Anonymous
Post 07/28/2024 11:12     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
The History of Burning about an Indian family exiled from Uganda.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2024 10:57     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
Like Water for Chocolate
Shogun (then watch the recent series!)

Anonymous
Post 07/20/2024 21:57     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
Homegoing.
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2024 21:54     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
The Mists of Avalon
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2024 16:03     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
Herman Wouk's The Winds of War and War and Remembrance
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2024 15:25     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
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
Post 07/15/2024 14:47     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
Roots
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2024 14:44     Subject: Re:sweeping epic novels - recommendations
The Witching Hour by Ann Rice. The rest of the books in that series weren't quite as good, though.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2024 14:36     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
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
Post 07/15/2024 14:32     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
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
Post 07/15/2024 14:18     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
Pachinko!
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2024 13:12     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
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
Post 07/10/2024 13:31     Subject: Re:sweeping epic novels - recommendations
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
Post 07/10/2024 13:25     Subject: sweeping epic novels - recommendations
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
Post 07/09/2024 19:31     Subject: Re:sweeping epic novels - recommendations
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.