some stuff not so much), give it a shot.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

That’s good to know, given your background!

I've read The Thorn Birds in the 80s as a teenager after watching the TV mini-series, it was my first book for adults. And both the series and the book made me fall in love with agegap- and priest-romance books ever since - I blame it on Richard Chamberlain 😂

I've only read Shogun in that list. The first half is great, the second half is a meandering dawdle. The recent mini-series was very good. I'd start by watching that. A Suitable Boy might be a good one to try first.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

I definitely want to watch the mini series

Im in my 50s. So many books to read before i die. i think the best book has never been written 😂 Only books suggest the hobbit and the most dangerous game

I couldn’t get through “Pillars” either, but I loved Follett’s 20th century trilogy.

Cryptonomicon, and Pillars of the Earth are great. So is Count of Monte Cristo, though I prefer the D’Artagnan books. I like Les Miserables, but I predict you will lose patience with it. I would like to read Shogun, but the publishers have price-gouged it (2 volumes at $20/book), and it’s almost impossible to find used. Gone With the Wind is not a terrible book (though it does endorse some terrible things). But it’s not as good as the movie and they are pretty close in terms of narrative.

Great selection. As much as I love Shogun I’m not sure I’d recommend it to you 🤔. I’d start with Tai-Pan, more engaging pacing and characters. The Count of Monte Christo really is amazing but does not have much action or adventure at all to be honest. It starts faster than it finishes, for sure. I think you’ve read it already but it’s unlikely you’d enjoy it as much as The Three Musketeers. But you never know.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

Ah interesting! I do have Tai Pan. Thanks Al

@bigaldoesbooktube1097

8 күн бұрын

@@CriminOllyBlogyou’re welcome 🙏

The Thornbirds if defo not trashy, I went in with mixed feelings but loved it.

Pillars of the Earth is amazing highly recommended

I read Shogun as a teen. Still remember parts of it 40 yrs later. I think I’ve read Cryptonomicon. I like Stephenson’s books but for some reason they don’t stick in my brain (unlike Shogun, Roots, The Stand).

I really liked ' the thorn birds' myself

MONTE CRISTO is very good, but I prefer Dumas' THREE MUSKETEERS. I know someone who reads GONE WITH THE WIND again every year. I can't imagine.

How about A Glastonbury Romance, by John Cowper Powys?

I’ve restarted Crptonomicon more times than I can count.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

It does seem daunting!

Olly, I covet your library- the glass door shelves. Swoon.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

They’re super cheap! IKEA Billy bookcases with optional add on doors

No Proust? Have you already read it?

@CriminOllyBlog

9 күн бұрын

It’s not high on my list, but that said I probably am going to read it as part of a year long group read in 2025

@constancecampbell4610

9 күн бұрын

@@CriminOllyBlog 👍

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco 641 pages

I could call The Thorn Birds a lot of things, but none of them would be "trashy"! The writing itself is good, and the subject matter ranges from uncomfortable to downright disturbing. It raises a lot of questions about a lot of topics on many levels.

@stephennootens916

8 күн бұрын

I think it is viewed as trashy due to the famous American mini series based on it back in the Golden years of network mini series and tv movies.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

It definitely seems to be getting a lot of love from people in the comments!

@snowysnowyriver

8 күн бұрын

@@stephennootens916 . Good point! That series was truly awful!!

I really need to be an insufferable reader again. Especially those veritable tomes.

Les Miserables and Count of Monte Christo are absolute page turners.

I read The Count of Montecristo and didn't like it. I'm probably the only one in the world who found it boring, too long, and predictable. I also read The Pillars of the Earth, which I moderately liked as well as its sequel.

only good book by Moore is Words of Fire, he's not as good a novelist as comic book writer, I'm surprised you've not read Les Miserable, I read it a long time ago when I had no money for books other than cheap classic editions, a great story which has been ripped off repeatedly

2666 still stays on my mind. A true modern masterpiece.

In terms of Gone with the Wind, I've read it, and, yes, it is very racist. Also, the book glorifies rape. The fact that it has "American classic" status makes me want to throw up.

@CriminOllyBlog

8 күн бұрын

I didn’t know that second part! Makes me even less inclined to try it

@GlitterEnby

8 күн бұрын

@CriminOllyBlog Yeah, for some reason people really don't talk about that part as much.

Good luck with the ascent to Mount Everest! ⛰

The Thorn Birds is trashy but great! And The Pillars of the Earth and Shogun are wonderful books! I think Gone With the Wind is a snapshot in time so it’s worth reading.