We are talking books, here. Yeah, that is right. Books. Big Books. And why we like/dislike them. I mean, does the size of a book even matter?
Julie:
I find large books to be daunting. There, I said it. Yes there is this “I like big books and I cannot lie” thing out there but that isn’t me. I prefer books in the comfortable 300 page range. Longer books often seem unnecessary. I mean, did you really need to use that many words to get your story across? I’m looking at you Diana Gabaldon lol. But I realize many people prefer books to be long and descriptions to be lengthy. I just prefer the more direct approach, since my attention span tends to wander easily.
Lynn:
I think there is a time and place for shorter books and longer books. I have no problem with either one. The majority of the books I read are probably in the 300 page range. But I also read longer books. Diana Gabaldon. Ken Follet. Deborah Harkness. All books a great. It just depends on what you are in the mood for. A quick weekend read. Or a long, in depth novel.
I read both big books and small books, I find it’s nice to vary in length just for a bit of variety. I will admit, once a book reaches over about 650 pages it becomes a little daunting but if it’s a really good book, I find that the length won’t be a problem at all.
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I agree, if it is a good book that flows well, length isn’t an issue. Typically though I find the larger books could have easily been made shorter because they get bogged down and feel too wordy.
It really just depends what kind of mood I am in. Sometimes I’m ready to devour a big book and sometimes I like smaller books because I know I can finish it quickly. When it is in a series then it is a no brainer I have to read it. The twilight series was one of my favorites and they were all over 400 pages.
Very true, my mood will determine the length of book I want to read as well.
When the book is long because the story needs a thousand pages to be told properly, I love a big book. I also love medium books. I don’t like short books at all. I need at least 200 pages, or else I feel cheated. And not like size 14 double space pages. Legit 200 pages.
Leila @ LeilaReads recently posted…The Marriage Game by Alison Weir
Yea I definitely understand that. Short books, novellas for example, feel rushed to me.
LOL I have a totebag that says “I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie”. I don’t prefer bigger books over smaller ones but I do like them…so long as they’re well written. 🙂
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Haha what a cool tote bag!
So I did not get to enter my input because I have been too busy, but I will comment here: I HEART BIG BOOKS! The longer a book, the better. I agree that sometimes books do not need to be the length they are, but when a big book is done right… it is EPIC!
I’m with Lynn in that I read both and I’m not opposed to reading the longer ones and I usually quite enjoy then if they aren’t unnecessarily long. For instance I love the Brandon Sanderson stormlight archive epic fantasy books and a free other fantasies that ate really long. But then other times in like blah throws book needs to be shorter.
If I think a book looks too long for its genre and storyline….usually YA books fall into this category then I can be turned off picking it up entirely.
The key word is unnecessarily long. It is true that some books are worth every word.
I prefer books around 300 pages. I don’t read as much anymore and a 300 pages book is one I can still finish in a week. Longer books always seem a bit daunting indeed, I am just hesistant starting them, even though they probably are great books as well. If given the choice I prefer to pick up a shorter book.
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I’m with you, 300 pages is about perfect.
[…] Julie and Lynn share their thoughts on book size. […]
I usually prefer short/medium length books, but will read longer ones if someone recommends it, or it is a part of a series that started shorter (like Harry Potter.)
Kaitlin Michelle recently posted…Present, Present, Present Time! Part 2
Oh yea it is those series that start out short that get you every time.
Right now, yes! I’m trying to hit 20,000 pages and I’m just 800 or so shy. If could finished the 8th book in the Outlander series before Midnight on 1/31, I should be fine. 🙂
No, the size of a book doesn’t really matter. I’m thankful for eBooks for some of those longer, thicker books. The only down side with eBooks is not being able to see the pages dwindle as you get to the end!
Terri M., the Director
Second Run Reviews
Well at least the percentage increase is comforting for huge books. I think it is cool that you do a pages read goal. Ooh, also, I got your card today 🙂
To me it all depends on the pacing rather than the size of the book. There are books that are really long but also move along nicely, and there are some short books that real stagnate. I guess size doesn’t really matter all that much to me.
Very true, Nish. It took me 6 months to read Cold Mountain (at 449 pages). And I read Discovery of Witches (at 579 pages) in a couple of weeks.
Size doesn’t seem to matter so much now that I read on my tablet or Kindle. In the past, if it was a book I wasn’t sure I wanted to read, I’d avoid it. But I’ve read my share of big books over the years, and I can honestly say I found some great ones.
Reanna recently posted…Top 10 of 2014: Best Books I’ve Read This Year
So true, Reanna. I used to commute on the train. And any “heavy” book was not going to make it into my backpack!
For me, it depends on the book and the writing. If the writing is good and the story keeps my interest, I’m perfectly happy with a long book. Deborah Harkness, J.K. Rowling, Patrick Rothfuss, J.R.R. Tolkien (if you count LOTR as one book), and any number of other authors have held me spellbound for 400 pages or more. Sometimes quite a lot more.
On the other hand, sometimes I enjoy something I can plow through in a few hours – a cozy mystery, a contemporary romance, that sort of thing. It all depends on my mood – and as I said, on the quality of the writing and the story.
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Those are all great examples, Lark!
I love big books! But I also love middle and short books as well. I usually read a really big classic when I feel like a challenge and I rarely feel they were long for no reason. But some of the recent long books do feel like that at times. I’m biased by time period I guess. But even then, I still like the feeling of finishing a big book!
Jennine G. recently posted…TBRs I Own Challenge
Interesting, I find classics to be especially wordy sometimes hehe.
If a book is going to be long…it better HOOK me from the beginning. I can commit to a longer book if I’m totally enthralled by the story (Harry Potter, duh). BUT…if I get 100 pages in and STILL don’t care, I’ll usually put it down. And if my friends keep telling me “just skip the first 150 pages”…then umm…that’s bad editing. (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo..I’m talking to you!)
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I agree with you, Karie. If a book can’t hook me in the first 100 pages, I’m done. I just don’t have time for books that I’m not interested in reading.
Haha. I’m with you, a book needs to hook you right away. If it gets good later, that is bad editing. I’m glad I stuck it out with Dragon Tattoo, but I normally do not.
Um, yea I hear what you are saying but there is another side to this with books that are way too short. Hit was great example fo a book that needed more meat. I don’t mind big books as long as the story can keep my attention.
Karen Blue recently posted…The Sunday Post #15
I’m not familiar with the book Hit, but I agree, some books feel rushed. Good point.
I can handle about 420 pages. Anything longer is just too much.
The only time I like big books is when they are HP! The need to be amazing for me to want 600 pages of the story!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
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I’m with you – the books do need to be amazing. Or, something about them, like really great characters that you just don’t want to leave behind even if you’re getting tired of the books themselves. Or HP. Those books deserve to be long 🙂