10 short (but brilliant) books for the time-poor reader
From the classic to contemporary, and all under 250 pages, these are the best short books to dive into
Words: Aobh O'Brien-Moody
With attention spans ever-dwindling and ‘leisure’ time at a premium in our busy day-to-day lives, short novels that can be devoured quickly and easily – typically considered those under 250 pages – are unsurprisingly growing in popularity. What these concise novels lack in heft, they more than make up for in impact. So do yourself a favour and start working your way through our pick of the best short books.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Irish writer Claire Keegan’s 116-page novella Small Things Like These was the shortest book ever to be nominated for the Booker Prize when it made the shortlist in 2022. Set in 1980s Catholic Ireland, during the time of the Magdelene Laundries, it tells the tale of local coal merchant Bill Furlong, who must decide whether to speak out against the complicit silence of a community controlled by church. A haunting yet hopeful read.
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Julian Barnes’ two-part novella is the sort of book that begs to be read in a single sitting, thanks to its seductive psychological depth. The Sense of an Ending pulls the subjectivity of memory into sharp focus as it tells the story of a middle-aged man who one day receives a lawyer’s letter, which sets off a chain of events that force him to contend with his past and revise his estimation of his place in the world.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men is John Steinbeck’s most popular piece of writing, having achieved success as a novel, Broadway play and three acclaimed films. Published in 1937 and set during the Great Depression, it follows displaced ranch workers George Milton and Lennie Small as they drift and hustle in an attempt to make better lives for themselves. In only 72 pages, this American classic manages to weave a powerful narrative of friendship and shared dreams.
A Man’s Place by Annie Ernaux
Despite its brevity, Annie Ernaux’s A Man’s Place astutely and analytically captures the complexity of the author’s relationship with her father. She paints a nuanced portrait of a practical man who came from humble beginnings and struggled to accept his daughter’s success and ascension into middle-class literary society. Sparsely written, it’s a refreshingly unsentimental and self-reflexive memoir that will stay with you.
The Vegetarian by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith
The winner of the 2016 International Booker Prize, The Vegetarian is a short yet sharp novel that explores themes of transformation, shame and social taboos. It tells the story of Yeong Hye and her husband, a seemingly ordinary couple living in South Korea. When Hye decides to become a vegetarian, she unwittingly threatens the passive domesticity and conformity of her life and wider Korean society. The consequences are brutal and shocking, resulting in an unsettling and startling read.
The Stranger by Albert Camus
Long considered a classic of twentieth-century literature, The Stranger, written by Albert Camus and published in 1942, is renowned for its absurdist and existentialist style. The story follows an ordinary man called Meursault who unwittingly murders an unnamed man on a beach in Algiers, and it explores what Camus termed “the nakedness of man faced with the absurd”.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
First published in 1899, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is still considered one of the most influential works of fiction ever written, due to its enduring indictment of the evils of imperialism. The story within a story follows Charlie Marlow, who recounts his physical and psychological journey up the Congo as a ferry boat captain to a group of men onboard an anchored ship. It’s an imperial horror story that remains relevant over a hundred years since its publication.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison’s concise first novel The Bluest Eye immerses readers in the devastating lives of a black family in post-Depression 1940s Ohio, telling the story of 11-year-old Percola, who prays each night for blue eyes in order to be like the privileged white girls at her school. This highly acclaimed American classic serves as an examination of beauty standards and conformity, while asking questions about race, class and gender.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
The first of three novels in Chinua Achebe’s critically acclaimed African Trilogy, Things Fall Apart captures life in a pre-colonial African village as it tells the story of one man’s battle to protect his community against the forces of change. First published in 1958, this impactful piece of African literature has sold over 20 million copies and been translated into 57 languages.
Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway is a classic that has captivated readers since its publication in 1925. The novella details a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, as she prepares to host a party that evening. While preoccupied with the last-minute details of the party, her mind wanders and becomes flooded with memories of the past that force her to reckon with the realities of the present.
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