The Big Books Tag

[@secretbookcase3082]

Glad to have you back. I love the idea of big books and have quite a few sitting on my shelves, but in reality I rarely get to them. Turns out that waiting for the ideal time in fact means never taking the time!

[@rominapalacios1745]

The Count of Monte Cristo, also a chunky book and so so unique !

[@srz9830]

I’m so happy you read my all time favourite book - Gone with the Wind! I when I was like 15? I found it so slow in the beginning, and quite intimidating as a 15 year old so I gave up. However, I remember when I picked it up again, started from the beginning and I was so gripped, that I didn’t sleep until 5am or 6am every night until I finished it! I was also in school and I’m pretty sure my grades were shitty during that period haha. To this day, nothing has really come close for me but that book opened up so many doors to new interests such as Classic Hollywood films (I watched the movie when I finished and yes...GWTW is also my all time favourite movie!), my interest in American history/politics and also my addiction to buying big books. GWTW changed my life in a lot of ways and I’m just so happy someone else appreciates it. Stay safe and keep going with the recommendations! I literally add almost every suggestion you have to my goodreads haha ☺️🙏🏼

[@RickMacDonnell]

Oh my god, Gone With the Wind at 15 years old? That's so ambitious :P I know I wouldn't have been ready for the book at that time. That's awesome that you picked it up again later, especially considering how much you now love it. This was such a lovely comment, thanks for leaving it. And sorry about the delay in responding! I somehow missed this one.

[@renepierre9074]

Oh my, I know this much is true sounds incredible! I've never heard of that title or the author! Thanks for bringing it to my attention ;) The Crimson Petal and the White has been on my shelf for so long, that's my rainy day book for sure. It sounds so great. I remember talking about 4321 in a book haul at some point and really struggling to explain it! that's another book on my shelf I haven't read. I seem to love the idea of big books but haven't gotten to many, that's down to commitment issues I think. Anyway, great to see you back! hope you and the people around you are all well!

[@RickMacDonnell]

Rene Pierre Jeez Rene, you gotta get on the Lamb! She’s Come Undone is a much shorter book of his, but also great. Maybe you and Jasmin and I can have a Crimson Petal buddy read some day 😄

[@michaelmcgee335]

Loved Gone with the Wind.

[@traceymills1628]

Welcome back! I was actually trying to find my copy of Wally Lamb last night. I remember loving it too when it came out. I am reaching for rereads at the moment so I really want to read it again before I watch the TV Series. I have short hair that is dyed and I am still working. I don’t know how I am going to face going out in public in a few weeks!

[@RickMacDonnell]

The one saving grace of my hair being potential cut by an amateur is that no one will have to see it. AKA hats on Booktube from here on out :P

[@jessaboutbooks7799]

Hallelujah you're back, my TBR was thinning

[@RickMacDonnell]

Jess About Books These ones are big enough to fill it out a bit LOL (and hello again! 👋🏻)

[@JuanReads]

It's so good to have you back, Rick! I also love big books... ;)

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

I Know This Much is True is an over 900 pages book that I began to reread immediately upon finishing. Absolutely love it!!!

[@RickMacDonnell]

Have you watched the HBO series yet?

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Rick MacDonnell I haven’t even though I love Paul Rudd. I’ve heard good reviews.

[@questioneverything55]

I read Hunger's Brides not long after it came out and was an interesting read.

[@RickMacDonnell]

You’re the first person I’ve seen whose read it! That’s fun. Glad you liked it!

[@questioneverything55]

@@RickMacDonnell For some reason it did not become very popular. I don't if at the time it was because of the size, marketing, or maybe people were not interested in the story line of Sor Juana. I know I enjoyed it. I have read quite a few of the books you listed. big fan of Shogun as well as the other 5 Novels by Clavell. I am surprised you did not have Proust's In Search of Lost Time which is quite epic. The list of good books is endless

[@RickMacDonnell]

@@questioneverything55 Proust is a bucket list read for sure but I somehow doubt I’ll ever have the courage to tackle it

[@ReadsWithKesara]

I haven't read any Tad Williams yet, but I'm planning on picking up The Dragon Bone Chair later this year. This is such a fun tag. I really want to do it now. 💕

[@RickMacDonnell]

Yes, on both fronts! Dragonbone Chair is the reason I said that I Know This Much is True is "probably" my favourite book. Dragonbone is in a virtual tie with it. Love that series so much. And do the tag! It was definitely a lot of fun.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Im reading 1Q84 in May and June with friends. I added that Wally Lamb book to my TBR!

[@RickMacDonnell]

Very shrewd move to plan to read it over a two-month span. You'll probably need it :P And yay to the Lamb! It's so good! (Especially if you like sibling content in your reading)

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

@@RickMacDonnell yeah considering I've got more reading to do on top of that. Lol. I read She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb so I'm happy to look into this one.

[@GuiltyFeat]

Did you ever read The Instructions? It's a much quicker read than it looks. It's a breezier, Jewish version of Infinite Jest. The Crimson Petal and the White also moves along at a fair clip. I was surprised not to see Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy on here. It's around 1400 pages long and fabulous.

[@RickMacDonnell]

Ha, I just made a video about big books I’m reading in 2021 and The Instructions is in those plans 😊 I read Crimson Petal in October and liked it a lot!

[@yvettem.holland5072]

Hello Rick, I just found your channel, and I love your videos.

[@RickMacDonnell]

Hi Yvette! That's such a sweet thing to say, thanks so much. Truly, that's very much appreciated. Made my day. Don't be a stranger :)

[@yvettem.holland5072]

@@RickMacDonnell I won't 😊

[@BookishTexan]

Good to have you back. Big books indeed

[@RickMacDonnell]

Bookish Thanks, Brian! But how big is tooooo big. I’m starting to wonder haha

[@nikkivenable3700]

@@RickMacDonnell My husband tells me there's no such thing as tooooo big.

[@JasmineReads]

Hi Rick!! So nice to see you. I almost made the big books joke when I filmed this tag, as well. I stopped myself. Possibly the wiser choice. (Hope you're doing well!)

[@RickMacDonnell]

Yes, life is all good! Nice to see you, too. Congrats on your restraint, haha. Thanks for doing the tag, this was fun :)

[@Flopinator-gc8sg]

Great video!

[@RickMacDonnell]

Thanks! Very appreciated :)

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I read Shogun when I was a teenager and loved it. But yeah, someone should write two more pages to tip it over the 1000 page mark. 😂

[@RickMacDonnell]

Eric Karl Anderson A thousand page book as a teenager? You were more ambitious than I was 😂

[@LauraFreyReadinginBed]

Somehow I was unsubscribed to your channel?? I'll blame my kids. Please read The Crimson Petal and the White. I read it so long ago, when it first came out, but a couple of scenes I remember very vividly. Sugar is an unforgettable character. I also loved reading W&P, I miss my readalongs!!

[@RickMacDonnell]

Yeah I laughed pretty hard when I saw the re-subscribe email come through this morning LOL. Whatever, weird things happen! I've discovered a few other people who are quasi-planning to read Crimson Petal so maybe I'll make a buddy read out of it. You should think about another summer readalong on your blog! It's been a while :) Oh, and I'm reading Count of Monte Cristo right now, actually. Loving it so far.

[@CookieR1272]

Hunger’s Bride has been staring at me for years, unread, taunting me.

[@RickMacDonnell]

You're the first person I've run into who actually knows what this book is so at least that's something! :D

[@CookieR1272]

Rick MacDonnell I’m full of useless knowledge! 😂

[@Maren617]

Yay, you're back! :-) Just talk about whatever you want no matter if it's Canadian or not. Who cares about nationality when the whole world is in the same boat anyway?

[@RickMacDonnell]

Evamaren This is exactly right 😊

[@reginalemoine5809]

I love big books, too. I’ve read I Know This Much is True, A Little Life, Gone With the Wind, IQ84, War and Peace, and The Crimson Petal and the White. Some others I’ve read: Ulysses, In Search of Lost Time, A Suitable Boy, Middlemarch, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, 2666, Ducks, Newburyport, Clarissa, Lord of the Rings (it’s one book!), and I’m sure others that aren’t coming to mind right now. I am currently reading Moby Dick. I have 4321, The Instructions, and Infinite Jest, but haven’t read them yet. Infinite Jest is probably my white whale. I’ve started it several times, but haven’t ever gotten past the first few chapters. Since you like the concept of 4321, I’d recommend Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. I read that recently and it’s absolutely one of the best books I’ve ever read. Version Control by Dexter Palmer has a similar theme, but comes at its subject matter in a more overt quantum reality framework.

[@RickMacDonnell]

I was tempted to put Infinite Jest on my list (the TBR side) but I figured that others have talked about it already so I thought I'd skip it for now. But I'm the same, it's definitely a white whale of mine. Thanks for the Life After Life recommendation. I was a bit underwhelmed with Transcription a few years back, but Life After Life always seemed like the book I'd like the most. I should definitely give it a try.

[@14sakuya26]

Haha, when you said your hair was getting long in April.. Try 4 months later in the 1st of August in California, where the pandemic is still going strong : )))

[@JessicaReadsThings]

Hey did you read Otherland by Tad Williams? I never see people talk about it and I've never finished the series, but always was loving it when I was reading it...just curious.

[@RickMacDonnell]

I have a really hard time finishing series (chronic start-over-again disease) so I have never actually finished it. Despite absolutely loving Tad Williams and loving Otherland. It's one of my greatest shames.

[@JessicaReadsThings]

Rick MacDonnell I feel weirdly validated by this. I think I’ve made it most of the way through the third book and then I lose it again. I’ve tried so many times and start from the beginning every single time. Ungh.

[@insertbookpunhere]

I love big books but I feel like the damn Goodreads challenge ruined me for big books. I don't even make one anymore but I still feel like a failure if I'm not reading least one book a week smh Talking about books you haven't read yet sucks. I don't understand how people make monthly tbr videos because how do you make that compelling? A+ hair content, btw

[@RickMacDonnell]

insert book pun here This issue around big books is one of the reasons I stopped doing the Goodreads challenge. I stopped reading big books for years because it slowed me down, which I hated. We are pathetic little creatures, us internet readers 😄 I feel like TBR videos could be like 90 seconds long. Hold up the books you want to read, let people know, and if they have anything to say they can comment LOL Done

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Weight lifting with books 📚 Good home workout 🏋️‍♀️

[@RickMacDonnell]

I have to trick myself into getting in better shape somehow

[@gregmcknight5183]

You're cute