Rather than asking a question this week, I’d like to have a discussion about book length (or, I guess it’s more like a series of questions than a single question of the week).
Do you look for books of a specific length when you’re choosing your reads? What’s too long or too short for you? In what circumstances do you read outside that window? If you have book goals for the year, is page count a consideration? Or is book length a concern for you at all?
This is a fun question. I used to always go for big chunkster books that I could spend plenty of time with. Stories to get lost in. I do that less frequently now but I don’t shy away from big books and have set myself a goal of reading at least one per quarter in 2026. Case in point: I’m currently in the middle of Tom’s Crossing which is 1232 pgs. On the other hand I used to HATE spending money on short books—felt like I wasn’t getting enough bang for my bucks. Now I’m less bothered by that but I will always try to first get a short book from the library. I have books of all lengths on my shelves and have plenty of reading time. For me it’s not a numbers competition so I read anything that feels compelling no matter the length.
It’s actually Tom’s Crossing by Mark Z. Danielewski that prompted the question, @Anne_Glasgow! I want to read that one, but I’m really intimidated by the length. I have trouble reading more than one book at a time, so once I commit, I’m stuck. And considering the average book is about 350pp, that’s 3.5 other books I won’t get to. Do you think it would make a good audiobook listen? I might be able to pull it off in that format.
And I’ve definitely found that as I get older I’m less likely to tackle longer books, and I often wonder if it’s a function of age. I know my attention span is lower, plus I feel the press of time more, I think. Or maybe it’s a genre thing; when I was younger I read a lot of fantasy/sci-fi, and I think those tend to be longer (case in point, the Game of Thrones books).
I think pretty hard about choosing any book over 400 pp.
I don’t have an annual page count goal, but this year, out of curiousity, I did start keeping track of the number of pages I read.
Ok, now I understand and I have kind of a long response for you. The audio is 58 hours and if you listen to the sample it says it is an abridgment. 
I sincerely doubt listeners will have missed anything significant as there are stretches where either nothing much happens or the narrative leaves the main scene. Be sure to listen to the sample if you are thinking of trying it because the reader really puts on the southern-country accent, which is exactly as it is written—dropping the ending g is very prevalent but there are other dialect indicators in the text. The book is told in a pretty straight linear chronology but there are a bazillion characters. The main ones you need to remember are probably about 10-12.
I don’t care how long a book is so long as I’m enjoying it and the writing/storytelling is engaging You’ve read this author before so you may have a sense of his style. It moves quite slowly but there are edge-of-the-seat moments of intense emotion and/or anxiety sprinkled along the way. The characters are a mix of love them good guys and hate them bad guys. The kids that are saving the horses are worth the money.
I’m only about halfway so my opinion could change. As of right now I think I would say that I’ve read contemporary western style writing that I liked more. Again, he may make me feel differently by the end. Since I know you will ask: How Much of These Hills is Gold (zhang), The Bullet Swallower (obrecht), Amity (harris), In the Distance (diaz), are some of my favorites.
I think this book has a feel of a combination of News of the World, Lonesome Dove, True Grit, and All the Pretty Horses.
I think that’s about all I can think to say about it but please ask if you have specific questions. I do find that jumping between this one, another book, and an audio, I’m never forgetting what’s going on or who’s who. The story and the characters are pretty distinctive so it makes a fine side read.
Your question brought up a fun memory of our book club years ago. Typical book size we read was about 325 to 400 maximum pages. One member chose The Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner without mentioning it was 670 pages long. At that period in our lives, we all worked and had very busy lives, so it did create a burden, not only of time but physicality. The book was actually quite clumsy to hold the hardback or even paperback. Some of us showed up to book club with our wrists wrapped as after injury, one in a sling. The book is actually very good and the presentation was excellent. The presenter, I must add, was not amused by our not-so-subtle length pranks.
Anyway, old habits die hard, and I still take a peek at book length and try to keep it under 400 whether I’m choosing a title for book club, or for casual read. If for no other reason than, that should be enough words for a good and well-developed yarn.
I use to be intimated by big fat books, but as I’ve aged, I‘ve become indifferent to the number of pages. If I want to read it, I do, 1,000 pages or 245, I”m in. I will, however, admit that I no longer make myself finish every book I start. It was a habit I started in my early reading era and alas, at a now more senior age, have totally dismissed it. When one of my daughters questioned this habit, I had no real concrete reason why I did it, so I simply stop putting that pressure on myself. Freedom to choose feels good. Let me share that the length of a book often comes up within the conversation at Book Club. Often when its larger than normal, the facilitator will ask if the members think they will need more time than usual and adjusts the next meeting date accordingly. As for book goals for the year, I pay no attention to page count, I use reviews, recommendations and my curiosity when it comes to choosing my next read.