10 Long Books That Are Totally Worth Reading

Hi everyone! Today’s post was born one day when I was staring at a very long book and wondering if it was worth putting so much time into reading it when I could read 2 or even 3 books in that same amount of time. I’m sure I’m not the only one that has had thoughts like this and that’s why I wanted to make a list of some long books that are totally worth the time investment.

For the purpose of this post:

• Long book = over 500 pages.
• I only considered the first book in a series, no sequels.

Now let’s get into the books!

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin  (837 pages) 

I know this book is particulary intimidating for a lot of people because it’s not just one long book, it’s a long series of really long books. BUT the amount of world building, the complexity of the characters and the relationships between them, as well as the intricacy of the political scheming make this book and this series fascinating and so worth the time investment required to read it.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (544 pages) 

Another leghthy fantasy book that it’s worth commiting to read! This is a captivating book with an incredibly well crafted world and magic system and, unlike GOT, it’s an action packed story that goes by quickly. My favorite thing about it though are the characters, Amari is a new all time favorite, and if you are a fan of character development, you’ll like her story arc in this book. This is an angsty, dramatic and emotional fantasy book that’s definitely worth the read.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor  (536 pages)

This is the best book I have read so far in 2019, so off course it needed to be included on this list. After months of being in a fantasy reading slump, this book reminded me what I love about fantasy and how awestruck I can be by a new magical, whimsical world. The writing is stunning and it sets a tone of wonder and  posibility that goes perfectly with the mystery within the novel. This fascinating story of gods and monsters will make you feel invested until it hits you with a shocking ending and that’s why it’s totally worth the read!

The Diviners by Libba Bray (578 pages) 

This book is not for everyone because it gets quite scary at some points, but I loved it and I’m grateful because it helped me discover my love for spooky books.  This is a really atmospheric read that has a creepy vibe, mystery elements that make the story intriguing and characters that are captivating and complex. So, if you want a YA book with unique elements and you don’t mind the spooky stuff, you’ll love this and yout won’t care that it’s a longer read!

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (518 pages)

This is probably my favorite Sci-fi book of all time and I think it’s a fantastic choice if you like quiet books that are character driven and tackle important themes. One of the strenghts of this book is that diversity is at the forefront of the story and it’s included in an interesting and thoughtful way; there’s different species, races, sexual orientations, gender identities, body types, cultures, religions and so much more that are represented. This is long read but it’s so captivating and thought provoking that you won’t want to put it down.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata (673 pages) 

If you haven’t read any Mariana Zapata books know that she is the queen of slow burn romances, so you’ll have to wait a while but the payoff in her books is SO WORTH IT. This book has a heartwarming romance, amazing character development of the male protagonist, an incredible and relatable female protagonist and low angst and drama. If you like sports and workplace romances, slow burn and the marriage of convenience trope, you’ll  love this book and you won’t mind the almost 700 pages. 

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (527 pages) 

This is a fun, very extravagant read that’s full of descriptions of oppulence and excesses. It has hints of  plot that keeps everything together, but it’s mainly a book about the lives of very rich and superficial people in Singapore, a setting that gives this book an interesting and unique background and it’s what makes this book special. If you’re looking for a light and entertaining read that has a unique setting, this book is definitely worth reading even when it’s a bit long.

The Secret History by Donna Tart (559 pages) 

If you like unlikeable and morally grey characters, then you’ll find that this book is worth the time investment! The characters in this story are enigmatic and fascinating and even when they did things or had thoughts that were disturbing, I never found myself quite disliking them. Add to that, how atmospheric this book is, how beautiful and compelling the writing style is and how fascinating the underlying commentary about power, elitism, morality, depravity and freedom is, and you’ll have a masterpiece and one of my favorite books of all time.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson (658 pages)

If you like mystery books with great plots but even more amazing characters, then you won’t mind that it’s 600 pages long. All the characters in this are complex and captivating. Lisbeth Salander is one of the most interesting characters I have ever encountered. Add the fact that this book tackles discrimination, violence and harrasment against women that is perpetrated by men who disregarded them as nothing, while at the same time having some amazing female characters, and you’ll understand why this book is so special and totally worth reading!

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (561 pages)

This book is not only long, it’s also a slow read, so I totally understand why some people don’t want to read it. BUT if you like character driven stories, full of fascinating characters with mysterious and interesting backstories that have complicated relationship with each other, I really think you should give this one a chance. Plus, the writing is really good and the mystery is highly entertaining.

 

What long books do you think are totally worth reading? Have you read any of the books on this list? What did you think about them? 

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