tome

This term evokes a sense of physical weight and intellectual density. It is rarely used to describe a modern paperback or a casual read, instead suggesting a book that is imposing, authoritative, and perhaps intimidating in its scope or size. In contemporary usage, the word often carries a slightly ironic or hyperbolic tone when referring to any book that feels excessively long or tedious. It shifts the focus from the content of the writing to the sheer bulk of the physical object.