# Recommend me a page-turner of an epic book **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175 "2003-09-22T20:42:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![statheist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@statheist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statheist)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/41 "2003-09-23T17:34:43Z")
**The Brothers K** , by David James Duncan!! This is absolutely my favorite book of all time. It covers baseball, religion, politics ('60s, Vietnam in particular), family, and more baseball. AMAZING!! You won’t ever forget the Chance family. If you don’t believe me, read the reviews at Amazon: [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/055337849X/qid=1064338770/sr=1-1/ref=sr\_1\_1/104-1826882-4232732?v=glance&s=books](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/055337849X/qid=1064338770/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-1826882-4232732?v=glance&s=books) ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/42 "2003-09-23T18:58:11Z")
Some have already mentioned: **Pillars of the Earth** (Ken Follett) - I’ve read it three or four times, and it never gets old. **Masters of Rome** (Collenn McCollough) - The finest historical novels ever written, IMHO. But you’d better be prepared to take notes. A lot of notes. The series includes: _The First Man In Rome; The Grass Crown; Fortune’s Favorites; Caesar’s Women; Caesar;_ and _The October Horse_. **Shogun** (James Clavell) - By the time you’re finished with this one, you’ll be speaking whole sentences in Japanese. Amazing stuff. **Aztec** (Gary Jennings) - Be warned, not for the weak of stomach. Every possible crime against God and nature committed within the pages of this astonishing book. Ditto his treatment of Marco Polo ( **The Journeyer** ) and of the late Roman Empire ( **Raptor** ). No one has yet mentioned: **The Assyrian** (Nicholas Guild) - One of my absolute favorites. A flawed but sympathetic hero in a wonderfully exotic time. This one’s easy to find, but its sequel, **The Blood Star** is only in hardcover. Much to my despair. **Roma Sub Rosa** (Steven Saylor) - This series started out as an interesting detective story set in 1st Century BC Rome. With each volume it’s gotten better and better. **I, Claudius** (Robert Graves) - The novel that set the standard for historical fiction. The story continues in **Claudius the God**. **Ivanhoe** (Walter Scott) - This one surprised me. I thought it would be horribly dull, but found that I enjoyed it thoroughly. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/43 "2003-09-23T20:36:54Z")
Oh, I wanted to add The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/44 "2003-09-23T21:03:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wrenchslinger \* > \*\* > For literature closer to home, I always tell people to read any Mark Helprin novel they can get their hands on. His best by far are \*\* Winter’s Tale \*\* and \*\* A Soldier of the Great War \*\*. > \*\* Beat me to it **Wrenchslinger**. I second **A Soldier of the Great War**. It was the best book I’ve read in years. Engrossing, horrifying, comic at times and downright brilliant. I just couldn’t put the thing down. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/45 "2003-09-24T06:03:44Z")
Actually, I didn’t think that **The Thornbirds** was tacky or sleazy. It was certainly engrossing and the writer is reputatable. I loved it! Someone mentioned **Forever Amber** earlier. I had to laugh when I remembered that I had taken it on my honeymoon the first time I married. _I couldn’t put it down_. That did not bode well for the marriage. Great book! ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/46 "2003-09-24T10:10:14Z")
I would second **Illuminatus** , but the style of writing is hard to follow at first. I found once I got into it and got used to the style, I couldn’t put it down. And will really make you think. Also, I just finished **Parable of the Talents** by Octavia Butler. **Parable of the Sower** and **Parable of the Talents** are one story in two books. Just be prepared to get really depressed around page 100 of the second book. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/47 "2003-09-25T13:09:57Z")
A couple of sci-fi picks… John Varley’s **Titan** trilogy. Neal Stephenson’s **Cryptonomicon** , although it really isn’t sci-fi as such, just sorta hi-tech in places – but half the story is set during WWII so there is some historical fiction as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/48 "2003-09-25T13:18:55Z")
_Originally posted by Kalhoun_ > [@](#): > > Time and Again, by Jack Finney What a great recommendation! I wish I had thought of it, but since I’m too late, let me wholeheartedly agree. (Applause) readitreaditreaditreaditreadit ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/49 "2003-09-25T13:34:20Z")
I just came in to second Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/50 "2003-09-25T13:34:36Z")
A lot of my favorites have gone already but: **The Three Musketeers** (This is the ‘classic’ book I got into the most.) **The Name of the Rose** and **Foucault’s Pendulum** (A bit hard to get into, but worth it.) **Ender’s Game** (Easy to get into, but classic sci-fi; ie. not like sci-fi at all except for the setting. Great if you’re young enuogh to remember childhood well.) **Animal Farm** (It’s simple enough to be a children’s book, but God, is it powerful.) **Three Men in a Boat** (Not an epic or anything really, but really funny.) ---
**Author:** ![Sparrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sparrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparrow)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/51 "2003-09-25T13:51:31Z")
Another SF epic: Golden Witchbreed by Mary Gentle. ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/52 "2003-09-25T17:34:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shoeless \* > Neal Stephenson’s **Cryptonomicon** , although it really isn’t sci-fi as such, just sorta hi-tech in places – but half the story is set during WWII so there is some historical fiction as well. I second Cryptonomicon. And now Quicksilver is out—I received my copy yesterday. Woo-hoo! ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/53 "2003-09-27T04:37:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mariemarie \* > **I second Cryptonomicon. And now [BQuicksilver** is out—I received my copy yesterday. Woo-hoo! \*\* Please post opinion soonest 🙂 Declan ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/54 "2003-09-27T04:39:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mariemarie \* > \*\*I second Cryptonomicon. And now Quicksilver is out—I received my copy yesterday. Woo-hoo! \*\* Bad formating on my original reply , I have already read cryptonomicon about three times already , but want the opinion on quicksliver 🙂 As for the poster who was curious about the other ayn rand book , it was probably Foundation. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Dostromin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@Dostromin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dostromin)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/55 "2003-09-27T05:01:05Z")
I actually found “The Scarlet Letter” to be quite a good book, though I do admit that were it not for my newfound skills in analyizing lterature, I would not have enjoyed the novel. ---
**Author:** ![Pamlou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e56c9b/32.png) [@Pamlou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pamlou)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/56 "2003-09-29T03:10:24Z")
I don’t know if any of these are considered epics but they were page turners for me: 1. The Stand–Stephen King 2. It–Stephen King 3. Strangers–Dean Koontz 4. Thorn Birds–a VERY good book IMHO 5. The Other Side of Midnight–Sidney Sheldon–another favorite 6. The Sparrow–Mary Doria Russell–sci fi that is unputdownable 7. The Anita Blake Series–Laurell K Hamilton–my all time favorite series. I can’t say enough about it 8. Swan Song–Robert McCammon 9. Wolf’s Hour–Robert McCammon-my favorite werewolf 10. The Necroscope Series–Brian Lumley–these are not easy reading but they have the most horrific vampires I have ever read. Pamlou ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/57 "2003-09-29T07:34:30Z")
**The Power of One** by Bryce Courtenay A page turner. But in a different sense than you are used to. Very well written, down to the line by line, page by page process of reading. Characters you will come to know like your own family. It’s about love, and bigotry, being true to your self, and learning how much the world doesn’t care about that. You won’t be sure how much it is based on fact. It doesn’t matter much. Oh, yeah, and boxing, too. Twenty pages from the end, I realized that I had no idea how this book was going to end, and I didn’t care. Tris ---
**Author:** ![sublime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sublime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sublime)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/58 "2003-09-29T12:15:27Z")
I wouldn’t say any of them are very epic in their novels, but the three writers I’ve been reading and enjoying lately would be Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Love in the Time of Cholera, One Hundred Years of Solitude), Chuck Palahniuk (the guy who wrote Fight Club, I recommend Survivor and Choke), and Tom Robbins - probably my favourite author at this point, after the first book of his that I read I just had to find and read everything else he’s published. I just can’t get enough. I’d recommend Jitterbug Perfume or Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates if you’re looking for ‘epic’. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FilmGeek \* > \*\*It’s not one book but a series. > > The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. > > So good. \*\* don’t start this if you don’t like being left hanging. bastard will never finish the series at this rate. :mad: One really good Stephen King book that I haven’t seen mentioned yet is The Eyes of the Dragon… his only attempt at fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![PillowPhat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/da6949/32.png) [@PillowPhat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PillowPhat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/59 "2003-09-29T16:07:30Z")
[Chung Kuo](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0440207614/ref=pd_sim_books_4/002-3045793-3616014?v=glance&s=books) by David Wingrove. It’s actually a series of 8 books, most of which are now out of print, but absolutely worth hunting down at least the first few. For the entire summer last summer, I had my nose buried in these books when I wasn’t actually sleeping or working. ---
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175/60 "2003-09-29T16:20:32Z")
Hands down. The Three Musketeers. It’s the only book I’ve read more than twice, and I learn something every time I read it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-page-turner-of-an-epic-book/203175.md?page=4)