It's June!!! We are half way through this year!
It's been a VERY long 6 months and I myself am behind on my reading goals.
So... Of course reading is not a competition. There's a content creator who always shows how she has read about 8 books a week, and I'm always a bit annoyed by that, but... I let it go, let it go... let it go. I do not know how she does it, but, I also...know that she does a great job at promoting all sorts of diverse and interesting books, so... who am I to judge.
I do wonder though, at a rate of 8 books a week- where is that time to sit with something and absorb and digest it? But I digress.
I could... adjust my reading goal to have fewer books on it, but I decided instead to look for some shorter books, while continuing to read all the others I want to read. I MAY have gone overboard requesting some advanced copies- but there were SO MANY good ones coming out...
If you are like me and find that life catches up to your reading, I have some recommendations for shorter fiction, that I believe is still meaningful and interesting. Many of them are books in translation, so you can beef up your reading of diverse reads with these! Most are available at your library, so you can check them out without purchase!
Federal Art Project, S. Curb service 10,000 current books - convenient, free, time saving: Chicago Public Library, Randolph St. corridor. Chicago Illinois, None. [Chicago: illinois wpa art project, between 1936 and 1941] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/98508385/.
Without Further ado:
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
This is a complete novella told in 2 hours. A closed room who-dun-it set on a generation ship in space. For would be writers, this is a lesson in how to quickly build a world, establish a full story with well developed characters and bring that story to a close. The pacing was Perfection. She apparently has a few in this series if you start to like them!
But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo
Coming in at just 115 pages, This is a sapphic gothic novella, with an eldritch like spider-monster-woman. It is a unique translated novella, with the translation crafted by the author.
Cowboy Graves by Roberto Bolano
This is actually a volume with 3 novellas in one. 3 wildly divergent stories, all in translation as well. I honestly feel like, any description would just be wrong.
Spring Garden by Tomoka Shibasaki
You may be sensing a theme here with books in translation! This novella focuses on life in modern day Tokyo. Two lonely people come together over a tale of a spring garden. The River Swimmer by Jim Harrison
This comes in at 204 pages. This novella is set in Michigan and follows two men of different ages who are both confronting life challenges in love, and environment. This felt very relatable, and also had some excellent descriptions of the Michigan landscape. The Language of Liars by S. L. Huang is a new novella.
I have a Full Review of this one HERE or if you feel a wild need to hear me chat about it: Check it out here:
I really fully feel like this novella should be in the contention for a Hugo in 2027. Space Opera, with no human characters, just astounding and creative and fun!
If you are looking for Romance to sweep you away in under 200 pages... Bad Blood by M. Malone may be the one for you. A RITA winner,
This follows a typical romance format with familiar tropes- an off limits little sister, a broody main male character that's successful, and yet still single and just awaiting that one moment to throw all his morals aside for said off limits little sister. At 234 pages, it is maybe longer than a typical Novella, but given it won a RITA for Novellas, I'm letting it be in the list!
I admit, I'm not a huge fan of contemporary romance, but.. romance in space? For some reason, this... always makes me smile.
Emily Michel creates an action packed novella with an alien on earth! Meretta - the Female lead is a quiet reserved librarian, who notices that this man's photo is most surely part of a 100 yr old collection. What's going on? In 108 pages, you'll be taken on a wild ride. Emily has a second book coming out. which is also novella length- so if you are itching to enjoy some alien novellas- these are really quite fun, easy to read and not extremely serious- so perfect for summer! Which novellas have you enjoyed? Let me know your recommendations in the comments! I am about 10-12 books behind on my reading goals, so... these may show up as full reviews soon!
