A List of My All-Time Favorite (Immersive) Reads

Or at least a lot of them.

This week, I finished Gabriel Zevin’s TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, and I felt pretty bereft. Like so many people this year, I truly loved it, and it might be my top read for 2023. But it was so immersive, and boy do I love an immersive book. There’s nothing better (in my opinion) than curling up with something completely absorbing and LONG.

Finishing this got me thinking about—and talking to friends about—some of my all-time other favorite immersive reads, and I thought I would share them with you, in case you’re looking for a good book to curl up with over the winter season, or good ideas for presents during the holidays.

Please note: this is not an exhaustive list, and while some of these books are unbelievably long, others aren’t quite so, but they felt immersive and all-encompassing to me when I read them, so I decided to include them.

These three are oldies but goodies.

I read George Eliot’s MIDDLEMARCH over the Christmas break one year, and it is all that I did. That book takes a dogged commitment to get into, but oh the rewards once you do!

If you haven’t read Ken Follett’s THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH, your life is incomplete and I am jealous of you. You will never look at a cathedral the same way ever again! Don’t be dissuaded by the fact that Follett’s a spy novelist if that’s not your thing—this is the novel of a lifetime.

THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco has monks, murder, and secret manuscripts in a library! It’s fantastic and an old favorite. I also I need to share—it was one of my mother’s favorite books ever and my copy is her copy. I had to take a special photo just to show you the tattered, well-loved state of it (the cover’s about to fall off and I need to tape it:

Okay, so now to one of my most magnificent fantasy reads ever:

If you haven’t read Philip Pullman’s HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy, which is a fantasy retelling of Milton’s PARADISE LOST, then you have so much ahead of you! I’ve read and reread this three books about 6 times. Sigh.

Okay, so here come the rest:

THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT by Alexander Chee: 19th century Paris plus opera singers, rags to riches, glorious gowns! This novel follows a woman throughout the entirety of her life, childhood until she’s in her 90’s. AMAZING.

THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD by Claire Lombardo: A family saga told through sisters and their mother—I remember telling Claire after I finished her novel that I’d be happy to watch the Sorensons eating soup. I don't know what it is about these women and Claire’s writing, but I never wanted this book to end.

PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee: Another family saga about a Korean family living in Osaka Japan in the early 20th century, with some of the best storytelling I’ve ever experienced in my life. It had me at page one, I was devastated when it was over and went into book mourning for months.

BEL CANTO by Ann Patchette: People (politicians, the wealthy) go to the concert of a famous opera singer in Lima, Peru and get taken hostage, in one of the most unforgettable, character driven novels I’ve ever read. Sigh, sigh.

BORN CONFUSED by Tanuja Desai Hidier: YA novel, full of family drama, romance, so much humor, and such a feel good and moving read. God I love this one.

LIFE AFTER LIFE by Kate Atkinson: WWII, a plot to kill Hitler, many, many lives and second, third, fourth, fifth chances (and so on). So so good!

POSSESSION by A.S. Byatt: A historical literary mystery—what more could you want? (Also, A.S. Byatt just passed away so I’ve been thinking about this novel.)

THE POISONWOOD BIBLE by Barbara Kingsolver: Kingsolver is all over the news for winning the Pulitzer for DEMON COPPERHEAD, which I haven’t read yet, but my introduction to her way back when was this one, which I’ve always thought was her best.

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY: Two young men immigrate to NYC after WWII and become part of the rise of the comic book industry, hero origin stories included. An American masterpiece, which also won the pulitzer. I was reminded of it again and again as I read TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW.

IF YOU HAVE FAVORITES OF YOUR OWN, PLEASE SHARE! I’m looking for a new good read (or a few)! Also, I’d love to know if you, too, love any of the book on this list!

---

Barcelona Writing Retreat: Getting to the End, Feb. 7-13, 2024

Join MADonna Writing Retreats for a luxurious and intimate week-long retreat at Hotel 1898, filled with workshopping, writing best practices and tools, conversation, food and wine. Use code MADONNAFRIEND for $400 off your retreat registration, before December 1st. Register here.