Books to read when you're time poor and tired
Novellas + short stories + romance and more for when big books seem too hard
Throughout the year my reading habits fall into a predictable pattern: bursts of intense reading over the summer and holiday breaks, followed by an inevitable slump during the school term when the hectic pace get the better of me. It’s hard to sustain reading momentum when you fall asleep after reading one or two pages at night!
This year, I’ve consciously tried to break the cycle by changing up what and when I’ve been reading. I try to carry a book with me regularly and resist picking up my phone (with mixed results, if I’m honest). I aim for a reading break during the day on weekends, and I’ve been trying to read for a couple of hours on Sunday mornings instead of scrolling.
I’ve also reached a place of acceptance about what books I can read during the school term. When parenting and life is at its busiest, big literary books are not for me. Instead, I’ve turned to a mix of different genres and lengths to make reading feel easier to sustain, even when I’m feeling brain dead.
For me, the key is pacy fiction, lighter fare and short reads. Here are some of my favourite books for maintaining a reading habit even when life has other ideas!
Novellas + other short books
Novellas are having a moment. I think it could be partly thanks to Claire Keegan, the incredible Irish writer whose novellas have become hugely popular since Small Things Like These was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2022. Start with any of her books – I also loved So Late in the Day and Foster for their deceptively simple yet profound stories of life in rural Ireland.
I recently finished Three Days in June by the prolific Anne Tyler in three short sittings. A meticulously observed portrait of a divorced couple rejoining forces around their daughter’s wedding, it was sharp, funny and touching. Loved it.
Another short, beautiful book is last year’s Booker Prize winner, Orbital, by Samantha Harvey. At 136 pages, it is one of the shortest ever Booker Prize winners and you can read it in an afternoon. Just don’t expect fireworks or cliffhangers; instead, it’s a thought-provoking, meditative and poetic look at Earth from the perspective of six astronauts on the International Space Station.
Some other (not new) short favourites: the incredibly charming My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall-Smith, Kent Haruf’s moving story of an elderly couple, Our Souls At Night, and Alan Bennett’s The Uncommon Reader in which the Queen discovers a mobile library.
I’ve also recently read two short non-fiction books: The Season by the inimitable Helen Garner and Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks. While their subjects couldn’t be more different (a teenage football season v grieving a partner), both were wonderful.
Crime/thriller
There’s nothing like a good murder or mystery novel to keep you hooked on reading. In particular, Australian crime has been riding high since Jane Harper’s The Dry kicked off a rush of rural noir. Names to look out for include Hayley Scrivenor, Jacqueline Bublitz, Dinuka McKenzie, Benjamin Stevenson and Christian White.
I’m quite partial to cosy crime books, which are less gritty and tend to elevate the puzzle aspect of the novel, along with charming characters and perhaps a picturesque setting. I would recommend any of the Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club books (read about the upcoming screen adaption here), The Maid by Nita Prose, and Anthony Horowitz’s series that kicks off with Magpie Murders.
I’ve also heard great things about Mark Smith’s new book, Three Boys Gone, and am looking forward to reading new releases from Joanna Jenkins (The Bluff), Jane Caro (Lyrebird), and Laura McCluskey (The Wolf Tree).
Romance
After reading lots of rom-coms in my 20s (some might have been categorised as that horrible term ‘chick-lit’ *shudder*), I went off it for quite a while. No idea why. But I’m back on the romance bandwagon – contemporary romance I should say, not so much the romantasy aka ‘fairy smut’ that is dominating bestseller charts worldwide at the moment. Nothing against it, dragons just aren’t my thing!
Probably my most recommended book of the past few months has been The Wedding People by Alison Esbach, a hilarious and well-written romantic comedy of manners set in Rhode Island. Such a delight. Also on the wedding theme, I loved The Wedding Forecast by Melbourne author Nina Kenwood and The Bad Bridesmaid by Rachael Johns.
Other names to look out for: the prolific Emily Johns has a new book, Great Big Beautiful Life, out in a few weeks; Beth O’Leary; Jodi McAlister, Abby Jimenez and Katherine Center.
Short stories
A shortcut to a sense of reading accomplishment, short story collections offer bite-sized stories that allow you to dip in and out without losing track of a broader narrative. Great for when you regularly fall asleep after a few pages!
Any new book from Curtis Sittenfeld, one of my favourite authors, is cause for cause for celebrations and her short story collection Show Don’t Tell is no exception. Wry, illuminating and wise, the stories offer a glimpse into the lives of mostly middle-aged women from the mid-West looking back on family, friendship, career, marriage and fame. Loved it.
Other recommendations: the Japanese bestseller What You Are Looking For is in The Library by Michiko Aoyama, Australia Day by Melbourne GP/author Melanie Cheng, and Table for Two by Amor Towles.
In other bookish news…
May is shaping up to a busy month of events!
I’m interviewing Brisbane authors Carly-Jay Metcalfe and Simon Cleary for an event on life writing at the UQ Alumni Book Fair on 3 May. Come along to buy cheap books and listen to us chat about what makes a great memoir – it’s free!
I cannot wait to meet English-Cambodian author Kaliane Bradley, who wrote one of my favourite reads of 2024, The Ministry of Time. She’s a guest of Brisbane Writers Festival on 13 May.
BWF is also bringing two international literary legends to town in consecutive events on 20 May: Alan Hollinghurst and Ian Rankin. Buy tickets to both and make a night of it!
Brisbane author Laura Elvery launches her new book, Nightingale, with Avid Reader on 8 May. How gorgeous is the cover? I’ve got an advance copy and am looking forward to reading.
As part of my Books on Bywong event series, I’ll be talking with another Brisbane author, Joanna Jenkins, about her new crime novel, The Bluff, and books we’ve been loving lately. Join us!
Wishing you a very happy Easter break, hopefully with some extra time for reading!
I’ve read a lot of great books this year, so I’ll share a round-up very soon! Also check out my Instagram for more suggestions. In the meantime, what have you been reading? Do you have any recommendations for what I should read next?