5 Books That You Can Read In A Day
Short books for a satisfying weekend read
It is that time of the year when many of us are behind our reading target. If you are among those who are well on track to complete your reading target, I pay my respects! For the rest of us, this is a good time to get some quick small wins.
A small win can go a long way in boosting your morale
Whether you are struggling to meet the book target or you are just trying to get out of a reading slump, these 5 short reads may just be the ones you would want to pick up next.
Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination by J.K. Rowling
Category: Non-fiction > Speech
Pages: 80
Reading Time: 45 minutes
This short read is the book form of a 2008 commencement speech given by J.K. Rowling at the Harvard University. Brimming with life lessons and anecdotes from her own life, this 45-minute read focuses on the importance of failure and imagination in one’s life. An ideal book to refer back to whenever your motivation meter hits a low.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Category: Fiction > Graphic Novel
Pages: 128
Reading Time: 30 minutes
A beautiful little book on hope, this graphic novel by Charlie Mackesy catalogues the journey of a little boy and the animals he meets on his way. It is not mentioned where they are headed but the journey is a metaphor for life itself. During the journey, the boy and the animals (who can not only talk, but can come up with some deep stuff!) discuss the hardships everyone inevitably faces in their lives, how we are all in this together and the importance of helping each other get through the tough times.
A perfect read during this pandemic.
After the Quake by Haruki Murakami
Category: Fiction > Short Stories
Pages: 147
Reading Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
If you are looking to add a tinge of magic to your weekend, there’s no better way to do that than picking up a Murakami. This collection of short stories by Murakami is about some really ordinary people from Japan whose lives are vaguely connected to the 1995 Kobe earthquake (hence the title). Like any other Murakami book, this is going to make you feel a myriad of emotions.
I still remember reading this book (which was my introduction to the world of Murakami’s magical realism) on a bright sunny Sunday afternoon and getting blown away by the sheer brilliance of the writing.
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Category: Fiction > Romance
Pages: 215
Reading Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
If you’ve ever wondered how much one can write about love, how can one fill a whole book with just love but still keep you hooked to it, then you’ve got to read this gem by Nicholas Sparks. There is no mystery, no flying broomsticks, no murder, no bloodshed, no codes to decrypt but the book is simply unputdownable.
This book promises to make you smile and cry and it keeps its promise (tear-jerker warning). Do not be surprised if you wish your life was a Nicholas Sparks novel when you finish this book.
100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings: How to Get By Without Even Trying by Sarah Cooper
Category: Fiction > Graphic Novel
Pages: 176
Reading Time: 50 minutes
If you are an office-goer (WFH included) like me, I can guarantee you that you will laugh out loud more than a few times during this fun read. This graphic novel is a sarcastic take on things that are very often heard and seen during office meetings.
One of the “tricks” Sarah mentions in her book is to “encourage everyone to take a step back”
This is easily the funniest book I have ever read.
You can check out the author’s blog post 10 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings to get a flavour of the book.
That’s all, folks. Happy reading, have a good weekend and life. :)
