Discussions

I am in a reading challenge. I need to read some books that are less than 280 pages. I am not used to such short books.  
 
I have read Animal Farm, A Child Called It,  
S-t My Dad Says, The Wit and Wisdom of Tyrion Lannister and am part way through The Great Gatsby.  
 
Any recommendations that are short enough?

Go to Coles/Chapters website and look through the books. If you click on a book that may interest you, at the bottom of the description has the number of pages.

I do that and come home with bad books more often than I would like. Never judge a book by its cover (or decription) because it can be misleading. What looks good often is not.  
 
Most people have books they love to refer to other people because they enjoyed them so much. I am hoping to hear favorite short books of others. All books people have recommended I read have been pretty good.  
 
Was just hoping for suggestions.

Randy Pausch. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. Good reads.

Some great short books I've read:  
 
Leo Tolstoy - "The Death of Ivan Ilyich", "The Cossacks", "Family Happiness", "The Gospel in Brief:The Life of Jesus", "A Confession and Other Religious Writings".  
 
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - "The Gambler", "Notes from the Underground"  
 
These titles are harder to find, might need to order online or check the library or used book stores.

I did not realize The Alchemist was a short book. I have heard good things about it. Thanks!  
 
I will check out the others too.  
 
I read Of Mice and Men (really short book) a while back but it is too fresh in my mind for a re-read.

I second Tuesdays with Maury.

I know this book is probably meant for 10 - 13 year olds and I'm in my late 30's but I still love it! Kit Pearson is the author and I believe it is 208 pages.

I also recommend Tuesday's with Morrie!! One of my all time favourite books!  
 
Almost any book by Mitch Albom will qualify! The Five People You Meet in Heaven as well as For One More Day are both great reads!  
 
My girlfriend has read a collection of short stories by all female authors called Dropped Threads and thought it was excellent!

Anthologies ? A mix up of short stories by different authors in a genre ? I love those they always seem to lead me to at least one more good author I would enjoy!

Is the challenge to find books under 300 pages?  
I did not like Tuesday's with Morrie at all! I'm going to have to try it again in a year.  
Mistaken Identity - Don Van Ryn  
The Death & Life of Charlie St. Cloud - Ben Sherwood  
Nights in Rodanthe - Nicholas Sparks  
Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks  
Girl Stolen - April Henry

The Road by Cormac McCarthy is 287 pages and a great read, better than the movie.

It is on Goodreads.com (social networking for bookworms.) It is called the feather weight challenge.  
 
"For this challenge, read more books with less then 280 pages. A break from all the chuncksters!"  
 
I am on book 4 (A Feast for Crows) of A Song of Ice And Fire and I thought it would be a good challenge to give me a break from the big, heavy books in the series I am now reading. But I thought I owned more short books than I do.  
 
These are great suggestions: keep them coming.  
 
Oh and try Animal Farm if you have not read it. I loved it.

I read middle grade books at times. I read a book called Wonder by RR Palacio. Then I read the next book in that series called Auggie and Me and never cried so much in my life!  
 
Some of that type of thing is great after a heavy read.

RainaRo said "Anthologies ? A mix up of short stories by different authors in a genre ? I love those they always seem to lead me to at least one more good author I would enjoy! "

Tried short stories and novellas before with no luck. I may have just chosen poorly though. Any specific suggestions for me to try again?

If you are ok with reading young adult. Try the Dorothy must die series. There are 3 Novels which probably don't fit the requirements but there are also 7 novellas. As long as you read the read the first novel the rest should make sense.

I suggest the shorter works of Neil Gaiman. "The Ocean at the end of the lane" is a great read. Other good ones by him i:nclude (some are YA): Coraline, Odd and the frost Giants, "Seriously, the milk", the graveyard book and Stardust.

Popgoestheweasel said "If you are ok with reading young adult. Try the Dorothy must die series. There are 3 Novels which probably don't fit the requirements but there are also 7 novellas. As long as you read the read the first novel the rest should make sense. "

Is great in small doses. My favorite trilogy is Marie Lu's Legend trilogy. It is completely YA.  
 
Thanks for the suggestion.

kristen phillips said "I suggest the shorter works of Neil Gaiman. "The Ocean at the end of the lane" is a great read. Other good ones by him i:nclude (some are YA): Coraline, Odd and the frost Giants, "Seriously, the milk", the graveyard book and Stardust. "

Read The Graveyard Book. I was not really a fan. How does it compare to the rest of his other works?  
 
I may need to try more of his.

A Weathered Heart said "Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger   The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald   The Outsiders - S. E. Hinton     These are three of the shortest books I''ve read. I enjoyed them, I know they aren''t for everyone. Though I see you're through The Great Gatsby now.     Edited by A Weathered Heart, 2016-07-04 18:28:45"

I have read the Outsiders and really liked it. The movie is good too.  
 
I read Catcher in the Rye too. I wasn't really a fan of it. The main character (I forget his name) got on my nerves with his negativity. Lol

Night - by Elie Wiesel 100 ish pages. Nobel peace prize winner. Holocaust survivor. He just passed away the past weekend.

Glad there are other Goodreads members on here. Great place to find books to read. I second anything Neil Gaiman: absolutely love his work (think Tim Burton-esque).  
Swamp Angel by Ethel Wilson is a good short read and by a Canadian author.  
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner is American Gothic at it's finest.  
Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar is a classic and well worth the read.  
The Giver by Lois Lowry is a fascinating little book.  
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is bittersweet and eye-opening (often used in Middle Years classrooms).  
Lord of the Flies is a book I go back to time and time again.  
Fifteen Dogs is a newer book by a Canadian author, Andre Alexis, and was a Scotia Giller Prize winner.  
The Enchanted, I saved the best for last, by Rene Denfeld is a must read!

Kero said "Glad there are other Goodreads members on here. Great place to find books to read. I second anything Neil Gaiman: absolutely love his work (think Tim Burton-esque).   Swamp Angel by Ethel Wilson is a good short read and by a Canadian author.   As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner is American Gothic at it's finest.   Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar is a classic and well worth the read.   The Giver by Lois Lowry is a fascinating little book.   The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is bittersweet and eye-opening (often used in Middle Years classrooms).   Lord of the Flies is a book I go back to time and time again.   Fifteen Dogs is a newer book by a Canadian author, Andre Alexis, and was a Scotia Giller Prize winner.   The Enchanted, I saved the best for last, by Rene Denfeld is a must read! "

It is great. It is my Social media minus the drama. In Jan. I stumbled across a group reading the whole A Song of Ice and Fire Series with each book lasting 2 months. It has been a fun way to read and discuss such a big (and to me complex) set of books.  
 
I loved The Giver and the following 3 in the series and The Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian. I have lent that book out to all my friends. It is a great eye opener for sure. I didn't care for Lord of the Files much but did read it.  
 
15 Dogs looks interesting. I see it pop up in my recommendations and will maybe have to look further. And the Bell Jar too. Thanks.

Re: Night  
 
That sounds perfect for me. As sad as the topic is I like reading and learning about it. Thanks  
 
 
I am going to check the library for Tuesdays with Morrie too.

I have a copy of Tuesday's w Morrie.... I'm waiting for someone to take it away.

The Little Prince is a short book and beautiful. It will nourish your inner child.  
 
I don't recommend The Road. I bawled my eyes out through that book as it was so sad and disturbing and depressing, and it stayed with me for days and days. It made me so sad my husband begged me to stop reading it because I was crying so much, but I couldn't stop until it was finished.

If you are looking for a short story and enjoy a little mystery and or are a fan of Gone Girl, I would suggest The Grownup by Gillian Flynn.  
I haven't read it yet but just ordered it and it's only about 60ish pages. Mixed reviews on Goodreads.

I just find 15 Dogs for a buck and a half at the thrift store!!!

I have 3 that are less than 280 pages. You're welcome to borrow them if you'd like?  
 
A stolen life...the Jaycee dugard story  
 
Uganda be kidding me by Chelsea Handler (comedian)  
 
To the last breath by Carlton stowers (3 women fight for the truth behind a child's tragic murder)

sammy said "I have 3 that are less than 280 pages. You're welcome to borrow them if you'd like?     A stolen life...the Jaycee dugard story     Uganda be kidding me by Chelsea Handler (comedian)     To the last breath by Carlton stowers (3 women fight for the truth behind a child's tragic murder) "

That is very kind. But I am good. I have picked up a few and I use the library as well as the library overdrive ebook setup.  
 
I try to make myself use the library as much as I can. (Although I love buying books both new and used.)  
By the way bookworms:  
 
The last time I was in the library I noticed a sign on a few YA books that said something like "book club set available " so I asked about it and adult book clubs. The girl was excellent and said they are trying to set one up for adults and took down my name. It is something to think about if anyone else is interested.