Chris Hewitt | (TNS) Star Tribune
When it comes to books, good things often come in small sizes.
I started thinking about this while reading “The Christmas Guest.” Peter Swanson's 2023 mystery is okay, but I was most interested in the afterword, where Swanson explains that he intentionally made “Guest,” which is 96 pages long, so it could be quickly read.
In general, my opinion on book length is similar to Roger Ebert’s statement that “no good movie is long enough and no bad movie is short enough,” but Swanson has a point. There are times when a short book is just what you need: If you’ve been on a reading break and want to start again; if it’s December and your book club needs a book that fits busy schedules; if it’s snowing and you want to relax under a blanket until it's time to shovel; or even if you just want to experience the contentment you feel when you turn the final page (it's not just me, right?).
The ideal length for one-day reads depends on how fast you read and the type of book it is (I’m thinking mostly of books written for adults but a lot of Rebecca Stead, Kate DiCamillo, and Lemony Snicket’s excellent work can be finished in a day). I believe that around 100 pages is the sweet spot. Based on that, here are some titles you can breeze through in a leisurely afternoon:
“Ballad of the Sad Cafe” — Not a week goes by without me thinking about Carson McCullers’ tragic romance, which states “[t]here are the lover and the beloved, but these two come from different countries.” Its 50 pages are not optimistic about love, but they are filled with profound observations.
“Chronicle of a Death Foretold” — I understand what you’re thinking: Gabriel García Márquez is known for dense masterpieces like “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and “Love in the Time of Cholera.” That's true, but as much as I love both, my favorite is this gripping novella, which reads almost like an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Beginning with this ominous sentence — “On the day they were going to kill him, Santiago Nasar got up at 5:30 in the morning to wait for the boat the bishop was coming on.” — it explores the near-misses and diversions on the way to a murder. (Coming next week, his “Until August” is also just 100 pages.)
“Notes on Grief” — That title may sound depressing, but Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s furious reflections on the death of her father are strangely consoling, like a reassuring hand on your shoulder that reminds you it’s okay to feel whatever you’re feeling.
“Passing” — Nella Larsen’s Harlem Renaissance novel focuses on two women in the Jazz Age. Both biracial, they have chosen different paths (one presents herself as white to the world, including her husband). Things reach a shocking climax as Larsen delves into the horrors of racism and the consequences of trying to avoid it.
“The Sense of an Ending” — Similar to several of these quick reads, Julian Barnes’ book revolves around a character’s intense reconsideration of events he thought he understood. When Tony Webster reconnects with an old friend, he helps Tony see the past in a new light and realize his life was based on a devastating falsehood.
“Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan is perfect for your one-day reading needs because all of her writing is short, but ” Small Things” is the most fulfilling. It takes place in Ireland in 1985, and follows the story of a coal merchant named Bill, who experiences a surprising encounter that helps him realize how centuries of male-dominated society have negatively affected the lives of Irish women.
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What are your favorite books to read in one sitting? Let us know at [email protected].
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