In need of a quick-fix to get you out of a reading slump? Check out these 3 book recommendations under 250 pages that you can polish off in just one sitting (trust me).
How to be Good by Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby's How to be Good was first published in 2001 and was his first novel for Penguin publishing. This quick read tells the story of London GP Katie Carr who is driven insane by her husband's attempts to 'do better'.
The story starts when David stops being "The Angriest Man In Holloway" and begins to be "good" with the help of his spiritual healer, DJ GoodNew. Katie see's her husband bringing homeless people in to stay in their house, giving away their children's toys and even giving away their Sunday lunches.
Length: 243 pages.
2. The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Translated from its original Korean by Deborah Smith, The Vegetarian uses its characters to reflect on taboo, desire, rebellion and fantasy (and all in under 250 pages no less).
The story begins with Yeong-Hye, a dutiful wife to her husband, who feels unsettled in her life and seeks new meaning by pursing a 'plant-like' existence and refuses to eat meat, a shocking act to those around her. The Vegetarian won the Man Booker International Prize in 2016. I would usually say don't judge a book by its cover but the cover of this novella is particularly stunning.
Length: 183 pages.
3. Bear by Marian Engel
Dubbed 'the most controversial Canadian novel of all time' Bear by celebrated author Marian Engel, published originally in 1976, definitely deals with some interesting themes. I wouldn't want to give too much away regarding the plots final details for fear that it may turn some readers off the idea of reading this book.
Bear follows Lou, a lonely American archivist, as she travels north to Canada for the summer to work on archiving the library of the late Colonel Jocelyn Carey. Upon arrival to the estate she encounters a bear chained up in the back garden who had belonged to the Colonel's family for many years. We are given a near day-by-day run through of Lou's summer adventure as she finds a new companion while dealing with her own loneliness and feminine identity.
Length: 167 pages
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