John's 2023 BIG FAT BOOKS

I am hoping to get into double figures this year with my BFB's after a lean 2022.

Thanks for setting us up, John, and good luck with your BFBs in 2023!

Hi John. It's good to be back with the BFB-ers. Thanks for the work you put into this group.

>3 connie53:, Hi Connie, i enjoy doing it and it doesn't take long to get everything set-up, i just hope you and the rest of this merry band enjoy it.

I second that--thank you for organizing this group!

>5 Tess_W:, Thanks Tess my dear.

I just love Big Books, these are my 1000+page reads so far with more to add.

1.Shogun by James Clavell, 1243 pgs
2.Gai-Jin by James Clavell, 1578 pgs
3.Noble House by James Clavell, 1435 pgs
4.War & Remembrance by Herman Wouk, 1171 pgs
5.Whirlwind by James Clavell, 1343 pgs
6.Centennial by James A. Michener 1100 pgs
7.The Covenant by James A. Michener, 1080 pgs
8.Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd, 1344 pgs
9.Homeland by John Jakes, 1138 pgs
10.Russka by Edward Rutherfurd, 1007 pgs
11.A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, 1474 pgs
12.Love and War by John Jakes, 1019 pgs
13.Texas by James A. Michener, 1508 pgs
14.My Life by Bill Clinton, 1000 pgs
15.Child of the Phoenix by Barbara Erskine, 1086 pgs
16.Voyager by Diana Gabaldon, 1059 pgs
17.The Journeyer by Gary Jennings, 1219 pgs
18.Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton, 1144 pgs
19.Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton, 1235 pgs
20.Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, 1185 pgs
21.Wicked by Jilly Cooper, 1007 pgs
22.The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, 1412 pgs
23.London by Edward Rutherfurd, 1299 pgs
24.The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, 1076 pgs
25.A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon, 1391 pgs
26.World Without End by Ken Follett, 1111 pgs
27.Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, 1,015 pgs
28.The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer, 1,056 pgs
29.An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon, 1,065 pgs
30.New York by Edward Rutherfurd, 1017 pgs
31.Hawaii by James A.Michener, 1130 pgs
32.The Company by Robert Littell, 1281 pgs
33.The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F.Hamilton, 1225 pgs
34.Spangle by Gary Jennings, 1276 pgs
35.Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, 1024 pgs
36.Alaska by James A. Michener, 1073 pgs.
37.Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson, 1180 pgs.
38.Chesapeake by James A. Michener, 1132 pgs
39. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster, 1070 pgs.
40. The Wheel of Fortune by Susan Howatch, 1156 pgs.
41. The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton, 1259 pgs.
42. The Naked God by Peter F. Hamilton, 1244 pgs.
43. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, 1104 pgs.
44. The Source by James A. Michener, 1032 pgs.
45. Against The Day by Thomas Pynchon, 1220 pgs.
46. The Stand by Stephen King, 1325 pgs.
47. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, 1006 pgs.
48. Harlot's Ghost by Norman Mailer, 1401 pgs.
49. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, 1073 pgs.

Finished my first BFB yesterday afternoon, Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, 1073 pgs.

Great work John, I have only read 8 of your formidable list.

>8 johnsimpson: Congrats, John, on your first BFB! I've only read Gone with the Wind from your list. I do have The Forsyte Saga on the TBR; maybe this is the year. I'm determined to read To Serve Them All My Days this year.

>8 johnsimpson: Oh my, her Cormoran Strike books are getting fatter and fatter, aren't they? This is intimidating. Congrats on finishing it!

I've read a few from your list, and I gave up on Gary Jennings after reading Spangle and Raptor. Way too many gruesome details, there's a horrifying accident in Spangle which I am reminded of every time I watch certain circus acts.

>9 bryanoz:, Hi Bryan mate, looks like you have lots of BIG ones to go at over the next few years. I am trying to decide what to read for the 50th, i have at least ten to choose from i think.

>10 kac522:, Hi Kathy my dear, only one on the list read, this leaves you with lots to have a go at over the coming years, lol.

>11 MissWatson:, Hi Birgit my dear, the Strike books are getting fatter and fatter, the latest one is 1,024 pages in hardback so it's likely to be another for my BIG book list when it comes out in paperback. I haven't read Raptor by Gary Jennings but i will look out for it.

Finished my second BFB for the year, last night, Worth Dying For by Lee Child, PB - 511 pages.

Total Books - 2, Total Pages - 1584, Avg Length - 792 pages.

John, I see we have a couple of unnumbered books on the main list, and you have not added this one. I'd like to add mine, but don't want to until you've done yours.

I notice that the person who added those 2 books is someone who has no data in the LT system, except that he joined on Feb 21, 2023. Seems weird.

>16 kac522:, Hi Kathy my dear, it does seem weird that the books have been added, i need to check a bit more.

Finished my third BFB late last night, Reckless by Andrew Gross, PB - 519 pages.

Total Books - 3, Total Pages - 2103, Avg length - 701 pages.

Finished my Fourth BFB late last night, The Spellsong War by L.E. Modesitt jr, PB - 656 pages.

Total Books - 4, Total pages - 2759 pages, Avg Length - 689.75 pages.

I finished my fifth BFB late last night, Sycamore Row by John Grisham, PB - 516 pages.

Total Books - 5, Total Pages - 3275 pages, Avg Length - 655 pages.

I finished my sixth BFB last week, The Affair by Lee Child, PB - 526 pages.

Toatl Books - 6, Total Pages - 3,801, Avg Length - 633.5 pages.

Currently reading Exile by Richard North Patterson, PB - 699 pages.

Finished my 7th BFB on the 21st August, Exile by Richard North Patterson, PB - 699 pages.

Total Books - 7, Total Pages - 4,500, Avg Length - 642.86 pages.

Finished my 8th BFB on 21st November, Making Hay by Veronica Henry, PB - 512 pages.

Total Books - 8, Total Pages - 5,012, Avg Length - 626.5 pages.

Well done John, hope you and family have a great Christmas!

>24 bryanoz:, Hi Bryan mate, it has been a poor year on the reading front for me and the last two months have been hectic and traumatic and still not settled down yet. You have had a stupendous reading year on here mate with time to add to it. I would like to match those sort of numbers so you have set the bar for us all, it won't be next year with so much going on at the moment and i will be away for two weeks in the sun celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary, i will have reading matter but how much will be done is a different matter.

Have a great Christmas mate and all the family, always nice to have these chats with you Bryan and remember it's the Ashes next winter so lots for us to chat about.

>25 johnsimpson: Just want to second John's congratulations on a fantastic BFB year for you, Brian! Keep up the great reading!

Hi John, life does get in the way of reading sometimes but the books will be waiting for when we have time. Congrats on 40 years of wedded bliss!
Ashes next year, will be interesting to see if you guys will still be Bazz-Balling, I'm not sure it is always the best strategy but it is always exciting!
Cheers mate and happy holidays!

Hi Kathy, thanks for your kind words, I had lost track of your reading, probably because I haven't been following the 75 book challenge, you have also had a great reading year and I will be keeping a closer look from now on, happy reading and Merry Christmas!