Looking for a substantial literary novel to get lost in

Wouldn’t wish the Museum of Innocence on anyone. Halfway through it now and determined to finish because I assume, like horrible-tasting medicine, 500 pages of Pamuk might be good for me. But almost tearful with boredom. Otherwise lots of good suggestions on this thread, but basically, if you have never read Moby Dick, you must.

I loved On Beauty too! I would have loved to hear Zadie Smith talk in person

Nogimachi, I first read East of Eden as a teenager and mention of it takes me right back to endless afternoons in the garden with a pint of orange squash and a packet of digestives - I still love the book.

Only Breath & Shadow by Andrew Tweeddale. It’s beautifully written, emotionally immersive and compelling.

It’s about a once handsome English man who was blinded in the Somme and is living in Vienna in the 1930’s. He frequents coffee houses and nightclubs with his friends and meets a spirited American singer who has also ran away from a tragic past. There is a spark between them but can they overcome past hurts to let the spark flourish? This is one story told against the backdrop of a decadent and decaying Vienna falling into the grip of the Nazis. Another is what do they do when they are left with 4 Jewish children after their parents are sent to the camps and the Gestapo is closing in?

I could go on but I’d give away spoilers! I love the classics too and I loved this novel. Yes it has grim bits but it’s also full of humour and humanity and it stays with you long after you’ve finished it. If you want to get your teeth into something meaningful then this is the book for you.

My suggestions echo other peoples. A Place of Greater Safety, A suitable boy and lonesome dove

Oh wow, bet that was brilliant. I need to buy it again as leant it to my dad and never got it back!

Yes I did love On Beauty as well; actually I was just considering re-reading it after seeing Zadie Smith talk in person recently.

I would go for sensation fiction OP. There are some great ones out there. My personal favourites:

The Woman in White
Lady Audley’s Secret
East Lynne

Easy to get into, gentle drama, some nice twists and turns.

A Little Life is a book that stuck with me long after I finished it. Same with Half of a Yellow Sun. Both books are beautifully written and heartbreaking in many ways. So if you want to spend a chunk of your time alone crying, these are great choices! I also agree with people suggesting A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irvine. Or Irvine’s The World According to Garp. Both are excellent.

Edit: Just realised you don’t want really sad books. I’d avoid A Little Life from my list as it’s a tough read. The others aren’t as relentless/intense!

I was also surprised and not sure why! I got into him via a former boyfriend friend who gave me Parrot and Olivier in America when they had finished reading it. I just love his way with words I think and he really draws me into whichever story (or stories!) he is telling, so talented. Really hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for this. I haven’t read My Life as a Fake and will put it at the top of my list. Not sure why I was surprised to enjoy his books as much as I did - but I really rate him.

Did you love On Beauty? I did!

Peter Carey is epic, if you haven’t then do read My Life As A Fake - it’s brilliant and inspired by real events.

Jonathan Franzen, especially The Corrections or Crossroads.
Zadie Smith The Fraud, I just loved this so much and there's so much to think about in it, but it's also very enjoyable and wryly funny at times.

I've just remembered Anthony Powell Dance to the Music of Time. This is an incredible read.

Finding lots of inspiration in this thread and agree with many already suggested! I would add Portrait in Sepia and Daughter of Fortune to The House of the Spirits - reading all three makes it a huge and satisfying family saga! The chronological order (not publication order) is Daughter of Fortune, Portrait in Sepia and then The House of the Spirits.

Second these

Oh what a brilliant book!

This is a great thread. I have read many and loved almost all of them and now have a list to keep me going for a few years! I'll add:

We, the drowned by Carsten Jensen is brilliant

I recently re-read Birdsong - Sebastian Faulkes, that's a brilliant read. Also Graham Swifts Water land. Absolutely recommend both , but they probably wouldn't take you a week.

'Experiences of an Irish RM' by Somerville and Ross.*

They were women and second cousins I think.
(Right up there with Jeeves' tales for entertainment.)

You can't get more literary than A S Byatt's Possession..

Ooh yes, forgot the Shardlake Chronicles. Fantastic series if you loved Wolf Hall as a PP said.

Oh I’m so glad to see a vote for A Fine Balance, love that novel.

OP have you read much Ian McEwan? I’ve been re-reading some of his lately and really enjoying them - Atonement etc.