20 Short Books You Can Binge in a Day (Or Two)

As lifelong readers, many of us cherish youthful memories of devouring whole books in one cozy sitting. Sometimes this experience is just what we need to get out of a reading slump. Here are twenty titles—a mix of fiction and nonfiction—that gave us the cathartic satisfaction of a one (or two) day reading experience.

Fiction

Running the gamut from classic titles to newly discovered gems, these ten slender novels are propulsive, suspenseful, and powerful.

• Sula—This rich and moving tale by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison traces the lives of two black women from their close-knit childhood in a small Ohio town through their sharply divergent paths into adulthood.
• The Ocean at the End of the Lane—From master storyteller Neil Gaiman, a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fairy tale for grownups. A man returns to his hometown and confronts a mystifying memory from his childhood.
• Dept. of Speculation—Jenny Offill's spare, shimmering prose is packed with wit and wisdom in this portrait of a faltering marriage. It's a beguiling rumination on the mysteries of love, intimacy, and trust.
• Animal Farm—Both timeless and timely, George Orwell's satirical fable delivers a scathing view of society's tendency toward totalitarianism. When the farm's mistreated animals first take charge, they have the best of intentions.
• Another Brooklyn—Jacqueline Woodson illuminates the formative time when childhood gives way to adulthood in this depiction of a powerful, indelible, and fleeting friendship that united four young lives.
• Of Love and Other Demons—Magical realism trailblazer Gabriel García Márquez penned this story about a priest who falls in love with a twelve-year-old girl brought to him for an exorcism after being bitten by a rabid dog.
• Breakfast at Tiffany's—You may have seen the classic film starring Audrey Hepburn as the unforgettable Holly Golightly, but if you haven't yet read Truman Capote's seductive, wistful novella, now's the time.
• The Alchemist—Santiago is an Andalusian shepherd boy who embarks on a quest for worldly treasure. Elements of magic, mysticism, wisdom, and wonder infuse Paul Coelho's inspiring tale of self-discovery.
• Who Will Run the Frog Hospital—In this poignant novel by Lorrie Moore, a woman recalls a wild, youthful summer with her best friend, Sils. But when the seemingly invincible Sils needs her help, everything changes.
• You Were Never Really Here—This shocking and suspenseful thriller by Jonathan Ames tells the story of an unlikely guardian angel. In an effort to escape the trauma of his past, an ex-Marine rescues girls from the sex trade.

Nonfiction

If you prefer your literature to be based in reality, here are some nonfiction titles you can read from cover to cover in a single sitting.

• The Fire Next Time—Both a depiction of James Baldwin's early life in Harlem and an examination of the consequences of racial injustice, this provocative book exhorts all Americans to fight the terrible legacy of racism.
• The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science— Newbery Honor-winning author Joyce Sidman paints a portrait of one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.
• Man's Search for Meaning—Psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl's riveting account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps offers an insightful exploration of the human ability to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity.
• We Should All Be Feminists—In this eloquent personal essay, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie offers readers a unique definition of feminism for the twenty-first century, one rooted in inclusion and awareness.
• Letters to a Young Poet—Written over a period of several years when Rainer Maria Rilke was himself still a young man, these beloved letters encouraging a young student offer a "vibrant and deeply felt experience of life."
• Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader—For Anne Fadiman, as for many passionate readers, the books she reads have become chapters in her own life story. Here, she recounts her lifelong love affair with literature.
• The Descent of Man—In this witty, thoughtful book, artist Grayson Perry trains his keen eye on male culture. What would happen if we rethought the outdated macho version of manhood, and embraced a different ideal?
• Teaching a Stone to Talk—In sparse, elegant prose, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Dillard explores phenomena of the natural world, offering a keen perspective and drawing resonant meaning out of what she observes.
• What I Talk About When I Talk About Running—While training for the New York City Marathon, Haruki Murakami kept a journal, serving as the basis for this rich and revelatory memoir that elevates the human need for motion to an art form.
• Heart Berries—Hospitalized for post-traumatic stress and bipolar II disorders, Terese Marie Mailhot received a notebook and began to write her way out of trauma. This is her powerful, poetic coming-of-age memoir.

The best kind of binge is a book binge—no guilt! And if you've fallen into a reading slump, getting a few one-day reads under your belt is the perfect cure. Pick up some of these enticing slim volumes and get back into your groove.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon