Some of the old novels are small and can be banged out in around 3 hours.
Some are a hard slog, I've probably read around 70 maybe. Mostly in the 90s.
Well, in the last two weeks I've read the first six FR novels and another book (for work). I'm a good reader, I've read 40 books a year (min) for the past I don't know how long, certainly the last 20 years, possibly longer.
Way back when (probably when I was a student) I got one of those lists of fifty novels you have to read before you die, and read them all in a year... including Ulysses and Proust (to name the best, and the hardest). I've been at it ever since, and semi-retirement has been a boon.
Cheers goonalan