sweeping epic novels - recommendations

[Anonymous]

Richard Russo:
Empire Falls
Nobody’s Fool
Everybody’s Fool (sequel)

In the Empire Falls, the characters were inspired by author’s parents, the World War II generation. It is set in the economically depressed working-class town of Maine. It’s about family, community, and forgiveness. Hope for the future in small-town America, where the factories have left, the populations are dwindling. Nobody’s Fool has similar theme of people, responsibility, and community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 for Kristin Lavransdatter. I prefer the newer translation by Tiina Nunnally over the original translation by Charles Archer and J.S. Scott. Archer/Scott reads as archaic and stilted, whereas Nunnally's modern rendering flows more easily. However, I'm sure there are people who prefer the Archer/Scott, because it sounds more authentic and medieval-ish.

NP here - thank you for this! Was just debating starting this soon...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Richard Russo:
Empire Falls
Nobody’s Fool
Everybody’s Fool (sequel)

In the Empire Falls, the characters were inspired by author’s parents, the World War II generation. It is set in the economically depressed working-class town of Maine. It’s about family, community, and forgiveness. Hope for the future in small-town America, where the factories have left, the populations are dwindling. Nobody’s Fool has similar theme of people, responsibility, and community.

I love Empire Falls, but wouldn’t call it a “sweeping epic” akin to most of the novels that are getting listed here— like War & Peace, 100 Years of Solitude, East of Eden, etc.

[Anonymous]

I will always think of “Gone with the Wind” when someone says “sweeping/epic.”

Also-“Great Circle,” Maggie Shipstead.

Maybe “Shantaram,” Gregory David Roberts.

“Middlemarch,” George Eliot

[Anonymous]

Pachinko!

[Anonymous]

In the fantasy genre:
Most books by Guy Gavriel Kay, especially Under Heaven.
Eternal Sky by Elizabeth Bear.
Hostage of Empire by SC Emmett.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a big fan of The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.

A good multigenerational story but I wouldn’t call it an epic.

If we’re going with this “scale”, then Cutting For Stone is amazing.

Nonfiction that reads like fiction: Random Family covers a pretty wide stretch of time, and a lot of changes for the “characters”.

People of the Book follows an object through multiple periods of history.

Oh, I LOVE Random Family! I always recommend it to book clubs, and most of my friends don't like it nearly as much as I do.

I wish she'd written more books.

OP, I thought of A Little Life, The Goldfinch (lots of people don't like this book, but I did), and if you want some sweetness, Little Women.

[Anonymous]

The Witching Hour by Ann Rice. The rest of the books in that series weren't quite as good, though.

[Anonymous]

Roots

[Anonymous]

I'm reading Queen of the Night right now and though I'm not sure how high-quality it is, but it has kept my interest and when I put it down, I can't wait to pick it back up.

[Anonymous]

Herman Wouk's The Winds of War and War and Remembrance

[Anonymous]

The Mists of Avalon

[Anonymous]

Homegoing.

[Anonymous]

Like Water for Chocolate
Shogun (then watch the recent series!)

[Anonymous]

The History of Burning about an Indian family exiled from Uganda.