Big fat juicy sagas

[WiltonGal]

I am re-reading some Penny Vincenzi novels and thoroughly enjoying them. I think I have read all the popular saga books (one I have yet to read is The Chamomile Lawn) but it got me thinking….nobody writes (or wants to publish more like) these big fat sagas anymore. I know fashions wax and wane but wondering if our addiction to tech has meant that fat books like these are no longer seen as viable?

Are there any authors still writing these types of books?

Of you are looking for a big book with a great story I would recommend shogun. I re-read it again recently and it was as good as I remembered

I have found my people ! 🥳

@Firebox64 - like you, I became hooked on the Whiteoaks as a teenager and re-read them when pregnant with DD, who is now 51.
I especially loved The Building of Jalna, and Mary Wakefield.

@MaryasBible - I’m currently halfway through Winter of the World after seeing Ken Follett recommended on a similar thread.
Love Susan Howatch ( though not the Starbridge ones), and Csardas is definitely in my top three GOAT novels. Read it so many times.

I came on to suggest the Norah Lofts “House” trilogy but see @MissAmbrosia has beaten me to it !
In a similar vein, another “oldie” I love is Anya Seton - some books more than others but especially Devil Water ( Jacobite Rebellion ) and Katherine ( Swynford, mistress of John of Gaunt).
Newer writers of family sagas ( don’t care for the “bonkbusters” genre ) seem to be few and far between don’t they.
Will try Anna, Fleur and Emma as recommended above.

Victoria hislop eg the return. The fugurine.

@MaryasBible I haven't heard Czardas mentioned for many years. I must have read it nearly 40 years ago. I've lost my copy but I'd love to read it again.

Douglas Kennedy writes some stonking sagas; The Pursuit of Happiness, A Special Relationship, Leaving the World, The Dead Heart and The Woman in the Fifth are all excellent. (Not bonkbusters though).

I’ve found my people! Lots here that I haven’t discovered. I have a couple of suggestions - I don’t like Philippa Gregory’s tudor novels, she wrote a three novel saga - the first one is Wideacre. Somewhat disturbing but very entertaining and engaging!

Susan Sallis wrote a saga series of 4 books based on 4 sisters called March, April, May and June.
I've not read them for years but they were good fun.

Heading off to inspect my bookshelves!

I'm currently reading The Bronze Horsmem Trilogy by Paulina Simons.
Ok the books are early 2000's but I enoy them.

Land of the long white cloud by Sarah Lark are also worth a read they were published 2012- 14.

On the other hand I really like older authors like Leon Uris (1950's), Octavia Butler (1970's) and have recently started the Alexander Trilogy by Mary Renault (1970's/80's). The language is different, that's what I enjoy, I feel like I am learning again. Just keep in mind English isn't my first language! I also read books in French & German... and sometimes Dutch. So writing style/ language use is important to me

Fab thread,have snaffled some ideas!
How about The Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough.I really enjoyed it.
Also agree re Cazalet Chronicles. Have read the latest one( advance copy) I was really disappointed.

They aren’t new or recent but for a saga I loved the first three Egyptian books by Wilbur Smith - River God, The Seventh Scroll and Warlock. There are others but these first three are the best (in my opinion)

Also, Hawaii by James A Michener

‘The lindens’

Read this recently which focuses on several generations all living at the same house. Enjoyable read. Published 2024 so relatively recent.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lindens-Barney-Jeffries/dp/B0DLG2H7QR

Brazil - published in 1986 is an epic, saga book which I loved when I first read it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brazil-Errol-Lincoln-Uys/dp/0330299492

‘The Far Pavilions’ also springs to mind.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Far-Pavilions-M-Kaye/dp/0241953022/ref=asc_df_0241953022?mcid=9ea0285cced33a9f8df17b759ad96068&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697241315916&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16890692249137828211&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045111&hvtargid=pla-491445388790&psc=1&hvocijid=16890692249137828211-0241953022-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles Moorland Dynasty series is immense. There's 36 books covering the Wars of the Roses to the outbreak of WWII!

With the India theme in mind ... I loved The Raj Quartet - one of the books, The Jewel in the Crown was the name for an equally fantastic TV series. There is also the sequel Staying On.

More recently, A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth - is so big it is like 3 books in one. Which of the 3 suitors will she go with?

I re read the Camomile Lawn recently and with modern eye was disgusted by the underplaying of child sexual abuse. And should come with a warning for anyone who is affected by such abuse. It isn't a "bonkbuster"

I absolutely loved it. It was on kindle unlimited too, I saw it recommended on a mumsnet thread.

I’ve got the first of the Morland books on kindle, got it for 99p.

I saw someone upthread recommend Olivia Manning, read the first one and loved it.

I see a few people have recommended books set in India. I’m going to look and seee if I can find any kindle bargains. I recently read A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry which was devastating. Brilliant but I’m not sure it was quite fluffy enough to fit into this genre.

If anyone likes Rumer Godden, China Court is a family saga across generations.
RF Delderfield - To Serve Them All My Days and A Horseman Riding By
The Joy Luck Club

This is a wonderful thread. I really prefer the pace of a super long book so am making a list of the ones I’ve missed on here.

Slightly different genre but the Robin Hobb fantasy books are wonderful and have the sort of character development I love in a long book.

old again but I enjoyed the Clan of a Cave Bear series though it does get less good as it goes on IMO

Have paged through my kindle and can’t find anything I’d really put with Vincenzi - plenty of ‘women’s fiction’ but they’re usually half the length.

For anyone who likes historical novels, Sharon Penman is amazing. Manda Scott's Boudica series is amazing - four volumes, very immersive.

Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden if you want lots of manly battles.

I've heard Fiona Walker described as a modern day Jilly Cooper but I didn't love the one I read, and I adore Jilly.

I've only read a couple of his & hadn't realised they were connected in any way. I really enjoyed Slade House - the house itself was such a major character - & I'm really surprised it's not been made into a film!

Marius Gabriel original sin and masks of time. Sally Beaumam destiny and lots of others
Philipa Gregory wideacre trilogy

Lurking

Elizabeth Elgin's Rowangarth series is good. Follows the Sutton family's lives and loves from just before the start of WW1 to the years following the end of WW2. She also wrote several standalone novels about women and their lives in the forces or on the homefront during WW2.

I agree OP, nothing has ever topped Penny Vincenzi's Spoils of Time trilogy. I re-read it every 5 years or so!