Pictured is the Central Library which along with all public libraries in Calgary has been closed to help limit the spread of COVID-19 on Monday, March 16, 2020. Azin Ghaffari/PostmediaAzin Ghaffari / Azin Ghaffari/Postmedia

Call it THE LIST.

Presumably, every avid reader has one.

That would be the books you have always meant to get around to but felt you didnt have the time. But as the world self-isolates and leisure activity that requires leaving the house is cancelled, ambitious readers may find themselves with time on their hands to do some serious reading.

The Calgary Public Library has an extensive list of eBooks and audiobooks up for the grabs digitally, including a whole category that has been dubbed Long Books Worth Reading.

So here are a few suggestions for brave bibliophiles looking for the opposite of light reading.

Moby Dick, by Herman MelvilleAvailable as eBook and audiobookMelvilles sprawling opus is renowned, or perhaps infamous, for its droning chapters that entail lengthy ruminations on the colour white or sleep-inducing descriptions of a whales tail. Still, the 1851 American novel is also considered one of the greatest works in English literature, which suggests a number of people have actually made their way through it. The plot follows the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab for revenge against a giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg.

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn RandAvailable as eBook and audiobookIf this whole COVID-19 thing has somehow put you in the mood to read about the wonders of unchecked capitalism or virtues of selfishness, then Ayn Rands 1957 epic is for you. For many, the book is simply a lengthy diatribe wrapped in a multi-character, slightly dystopic tale. Still, many who subscribe to a certain right-leaning philosophy have deemed it life-changing. Even for those who dont, it may offer some interesting insight into the puzzling inner workings of young conservatives.

Ulysses, by James JoyceAvailable as eBook and audiobookAs a young English Literature student, I grumpily arrived at the theory that no one on Earth, including James Joyce himself, had actually read this bewildering 1922 stream-of-consciousness tome from start to finish. As I grew older, however, I discovered that many see it as equivalent to David Foster Wallaces Infinite Jest as the ultimate Ironman marathon of literary challenges. Constructed as a modern take on Homers Odyssey, the book takes place in 1904 Dublin over the course of one day and delves into human consciousness dialogue and is credited with forever disrupting the accepted norms of the novel. Good luck.

A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John IrvingAvailable as eBookCompared to the above titles, John Irvings 1989 masterpiece is fairly accessible and a good start for anyone curious about how the American author became one of modern literatures most beloved tellers of sprawling, multi-generational dark comedies. Accessible as it may be, its still a long journey. As with most of Irvings novels, it spans decades to tell the tale of two friends forever linked by a freak childhood accident. Dubbed Irvings Vietnam book, its a tragic but often laugh-out-loud epic exploring friendship, fate, faith, war and morality. Any of Irvings books (with the possible exception of the below-par Fourth Hand) are a great investment of your time, but A Prayer for Owen Meany has proven to be a sentimental favourite among the authors many admirers.

The Stand, by Stephen KingAvailable on eBook and audiobookOK, this one may be a little too on the nose given the circumstances and may actually ramp up your anxiety. Still, for fans of sci-fi and horror, Kings 1978 post-apocalyptic book remains one of popular literatures most compelling works that sits alongside It as the prolific authors take on serious literature (whatever that means.) Fear not, that doesnt mean its boring, even if it is lengthy. It tells the story of a virus dubbed Captain Trips that wipes out 99 per cent of mankind. The survivors form two factions that eventually come into conflict, pitting good against ultimate evil in a tale about survival, compassion and community.

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