Today’s my nineteenth wedding anniversary, and I can honestly say we’ve been through thick and thin, both literally and metaphorically. 😉
It’s funny, because when I started creating the header graphic for this post, all I had in mind was the title. I originally intended to focus on book length—you know, thick books and thin books. Ha ha, I know, right? And then I realized the date of the post and my brain took off in a whole new direction.
It happens. I do have the attention span of a sugared up toddler loose in a children’s museum, after all.
Thinking about sticking together through the thick and the thin, a lot of memories come to the surface. Nineteen years (twenty-one total) means a lot of memories. Some exquisitely wonderful, some complicated and painful. Most somewhere in between. All part of a long, sometimes crazy, love story that hasn’t finished being written yet, and at the same time provides plenty of fodder for stories.
Which brings me back to thinking about books, of course.
Life is busy. And not just for me, but for all of us. We’ve all got our ways to decompress and escape the world for a little while. If you’re here, I’m guessing your method of choice is reading. It’s a lifelong love for me, one my family has had to learn is a part of keeping me sane and, well, me. But lately, I just can’t dedicate the brain space and time required by a thick book when the sheer width (or more accurately, the status bar on my kindle) overwhelms me. Even if the book is lovely with dozens of 5-star ratings, more often than not, I need the story to just get down to business already. For the love of books, y’all.
Bring on the thin books, baby. I’m talking under 250 pages. 175 is optimal. Novellas? Yes, please. Something I can read in a day or two tops. Kind of like taking a weekend getaway versus a two-week extended trip. Sure, the long trip is memorable, but it takes a ton of planning, costs a fortune, and is often more stressful than restful before it’s over. But weekend getaways can be spontaneous, restorative, and uncomplicated fun! Are you getting my metaphor?
Now, in some circles, thin books (AKA novellas and short reads) get a bad rap. I hear a lot of people claim that they don’t feel a shorter tale allows for the proper length to dig in and really develop the characters or their story. I disagree. All the way back in high school English class, we learned the key elements of proper story structure: the exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, moment of final suspense, and resolution (or denouement). In romance there are a few tweaks, but those key elements remain, and word count and page length don’t always mean a better or more satisfying tale.
In my opinion, it’s all about the author’s ability to craft feelings from words throughout those key plot points. I’ve read numerous short stories that have made me laugh more, cry harder, and empathize with the characters than books double in length.
It’s probably why out of the nine books I’ve published, 5 have been novellas (with half a dozen more in the works). They’re fun to write, honestly, because they sharpen your storytelling skills by forcing you to get right into the tale and keep things moving at a good clip. In romance, they’re even more fun because you have a limited amount of words to prove to the reader that the relationship is going to work, how, and why! Thick books are great, sure. But those thin ones deserve a little spotlight too because they prove an author’s adaptability.
In fact, many of our Inspy Romance authors here have some thin books out that have been magnificent! I’ve been working my way through their back lists ever since joining the gang a year and a half ago. I’ve still got a ways to go (I mean, come on. There are over two dozen of us!), so instead of recommending book titles to you in this post, I’d like to turn the tables and ask YOU for recommendations.
What 200-ish page books or novellas have you really enjoyed recently? I love talking books, so tell me why you’re recommending that particular thin book. Bonus if it’s from one of our fab authors here at IR—because through thick and thin, we’re all here at Inspy Romance together and we love contemporary romance! I can’t wait to read your recommendations and chat with you in the comments. 🙂
And if you’re looking for a novella to read, I’d like to recommend my book Adrift, which is always free on all retailers. You can also get a free novelette by signing up on my author newsletter!
Jaycee,
I also prefer “shortish” novels with anywhere from 15-23 chapters. Sometimes I love the characters so much that I wished the book was longer so I didn’t have to say goodbye. I also reread frequently & a shorter novel makes that more possible, so I can again enjoy the journey sometime later. When reading a longer book – 23+ chapters – I often read a shorter novel intermittently at the same time, just different genre. Just to break it up. 😀
Happy Anniversary!
Thank you!
Congratulations on your 19th, Jaycee, and please give my greetings and congratulations to your DH, my fellow aerospace engineer. This month we celebrate the motto of our discipline: “Pedes humi et spatium vacua in cranium”. Roughly translated, this means “Our feet on the ground and our heads full of space.” Wait, knowing the guy who said it to me, it was probably just intended for me. Never mind.
I enjoy books of both thick and thin varieties. I enjoyed Adrift so I went back and reread it this afternoon. Beautifully told and in first person, no less. Longer books tend to get me in trouble because I’ll get hooked on the story and stay up way too late, or early depending on your perspective. So, I guess that I agree with the earlier commenters that so long as the storytelling is solid, length ranks second. When shorter length is preferred, bring on the delightful novellas!
As usual, you make me laugh, Lincoln. Thank you. 🙂 I’m so glad you’re here.
Congratulations to you and your husband, by your statement you have been through thick and thin ,you both have made it despite what adversities you went through, I pray that you continue to love and cherish one another so this union can become a testament of your relationship and marriage. I would love it you can share you vast knowlege with us so we can also use you it in our own relationship. God bless you both and your entire family circle.
Thank you Angeline! I’m happy to talk about what we’ve weathered over the years. I could type a whole lot of things, but it’d probably be easiest if you email me at jayceeweaver@gmail.com and we’ll talk!
Congratulations , Happy Anniversary! You are a new to me author , nice to meet you. I recommend The Last Blue by Isla Morley, it was a very, very good book. I am now reading Little Tea by Claire Fullerton , I am not half way through with it and I am loving it.
Sweet! I love book recommendations! I’ll definitely be checking out those two. Thank you! And I’m glad to meet you as well. I hope you’ll check out the freebies and maybe some of my others. 🙂 Happy reading!
Happy 19th anniversary to you and your husband! I’ve been married just a bit longer at 23 years and it just keeps getting better 🙂
I enjoy novellas too, especially boxed sets. I have one I’m reading now called “Betwixt Two Hearts (Crossroads collection) by six different authors; Amanda Tru, Cathe Swanson, Kari Trumbo, Alana Terry, Carol Moncado and Chautona Havig. These are all new-to-me authors and so I’m meeting them for the first time through their books and that is my favorite part! Discovering new writers 🙂 So fun!
Book length doesn’t matter so much to me generally. If I don’t have a lot of time to read, I’ll pick up a shorter length book or novella collection. If I really want to delve into a book, I’ll choose a longer length one to savor. And shorter novels don’t mean there is no substance to them, I’ve found the ones I’ve read over the years are just as well-written and has the depth of story & characters I love. I have had a few that aren’t that way & they’re a disappointment. Thankfully that hasn’t happened often. 🙂 As long as an author can engage me in the story & characters, then I am a very satisfied reader at the end! A happily-ever-after is a must have <3
Thank you! I loved the Betwixt Collection! All of the Crossroads books are wonderful. I was so honored that they asked me to be in their Christmas one last year (When Snowflakes Never Cease) and again this year (details coming soon)! I’m so glad you agree about length and substance! And you are so right about the HEA being a must. 🙂
Happy anniversary!
Thanks, Merrillee!
Happy anniversary! Pat and I just celebrated our 36th. Time passes more quickly every year.
My attention span has never been long, and in this season of change (we made a life-changing move, the world is shut down and on fire, etc.) , it’s even worse.
I have to admit, though, that some novellas are really too short for me. I prefer them to be at least 125 pages. 🙂
36 years is amazing! I agree on the speed of time passing. This season has definitely made my attention span shorter. 125 pages sounds like a good length. It’s hard to translate pages into word count in my head, but yes, 18k words is about as short as I can manage before it feels too short.
Happy Anniversary! Mine is today too. 🙂
I love novellas and short novels! I have a short attention span, tired eyes, and I have a hard time sitting for long periods of time. A long book (normal length) tends to take me a month to get through.
Aw, happy anniversary! Sounds like we’re a couple birds of a feather. 🙂
I, too, have been gravitating toward shorter books lately. I have gotten into the habit of just wanting to get down to the important stuff. Is that impatient? Maybe. But I think it also tells about how contemporary writing has learned from War and Peace and the Lord of the Ring trilogy and pared back on the nonessential description and excessive backstory. I so agree — length doesn’t necessarily correspond to excellence.
I have recently read 3 novellas I’m recommending:
1. Love’s Second Chance by Patty H. Scott
2. The Fireman’s Perfect Match by Patty H. Scott (technically it’s #2 but it can be read alone, too)
3. A Little Bit in Love with You by Jenny Proctor
I just started A Little Bit in Love with You! I’ll put the others on my list. Thanks for the recommendations. I don’t know if it’s impatience or not. For me, probably. It’s definitely the Fruit of the Spirit I struggle with most.
Happy Anniversary, I also will be celebrating 19 years and was also thinking the same thing just the other day. Wow we have been through alot of ups and downs and in between many times I myself did not think we were going to make it. But as I look back my Jesus was constantly with us. So back to reading I just love to read, it doesn’t matter if its short or long, I do really enjoy books that are series like Kimberly Rae Jordan’s, or Hallee Bridgeman just to name a few. The down side is that I will read them so fast and then I have to wait for the next one to come out.
Thank you and congratulations to you, too! What grace Jesus brings into our relationships! I do love to read, and FAST. Haha!
I love books, thin or thick! One of the funniest I’ve read this year (because it’s really still sticking with me) is Shanty by the Sea by Kelli Pizarro. It was funny, had all the feels! I read more historicals and westerns than I do contemporary, but it goes in cycles. I really like contemporary, however, since I read a lot of ARC’s, I read more of the others. I know there are some contemporary ones coming up, though, that I’m really looking forward to!
Oops!! And, I meant to say, Happy Anniversary!!!
Thanks, Trudy! I do love a good funny book–I’ll check out Shanty by the Sea. Thanks for the recommendation!
Happy anniversary!
I honestly don’t usually pay attention to book length since I usually read ebooks. I can tell you average number of dots under a title on the screen but equating that to pages is hard.
For me it really is story. I’ve read long books I wish were longer. I’ve read short books I wish were longer. Of course the long books I wish were shorter is probably not a stellar recommendation 😉
I’ve been discovering Hanna Jo Abbott’s Billionaires lately and they’re probably right in that length you mentioned. And fun.
Nice! I’ll check them out! And I agree that it really is about STORY. When they’re highly engaging, length doesn’t matter.
Jacyee, you aren’t the only one with the attention span of a sugared up toddler. lol! For me a great writer is one who can craft a tale which captivates me, sometimes short, sometimes long, but captivating. When I am as tired as I am now, novellas are a brilliant length for me and I am finding that my elderly mum and her friends are moving towards shorter stories, as are friends who are super busy. Long books are a luxury for when on holidays now. So you go girl, write your amazing novellas knowing we are out here appreciating them!
Attention span, yes I warned you, lol!
Congratulations and wishing you many more wonderful years of marriage 🙂
LOL! And yes, it’s about a captivating tale. As Elizabeth said, the story. And thank you so much!
Happy Anniversary. I haven’t read much for awhile. But I do love novellas It started with the Barbour Christmas novellas. I loved reading the christmas stories. I guess I was enjoying them before they were popular. For me I love that they are short and easy to read. I have head pain and my concentration isn’t always the best so the shorter stories are much better for me. I also love the LI size books. I think you can get a good story in that size books. Some larger books I have read quite a bit of the book could have been left out as it wasn’t needed or it slowed the book down.
Exactly my thoughts!
Congratulations!!
When it comes to books the bigger the better for me.
I can understand that! Thank goodness we’ve got a lot to choose from out there!