I've been distributing our latest Book Group book this week and have been congratulated on choosing another slim novel (scroll down for details). This is the third book in succession that hasn't stretched beyond 225 pages. And (spoiler) the title I've just ordered for our 27 July meeting is another short read.
It's not that we don't like a challenge - after all, as a group each year we read the Booker Prize Longlist. In fact we're coming up to the judges' announcement of their 2026 selection so if you'd like to join in our Booker Book Group discussion where we review and debate this year's contenders for the big prize, please reply to this email and I'll send you the details. The Longlist is announced on Tuesday 28 July and our meeting will take place on Monday 7 September.
The Booker books usually require some investment in time and effort, it has to be said, often being weighty in both subject matter and heft, so why have we enjoyed the novellas in our recent Book Group discussions?
An article in the 'Guardian's' Saturday supplement yesterday recognised that we are all feeling that our time is 'squeezed' and, instead of turning to a short story for an uninterrupted read, being able to experience the intensity of completing an entire novel in one sitting or one day is a great pleasure.
The writer of the article was a Booker judge last year and had to read 153 books in six months. In this piece he lists the titles he recommends as satisfying short reads. Are there any that appeal? Or perhaps you'll join me in reading this month's Book Group book before getting ready to clear the decks for the Booker Longlist?
Thank you for reading.
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