I didn’t quite hit my reading goal last year, in terms of the raw number of books read. But it wasn’t for lack of reading. In fact, if we’re going by pages and word count, 2025 is the most voracious I’ve read in years thanks to my choice to load up with some massive doorstoppers.
A couple of those were re-reads: Infinite Jest in preparation for a podcast I recorded last spring, followed by the complete and uncut The Stand that I re-read for the umpteenth time since I was a kid (we’ll get to the why of that choice in a minute).
I do love a massive novel. When one clicks, it transforms into a journey. It can be a fantasy, a space opera, a horror classic, or a journey through the American subconscious. No matter how different they may be, each dives into characters, situations, and locations you don’t want to see end but you can’t help racing toward the conclusion. They’re the equivalent of a heavy blanket and cozy chair on a snowy day.
Or an oversized umbrella and sun-drenched beach, if th…
