Show Notes
Sarah and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) dig into their very different relationships with big books, from what counts as "big" and knowing when the moment is right to what makes a long book worth the extra pages. They also share some of their favorite big books — and a few they wish had been shorter.
This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Where Sarah and Chrissie each draw the line between a regular book and a big book. Is a 700-page book intimidating … or an invitation to settle in? When, and why, are they most likely to pick up a long book? Does format or genre change how big a book feels? What makes a book actually deserve its high page count? Some of their favorite big books … and a few they really wish had been shorter. Some Favorite BIG Books Chrissie 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:38] The Princes of Ireland (The Dublin Saga, 1) by Edward Rutherfurd (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:36] Fox by Joyce Carol Oates (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:54] Red Comet by Heather Clark (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:10] Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:45] The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:30] Sarah 11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:31] I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb (1998) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:32] A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (1989) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:23] The World According to Garp by John Irving (1978) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:25] Natchez Burning (Penn Cage, 4; Natchez Burning, 1) by Greg Iles (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:19] Wanderers (Wanderers, 1) by Chuck Wendig (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:40] Other Books Mentioned War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1869) [30:06] The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1846) [30:07] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) [31:43] Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd (1987) [33:49] London by Edward Rutherfurd (1998) [33:53] The Rebels of Ireland (The Dublin Saga, 2) by Edward Rutherfurd (2006) [34:19] Whistler by Ann Patchett (2026) [38:04] Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard (2011) [40:23] Some BIG Books That Felt Too Long Chrissie Ordinary Monsters (The Talents, 1) by J. M. Miro (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:39] Wellness by Nathan Hill (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:24] Sarah City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:39] The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (1986) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:51] Other Books Mentioned The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe (1987) [46:06] The Second Coming by Garth Risk Hallberg (2024) [48:05] Books From the Opening Discussion The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (1989) [9:24] The Brightness by Chad Harbach (October 27, 2026) [11:47] I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb (1998) [14:07] Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, 1) by Sarah J. Maas (2012) [14:51] Outlander (Outlander, 1) by Diana Gabaldon (1991) [19:05] 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin (2025) [22:12] Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry (1974) [22:19] Generations by Jean M. Twenge, PhD (2023) [22:26] Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (2026) [26:13] The Elements by John Boyne (2025) [29:08] A Court of Forgotten Memory (ACOTAR, 7) by Sarah J. Maas (January 12, 2027) [29:39] Other Links The Gilmore Guide to Books | Catherine's Review of Ordinary Monsters
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