Epic novel.Please help me find one to read

[MrSanderz]

East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

I read it a few years ago when I was trying to read a lot of older classics and it hooked me from the start. I was so surprised at how scandalous it was! Lots and lots of drama over several generations.

Another vote for Pillars of the Earth too!!

 

[redlight]

East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

I read it a few years ago when I was trying to read a lot of older classics and it hooked me from the start. I was so surprised at how scandalous it was! Lots and lots of drama over several generations.

Another vote for Pillars of the Earth too!!

I love East of Eden. Supposedly, it's based on Steinbeck's real family.

 

[Feralpeg]

"The Robe" is an incredible and moving novel.

 

[JaneBanks]

"The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant is one of my favorite novels of all time. It's written about Dinah, the daughter of Jacob ( as in Sons of Jacob in the Bible )

I am not a religious person, and I had to really pay attention in the beginning to keep names straight but it is an amazing book and everyone I've suggested it to has loved it also.

I couldn't agree with you more. LOVED IT!!

 

[tar heel]

Lonesome Dove is one of the best ever -- great mini series and book.
For something more literary, Cold Mountain will really stick with you. The movie didn't come close to doing it justice.
I also really liked The Red Tent.

Some oldies:
Exodus, or really anything, by Leon Uris
The Grapes of Wrath
The Good Earth

 

[Diznotyzed]

An oldie but a goodie - Forever Amber

 

[beccab]

Another vote for "Shogun". Loved the mini series and loved the book.

 

[Skywalker]

You can't get much more epic than War and Peace. I know it's so big it is used as the butt of jokes but seriously? It is amazing. (shout out to DisneyBamaFan).

Also, as ugadog99 said, Les Miserables.

And The Brothers Karamazov.

These are books that stay with you forever.

 

[disneyfanforever]

Thank you guys so much for all of your suggestions. I can't wait to start digging in and begin reading these novels. My only problem now is I can't decide which one to read first!

 

[mjantz]

I have to second The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (Great epic novel of India)

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. If you think King can only write gory horror, this should change your mind.

 

[froggygrrrl]

If you are not discouraged by the fantasy genre, I would recommend the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R. R. Martin. I am halfway through the first novel, A Game of Thrones and it has been terrific. If the rest of the series is anywhere near as good as the first 400 pages, then I am in for a treat.

It is also being released soon as an HBO series.

 

[Lintasare]

Anything by Edward Rutherford. He writes beautiful, sweeping historical novels.

Another vote as well for Pillars of the Earth and pretty much anything by Phillipa Gregory.

 

[SunshineOR]

I was going to say Les Miserables and Shogun too.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Another one from the "miniseries era"
Shogun by J. Clavell

I loved the book the mini series drove me insane for not having subtitles. From the moment he become submerged in japanese culture you have no idea what is being said because I couldn't pick up enough japanese in 12 hours. Bring it out with subtitles. Anything by Ellis Peters not Phillipa Gregory she puts a modern morality on historical times which doesn't work. How about some of the Pern books or the Talent books by Anne Mccaffrey. For sci fi I would love to see the Ship who sang, Partnership and the ship who searched made in to tv shows.

 

[maelstrom]

Outlander!!

 

[DVCLiz]

I have really enjoyed the books by Kate Morton this year. The Forgotten Garden and The House at Riverton were the two I read, and she has just published her third clled The Distant Hours. They are in the "sweeping family saga" category, with old English castles, a little creepy gothic suspense, etc. Set in England and other countries covering a few generations of a family. I really have loved them!

 

[ladyhawk14624]

The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon!!! LOVE IT!!!!

Couldn't agree more! I've read them all more times than I can count.

 

[bevgray]

Some old titles:

"Hawaii" by James Michener

Civil War books:
"Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell
"House Divided" by Ben Ames Williams (should be able to find this in your library or on one of the out of print book searches like Barnes and Noble)

Family Saga
"Williamsburg Series" by Elswyth Thane - seven books that take a family from the Revolutionary War to the early years (British) of World War II. This is an exceptional historical series and you should be able to find it in the library or out of print book searches.

Fantasy Sagas
"Lord of the Rings" Trilogy by Tolkien
"Belgariad" series by David Eddings
"Wheel of Time" series by Jordan

 

[LukenDC]

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

 

[DMass]

If you are not discouraged by the fantasy genre, I would recommend the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R. R. Martin. I am halfway through the first novel, A Game of Thrones and it has been terrific. If the rest of the series is anywhere near as good as the first 400 pages, then I am in for a treat.

It is also being released soon as an HBO series.

You are in for a treat.


I would also suggest Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series; the first book being The First Man in Rome.

Michener and Rutherford both do the huge epic novel well also.