So when I signed up for Rick’s Novellas in November challenge, I did it without thinking much about it and without expecting much from it. I chose five novellas that I would like to read but didn’t really expect that I would make it.
But now, November is over, Christmas is fast approaching – and I can happily report that not only did I read all the novellas I had planned, I enjoyed myself quite a bit more than expected.
Now normally I prefer my fiction to be longer. I don’t shy away from reading 1000+ pages books and I like getting to spend a lot of time with the characters and really get to know them. But since my life now includes a full-time job as well as a boyfriend, two kids, a dog, a hamster and three bunnies, things tend to get rather busy around here. And as I’ve written about before, I sometimes have a hard time staying awake when I read at night in bed which is where I do most of my reading. I first tried to fix that by reading brain candy in the shape of urban fantasy but throughout the month of November I’ve learned that novellas are also a way of fixing it.
I’ve really enjoyed reading these novellas and I have been so impressed with how much the authors could do in so few pages. And when you only make it through five pages some nights, it is a comfort to know that the book you’re reading is only 125 pages and not 1400!
So thank you Rick for hosting this – I hope we can do it again next year!
Here’s the five novellas I read during this event with links to my reviews:
- Thomas Steinbeck: Dr. Greenlaw and the Zulu Princess (review)
- Colm Tóibín: The Testament of Mary (review)
- Alan Bennett: The Uncommon Reader (review)
- Thomas Steinbeck: Cabbages and Kings (review)
- Meike Ziervogel: Magda (review)
I had expected that Magda would be my favorite but instead I really liked both The Uncommon Reader and The Testament of Mary and these are both books I would like to read again at a later time. I’m still intrigued by the story of Magda Goebbels but this novella was good but not quite as good as I had hoped.
I end this challenge with a very good feeling about shorter fiction. Who knows, I might even be persuaded to try a short story collection soon!
Related posts:
The Literary Bunny 
I normally prefer longer books, but have recently discovered that novellas can work for me too. I loved Magda, but wasn’t a fan of The Testament of Mary. I haven’t tried the others yet, but I have The Uncommon Reader on my shelf. I should probably try to read more novellas.
Yeah, me too. It’s nice to have something shorter between longer works and it gives one the feeling of actually accomplishing something.
The Uncommon Reader is so much fun, isn’t it? Magda is one that I’ve wanted to read for a while now, I actually have a hold on it at the library.
Peirene Press publish some great novellas, I read nine of them about a year ago as part of a readathon, and some of them are just excellent. They are all critically renowned books translated into English. Beyond the Sea especially is fantastic.
Yes, The Uncommon Reader is a lot of fun. And I loved the ending!
And Magda is worth reading – I just think my expectations were too high.
I have heard so much good about Peirene Press. I’m still considering getting a subscription.
I’ve got Magda on my shelves so I will move it up my TBR list. Like you I really did like Testament of Mary and I was a bit surprised, as I’d expected the novella would have been a less enjoyable format for me. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’ll now look out for The Uncommon Reader.