As the year winds down, perhaps you are struggling to meet your reading goal challenge. Some of us may have read more during these pandemic times, but others may have had trouble concentrating. While there’s still a few weeks left to catch up, Andrea recommends five short novels that you can read in a day...and enjoy too! So find a comfy chair, grab a cup of tea, hunker down and start reading.
Weather by Jenny Offill
A book about family, disaster planning and uncertainty. What I love about Jenny Offill's books is that she leaves you with a feeling of hope. At moments, laugh out loud funny. At other times, disturbing. A short, lovely read.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Is this an ode to fitting in, is it a bizarre love story, is it a fantasy? I'm not quite sure why I was so charmed by this tale, but Keiko Furukura stole my heart.
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan
The book takes us through the final shift of a small town Red Lobster on the night when it will close forever. There are some flare-ups with staff, some theft, some regret of love gone awry (between the manager and a waitress...sigh), but on the whole, it's a slice of life, that is real, if a little melancholy, and definitely a good read.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
A chair in a café in Japan lets you travel back and forth in time...but, only for as long as your cup of coffee stays warm. Your time travelling does not change the past or the future, but you are allowed a glimpse of what was and what is to come. The book has the feeling of a fairy tale. It's the kind of book you give as a gift, knowing everyone will find it heartwarming.
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
A sweet little book. A widow and a widower are brought together when the woman suggests they spend their nights together to ward off loneliness. Louis is suspicious, but as Addie gains his trust, their love for each other quickly grows. A charming bittersweet tale.