I often get asked how I read so much. Sure, I enjoy a really great epic saga but many books are short enough that if you are prepared to sit and read for two to three hours, you can finish it in one sitting. That’s the equivalent of watching an average length movie. It’s easier if the book is humorous and fast paced. Books by comedians often have that effect, making you want to turn the page even without thinking about it. Before you know it, you’ve thumbed through a couple hundred pages, laughing the whole time. If you’d like to participate in a reading challenge or just raise your number-of-books-read, here are a few short books that I recently read in a day and that you might enjoy too:
Non Fiction / Self Help
Between The World And Me /Tanehisi Coates – one man’s perspective on race relations in US
The Richest Man In Babylon /George S. Clason – teaches personal finance through stories
Who Moved My Cheese /Spencer Johnson – explores different ways to deal with change
A Room of One’s Own /Virginia Woolf – commentary on women writers
memoirs
Mindy Kaling’s books – she’s hilarious and inspiring all at the same time
I Was Told There’d Be Cake /Sloane Crosley – humorous essays about her life in NYC
Fiction
Happiness Like Water /Chinelo Okparanta – short stories set in Nigeria
The Alchemist /Paulo Coelho – a boy searches for his purpose.
Bridget Jones’ Diary /Helen Fielding – her mistakes will make you feel better about your life
A Raisin In The Sun /Lorraine Hansberry – a family tested by internal and external struggles
OTHER SUGGESTIONS for quick reads
Short story collections make quick reads because you don’t have to spend a long time getting to know each character. Other fast paced collections I read recently include Mexico /Josh Barkan and Things We Lost In The Fire /Mariana Enriquez, both of which were quick reads.
Middle grade books often make a fun, fast read, especially if you reread something you enjoyed as a child. You already know how the story goes so now you’re just reading for fun and to take a trip down memory lane…
…or try out a graphic novel. I have Percy Jackson’s The Lightning Thief on my TBR this week and I know I’ll be able to read it in a couple hours. It’s really like reading the comic books we devoured when we were children. Remember how those didn’t take us very long at all?
What books have you read in a day?
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I often read books in a day… but my boyfriend tells me I read fast 😉 The most recent book I read in one day was “The House at the End of Hope Street”: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25485385-the-house-at-the-end-of-hope-street
There are others that I *could* have read in a day, but I started them just before bedtime and I needed to turn out the light for work the next day! They really only took me 2-3 hours though, but when I start reading at 9:30 p.m. I really shouldn’t stay up reading for 3 whole hours 😉
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Whoa that is a 288 page book. No novella length book for you. Nice!
I want to practice reading faster too. Improving my speed is the only way to get through all the books I want to read this year.
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When I’m not actively listening to another audiobook, I have Between the World and Me and Citizen: An American Lyric on my iPod. There was an incident with some of the teachers where I teach where after, I felt like I needed some serious blackness in my life. They’re my go to. I love how your list runs the gamut in terms of experience – from NF to Percy Jackson. Happy reading, yo.
eli @ the (book) supplier
My TTT
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Thanks for the comment. Lol at needing serious blackness in your life. Those will do it.
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The Alchemist is such a beautiful little read bursting with inspiration!
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Great suggestions! I read YA books from time to time – they’re usually great stories and very quick to get through! I would recommend Texts From Jane Eyre, Where Things Come Back, The Bell Jar, and The Age of Miracles – all good and quick!
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One of these days I’ll need to pick up The Alchemist!
Lauren @ Always Me
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You should, Lauren. I would love to know when you do.
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The richest man in Babylon was so good! Also, if you’re interested in quick, non-fiction, finance reads, The Millionaire Next Door is very good and eye-opening!
Rachel
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I own a copy of The Millionaire Next Door also but I haven’t read it yet. Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll have to add it to my May reading list.
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