Not usually a fan of "tinies" - I prefer the big ginormous book that I can be lost in forever (you know, 3-5 days - ha!). However! That's not to say I haven't tried a hand at a few over the years.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson
All Systems Red - Martha Wells (5 of 7 of the books are tinies)
The Body - Stephen King (the inspiration for Stand by Me)
I am Legend - Richard Matherson
The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka
For a Breath I Tarry - Roger Zelazny
Too Loud a Solitude - Bohumil Hrabal
Assembly - Natasha Brown
Answers in the Pages - David Levithan (YA)
Dear Martin - Nic Stone (technically not a novella at 224 pages, but still good)
on my TBR list for recommended novella:
This Is How You Lose the Time War - Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
I've recently been gravitating toward this idea, which is a pivot basically, as my thing is diving into the massive book. This year I'm throwing slimmer volumes into the mix ... John Wyndham's 'Chocky,' Balzack's 'The Unknown Masterpiece,' George Bernanos's 'Mouchette.' Books that can be read in roughly the same stretch of time that we spend in a single day (cumulatively) wasting time online.
I love tiny books too, but tiny hard cover books are my absolute favourites. That’s tiny in actual size not just pages, like A6 size( 4 x 5.8 inches). Most are beautifully designed which adds to the pleasure. Would give a list but I’m currently in Tokyo away from my home in Sydney but while here I got a tiny hard cover copy of Eng trans of Yasunari Kawabata’s Snow Country. Have read it many moons ago but am savouring it again, tiny morsel by tiny morsel, as I ride the Tokyo subway. I also went to stay for the weekend in the mountain hotel where he wrote the novel. It was a def spring pilgrimage and a wonderful experience. I will go back in the winter next time. My other tiny book fave is The Lover by Marguerite Duras. In 2009 I followed her footsteps around Vietnam and Cambodia and wrote about it in my travel memoir which I published here on SS in episode form last year. For me, he is the king and she is the queen of melancholy, desire and lost and impossible moments. Love your SS, it’s brilliant! Subscribed on Sarah Fay’s recent recommendation. Thank you! .
Not usually a fan of "tinies" - I prefer the big ginormous book that I can be lost in forever (you know, 3-5 days - ha!). However! That's not to say I haven't tried a hand at a few over the years.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson
All Systems Red - Martha Wells (5 of 7 of the books are tinies)
The Body - Stephen King (the inspiration for Stand by Me)
I am Legend - Richard Matherson
The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka
For a Breath I Tarry - Roger Zelazny
Too Loud a Solitude - Bohumil Hrabal
Assembly - Natasha Brown
Answers in the Pages - David Levithan (YA)
Dear Martin - Nic Stone (technically not a novella at 224 pages, but still good)
on my TBR list for recommended novella:
This Is How You Lose the Time War - Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Convenience Store Woman - Sayaka Murata
The Hole - Hiroko Oyamada
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri is definitely one of those small books that are actually ginormous.
I've recently been gravitating toward this idea, which is a pivot basically, as my thing is diving into the massive book. This year I'm throwing slimmer volumes into the mix ... John Wyndham's 'Chocky,' Balzack's 'The Unknown Masterpiece,' George Bernanos's 'Mouchette.' Books that can be read in roughly the same stretch of time that we spend in a single day (cumulatively) wasting time online.
I love Tiny Books! Some of my favourites are ‘Bonsai’ by Alejandro Zambra, ‘A Minor Chorus’ by Billy-Ray Belcourt
So excited to hear how much you loved ‘Clear’ - I just got my hands on that book! I’m looking forward to reading it, especially after your enthusiasm!
This is the post I needed in my life. Tinies! I am convinced, thank you.
I recently read Ethan Frome. It’s brilliant and completely devastating. A perfect study in building and maintaining suspense. Enjoy!
You have convinced me! I didn’t know this was happening in Memphis over the weekend. I have been nearby since last Friday visiting
I love tiny books too, but tiny hard cover books are my absolute favourites. That’s tiny in actual size not just pages, like A6 size( 4 x 5.8 inches). Most are beautifully designed which adds to the pleasure. Would give a list but I’m currently in Tokyo away from my home in Sydney but while here I got a tiny hard cover copy of Eng trans of Yasunari Kawabata’s Snow Country. Have read it many moons ago but am savouring it again, tiny morsel by tiny morsel, as I ride the Tokyo subway. I also went to stay for the weekend in the mountain hotel where he wrote the novel. It was a def spring pilgrimage and a wonderful experience. I will go back in the winter next time. My other tiny book fave is The Lover by Marguerite Duras. In 2009 I followed her footsteps around Vietnam and Cambodia and wrote about it in my travel memoir which I published here on SS in episode form last year. For me, he is the king and she is the queen of melancholy, desire and lost and impossible moments. Love your SS, it’s brilliant! Subscribed on Sarah Fay’s recent recommendation. Thank you! .
Short books is on my calendar for next month! I am totally on board with the points you are making here.
A throwback to high school AP English! I wonder what adult me would think about Ethan Frome now? Or any classic I read at 17!