Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Reading challenges make it easy to put off larger books in favor of shorter reads that will keep you on track. This week, we are expanding our horizons and reading a book that is 400-600 pages. For some people, this may be much larger than they are used to. For others, this will be a piece of cake. Go through your TBR and find a book that is just the right length!

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Suggestions:
If you're stumped on what to read, you can use your TBR! Go to your To Read shelf. Click Settings, then check the box by Num. Pages. Hit the "Save Current Settings to Your Shelf" button, then sort by page number! This will give you a listing of page numbers for each book on your TBR. Note: This page number only applies to the edition you shelved and may differ from the book you actually read.

Use the following links below as a jumping off point, but definitely check your edition to make sure the page numbers are correct.

Books Shelved on GR as 400 Pages
Books Shelved on GR as 400-500 Pages
Books Shelved on GR as Over 400 Pages
Books Shelved on GR as 500 Pages
Books Shelved on GR as 500-600 Pages
Books Shelved on GR as Over 500 Pages
Books Shelved on GR as 600 Pages

BookRiot's 50 Must-Read Over 500 Pages
Modern Mrs. Darcy's 17 Big Fat Books to Read

The ATY 500+ Club Thread
ATY Group Listopia

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Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
2. How many pages is it?
3. Do you normally read books that are this length?

I'm going to read The Fiery Cross for this one, which is 1,443 pages! Haha...no, I read one Outlander book a year and that's definitely longer than my typical 300+ page thrillers.

I have tons of books on my tbr shelf that fall into this zone. Mainly because I tend to pass them over in favor of shorter books that I can get through more quickly. For anybody else who doesn't care for long, time-consuming books, here are some recommendations:

The Secret History: It's not going to be everybody's cup of tea, but it does keep you flipping the pages to find out what's going to happen.

On a Sunbeam: graphic novel that is set in space, but is mostly about lesbian childhood sweethearts getting back together

Magpie Murders: murder mystery within a murder mystery that goes by very quickly

The Alienist: very pacey historical mystery

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle: yeah, ok, obviously I'm a murder mystery fan, but honestly this is awesome

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1: another graphic novel; this one centers around a lonely girl who is slowly uncovering her neighbor's history while coming to terms with changes in her family. The sequel comes out next year and I'm so looking forward to it!!

Dana wrote: "I'm going to read The Fiery Cross for this one, which is 1,443 pages! Haha...no, I read one Outlander book a year and that's definitely longer than my typical 300+ page thrillers."

Dana, the prompt is a range of 400 to 600 pages. Your choice is well beyond the range. It would have worked this year, though, with our 500+ pages prompt!

Jackie wrote: "My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1: another graphic novel; this one centers around a lonely girl who is slowly uncovering her neighbor's history while coming to terms with changes in her family. The sequel comes out next year and I'm so looking forward to it!!..."

I was wondering what had happened to volume two! It kept showing as published but out of stock here but happy to know I will be able to get it next year.

Ellie wrote: "Jackie wrote: "My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1: another graphic novel; this one centers around a lonely girl who is slowly uncovering her neighbor's history while coming to terms with changes..."

Its publication date got pushed back a couple times I think. She does all the writing and illustrating and lettering and all of it, so I imagine it takes a lot longer than a normal graphic novel where they split up those jobs.

My tentative plan is to read Small Favor by Jim Butcher. I own it, and I'd like a good chunk of my list to be books I already own.

I read a lot of books this length, though, so this one could change.

It's funny, cos my sweet spot with books is between 300-400 pages...but I have loads of choices for this prompt! A snapshot of my physical/Kindle shelf options...


All This I Will Give to You
Half of a Yellow Sun
Her Fearful Symmetry
Moranifesto
Philomena: The Poignant True Story of a Mother and the Son She Had to Give Away
Rebecca
Small Great Things
The Broken Circle: A Memoir of Escaping Afghanistan
The Great Believers
The Murmur of Bees
The Storyteller's Secret
Water for Elephants
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

Just finished - started in 2019 but finished today - A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts. The paperback has 540pp. I enjoyed the book. My full review is on my GR page sssnoo reads.

My average book length per GR stats is about 310, but I usually read a few 600 page plus books each year. Last year I wanted to complete 200 books and I did include one over 800 pp but this goal dissuaded me from choosing long over shorter books. A goal this year is to pay less attention to the number of books and say “yes” to long books.

I'm reading 'Angels of Mercy' by Lyn Andrews. It's 422 pages long, I do like reading long books if they gave a good story. This one I am really enjoying.

1. What are you reading for this category?

I just finished The Starless Sea and am using it here.

2. How many pages is it?

Goodreads says 512 but the actual story part is 494.

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
I feel like lately, I have been reading a lot of books close to 500 pages but my averages tend to fall closer to 350.

1. What are you reading for this category?
I read Special Deceptions by M.L Ryan

2. How many pages is it?
Just fits in at 408.

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
I read all over the place, from 200 pages to 900 (that's next on my TBR list after I get through the series I'm currently on).

1. What are you reading for this category?
Muse of Nightmares

2. How many pages is it?
513 pages in my copy

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
Quite a few of the books that I read fall into this range. The majority are between 300 - 450 pages, but about a quarter or so of the books I read last year were 450 pages or more.

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

I've read his books before. They are all long but hold attention. Deep character development.

1. What are you reading for this category?
2. How many pages is it? 469 pages
3. Do you normally read books that are this length? According to my 2019 Year in Books, my average length is 319 pages.

I read Dorothy Dunnett, The Disorderly Knights for this category (502 pp.); the third of the Lymond Chronicles, and even better than the (excellent) first two.

I like nothing better than to sink into hefty read.

1. What are you reading for this category?
The Woman in the Window

2. How many pages is it?
455 pages.

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
Often. I try to mix up my reading and read a bit of everything.

1. What are you reading for this category?

From Holmes to Sherlock: The Story of the Men and Women Who Created an Icon

2. How many pages is it?

597 pages

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?

No, my average book is about 300-350 pages.

1. What are you reading for this category?
The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon, a non-fiction and it's quite good so far.

2. How many pages is it?
576 pages

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
Kind of. Not frequently, but I do read a few books of this length almost every year. If it's a great fantasy book, I say the more pages the better. [edit] My 2019 Year in Books says my average length book for that year was 408 pages so I guess this is kind of a normal thing.

What book are you reading this week?
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

How many pages?
460 pages

1.What are you reading for this category?

'A Curse so Dark and Lonely' by Brigid Kemmerer

2.How many pages is it?

484 apparently. I'm not sure how many actual pages of story though, as I read it in eBook format.

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?

Yes. Most of my books are of this length. I just chose this one, because this was one of the first books I read this year and it happened to meet the prompt.

I was having trouble picking out a book for this prompt since I'm reading in order. All the books I want to read right now are either, a little to short or a little too long, ~350 pages or ~650 pages. Then, I realized that I could borrow Long Bright River (kindle edition is 492 pages) from my mom.

1. What are you reading for this challenge? My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

2. How many pages? 447

3. Do you normally read books this long? I usually read 1-2 a year. I’ve already read Letters to Julia, which is 835 pages.

1. What are you reading for this category?
The Rotters' Club by Jonathan Coe
2. How many pages is it?
415
3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
Usually, I read books that are shorter. Just over 400 is not bad. Over 500, starts to get long for me.

1. What are you reading for this category?
Lake Silence by Anne Bishop

2. How many pages is it?
433 pages

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
This was my 4th book over 400 pages this year and I have planned to read at least 30 books over 400 pages this year.

What are you reading for this category?
I read Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

How many pages is it?
411

Do you normally read books that are this length?
I read shorter books more often than longer ones, but I do read a number over the year of longer ones

1. What are you reading for this category?
I read The Sound of Glass by Karen White
2. How many pages is it?
432

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
Approximately. Less so getting up towards 600. I will usually listen to books that are that long.

1. What are you reading for this category? Little Women
2. How many pages is it? I am listening to the Audiobook but goodreads shows 449 and amazon shows 464.
3. Do you normally read books that are this length? Seems like most of the books I read are in the 300-400 page range.

MN wrote: "I read Dorothy Dunnett, The Disorderly Knights for this category (502 pp.); the third of the Lymond Chronicles, and even better than the (excellent) first two.

I like nothing better than to sink ..."

That is a wonderful series! I think more people should know it, including any Game of Thrones fans. It's very similar except for not being magical (although lots of things seem magical before you find out what's really going on.) It's not for the impatient reader, as there are tons of details and historical events thrown in without much explanation.

I read lots of long books so this isn't a problem for me. I am less likely to read books under 200 pages and especially unlikely to purchase them since I feel like I don't get "enough for my money".

1. What are you reading for this category?
Seabiscuit: An American Legend

2. How many pages is it? 457

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
It is not unusual for me to read books this length.

I read The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn, which was 427 pages. I often read books this length.

Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
As Chimney Sweepers Come To Dust

2. How many pages is it?
416

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?

I would have said yes at the beginning of the challenge but it has taken me a while to find one to fit this category maybe 3 - 500 is my norm

1. What are you reading for this category?
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
2. How many pages is it?
421
3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
Probably slightly less, most of my books have a page count somewhere in the 300s. I usually end up with a couple that are over 500 pages by the end of the year though.

I read Lighter Than My Shadow, a graphic novel. It was excellent and very thought provoking. But if you consider that "cheating", I also read The Fiery Cross, 1456 pages, but decided to attribute that book to a different week in this challenge.
I do tend to read several books a year that are on the long side, but most are under 400 pages.

1. What are you reading for this category?
I am reading The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer

2. How many pages is it?
It is 521 pages long

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
No, I generally read books that are between 300 and 400 pages long. Anything more is generally a little bit too much for me to be honest, although I wouldn't pass up a book just because it was 400+ pages long

I am reading If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood

It is 410 pages.

I don't have a preference on how many pages a book is when I choose to read it.

Emily wrote: "Reading challenges make it easy to put off larger books in favor of shorter reads that will keep you on track. This week, we are expanding our horizons and reading a book that is 400-600 pages. For..."

I just finished Middlegame by Sean McGuire, which is 528 pages. Normally I don't read books that long, however, this book was so good that I read it in 4 days. Loved it.

I read The Binding, at 437 pages. LOVED the first section, but it lost momentum for me about halfway through.
I think most books I read tend to be between 350-450 pages, although I notice I have a really good mix of long and short on my plans this year, which works out well for me, and wasn't intentional.

I read Without Fail by Lee Child. It was 549 pages, and checking my spreadsheet it was one of 25 books I've got planned for this year that fall between 400 and 600 pages, so this was definitely a normal length for me.

1. What are you reading for this category? I read The Huntress by Kate Quinn

2. How many pages is it? 560

3. Do you normally read books that are this length? I think the average length of my books is 300 - 350.

1. What are you reading for this category?
I've just finished Misión Olvido (there is an English translation titled The Heart has its Reasons) by María Dueñas
2. How many pages is it?
512
3. Do you normally read books that are this length?
I do if it's been recommended by a friend or if it's by an author I've enjoyed in the past. On the whole I prefer books between 200-350 words. Longer sometimes (although not always) means the editing could have been better.

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Finished! Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them; the title of this 416-pager grabbed me and it then sat on my tbr for ages. I enjoyed it, but I probably would still have enjoyed it if it was only 316 pages. I've become increasingly unwilling to pick up books over 400 pages, and if I see a book has 500+, 600+, 700+ there's a good chance it won't even make it to my tbr.

What are you reading for this category? Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran
How many pages is it? 448
Do you normally read books that are this length? This is in the upper-limit of what I usually go for.


I suppose I need to start this with a disclaimer that I fookin' love Caitlin Moran. I love her writing, I loved Raised by Wolves, I love listening to her speak. She isn't perfect, and she comes at feminism from her own place of experience, but unlike others I don't mark her down for those things. She doesn't pretend to be the all-knowing and she is very evidently trying and evolving. And as she rightly also points out in this book (not about herself), no one woman can represent all women, no one oppressed person can represent all oppressed people. She is speaking for and as a white, mid-life, working class woman from Wolverhampton. That should be enough of a place to start from.

“It’s amazing to me that it’s still considered a notable, commendable trait –‘Oh, she’s a well-known feminist’ – in a woman, or a girl, or a man, or a boy. That that is the unusual thing. Really, it should be the reverse. Rather than what seems like a minority having to spend time, energy, brain and heart explaining why they’re ‘into’ equality, the majority should be explaining why they’re not."

Anyway, on to the book, which is a mix of pieces she's written for the Times and others written for this book. I didn't read it when it first came out, so some of the things she discusses (David Cameron being the current PM, the 2012 Olympics, Louis CK being a person you want to include in feminist writing...eww, etc) aren't current, which dates it a little. But I often find that with books of this type, it's the nature of the beast. Look beyond that, and you find a really funny display of awareness, intelligence and honesty thinly veiled in pieces as diverse as a day spent with Benedict Cumberbatch, the Bedroom Tax, tv reviews and abortion. She can be at turns facetious, earnest, passionate or touching, but always with a warmth and hilarity which made this a total joy to read.

I read A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I have no idea what took me so long to read this - I LOVED it! One of my all time favorite characters in Count Rostov.

This one was 466 pages. I usually like books this length as long as they have a good editor.

What are you reading for this category? The Desert Spear
How many pages is it? 598 (my edition was 620 but I default to what GR says so that I can keep track easier)
Do you normally read books that are this length? Yep. Long books are my jam.

I read The Great Alone. It was 545 pages which is an average length for me.

1. What are you reading for this category? How many pages is it?

Reg: The Innocent by David Baldacci (422 pgs)
ABC: Mattimeo by Brian Jacques (432 pgs)

3. Do you normally read books that are this length?

This isat the top of my average for the books I read. While I do not shy away from longer books, the author's I read are just generally in this range.
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1. What are you reading for this category? One with You
2. How many pages is it? 462
3. Do you normally read books that are this length? Lately my books have been around 350 pages long. I've only read two so far this year that were longer than 400 pages. That has somewhat been intentional. I haven't wanted to get stuck in a long book lately.

Joan wrote: "1. What are you reading for this category? One with You
.."

I loved this series!! I really need to get around to reading this one, I've had it on my kindle since it released. I pre-ordered it :-)

Tracy wrote: "Joan wrote: "1. What are you reading for this category? One with You
.."

I loved this series!! I really need to get around to reading this one, I've had it on my kindle since it re..."

That's funny because I think I've had the book for like 4 years - about the time it came out as well!