I'm struggling to get through books these days even though I want to read, so I'm looking for short books that grab your attention right away. I usually love reading thrillers and horror. My favorite author is Stephen King, I love his style of writing and the suspense in his books. But I'm open to just about anything, if you have any fun recommendations!
by mmxxee
11 Comments
Ted Chiang has two short story collections that are fantastic: The Story of Your Life and Others, and Exhalations.
JG Ballard writes quite weird stories. I picked up the complete JG Ballard short story collection years ago to read on a car trip and loved it.
Alastair Reynolds (sci-fi) has a collection called Zima Blue and Other stories which is great.
I turn to graphic novels when I’m struggling to read. I read and loved Ducks by Kate Beaton recently.
ETA: It is neither thriller or horror, but memoir. I should have read your query more closely!
Three short ones that I read almost in one sitting:
A Spindle Splintered
The Annual Migration of Clouds
Leave the World Behind
And this is a recommendation out of left field but I sat down on my couch to read this middle grade book and before I knew it I had read the entire thing it’s so warm and funny— it’s a book told in emails from two middle school girls who are so quirky and lovable:
To Night Owl from Dogfish
Jaso Reynolds – Long Way Down. It’s a breeze to get through.
You would probably love This is How You Lose the Time War.
It’s a fascinating concept, the audiobook runs just over 4 hours, and the characters are some of my all time favorites. It’s a bit of Sci fi, a bit of a love story, and a heavy dose of eerie mystery.
I don’t know how you feel about Sci-fi horror, but if you are open to it then I’d recommend Sphere by Michael Crichton. It’s only 384 pages. I’m not usually a Sci-fi person, but I came across this book while in the midst of a massive reading slump and it was amazing. It definitely got me reading again! And it even made me a little more open to Sci-fi in general.
*Roadside Picnic* by the Strugatsky brothers
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven Peck is…interesting in an odd way.
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison is my absolute favorite short story ever.
Double Idemnity
The Postman Always Rings Twice
If you like King, have you read any of the Richard Bachman books? The Running Man and The Long Walk aren’t too long and really good, but different from his regular stuff
The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones is an audio book that still gives me chills, even months after I finished it.