Condensed Cream Of Literature

bluntforcetrauma · Mar 17, 2008

My brother is an educated well to do man. His one drawback is that he never liked to read books. Recently he read 1984. That has put him on the hunt for more books. His complaint is that most are too long for busy people these days. I agree. I loaned him The Old Man And The Sea.

I believe there's an untapped market for readers who don't savor King sized volumes (pun certainly intended). I'm not talking downloads, but paperbacks for the already overburdened. Thoughts?

I did happen upon THIS.

Mumut · Mar 17, 2008

I didn't read much in my teen years. That's why I write smaller books (70k words) with as much fast flowing action as possible. I want others like me to have access to books they'll enjoy without putting them off from the start with the enormity of the task ahead.

JJ Cooper · Mar 17, 2008

I believe shorter type novels have always had a good market. Like those you buy at airports and news agencies. Until literary agents and publishers change their length requirements for thrillers, I'll keep within the guidelines.

JJ

Devil Ledbetter · Mar 17, 2008

I've grown impatient with novels bloated with description. If the novel is long because the story is long, that's great. If it's long because the author wastes my time describing the scenery in endless, florid detail or repeating information, well blech. The nice thing about short novels is the author doesn't have the luxury of dallying about.

KTC · Mar 17, 2008

Old Man is certainly one of the best of these books. A classic. I love small books for those times in my life when I am absolutely swamped. I still love to read but can't seem to get into the tomes. Another good one is Too Loud a Solitude (those who are sick of me recommending that one...no I don't get kickbacks on sales...I just love it). I will always appreciate the short novel/novella.

JLCwrites · Mar 17, 2008

I am constantly multi-tasking, so I tend to gravitate towards Middle Grade books because the chapters are shorter. That way, I can get through a chapter before the kids cover themselves with markers and glue!

(Of course, I like writing MG books too!)

bluntforcetrauma · Mar 17, 2008

All very good points. Ledbetter, I also deplore too much description. Let me fill in the blanks. I know what buttons are. I know what asphalt looks like. I don't have to be spoon fed. To me, Shirley Jackson's The Lottery is the perfect novel. Every word counts. Sure it would take only a few pages, but there could be sections of commentary and author info if I so desired to read them. My thinking is there's more money to be made with higher page counts, thus the morbidly obese novels.

A good story stays with you long after you've finished reading.

Gravity · Mar 17, 2008

Three words: Classics Illustrated Comics. Seriously. I don't know if the're still around, but back when I was eight I devoured 'em like candy. They were a great intro into the wide world of books.

Silver King · Mar 17, 2008

If you think your brother might like John Steinbeck, he wrote a number of excellent novellas, including, Tortilla Flat, Of Mice and Men, The Red Pony, The Moon is Down, Cannery Row, Sweet Thursday and The Pearl.

bluntforcetrauma said:
...To me, Shirley Jackson's The Lottery is the perfect novel...

Jackson's Lottery is a short story originally published in the New Yorker.

Kerr · Mar 17, 2008

Yea, I was just going to add Of Mice and Men, a truly great quick read.

Condensed Cream Of Literature

bluntforcetrauma

Esquire

Mumut

Well begun is half done...

JJ Cooper

.

Devil Ledbetter

Come on you stranger, you legend,

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

JLCwrites

bluntforcetrauma

Esquire

Gravity

Seen 'em come, seen 'em go

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

Kerr

I vant to bite you