Bryan's Big Books in 2022

Thanks John for setting up the Big Book Challenge for another year. This is my 9th year of these challenges and I am looking forward to some more big books in 2022.
I managed 34 books of 500 pages or more so would like to beat that, but no pressure.
Good luck to all of us Big Book readers !

Hi Bryan mate, hope that you had a good New Year.

Hi Bryan, Waiting patiently for the details. No pressure at all.

Happy New Year John and Connie, lets have a good year of big books !

1. Blood and Bone by Ian C. Esslemont, 845 p.

A Malazan fantasy series that I am completing this year, Assail is next.

2. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie, 570 p.

Second book in the First Law series, another series I am enjoying.

3. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, 639 p.

Doerr's new novel and an interesting tale where old, modern and future stories are brought together by an ancient story.

3 big books ; 2054 total pages ; 684 average pages.

4. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor, 616 p.

Last book of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, preferred her Strange the Dreamer series.

4 big books ; 2670 pages ; 667.5 average pages.

Hi Bryan mate, you have read more BFB's than i have read books of any size, so far this year. Keep it up mate.

Hi John, I've been on holidays for so far this year, with a couple of weeks to go so I'll be slowing down soon, but so far so good. I'll be reading a lot of fantasy this year and they tend to be big books which is good. Good luck with your own reading mate, cheers.

5. Fool's Errand by Robin Hobb, 584 p.

I am reading The Tawny Man and Fitz and the Fool trilogies this year, Robin Hobb's slower but engaging style is a nice change from the epic/grimdark type stories I have been reading.

5 big books ; 3254 total pages ; 651 average pages.

6. The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki, 548 p.

I really enjoyed her A Tale for the Time Being novel with its Zen wisdom, so I was looking forward to her new novel. This story continues the theme of ordinary people touching this timeless wisdom and I am a big fan.

6 big books ; 3802 total pages ; 633 average pages.

7. Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie, 671 p.

Finale of the First Law trilogy and a satisfying conclusion. I'll be reading the rest of Abercrombie's fantasy books, one a month or so, Best Served Cold next.

7 big books ; 4473 total pages ; 639 average pages.

8. Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames, 512 p.

Second book of the Band saga, I found it somewhat underwhelming, plenty of action and some funny one liners, but I had little interest in the characters or story .

8 big books ; 4985 total pages ; 623 average pages.

9. The Desolations of Devil's Acre by Ransom Riggs, 506 p.

The finale of the second trilogy of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series, an ok conclusion but the first trilogy was the strongest by far.

9 big books ; 5491 total pages ; 610 average pages.

Just started Robin Hobb's The Golden Fool, 632 pages, already enjoying the language and descriptions.
After that will be Assail, a Malazan novel at 778 pages.

10. The Golden Fool by Robin Hobb, 632 p.

Book 2 of The Tawny Man trilogy, enjoying Fitz and the Fool's story, looking forward to Fool's Fate next month.

Back at work tomorrow so the reading pace will unfortunately slow...

10 big books ; 6123 total pages ; 612 average pages.

11. Assail by Ian C. Esslemont, 778 p.

Final novel of The Malazan Empire and it has been quite a journey.
Not finished with the Malazan books, next is Esslemont's Malazan Empire : Path to Ascendancy trilogy, first up is Dancer's Lament, another big book at 542 pages.

11 big books ; 6901 total pages ; 627 average pages.

Coming up in March, Best Served Cold at 664 pages, Fool's Fate at 816 pages, Dancer's Lament at 542 pages, and Sidewinders at 657 pages, going to be a great reading month !

12. Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie, 664 p.

13. Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb, 805 p.

13 big books; 8370 total pages ; 643 average pages.

14. Dancer's Lament by Ian C. Esslemont, 524 p.

First in the Malazan 'Path to Ascendancy' series, next is Deadhouse Landing.

14 big books ; 8894 total pages ; 635 average pages.

15. Sidewinders by Robert V.S. Redick, 657 p.

Sidewinders is the most recent and second epic fantasy novel in Redick's Fire Sacraments trilogy.
Enjoying this well written and fascinating series.

15 big books ; 9551 total pages ; 637 average pages.

16. City of Lies by Sam Hawke, 560p.

Sam Hawke is an Australian author and City of Lies is her first published fantasy novel. This is a polished, intriguing and original story that I enjoyed from the first page. Highly recommended and I am keen to begin the sequel Hollow Empire soon.

16 big books ; 10,011 total pages ; 632 average pages.

17. The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie, 612 p.

Another First Law novel, this one wholly concerned with a single battle, truly epic !

18. Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb, 553 p.

First in the Rain Wild Chronicles, I have read not so good reviews of this series but I really enjoyed this first volume.

18 big books ; 11.276 total pages ; 626 average pages.

Next up is To Paradise, 708 pages.

19. To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara, 708 p.

To Paradise is an upcoming book club read, and I wasn't looking forward to it after the harrowing (but well written) A Little Life. However I was quickly captivated by the narrative which ends up being three distinct but loosely connected stories. Still thinking about it two days after finishing, unusual for me and happy to recommend this novel.

19 big books ; 11,984 total pages ; 631 average pages.

20. Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, 673 p.

A compelling novel of two women: Marian Graves who is fascinated by flight and is determined to circumnavigate the Earth, and the modern day actress Hadley Baxter who is cast to play Marian in a feature film about that flight. Highly recommended.

20 big books ; 12,657 total pages ; 633 average pages.

21. Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb, 570 p.

Second in the Rain Wild Chronicles series and again I am enjoying Robin Hobb's prose, characters and plot.

21 big books ; 13,227 total pages ; 630 average pages.

22. Hollow Empire by Sam Hawke, 559 p.

Sequel to the fantasy novel City of Lies, although I thought the ending was rushed, a satisfying conclusion to this political fantasy series.

22 big books ; 13,786 total pages ; 626 average pages.

23. The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne, 636 p.

Second and latest in the Bloodsworn trilogy, very enjoyable epic Viking type fantasy !

23 big books ; 14,422 total pages ; 627 average pages.

24. The Girl and the Moon by Mark Lawrence, 530p.

Third and finale of the Book of the Ice trilogy, an ok fantasy series but I found this book a disappointing and confusing conclusion that could have been a 100 pages shorter.

24 big books ; 14,952 total pages ; 623 average pages.

25. Twilight Robbery by Frances Hardinge, 524 p.

Sequel to Fly by Night and a fun continuation of the unlikely adventures of Mosca, Eponymous and the homicidal goose Saracen.

25 big books ; 15,476 total pages ; 619 average pages.

School holidays and my big read is The Books of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, 1000ish pages. I am reading 40ish pages a day and enjoying Ursula's descriptions and depth of story.

26. The Books of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, 1008 p.

A collection of all of Le Guin's writings on Earthsea, together with her comments, just a beautifully written and wise story.

26 big books ; 16,484 total pages ; 634 average pages.

27. Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb, 535 p.

Final in the Rain Wild Chronicles series, a good ending to an intriguing saga.

27 big books ; 17,019 total pages ; 630 average pages.

28. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell, 679 p.

Almost finished before the author's sudden death in 1865, this is a detailed and absorbing story of community life in country England.

28 big books ; 17,698 total pages ; 632 average pages.

29. Half a War by Joe Abercrombie, 500 p.

Final in the Shattered Seas grimdark fantasy trilogy, enjoyed the series, his more recent Age of Madness trilogy is his best work IMO.

29 big books ; 18,198 total pages ; 627.5 average pages.

Hi Bryan, you have read a lot of BFBs this year. And a lot of them are on my favourites list.

Hi Connie, good to see we have similar tastes in reading, I see you have been reading the Christelle Dabos books, I enjoyed the first two and would like to read the next two soon, hopefully before the end of 2022, hope you and family are going well, regards

30. Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb, 630 p.

First in the Fitz and the Fool trilogy, good to get back to Fitz's world.

31. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers, 805 p.

Gripping historical fictional story of racism in the US.

31 big books ; 19,672 total pages ; 635 average pages.

32. A Time of Courage by John Gwynne, 648 p.

Last in the Blood and Bone trilogy, satisfying conclusion to the epic fantasy series.

33. Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen, 580 p.

Enjoyed this modern fiction look at American life in the early 1970s.

33 big books ; 20,900 total pages ; 633 average pages.

>38 bryanoz: Hi, I loved the Dabos books, but I have to wait for the translation of part 4. It will happen soon though, so I won't have to wait too long.

>41 connie53: Hi Connie, it will be interesting to see what she writes next.

34. Fool's Quest by Robin Hobb, 739 p.

Penultimate volume in the long Farseer Chronicles, will read the final Assassin's Fate in the next 2 weeks and really looking forward to it !

34 big books ; 21,639 total pages ; 636 average pages.

>42 bryanoz: Certainly. I'm very interested to see what she will come up with.

35. Perdido Street Station by China Mieville, 710 p.

Reread for me as it is the first of his New Crobuzon trilogy which I want to read, Mieville is perhaps the premier 'weird fantasy' author and I really enjoy his works.

35 big books ; 22,349 total pages ; 638.5 average pages.

36. Assassin's Fate, by Robin Hobb, 853 p.

Finale of the Realm of the Elderlings series, 16 books in all, and a satisfying conclusion. It isn't a nice, main characters live happily ever after so be warned !

36 big books ; 23,202 total pages ; 644.5 average pages.

>46 bryanoz:, Hi Bryan mate, fantastic reading effort so far, 25k pages is begging to be reached.

Hi John, thanks for the encouragement, some more big books to come this year so 25k will be surpassed!
Hope you and family are going well, are you following the T20 world cup, England and India will be hard to beat, NZ look good after thumping us the other night..
Happy reading mate !

>48 bryanoz:, Hi Mate, we are both fine despite all the politcal upheaval that is going on at the moment. I am keeping an eye on the T20 World Cup and listening to commentary on the radio, one or two upsets so far have made it interesting. England are down as one of the favourites but i would place India and NZ as ones to watch with a number of dark horses, England, Pakistan, Australia and South Africa as long as they don't bottle it.

Keep on reading mate and best wishes to you and the family mate.

37. Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann, 736 p.

Long 1947 classic novel about a brilliant musical prodigy and his downfall, I think it is more for those with a classical music interest, didn't grip me.

37 big books ; 23,938 total pages ; 647 average pages.

38. Fairy Tale by Stephen King, 599 p.

Latest Stephen King novel, more of a young adult fantasy with many salutes to classic horror stories and fairy tales, an entertaining read.

38 big books ; 24,537 total pages ; 646 average pages.

39. Baudolino by Umberto Eco, 522p.

40. The Scar by China Mieville, 604p.

His follow-up to Perdido Street Station, similarly weird but premise and characters not so memorable.

40 big books ; 25,663 total pages ; 641.5 average pages.

41. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, 548p.

Kingsolver's modern homage to David Copperfield, we follow the life of an orphan with a tough life, a difficult read at times but beautifully written and ultimately uplifting.

41 big books ; 26,211 total pages ; 639 average pages.

42. Iron Council by China Mieville, 614 p.

The first novel of the New Crobuzon trilogy Perdido Street Station was a weird and fascinating fantasy novel. Sadly for me the sequels The Scar and Iron Council were nowhere near as engaging.

42 big books ; 26,825 total pages ; 639 average pages.

I should be able to sneak one more big book in by the end of the year, good luck to you if you are attempting the same !

Well done Bryan, mate. Forty-two BFB's with the possibility of one more is very impressive. My BFB's has been poor but then again so has my reading year but i feel very energised for 2023 and have a number of big ones that i really want to read. After last year's impressive BFB reading numbers, this year was always going to be a challenge but 176 so far is not to be sniffed at.

That is amazing! Great achievement for 2022.

Thanks John and Jayne, they keep printing the big books so we will have to keep reading them !
Good luck and happy reading for all of us next year !

Merry Christmas

Thanks John, hope you and family had a jolly time !

43. The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway, 650 p.

Im not the biggest Hemingway fan but I enjoyed quite a few of these stories, themes included big game hunting, fishing, war, bull fighting, boxing and plenty more masculine activities.

43 big books ; 27,475 total pages ; 639 average pages.

This is my final big read for 2022, I'm quite happy with the result, my next big book is The Complete Sherlock Holmes at over 1000 pages, but that is a topic for 2023.

2023 Challenge has been set up, go to groups and set yourself up for another year of BFB's.

Thanks John, cheers

>62 bryanoz:, No problem mate, see you in 2023 for another year of the BIG ONES.

Happy New Year