by Charlie Fabre
It’s the last month of the year, and with 21 days left before 2024, everyone is scrambling to get this year’s reading goals all finished up! Personally, I’ve missed my reading goal by just ONE book for the past 3 years (I don’t know how I keep doing this to myself), so this year, finding a short book to read is crucial!
Here are 10 of our favorite short books that you can whizz through in the last few weeks of 2023 to get your reading goal complete and ready for next year.
1 – Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
This one goes perfectly with December’s cold weather as it’s set in icy New England during Christmas time. It’s not exactly a cosy read though, more of a strange and twisted thriller which takes you through the mind of our eponymous character, Eileen, as she recounts the events leading up to her escape from X-Ville. We won’t say too much more, but at only 260 pages, it’s an easy ready!
2 – Ti Amo by Hanne Orstavik
What’s better than a short book than a book written in vignettes? This little gem of a book is translated from Italian, narrating a woman’s sorrow as her husband is diagnosed with terminal cancer. It’s a love story that’s so tender and heartbreaking, it’s an emotional masterpiece. Less than 100 pages – it’s one to read in a single sitting.
3 – The Premonition by Banana Yoshimoto
Known for her slice-of-life literature, Yoshimoto’s The Premonition was just re-released a few months ago with a gorgeous cover and a great story inside! A girl discovers that her family life is not exactly as she sees and she embarks on a very quiet and calm journey of reflection and self-discovery. This is such an easy read, you’ll absolutely breeze by it, and it’ll give you something to ponder about as well.
4 – Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
If you’ve never read anything by Emily St. John Mandel, then this, or Station Eleven (also short) is a great one to start with! It perfectly highlights the kind of themes that this author is interested in writing about, and showcases her slow and purposeful prose. It’s about time travel, in a very broad sense, and I won’t say much more, but Sea of Tranquility is such a delight!
5 – Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades
A book told from the collective point of view of brown girls living in the dregs of Queens, New York, this was a powerhouse of femininity, race, and girlhood. With short, titled chapters, you’ll whizz through this delicious story of what it’s like being a woman of colour in America.
6 – Intimations by Zadie Smith
If you’re more into non-fiction, then Zadie Smith’s collection of six essays is a really great option for you. Zadie Smith wrote Intimations during, and around, Covid-19, and these essays explore themes such as loneliness, love, race, and class. She is such a poignant and marvelous writer, and so clear in her purpose with this collection. It’s a must, and if you’re like me and you like to spend the end of the year reflecting, this this is perfect for you!
7 – Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan
Translated from the French, Bonjour Tristesse is a hazy summer novel about a young girl who goes on holiday to the South with her father and his girlfriend. There, she falls in love, and she and her new lover devise a plot to drive her father’s girlfriend away in favor of another woman. It’s short and sweet and has that perfect air of longing that summer days tend to have. Perfect if you’re missing the warm weather, and it’s less than 100 pages!
8 – Crush by Richard Siken
So, this is a poetry collection, so naturally it is quite short! The caveat here is that, despite only standing at 50 or so pages, you should read Crush slowly and really take the time to enjoy each poem (as all poetry collections should be read!). That being said, you’ll definitely finish this before 2024, and you’ll have discovered some hard-hitting truths about love along the way.
9 – Paradais by Fernanda Melchor
A short but very turbulent novel, Paradais is not for the faint of heart as it covers a wide range of potentially triggering topics. That being said, for those that like dark and twisted novels, this is a very short ride to hell. I read it last year, loved it, and laughed so much because it was quite fucked up and what else is there to do? I hope that sold you on it!
10 – The White Book by Han Kang
This is a collection of vignettes all about white things, and all about the topic of grief. Han Kang is a master of writing about what isn’t actually there, and you’ll be filled with a strong sense of both wonder and sadness while reading The White Book. It’s another one of those that will get you reflecting during the end of the year, but you’ll be very happy about it – promise!
swim press 