Looking for a substantial literary novel to get lost in

[amoamas]

I have a very rare week to myself coming up, and I'd be grateful for recommendations for a nice thick book to take with me. I don't mind if it's a classic or contemporary fiction, maybe 400 pages or more so I can really get into it.

I have enjoyed: There are rivers in the sky by Elif Shafak, The safekeep by Yael van der Wouden, The hare with amber eyes by Edmund de Waal, Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel, the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante, the Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake, the Boudica series by Manda Scott, Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart, Orlando by Virginia Wolf. I've read most of the main classics but happy to explore some of the more unusual ones.

I don't enjoy: sci fi, "just" romance, very sad stories or anything that's unrelentingly grim, "light" reading (I want something to get lost in), politics.

Any recommendations gratefully received, TIA.

I really loved Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey and I hadn’t expected to. The True History of the Kelly Gang by him is also fab.
If you want something recent - The Loneliness of Sonia and Sonny by Kiran Desai feels pretty epic.

Wonderful recommendations! I’d second lots of them and add Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Vanity Fair. George Eliot
Middlemarch Thackeray
Cranford. Elisabeth Gaskell

I agree with so many of these. I’ll add The Garden of Evening Mists and The Cider House Rules.

Cloud street by Tim Winton as well how could I forget 🤦🏻‍♀️

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.

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

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

'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.)

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.

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

Oh what a brilliant book!

Second these

Wow, so many responses thank you so much everyone...and I'm glad the thread is inspiring other people too!

I must get into work but I'll go through and make a shortlist later...as all you fellow bookworms will understand, the planning and anticipation is part of the pleasure.

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.

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

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.

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

Did you love On Beauty? I did!

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.

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!

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 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.

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

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