Books you can read in one day or less

Books You Can Read in One Day

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I’ve already admitted to myself that I’m not going to make my quota for books read this year. A lot of factors contributed to this decision, but that’s material for another post.

However, if you’re still pursuing your reading goal, here are some suggestions for books you can read in one day. Since I’m a slow reader, my limit for inclusion in this post is right around 200 pages. 

Here’s a short list of short works I’ve accumulated during 2021, followed by a list of lists for other suggestions. If necessary, you can also check the list of related posts (above) from previous years, although I suspect there will be quite a bit of overlap between this year’s and previous years’ list.

My List

Intimations by Ali Smith

The Frozen Deep by Wilkie Collins

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

Passing by Nella Larsen

Unfinished Business: Notes of a Chronic Re-Reader by Vivian Gornick

Moral Hazard by Kate Jennings

Sisters by Daisy Johnson 

Assembly by Natasha Brown 

The Debut by Anita Brookner

Other Lists

7 Bite-Size Books That Pack a Powerful Punch

5 Shorter Novels from Around the World

Summer Loomis, creator of this list, describes its contents as “shorter novels — as in under 300 pages or so.” And this list has the added benefit of suggesting many books translated from other languages, if you need to check off a category of “world literature” or “translated works” in addition to your number of books read.

50 Great Classic Novels Under 200 Pages

There’s no reason why this pandemic-inspired list from February can’t be used now. Emily Temple here defines classic as “originally published before 1970.”

The Best Novellas

“short works of fiction that offer the power and intensity of a novel in little more than 100 pages.” Recommended by Claire Fuller.

12 Single-Volume Manga for When You’re Short on Time and Money

I know absolutely nothing about manga, but I’m hoping that these fit the bill for stuff that can be read in one day or less.

20 Incredible Short Books You Can Read In A Day

16 Short New Books to Read in One Sitting

“Nearly all weighing in under or around 300 pages, these quick reads feature something for everyone, from riveting science fiction to pulse-pounding thrillers to fun love stories to a page-turning celebrity memoir.”

44 Short New Books to Crush Your Reading Challenge

This list from Goodreads comprises two parts: books with fewer than 200 pages, and books with fewer than 300 pages. All books mentioned were published in calendar year 2021.

© 2021 by Mary Daniels Brown

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