What Makes Big Books Work? Abundance, Complexity, and the Joy of Long Novels with James Elkins

Why do some readers gravitate toward sprawling, ambitious novels that take weeks—or even months—to read? What is it about long books that makes them so immersive, so risky, and so rewarding?In this episode of The Big Book Project, Lori Feathers is joined once again by writer and professor James Elkins for an in-depth conversation about the magic and challenges of big books. They explore their personal criteria for what makes a long novel worth reading, comparing Lori’s idea of “abundance novels” with James’s concept of “complex novels.”Together, they discuss overlapping favorites like Miss Macintosh, My Darling, Ducks, Newburyport, and Septology, while debating whether detective fiction can ever provide the same level of interiority and immersion. They reflect on rhythm, atmosphere, and the way long novels often give readers a sense of danger—the thrill of knowing the narrative could veer off in unexpected directions at any moment.Whether you’re a longtime lover of big books or curious about what draws readers to them, this conversation will give you fresh insight into why we keep coming back to these enormous, challenging, and unforgettable works.For the image reference James mentioned visit the substack here