So last month I posted my first discussion post and I want to say a huge thank you to those of you who read, commented, and voted. It really meant a lot to me. It is always a little nerve-wracking to try something new and the support was great. Now this month I wanted to talk about something near and dear to my heart, big books. But, before we move on to this months discussion topic I want to go over the poll results. If you want to see last months post you can find it here: Lets Talk | Reading Formats
The Results
I have to say I was a little surprised by the answers. I guess I just always assumed people always wanted hardbacks. I think because I see them the most in book hauls and such. I was also surprised that paperbacks and Ebooks tied. I was really expecting there to be a clear winner. What do you think about the poll results?
Now lets talk about big books. I used to absolutely be afraid to read big books. I think for me there were a few reasons for this. The first stems from when I was little. I had a very difficult time learning how to read, I had extra help throughout my schooling, but specifically when I was in elementary school. I dreaded being picking on in class even reading a sentence. I clearly remember finding out the order that the teacher was calling on us to read and seeing how many kid there were so I can find my sentence and practice.
Another reason was I was impatient. I wanted the gratification of finishing a book. So I kept reading smaller books because I was able to say I read x amount of books. If I read bigger books that number would be smaller. That is a bit of a problem I have with goodreads. I think it focuses to much on the number of books overall, not necessarily the amount someone reads. But, I move away from my point.
I am not sure when my view point changed, but in the last 2 years I have been craving bigger books. I think it started with someone from my work telling me to read Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I also think it may be related to me not having as much assigned reading since leaving Uni. Also, if I look back at my goodreads page to compare my biggest books of each year, you can see a gradual change in my reading as well.
2014: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare 541 pages
2015: The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton 834 pages
2016: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 1,216 pages
2017: It by Stephen King 1,156 pages
So with everything there are pros and cons, the same is true about big books. Some of the bonuses of reading big books is you get to spend more time in a world and on an adventure. You can spend multiple sittings binge reading and get lost. I find that the world building and details in larger books are more plentiful. This may be because the authors have more room to be more in-depth and explore more. Another thing I have found is that you can see the characters grow and evolve. While you can do this in a shorter book it is usually either abrupt or there is a huge time jump. With larger books you get to see what events led the character to change and grow. Additionally, you get to spend more time with the characters. Now that point could also be a negative as well.
If we are going to explore the negative aspects of big books you cannot ignore that fact that some big books just drag. Sometimes I feel like the publisher give authors page goals and they just fill them up with words and nothing really happens. Also, they are a pain in the butt to carry around with you. Unless you have an ereader, which according to last months poll you most likely have. Another drawback is that they tend to cost more money because they require more paper and ink.
Even with these prominent faults, I still love big books and I cannot lie.
What are some pros and cons of big books?
Do you read big books? Let me know in the poll below.
I love reading big books and I love reading paperbacks best. On the positive side you are rewarded with more time with your favourite characters and the story is usually juicier. The down side is I get hand cramps holding a big book! lol especially if I’m laying on my back and it ends up landing on my face (owwww).
I don’t know about anyone else, but I prefer it when the first book in the series is no more that 400 pages and then the rest of the series is chunky. The first book in a series is really where you decide if the world/characters/writing is any good and that can be disheartening and hard to finish if it’s a massive book. If it’s a good book then I’m excited when the rest of the series is 800 + pages per book.
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There really is a danger when dealing with a large book and reading it in bed. I have dropped it on myself once or twice. Even if it isn’t on your face, it still hurts. lol.
I never thought about large books in a series, but you make a great point. A first book it all about introducing a world and the characters, I can see why you would want it to be “shorter”. I honestly like larger introduction because I feel like when the first book is shorter you don’t get a ton of plot, but that has just been my experience. I also find that sometimes a series can be 1-3 books, but they break them up so oddly to sell more books.
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Absolutely – I can totally see what you mean. I would have loved the first Harry Potter book to have been 800+ pages… however I can see how that would be daunting for younger readers or people unsure of new authors.
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It is easy to see both sides of it. It really comes down to the reader. 🙂
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I was going to answer your poll but I honestly don’t know which one to choose. I don’t hate big books I just find them intimidating but I have started reading them a little more kind of.
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I totally understand, they can be intimidating. Reading a big can be great or a drag depending on how you connect with a book.
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Yes exactly.
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I never avoid big books, but I’ve definitely read some that could be one (or several) hundred pages shorter! For me it depends entirely on the story and how much space it needs to unfold properly 🙂
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That is very true, the size needs to appropriately match the story that is being told. Being larger for the sake of being larger is not good. I know, that’s why a lot of people don’t read Dickens, he was paid by the word so his stories often drag for people.
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