It always blows my mind that Lonesome Dove is recommended across so many different communities, especially nerd-related ones like HN. I read ~100 books a year on average and it continues to top my all time favorites list; but, in all honesty, I cannot believe it appeals to the wide audience it does due to its content.

That said, here are some of my all time favorites (no particular order):

01. Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)

02. Lonesome Dove (Larry McMurtry)

03. A Painted House (John Grisham)

04. A Gentleman in Moscow (Amor Towles)

05. The Great Alone (Kristin Hannah)

06. All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr)

07. Annihilation (Jeff VanderMeer)

08. The First Law Trilogy (Joe Abercrombie)

* this encompasses three long books; however, I consider them one long epic novel

09. Mailman (Stephen Starring Grant)

10. Demon Copperhead (Barbara Kingsolver)

11. Lessons in Chemistry (Bonnie Garmus)

12. Hench (Natalie Zina Walschots)

13. Personal Librarian (Marie Benedict)

14. In Cold Blood (Truman Capote)

15. Life We Bury (Allen Eskens)

16. Ordinary Grace (William Kent Krueger)

17. God of the Woods (Liz Moore)

18. Maid (Nita Prose)

19. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell (Robert Dugoni)

20. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (James McBride)