Small books are my favourite things.
This is probably because I am also on the smol side * of humanity (sometimes referred to as “vertically challenged”, particularly when trying to reach the top cupboards) and therefore I feel great connection with books that have a shorter selection of pages in them. It’s like we’re twins or something!! Kinship!! Neither that book nor I know what the oxygen is like up there with the tall folk!!!
We will have a small garden party and drink out of thimbles and you are not invited. **
But are small books actually better? Because while I way way prefer them, I do admit they do have faults and failings that bigger books don’t fall into. Which leads us to the obvious conclusion that we need to (A) have a pros and cons list for big vs small books and (B) follow it up with a quiz I hath made to see if I can predict which length of book YOU prefer, and (C) we probably should really have that garden party. I’m hungry. Bring forth the thimble tea.
I’m also massively cheating and linking up with Top Ten Tuesday for a list that is neither top nor ten. SO WHY AM I EVEN HERE? IT’S PROBABLY ILLEGAL. But I’m still posting in spirit of the prompt! It was just when I looked up the small books I’ve read via Goodreads I realised I don’t own many of them, ergo how can I take photos, ergo WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS LIFE.
And I also didn’t want to bore you with 10 samples of novellas where my collective thoughts are “why doth this novella exist, good sir, it does nothing for my constitution or furthering the story”. Which would make a very very short post. And we can’t have that. My posts must be the size of Jupiter. ***
* I’m 5’1 (158cm) so like I do have a bit of height on the hobbits at least.
** Just kidding, you’re totally invited. You can bring the food because what else do you have friends for if not to supply food for mad quaint garden parties while you frolic about with the flamingos and hedgehogs.
*** Why? I DON’T KNOW. I USED TO WRITE SMALL POSTS. I think it’s because I only post 3 x a week so I have a lot of words to use up.
I mean I’m already biased that I like small books better. JUST SO YOU KNOW. But I shall be factual and logical with my lists here. And “factual and logical” is a phrase here which means “Cait will be totally ridiculously biased and type nonsense onto this screen because of who she is as a person and that is allergic to reason“. Right. Let’s go.
- THEY DON’T TAKE UP AS MUCH TIME. Which is obviously an amazing thing if you’re either (A) short on time due to a busy life raising dragon eggs, or (B) you have a short attention span and stupidly made a very enthusiastic Goodreads goal. Don’t even FRET. It happens to all of us! I mean, I’m totally 19 books ahead of schedule but hush.
- YOU’RE NOT COMMITTED TO A HORRID BOOK. I used “horrid” just now because I’ve been reading European books lately and it’s leaking into my life. BUT MOVING FORWARD: when you read large books and they’re horrid, and if you really hate leaving things unfinished…you’re sunk. Cleaning every blade of grass outside with a toothbrush sounds more exciting. However!! Small books = less commitment if they’re awful!
- YOU READ MORE AND FEEL LIKE A #BOSS. And reading isn’t a competition, kids, so whether you read 1 book a day or 1 book a week — it doesn’t matter so long as you have fun. But it’s undeniable that it feels good to watch that stack of “read” books grow quickly. And it makes me feel productive! Also if you have the stupid system of “read one book and acquire 10 more” you get to acquire more books so fast!! This is so not the reason I am drowning in books right now!! Ha ha ha ha!!
- SHORT PEOPLE CAN FEEL KINSHIP TO THEM. Like me, for instance. Did these books eat their greens? Probably not. Did I eat my greens? Definitely not. THESE ARE MY PEOPLE. (Or, well, um, books?)
- IF YOU DROP ONE YOU WON’T DIE WHEN IT LANDS ON YOU. Huge plus.
- LESS WRIST STRAIN HOLDING THEM UP. Because those 500+ page hardcovers are killers.
- THEY’RE JUST NOT SO DAUNTING. I have so many 450+ page books on my TBR because I’ve avidly avoided them for so long and now they’re building up. Help. But they’re just big and scary and aghhhhhh I need will power to attempt them and I seem to have lost my will power along with my left sock. Where is my will? Have you seen it.
- ATTENTION SPAN OF A GNAT = WE GOTCHA COVERED. Because I confess that I do get a bit weary of stories sometimes. Like that middle-of-the-book lag area?? I like to read a book at 5pm, but smite the sun at 6pm because I don’t like sitting still for too long so: short books are just better for this.
- BIG BOOKS ARE JUST SCARY. This is the honest truth. All those pages. All that commitment. Yikes. I am not ready for this I am just a child.
- YOU CAN’T USE THEM AS WEAPONS. This is really going to be an issue in the apocalypse, is all I’m saying. My #1 plan is to hide out in a bookstore while the world rabidly destroys itself and only exit for snacks. I’ll actually get on top of my TBR! But you better believe I want to be reading a hardcover of Game of Thrones during the apocalypse and not a Spiderman comic.
- THEY OFTEN SKIMP ON WORLD BUILDING. Which is actually an important thing?!?! Please stop snatching away the world building, dear sir, I NEED IT. And I find YA fantasy suffers from this immensely because they choose kissing > world building and I am not onboard. UGHGHHGH. Don’t make me resort to adult fantasy. I will need to find a childish cleanse to heal myself of any lingering adultness afterwards.
- THEY OFTEN JUST SKIMP, LET’S BE REAL HERE. Like on character development…because 300pgs isn’t a lot to create worlds, characters, make me care, have a satisfying plot, and humour and interesting dialogue, and also develop a romance or create a magic system. I hate finishing a book and thinking “ya man but where was the rest of the story???”
- THEY’RE NOT CHEAPER. Look, I’m just saying when I go to buy a book I can’t help but think of getting the most value for my money. And when it’s the same to buy 500 page tome as it is to be a 250page?? Like I’m thrifty ok.
- IF YOU PUT IT DOWN, YOU MIGHT LOSE IT. The amount of times my bed has devoured a book while I’ve flung things to the seven seas trying to find it again — sheesh. Skinny little underfed books. Come back oooooout.
- THEY’RE ANNOYING TO TAKE PLACES. Like if you want to go out and take a book there is a 87% chance you might finish that small book you’ve brought along. So you have to bring 2. Or maybe even 9. This is getting ridiculous. You might as well go away for a holiday in the Galapagos now that you’ve bought 9 books along.
- THEY’RE NOT SATISFYING TO SLAM SHUT. Which I realise is not a criteria for a “good book” to everyone but…it should be. C’mon. You’ve slammed a book shut, admit it. It’s therapeutic.
It’s pretty obvious from my unbiased commentary that smol books are better than tol books.
However there are some large books I wouldn’t want a page less of. For instance, A Conjuring Of Light by VE Schwab or Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Barudgo. In fact: please give me more.
But generally I’ll pick a book between 300 – 400 pages. That is my page count of excellence. If it’s above 500 pages, there’s a big chance I’ll be quietly whispering it should’ve been pruned more (like Winter by Marissa Meyer…or City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare…I like them but SERIOUSLY?!?? TOO LONG) and like I have an AXE and I like CHOPPING UP STUFF so feel free to hire me. *
* Don’t be alarmed.
Now I’ve made this quiz ALL MYSELF so it’s obviously infallible and if you get a result and think “that’s not me at all” then just trust that I know you better than you know you. Obviously. #Legit
In other words I have no idea what I’m doing BUT HAVE FUN WITH THIS.
THIS QUIZ SEES INTO MY SOUL IT IS UNCANNY, BARTHOLEMEW. Also I am #agree with long books. ALTHOUGH. I don’t mind a 500 pager as long as it’s good??? OBVIOUSLY??? Like… I can read a 600 page book in one sitting if it’s FANTASTIC. Otherwise it may take me 9 years and 7 days. Just saying. You have very valid points! Smol is better than tol. I, however am neither smol nor tol, so back to the quiz which TOTALLY SAID I LIKED IN BETWEEN BOOKS. ANNNND MY HEIGHT IS IN BETWEEN. How even. So perfect *tears up*
Also in case you are wondering I am currently procrastinating my life by reading your blog right now. I HAVE MISSED SO MUCH.
Esther @ Queen of Fantasy recently posted…A Conjuring of Light Summary: You might as well tear out your eyes and your heart now because THIS IS GOING TO BE A PAINFUL AND BUMPY RIDE
THAT’S BECAUSE I AM THE ALL SEEING EYE, AND THIS IS BECAUSE I’M QUEEN OF ALL. *subtle flail* Ahem. I read 500 pages of ACOL in one sitting because YOU KNOW. VE SCHWAB. ❤️💔 And I would’ve finished except my eyeballs were burning and my heart was dead. SO. I took a nap.
Ohhh so you’re one of those average MIDDLE PEOPLE. HOW DARE YOU, ESTHER, I THOUGHT WE AGREED TO BE IDENTICAL.
(And I hope you’re doing well!! I’ve missed you!)
ACOL WAS TRUELY AMAZING.
Also please forgive meeee I come from a family of relatively tall people SO ACTUALLY I AM SHORT IN COMPARISON.
Also I’VE MISSED YOU TOO. There has just been so much going on over here becasue GLIEJLSIJFOEIJSL I HAVE FINALS IN 1 1/2 MONTHS AND I AM SLIGHTLY FREAKING OUT AND SWAMPED WITH STUDYING AND MY PROJECT. I despaired quietly as I watched my inbox fill with your blog posts that I had zero time to read and I cried D: D: D: BUUUUT I’ve finally found time so I’M BACK AND MY BLOG IS BACK MUAHAHAHAHA
UUUUGH FINALS THOUGH. I HOPE THEY GO WELL. EACH CHOCOLATE YES? THAT WILL FIX IT.
I loved the quiz! I got 300 – 400 pages, which is exactly in my comfort zone. I might be a short human, but when it comes to short vs. long books, I prefer longer. Shorter (less than 320pp) don’t do it for me because as you said, they skip characterization and world building and arghhh I just need more! My favorite series is ASOIAF and I’ve reread it 4 or 5 times so long detailed stories are definitely preferable for me! Also, Goodreads challenges are the death of reading big fat tomes! Last year I had an ambitious goal so then I started reading mostly short books so I could catch up… therefore leaving all the tomes on my tbr, waiting to fall on me and crush me to death. So this year I set a much lower challenge and it works great, I’m finally taking time to reread Anna Karenina and get to The Wise Man’s Fear ^^
AHHHH I’M SO GLAD THE QUIZ WORKED!😂 That’s my comfort zone too so we’re basically bookworm twins at this point. *hi fives*
Ohhh I admire you fore rereading ASOIAF!! I read them all last year and it was a mammoth effort.😂 Although the audiobooks did make it not seem so long somehow?? I mean 40+ hours of ASOIAF? Nice.😂 And AGH yes! Goodreads challenges should kind of count pages instead of books, right?!? haha. I have The Wise Man’s Fear to read too…although I’m sort of procrastinating because (a) it’s huge and (b) when is he going to write more.😭😭😭
HAHAHAHAHA this so amazing! I mean, I don’t really have a problem with the number of pages. If I like a book, I will want it to be as long as possible, and if I don’t really like it I want it to end then. It sounds kind of dumb, but for me it depends on me liking the book or not! But big books are so heavy I tell you. I have got some BIG muscles by just moving my books here and there😂💪
And my quiz result was books over 500 pages, although I do have commitment issues. #oops #sorrynotsorry
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I do get that!! I should’ve put that in my post actually haha, because honestly if it’s by VE Schwab or Maggie Stiefvater = they could write 938493 pages and I’d still be happy. :’)
*glares at the quiz* OBVIOUSLY the dragon secretaries made it. Not me. I am blameless.
Great article! I got “I Want Everything” on the quiz, which is totally 100% correct! I feel short books and long books each have their own advantages and disadvantages and I need both in my life. I do prefer novels (150+ pages) over short stories (< 50 pages), but I read books with varying lengths (including short stories). I love it when a book has a lot of pages vs. the money I pay for it (I'm also thrifty!) and if it's a book by an author I love and I just know I'm going to love all 800 pages. But when the book is by an unknown author or one I don't know that well I tend to be intimidated by its size sometimes and I love the feeling of progression when you are able to read several short books in the same time it takes you to read one long book. I love reading epic long fantasy books (and other genres) but I also love reading shorter contemporary books (and other genres). I read both standalones and series. I love all the books!
P.S. I'm also short (163 cm or 5' 4"), but it never occured to me to compare my height with books!
AHHH YAS. QUIZ WIN.😂 I will not fire myself from making quizzes then hhha. ahem.
And it’s tough to be a thrifty bookworm, right!? Like we want to buy the big books but also HELP US. THEY’RE SO HUGE.😂 And I’m the same with authors I love! Basically VE Schwab could write a 1200 page book and I would still be freaking out with love over it. And even her 600pg latest book I read mostly in one day. SO. The author does make a difference!!
Ohhh, you are NEARLY my size. I would not have to stand on a step ladder to speak to you! GREAT.
Good morning, daisy chains!
Ha, a great post as always. That’s the right way to start the day. 😀
I admit I do like the smol books. But usually I like more pages that your formidable quiz told me I’d like. I like the 234-389 pages stuff. They’re easier to carry around and will not crush me with their weight when I pack them for work in the morning. That also leaves more space for food in my bag. Because food = obviously important. We don’t want to stay smoller than our TBR pile, would we? So there’s just one thing we can do to make sure we can reach the books on the top, right? Growing through eating. Cake presumably. Or fries. Or burgers. Try the grey stuff, it’s delicious. Or pancakes which are cakes by name. Or vegetables. Olives. Apples. Carrots. Pasta. Zucchini. Just let me eat all the food, I DIDN’T HAVE BREAKFAST, OKAY!?!?!
Well, it’s probably evening where you are so I wish you a nice evening and a good night. Or Hyvää yötä like my boyfriend would say. 😉
LG, m
Aww, thank you!! I’m really glad you liked this one! *flings confetti over us*
ACK, QUIZ FAILURE THEN? Blame the dragon secretaries not me.😂
And food is absolutely LIFE so I agree your priorities are quite in order there. The huge tomes are kind of hard to carry around too?? Why didn’t I put that on my list haha. I mean, going on holiday with an 800 page book SOUNDS like a good idea but it always gets squashed!! Ack. BUT FOOD IS IMPORTANT. GO HAVE BREAKFAST SO YOU WILL GROW INTO A TALL HEALTHY STRONG BOOKSHELF. #GoodLifeAdviceFromCait
I got 300-400 pages which is true I think. I do like big books but they are quite the commitment and I just don’t have whole afternoons to read away with a kiddo. Which is why I often read more young adult than adult fantasy.
Annemieke recently posted…TTT # 87 – Top Fantasy Type Quick Reads
Ahh I’m the same with adult vs Ya fantasy. 😂 I actually prefer adult fantasy these days buuuut YA is WAY less commitment and I’m terrified of 600+ page books.😂
Whaaaaaaaaaaaa? You’re taller than me? That’s not fair!!!! *hides in a corner pouting* Ahem… it’s only 2 cm, but I’m traumatized, okay? I couldn’t apply for the military academy because minimum height was 1,60. FOUR centimeters.
Although why I ever wanted to run in first place is still a mystery… I’m pretty sure they spend quite a lot outside without a book on their hands… and that’s the pure definition of horrid (you can check the dictionary, it’s first entry)
Anyway… It’s been a while since I’ve properly read one of your posts and I missed them… your quiz is all kinds of awesome.. I got 300-400… but, although I prefer smallerish books… I also love series, because the story doesn’t end. And they’re better read back to back.. so I’m actually reading a giganormous amount of pages?
Who knows… harpies are weird 😀
Sonia @ The book wielding harpie recently posted…When you’re feeling overwhelmed is time to take a break… or start working on a new team challenge!
Dude, they wouldn’t let you be in the army because of height?!? I DIDN’T KNOW THAT. HOW UNFAIR. My sister is your height then!! Although she wears heels to compensate but I never do.😂 And people think I’m a child ALL THE TIME it’s so annoying.
Your quiz guessed correctly, Cait! I’m a 300-400 page gal too. I’m also 5′ 1″. Obviously that means we’re twins, right? Anyway, I enjoyed all of the Stranger Things gifs that made appearances in this post.
OBVIOUSLY TWINS. *hi fives* I mean, we like the same length books and are the same height. I think we were separated at birth for sure.
This quiz is so accurate! 200 pages is pretty good for me, mostly because of the huge reading slump I’ve been in for 4-5 MONTHS!!! Also, height. I’m 163 cm. I can fit way more smaller books into my shelves AND NOT NEED A LADDER TO REACH THEM. This is important, right?!
I like books that are 300 pages too, when I’m “in the zone.” Which I’m not atm. I WILL BE BACK. One day. I hope.
Im so intimidated by big books because commitment. Like, I can’t even get started on American Gods because what if I don’t like it, it’ll take me forever to read. I have so many biiiig books on my tbr mountain, but I’m scared of them. Yikes.
Yaaaas I’m glad the quiz actually worked! It so far has like a 50% success rate haha. Ahem. But omg you are lucky to not need a ladder. I have to use a chair to reach the top of my TBR…although that probably says something about my collecting habits but shh.
My eyes are currently bulging out of my head because the quiz said that my preferred book length is over 500 pages. Definitely wrong (sorry, Cait) – I like books that I can read in a day if I have a spare afternoon. 🙂
Obviously you chose the wrong dessert.😂😂 JUST KIDDING. QUIZ FAIL! BLAME THE DRAGONS NOT ME. I’M PERFECT.😂
HOW DID YOU WRITE THAT LIST AND STILL COME TO THE CONCLUSION SHORT ONES ARE BETTER HMMMM?
At least the quiz is good because it recognized me as someone who loved big books 😛
(pretty sure it knew because I chose the biggest cake)
BECAUSE IT WAS THE OBVIOUS CONCLUSION, CRINI. SORRY BUT YOU’RE WRONG AND I’M RIGHT HERE.
(And tbh I actually failed the quiz because I chose the biggest cake and yet ended up being told I like 200 page books. Like wut even.😂 I can’t even make a quiz.)
YAY quizzes!!! I got 300-400 pages which is definitely true so clearly you’re using some type of sorcery Cait. I do love the occasional big book but I find short books to be too short and I want more. True that smol books have less commitment especially if they’re horrible (I have a tendency to avoid DNFing books because I need closure). I have such a huge struggle between bringing big books and end up lugging it around or short books but then what if I underestimate my speed and finish it. I do whip out the short books and novellas when I’m terribly behind on my Goodreads challenge though hehe.
QUIZES ARE FUN. I LIKE QUIZES. *flings confetti* I definitely am a mind reader btw, just so you know. (I don’t like DNF’ing either so HI FIVE MY FRIEND.) And I also read really small novels or comics to catch up on my TBR haha.
Yep, the quiz was accurate! 😄 I actually am more of an e-book reader than a physical book reader, and when you stretch out a 300-page physical book, it’s usually 600 ebook pages. Personally, that’s more manageable to me (I always think I’m reading faster when I read e-books, but who knows?), and I usually split it up into two-to three parts to get it done faster.
I always get confused with ebook pages!😂 I have to look them up on goodreads to see how long they are haha, because I read on my iPod so an average book is like 6,000 “pages”.😂
What a fun quiz. It’s interesting that my result was also around 300-400 pages. I generally prefer to read books that are closer to 200 pages*, although I won’t let a longer one dissuade me if the plot sounds good and the first chapter impresses me.
*Unless they are about Harry Potter. His books were never too long. 😉
Here is my TTT
Eeep quiz fail then.😂😂 But I’m with you! Shorter/smaller books FTW!
I’ve been keeping track of my pages read this year, and the majority of my books have been 300-400 pages, which is EXACTLY what I got on your quiz!
I tend to get bored in long books around the 350 mark and have to convince myself to not DNF, Crooked Kingdom included (😱).
And yes, I do love Stranger Things!
IT’S LIKE I’VE BEEN READING YOUR MIND OR SOMETHING. *awards self with cake* (And I’m also tracking my page counts for this year!! So far I’m solidly in the 300 category and basically read one 500+ page book per month.😂 Not even sorry hhah.)
HOW COULD YOU GET BORED OF CROOKED KINGDOM THO OMG.
*throws a waffle at you*
*catches waffle and eats it*
I quite enjoyed this post, and it’s a super fun and unique topic. I wouldn’t have thought of posting about the length of books!
I got 300-400 pages on the quiz, which isn’t wrong . . . but I also love the massively massive books. At least if they’re by the right author. By which I mean: if they’re by Sanderson, Stengl, or usually Tolkien, I’m like STORMS YES GIVE IT TO ME, but if it’s Robert Jordan- and his books are ALWAYS long- I’m all “Blood and *ashes,* will this book ever end? Or at least stop telling me about stubborn people being idiots?” But yeah. Basically I’m happy with any length of book as long as it doesn’t drag too much. Also as long as I can fit it in my bag somehow.
Asw, thanks, Sarah!! THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME.😂
Haha, I totally get that though! Because like it does depend if the author is awesome, right?!? I will read 398309 pages by a favourite author but others I’m like “why are we still talking after pg 300 mate I’m done”.😂
The quiz worked for me (500+ pages) but I just like anything over 300. I LOVE STRANGER THINGS!! I thought your list was relatable, especially the weapons part. When I was little and boys were teasing me, I would just hit them with my book.
I HAVE NO TBR. I am a bookless bookworm. I don’t live in a big city, and the bookstore an hour away from where I live closed last year. The closest one is literally four hours away, and I can’t go there every week, so now Target is my main book source.
that is an AMAZING response to teasing. You are my hero tbh. But omg no TBR???? THAT IS A LIFE I CAN’T COMPREHEND HONESTLY.😂 You don’t accidentally eat your entire library now and then?
I definitely prefer shorter books (under 500 pages). But indeed, if it’s too short (under 150) then I don’t GET what just happened (or DIDN’T happen), and I would’ve preferred at least another 25 or so pages to fill in the nasty blanks.
Plus if a book is under 200 pages I feel like you have to read between the lines more?? For some reason?? And like no, that’s the author’s job to tell me what’s going on here.😂
I LOVE long books. And the quiz agreed with me. 😛 One of the many reasons i wanted to read Eragon was because I was hoping it would take me more than a few hours to read. thankfully, I got my wish. they were a very satisfying read until the end. 😛 (but don’t worry! I’m planning on writing a book that lets you know what happens next! 😀 ) oh wait. you haven’t read it yet. oops. *smiles innocently* I used to think i was a tall human, I’m the oldest child) but then I get dumped in a group of kids my age, and I’m like, dude. why does everybody have a good 3-4 inches on me??? I’ve been cheated! cheated I tell you!!
Most crazily, ~Olive
HEY be proud of me! I just bought Eragon at a library sale!!😂And in hardcover too, so I’m set up for the apocalypse and killing zombies if nothing else.😂 You have time to grow yet don’t you, smol bean?!😂 I’m suck at 5’1 and likely to shrink hahah.
YAAAAY YOU DID??!!! 😀 😀 LOL! but then the poor book would probably get sticky if you just did that. hmmm….. I know! wrap the book i plastic wrap. then you can kill zombies without getting the book sticky. XD maybe I’ll get a few more inches if I’m lucky??? I need to start stealing my siblings bacon…. XD
Most crazily, ~Olive
Olive recently posted…The writers prompt challenge- TWPC 2
I got I Want Everything! Which is pretty accurate, because it doesn’t matter to me too much the length of a book. I love the way you can really get lost in the world of a book when it’s long (Unless it’s boring. Then ugh, please make this book shorter!)! But I also really love the satisfaction I get when I finish a short book.! And sometimes I just feel like getting a full story in one sitting, which is just not possible with a 500+ page book! 🙂
YAAAS QUIZ WIN. I AM THE QUIZ MAKING GENIUS.😂 hehe. And I do think getting lost in a book is the most amazing feeling. And also finishing a book in one sitting makes me feel SO accomplished. Like reading superhero. *flexes reading muscles* 😂😂
The quiz said I like books around 3-400 pages, which is usually what I get in the store, but I actually prefer 500+ pages. The longer the book, the more likely I am to want it. I don’t know, I just love big books! They’re so pretty and have so much stuff in them and even if they’re horrible, they make me feel good, like I’ve achieved something??? And maybe opposites do attract, because I’m barely 4’10” and most of my books are taller than me. (Ha, I’m shorter than you! Crying here, but not unused to it).
Gah, well we’ll blaze someone else for the quiz failure. Not me. I’m perfect.😂 But I totally get that achievement feeling! I have that whenever I finish a book that’s over 500 pages hhaha.
OH YOU ARE SMOL. I’LL BE FRIENDS WITH YOU SO I CAN FEEL LIKE THE TOL ONE.
200 pages and that’s me all the way. I love small books bc I can read them faster and read more (My Tbr pile is big and I want to read all the books in tge world and idk why life is hard)
My TBR is like a small mountain at this point. I had to stand on tip toes to put a book on top today so I think I have a problem.😂
I got 300-400 pages on the quiz. 🙂 Big books are scary. I don’t have that kind of time commitment for just any book (it’s got to be special). And who doesn’t like the accomplishment of finishing a book in a sitting? But like you said, the development in small books is, well, it usually doesn’t exist. Yet an 800 page book usually could be sliced in half without taking away from the story and characters?! So, yeah, a regular sized book is perfect.
And I agree about the slamming books shut. A small book just doesn’t have the same effect as a snapping a nice hardcover shut like a slightly irked mastermind. And 800 pages is too heavy to snap shut one-handed.
They ARE so scary??? And like if I get stuck reading the same book for 2+ days I feel unproductive. haha.😂 And I love being able to read a whole book in a day! It just makes me feel accomplished. *flexes reading muscles*
And see that’s why ebooks will never take over the world. If you can’t slam it shut then what is the point. One needs to perfect that one handed SNAP SHUT with a hair toss of fabulousness.
Around 200 pages. Ironically, that’s about how long I’ve estimated all of my future WIP novels I’m writing shall be. Coincidence? Hmmmmmmmmm…..or maybe I’m just a very sad duck with very little time to read nowadays.
Hey 200 page books can be entirely awesome! 😀 I keep accidentally writing mammoth tomes, which is ridiculous because I prefer reading short ones.😂
Hey, 400 pages! That’s exactly the size I prefer- 400-500.
OMGGGG QUIZ WIN!! I SHALL AWARD MYSELF WITH CAKE!! (And you know…share it with you too.😂)
this made me laugh out loud – SHORT PEOPLE CAN FEEL KINSHIP TO THEM. hahaha! YES! Truth. My TTT
I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT.😂
The quiz told me 500+ pages, which is actually pretty accurate, but a lot of the time it depends on my mood. Sometimes I want to read the huge epic fantasy and sometimes I want to read the smaller epic fantasy. I don’t really mind the size sometimes as long as the story is told well with good characters, so that can tend to be a longer one. Plus, I agree with you that the huge books are great for the impending apocalypse. Or for fending off imaginary intruders when you’re home alone😂
I totally get that!! Mood reading is a thing.😂 As much as I LOVE fantasy, sometimes I can’t even with it and I want a good smol contemporary hehe. And huge books do make me feel safer even though I generally prefer like 350pgs as the best length. I mean, if a zombie is coming in my front door = I want a hardcover that’s 800 pages😂
Fairly accurate… I got 300-400 pages and that is truly my comfort zone for length.
Love the post as always Cait, and as a fellow vertically challenged person, I concur on all of the similarities between short books and short people 😉
Yaaas. *commences smol dance* I’m glad the quiz worked.😂I mean, my questions were STEEPED in science after all.😂
Sorry Cait, I am all about the tol books, in fact the tol-er the better! (As evidenced by my quiz result of 500+ pages!!!)
I don’t mind a smol first book in a series, because I know the sequels will be increasingly larger until they reach War and Peace size (like Harry Potter, or The Mortal Instruments), but like you I am a lover of value for money. I hate paying for novellas and short stories, and don’t even get me started on wasting an £8 Audible credit on a companion novella when I could be spending it on a 20+ hr veritable feast for the ears.
Give me your enormous tomes and keep your skinny mini novellas, thank you please!
On a side note, I am 5’8.5″. More research needs to be done into the correlation between height and preferred book length.
WELL I’M GLAD THE QUIZ WORKED.😂 And I’ll keep my smol self and smol books. (Omg is it like science that tol people = tol books??? SOMEONE DO A SURVEY.) And I hate paying for novellas/short stories too haha. I can’t even bring myself to spend $3 on an ebook that has like 60 pages. Like…why.😂
I got 300-400 Pages which is actually pretty accurate. I tend to split up my reading on purpose due to lack of focus and legs that must be moving at all times. It’s nice to know someone else’s bed eats their books. Last night I put my book on my nightstand and went to sleep. Then in the middle of the night I rolled onto something hard. It was my book tangled in the covers. Like WHAT?? How did this happen?? lol.
I totally get that!!😂 Half the time I’m ripping up my quilts trying to find my iPod or my book or like my DOG. I swear my bed has an appetite.😂
The quiz worked, and I got 300-400 pages, which I would say is pretty accurate for my preferred reading size if it’s ANY book. BUT OF COURSE THERE ARE BOOKS I WISH WERE 543875438 PAGES LONG. One I wish was not that long is my pediatrics textbook. Its over 2000 pages (OMG WTF WHYYYYYY). Babies are smol, why do the babies need such a big text book? hm? Sigh, but I digress.
I totally love smol books. BUT I totally get the whole thrifty thing as well. I prefer to read big floppy paperbacks, but if the hardcover is close to the same price I’m like meeeehhhhhhhh WHAT DO? Also a floppy paperback is only going to help me in the apocalypse by using it to fan myself to cool off after using the heaviest and longest hard covers to ward off the demons of the underworld. I think it’s safe to say I’m conflicted????
I LOVE STRANGER THINGS IT NEEDS TO COME BACK LIKE 27.94 DAYS AGO OMG. I am not a child of patience. It’s a virtue I just do not have ok
I am a slightly (?) tall-ish human. I’m 5’6, meaning I’m taller than the average height of females, but I also have a friend who is like 5’11 so I’m short compared to her? IS IT ALL JUST RELATIVE WHAT IS THIS LIFE???? I always wished I was shorter though. Smol=smol feet and let’s be real, my feet are not of a great size. However, I can use them to stomp out my enemies. I GUESS THAT’S OK
THAT IS ALWAYS THE WAY. Like pls could all the Schwab books NEVER END????? I would read a square cube of them.😂 But other books I’m ready to be over by like 300 pages hahha.😂
And that’s a good point about your pediatrics textbook. Obviously it should be smaller and only weigh as much as a baby?? #logic
I think you need BOTH types of books to survive the apocalypse. Let’s be real here.
YOU ARE TOL. I WOULD BE VERY SMOL IF I STOOD NEXT TO YOU. YOU MIGHT TRIP OVER ME TBH. I have smol feet too, which is handy because I can buy kids shoes and they’re so much cheaper.😂What were we saying about thrifty.😂😂
*sings* I like big books and I cannot lie — okay okay I’ll stop but I do. The more pages the better, even though small books are so enjoyable and so easy to read!
Yay I’m glad you’re giving the big books the love!! Makes up for me ignoring them.😂
First of all, can I just say, I plan to use my Harry Potter books of weapons in the event of a zombie takeover. I figure if I throw enough books at them, they’ll just go away. Plus if no zombies find me, I can just reread HP forever until I waste away and die a painful death.
Second of all, that quiz was the most hilarious thing ever. Not sure what selecting a dessert had to do with it? According to the quiz, I like books around 300-400pages, which I feel is an accurate average of my tastes. I will occasionally read a long series like Game of Thrones, but I do enjoy a shorter book that you can curl up with on an afternoon.
That seems like an entirely reasonable plan. PLUS you could always READ ALOUD the HP books to the zombies and they’ll get so invested that they’ll forget to eat you?? #winning
Pfft, the dessert was 500% SCIENCE.😂 The whole quiz was obviously scientifically based *nods*
I got 300-400 pages! Which is funny because I do appreciate a good long book… so long as it’s called for and I love the characters enough to spend 500-1000 pages with them (*cough cough* HARRY POTTER BOOKS AND LES MIS AND LORD OF THE RINGS *cough cough*
But if a books going to decided to devour a few weeks of my time, it had better be worth it. XD
Very enjoyable quiz, Cait. Although, I hope that pie that I chose in the quiz comes with ice cream… 😉
I totally get that!! I always feel like if I’m going to commit to a massive book…IT BETTER BE GOOD.😂😂
(Pie HAS to come with ice cream doesn’t it?!?? Or else what is the point of it.😂
I got over 500 pages, which is so true. When I have the time. I love me a good long book, but I don’t have time for them anymore 🙁
I’m 5’1″! We need to be friends and start a smol person club and…. Yeah. I’m also one of those people that desperately wears two-inch heels in hopes that they will make me look taller.
I have not seen Stranger Things because no cable… Oh well.
OH WE ARE SMOL BEANS TOGETHER. A TINY HI FIVE FOR US! I never wear heels so basically I’m doomed to be assumed as a child.😂
I got 300 – 400 pages which is spot on for me. It’s just enough where an author can really delve into a storyline and not enough to have to trudge through a massive brick of a book. I think when we love a series, we’ll read those 8.5 million paged books but it also depends on genre for me as well. Contemporaries especially, anything over 400 pages drags on and on. I am a tall creature but I don’t discriminate against little books.
Like people, good books also come in small packages.
THAT’S BECAUSE I CAN READ YOUR MIND, KELLY. *pats self on the back* And omg bricks of books are just terrifying. Especially if you’re me and like to balance books 9ft above your head because that’s what the TBR has come to.
Of COURSE you’re tall. How else could I live in your pocket.
I don’t know, I happen to know a 5’1″ Hobbit (she’s my best friend/”sister”)…her brother started calling her Hobbit back when he was in high school because he is literally over a foot taller than her, and she started calling him Legolas (cause his hair is blonde, although short, not like Legolas’ lovely long locks). He is now about 6’4″ or 6’5″ and she is 5’1″ so…yeah. (And I’m 5’10” so I also tower over her.) Going to Walmart with her is fun, if I don’t keep her in sight every second than it could take forever to find her because the shelves are taller than her…heck, the display stands in the middle of the aisles are taller than her! Needless to say, I rarely let her out of my sight when we’re out shopping together, unless I know exactly where she’s going to be.
I love series, and naturally the longer books are going to be better for them because there will be more details and backstory and world building and all that, but anything over 500 pages? Come on, mate, what was the author thinking, and was it about what they were going to have to eat later, because 500 PAGES! Gone With the Wind is over 1000 pages, and look how long *that* movie adaptation is! And War and Peace? Like 4 pages longer than Gone With the Wind! Seriously! Forget miniseries for that one, you could make an entire TV show out of that and have it on for like 10 years before even getting halfway through that book! Your kids would be growing up on that show, and graduating college before they finally ended it, and could write their college dissertation on it, and really?!? Over 1000 PAGES! That dude obviously had WAAAAY too much time on his hands! Pretty much anything longer than Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is probably going to be on my TBR list for a very long time, because even though I have nothing but time on my hands, I don’t want to spend it all reading a single book. “Did you meet all your reading goals this year?” “Nope.” “Why not?” “Because 1000 PAGES, mate!” “So, that doesn’t sound too bad…” “That was ONE BOOK!” Nope, not me thanks, I’ll just be over in the corner with my “I love myself” coat (straightjacket, just in case you were wondering) singing “I’m a little teapot” and having conversations with the Cheshire Cat…. “We’re all a little mad here…”
Haha that’s hilarious about your smol and tol friends!😂
I kind of die at every Game of Thrones book where the smallest is like 600 pages I think.😂 They’re good though!? But like, pls just let’s trim off half of them or split them into more books BECAUSE THE SIZE SCARES ME.
Ooohh, it worked! I got the middle size. Which is pretty much exactly what I like (even though I picked up this gargantuan time from the library yesterday… but that one is a nonfic, and for school, and I have to read the whole thing in <2 weeks *silently cries*). Complete agreement on the weapons, though! I love books I can whack people over the head with (not that I actually do that! Usually, anyway!)
*wishes you good luck for reading the massive nonfic in 2 weeks* 😂 I just accepted a MASSIVE ARC that is sort of freaking me out but…I’m pretty sure I’ll like it once I at least get the courage to start ahhaha. *ahem*
(and hey we need to be weaponised and prepared!)
I got the over 500 pages result, which is pretty accurate. Prior to book blogging, I actually used to base my book purchases largely on how large the book is. I just wanted big books because a) I was getting more for my money, b) it would last longer, and c) there’s more time to connect with everything going on. Actually, one of my favorite books from high school was This Is All: A Pillowbook by Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers, which was a book I purchased solely due to it’s size. If I remember correctly it’s over 800 pages (I could just get up and look at it on my bookshelf to check but I’m too lazy). I actually really want to reread it again, though I won’t lie, the size intimidates me a little bit more these days.
Also, as I mentioned in my comment on your confusion post, it takes me a good portion of a book to remember who is who and figure out what the heck is going on. If the book is short, I don’t necessarily get fully comfortable and sorted because all the things happen and that leaves me really confused. It the book is long though, I have plenty of time to get my situated in a story and tend to enjoy it much more. So that’s probably part of my reasons for preferring such books too.
But hey, to each their own! I’m pretty satisfied with being a slow, clumsy reader. 🙂
More for the money is a REAL THING HERE.😂😂I’m glad I’m not the only on who thinks like that hahah. I was looking at an novella the other day and seeing I could buy it for the same price as like a 400 page books. So. That stopped me.😂 I’m terrible. Ahem.
Dude, though 800 pages WILLINGLY!?? You’re amazing! I just accepted an ARC that’s 800 pages and I regret everything.😂
And I do get that about the confusion! That makes sense. Like you JUST get into it and then it ends? Unfair, book, unfair.😂
I am a smol. Like you, I’m about 5 1.
I go back and forth on long or short books. I think I used to like longer books more because I just read them really fast. Now I still like them but it’s ‘this book is 800 Pages. I’m enjoying it but it’s so long…help.’
I prefer stand-alones because with serieses and trilogies I forget to read the other books. Oops.
HELLO MY SMOL FRIEND. WE SHALL SHARE SMOL CUPCAKES TOGETHER NOW. And standalones are awesome for less commitment too.😂 I’m currently reading a sequel and spending half my time going “yes but what happened in the last book”.😂
The quiz just made me choose between Illuminae, The Raven Boys, and Six of Crows. You broke me. I don’t know what to do now.
…
everything has changed.
I’d apologise but yet…MWAHAHHAHHAH I DO CLAIM TO BE AN EVIL DRAGON QUEEN LORD AFTER ALL.
Your quiz did well, I do indeed enjoy books of a moderate length, like four hundred pages. However the amount of fantasy I read often leaves me with GIANT door stoppers of books as the conclusion to series. I have some on my shelf that are 1000 pages right now. Like no?? Carrying that around is going to be a disaster… but at least I will look cool while doing it….
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I HEAR YOU. I’m of the horrible conundrum of loving 350 page books best, buuut also adoring epic fantasy.😂 I currently have an 800pg ARC that I’m freaking out over and wondering why I requested it.😂
I READ MOSTLY BOOKS OF 400-500 PAGES. But I also love monsters like Pat Rotfuss or George Martin stuff 😀
SAME. I CONCUR. Like 300-400 is my comfort zone but pls don’t let me go a page less of Pat Rothfuss’s books.😍
I relate to your point “They are just not so daunting” a lot. I put aside huge books too. They are scary. I’m saved by e-books, I don’t look at % while reading, this is the only way to pick up such books. “IF YOU DROP ONE YOU WON’T DIE WHEN IT LANDS ON YOU”. Huge plus indeed. Lol.
I agree that small books more often lack character development and world building. This is the reason I rarely read novellas. It’s hard to write a solid story in such short format.
Wonderful post as always, Cait!
Ksenia @ Something Delicate recently posted…Kiss and Tell #3. A Wish Upon Jasmine
I can’t EVER find a point in novellas. 😂 Like even with the “but it’s more of your favourite characters” doesn’t really work on me??? I just need a point.😂 And my reviews for them are always “well it should’ve been longer”…😂
I’m glad you liked my post!!
I got “around 300-400 pages”, which is generally true! I am an average-heighted human(5’5″) and I enjoy average-lengthed books. Unless we’re talking about Winter, because I adore that book and absolutely devoured it. But if an entire series is gigantic *cough*throneofglass*cough*, then I am outta here, mate. (look at that, your Aussie is rubbing off on me).
YAS I’M CONVERTING YOU TO AUSTRALIAN SPEAK. *piles vegemite toast on your head* I’ll even forgive you for being so tol. (I mean, c’mon, when you’re smol like me, everything over 5’3 is tall.)😂
This quiz is slightly accurate…Although for me I’ll read a book in 4-5 hours regardless of page length. That last HP book? About 4.5 hours. 😂 So I guess the commitment isn’t a problem. I devour words in general, so I’m the one who brings 9 books on vacation. Because where would I be without my friends???
Anyways, this post is hilarious. I will bow bow to your scientifically proven argument for smol books. I do love them, though with my track record of losing things, there tends to be a lot of breaks while reading. 😉 Books are altogether fabulous.
One cannot go on holidays without 298493 books THIS IS JUST FACT. WE NEED OUR FAMILY WITH US. NO ONE HOLIDAYS ALONE.😂
And this post is SO full of science. I mean did you see that quiz??? The favourite colour question 100% confirmed everyone’s accurate results.
My quiz result said between 300-400 pages. That’s okay, I guess. I generally don’t like anything longer than that, but I actually prefer books that are even shorter! Because then I can get through more of them. Sadly, there aren’t a lot of shorter books these days. Even some middle grade books are over 400 pages now, and that’s just too much. I mean, I was a voracious reader when I was a kid, but I think I would’ve found some of those long books intimidating. Also, it seems like so many long books are long because they lack proper editing. And I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. I’ve read a lot of reviews where people will say things like, “You could’ve taken out 200 pages and the story still would’ve worked!”
I don’t get why all books have to be so freaking long today because, as you said, short books are just as expensive as longer ones. And from the publisher’s point of view, won’t they make more profit if they have to use less paper and ink? Short books for the win!
I know right?!? What’s with all the long books?!? I used to like contemporaries just for the “oh this’ll just be 300pgs max and I can whip through that in a day”…and half the contemporaries on my TBR right now are 400+!! STOP USING SO MANY WORDS, PEOPLES.😂 I do think a lot of the time if a book is 500+ pages it needed to be trimmed. The exception is only generally books by VE Schwab for me haha.😂 I would even have edited Game of Thrones SO SO SO MUCH OMG.
I think the perfect amount of pages is however many it takes to tell the perfect story 🙂 I will confess that I prefer reading shorter books, though! I get through my TBR a lot faster XD
Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality
Ellie @ On the Other Side of Reality recently posted…My “Maybe” TBR #3
Duuude, stop being so wise and perfect.😂😂 hhehe but TRUE. I agree. Although usually I feel like 500+ pages needed more editing BUT SOMETIMES THEY ARE PERFECT AS IS. And it’s so subjective anyway.😂
haha massive downside not being able to use them as a weapon 😉 and that quiz was awesome!! I got over 500 pages 🙂
AHHH I’M SO GLAD IT WORKED!! It seems to have a 50% success rate at this point.😂
I’m an average sized creature and I prefer small books (around 200-300 pages is perfect). But the quiz said over 500. Not true! Although I have loved a lot of long books! (War and Peace anyone?) So yeah. Long books can be wonderful, but I prefer a short book that packs a punch, y’know? There’s often more emphasis on plot and character rather than silly things like romance that slow things down.
As for having to take more than one small book with you, that’s where e-readers come in! You can have a hundred short books on there but only have to carry one book-sized device. #Praise the e-reader gods
(Also I’ve read practically none of the books mentioned in your post and quiz, but that’s okay because we’re all different!)
Alexandria recently posted…The good, the bad, and the ugly: New Pompeii (New Pompeii #1) by Daniel Godfrey
Darn that quiz. *smacks it with a hammer* I mean OBVIOUSLY it was full of science and not randomness but ahem. Well. 😜😂
And ereaders ARE little lifesavers for when one needs to exit the hobbit hole and not run out of reading material. You practically get to take an entire library in your pocket. EXCELLENT.
Pretty much got me right with the quiz. =) I do prefer around 200 pages. I unfortunately do not zip through them very fast. I’m doing good if I can get through a book in a week.
Emily Seals recently posted…books that were short and wonderful.
Some weeks are unfortunately like that right?!? 😜
YUS I GOT 300-400 BOOKS WHICH I TOTALLY AGREE WITH. YOUR SKILLS ARE BEYOND ME, CAIT THE CAKE QUEEN. 300-400 is a good amount, I think. Maybe some books should be like 200 books, but it just depends on genre and style and voice and all that fun stuff. *jazz hands* If it’s like 500+ I’ll just be like ughjgjguguguuhhj but if it’s part of a series I’m reading/written by an author I love, then I will read it. But sometimes, I NEED more??? Like SoC and CK — please give me more??? Other times, I feel like shorter books make more of a point. Like… oh dear, I haven’t read a short book in a while. XD And ALSO, it depends on what you call “short” and “long”. Like someone who reads 500 pages on a regular basis will pick up an 800-paged book and scream happily, while someone who reads like 250 pages will pick up an 800-paged book and scream in agony. The latter would be me. MY FRENS LIKES STRANGER THINGS. They also like Supernatural. 😉 I AM A SMOL LITTLE CREATURE, THANK YOU VER’ MUCH.
May Everly recently posted…Favorite Foods (Obviously Mangoes)
OH FANTASTIC. I AM WINNING HERE.😂 My quiz skills are just out of this world with how scientificallya ccurate they are.
(I was actually DEVASTATED when I realised Six of Crows was only a duology. Like no??? I want more??? 50 more books pls??)
SUPERNATURAL IS GREAT THO.
I am also small, about 5’3. I’m like you, I think 300-400 pages books are my perfect number. Honestly I think a lot of longer books need trimming sometimes! Your quiz was wrong for me, it thought I liked over 500 pages (ha ha no!). I definitely relate to the weapon one on the con list!
Jo recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #99
*smacks quiz with a small egg flipper so it does better next time* 😂
but at least we both have similar page preferences right?! *hi fives*
I got 300-400, but I don’t think I really have a preference for size of books. I just read them! I do relate to your pros and con list though. I really love short books, because they make me feel accomplished. I hate short books in a series though. “Because if you like something enough, and you read it all. Your like, we want more. We want more!” I guess the short ones I usually read are standalone’s. I’m a series fan! Oh, can I join this smol club?! I am 5’3 , but I have a dragon! You should let me in if I have a dragon. We all saw how Khaleesi turned out. Hahaha! Plus my bearded dragons name is Smaug. Like, come on, how cute and awesome is that?! He is also smol, he is 16.5 inches.
Having the motto of “I just read them” IS ACTUALLY EXCELLENT. YOU ARE A WONDERFUL BOOKWORM. Although I’m glad you liked my lists still.😂And like obviously it’s not a race buuuut I won’t deny I feel super awesome if I finish off two small books in one day haha.
YAS I WILL LET YOU IN IF YOU’RE BRINGING DRAGONS, LIKE OBVIOUSLY AND OF COURSE. And I’m so nerdily pleased your dragon’s name is Smaug.😂 That’s amazing. He is smaller than a hobbit. <3
I can’t decide which I like better–short books are so nice because you can actually finish them and the way my TBR pile is rapidly ever-growing that is a VERY GOOD THING. Of course there’s a certain sense of accomplishment in finishing a book that’s quite long. But if it’s going to be long, PLEASE you must have my complete and total interest and attention. Otherwise it just drags and I feel like a failing reader. 😀
I forgot to say that the quiz told me I like over 500 pages. Committed reader, yay for me! It’s very true, as long as I am in fact committed to the book. 😛
AGREED. TBRs basically have a mind of their own and can be so rude with all that growing, sheesh. I do feel more accomplished when I read a lot of small books compared to one big one haha. AND SHH I KNOW IT’S NOT A RACE.😂 But yet.
According to your quiz, my preferred book length is 300-400 pages but I think I actually prefer books 400+ pages because it gives the author more space to built the world, write awesome characters and development. And really, that’s what I look for in a book – even when I get annoyed with world building sometimes. Which is probably why I prefer reading stories set in a world I already know (and love).
The only time I am not a fan of super long books (think City Of Heavenly Fire type of long) is when I want to re-read them. Because that is quite the commitment – especially for someone who always reads one book at a time!
Also, I am of the tall people (1,81m) and I love my tall life a lot! 😉
I hate when books skimp on world building too!! Like I’m here for an adventure?!? Build me an interesting world pls and thank you.😂 And as much as I LOVE The Mortal Instruments and all the characters…COHF was too long.😂
Another hilarious post! I relate to this as I am a smol child myself (4’11”) The quiz result was pretty spot on! 300-400 pages. In federal though, I’m not really sure what I like?? Both long + short are great, but long books can be rather intimidating….
OH YOU ARE VERY SMOL!! I suddenly feel tol.😂
And true! True! I love some long books so so so much so I can’t ever like totally ignore them. Buuuuut I will forever pick the smallest ones to read first.😂
I’ve actually thought about this A LOT, and I’m glad to see I’m not the only one! I think my ideal book is about 400 pages. It’s long enough that it doesn’t skimp on worldbuilding and I have enough time to really get attached to the characters and into the world, but it’s short enough that I can read it in a day if I don’t have to do anything else. But I DEFINITELY agree about the annoying-to-take-places part – there are SO many times that I’ve been in the middle of a shorter book and then I finish it and don’t have another one with me. So frustrating!
Clara @ Lost in My Library recently posted…Ten Books I (Totally Could’ve) Read in One Sitting
I think about it a lot too! Usually while I’m avoiding all the mammoth books on my TBR hahaha. Omg. Why are they so huge.😳😱 I really like finishing a book in a day so 350pgs is ideal for me.😂
How were you able to predict my preferred page count!? What kind of sorcery did you use!? 300-400 pages is totally me. Less pages feels wrong and yes, they’re not any cheaper than my preferred page count and more pages is just scary af.
Winter by Marissa Meyer should have been cut into two books — like part 1 about Winter and part 2 about the rebellion. because I honestly think the war went on a little too fast with no planning at all (but maybe that’s just me ’cause apparently everyone loved that book. ohwell). ANYWAY I have a scary amount of big books on my shelf I don’t even know why I buy them. I don’t read them ’cause I’m like: (1) scared ’cause I might get disappointed and regret all those wasted time, and (2) I go out most of the time (trying to be a productive member of society) and I can’t carry massive books on my bag. Don’t want to get bone damages (just saying. lol).
czai recently posted…[WEEKEND READS] where I get back to all things blogging & reading (i hope)
BECAUSE I’M A MIND READER, CZAI. THAT’S WHY. #skills
And Winter omggg…that was so boring in the middle I nearly fell asleep. And I was listening to the audio so I couldn’t even skim. But that is a grand example of a book that was unnecessarily long. AND I HAVE TOO MANY HUGE BOOKS ON MY SHELF TOO.😂 I have an 800 page ARC I have to read this week and like…halp. I don’t wanna.😂
This post is amazing. I tend to like my contemporaries shorter by my fantasy books longer. And you are so right, there is NOTHING worse than bringing a book out with you when you only have a few pages left and then finishing it because A) Then you have nothing left to read if you didn’t bring a backup and B) You have to digest all of your FEELINGS about the book in public (which I hate doing. I usually need some alone time to process a book once I’ve finished it). Also, your quiz told me I like my books over 500 pages, which I think is currently pretty accurate since I am rereading ACOTAR and ACOMAF right now and basically have my nose shoved in them at every opportunity.
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It’s sooooo not good. *sobs wildly* Which is probably why kindles are good because at least we can never run out of books BUT I ALSO LIKE TO PROCESS before starting a new book. So basically we should just never go out. #Win
I think everything makes you hungry.
Your list is glorious. SMOL BOOKS ARE SO SATISFYING THOUGH. Seriously no one is impressed when you’ve spent a week on a giganormous book. But if you read 5 SMOL books, well, you’re in business.
For the quiz, I got… I WANT EVERYTHING. Totally accurate. If books can stay around 3-400 pages, that’s pretty fab. But my fantasy books tend to go 5+ and I’m okay with that. Just don’t ask me to read Inheritance. Or Les Mis. Please. I beg of you.
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It is true. Life does that to me??? So weird??? I just am here, existing, minding my own business and BOOM — hungry.
And yes, I know right?!? Like saying “I read a book in a day” is awesome and people don’t even have to know it was only like 250pgs. 😂
(The #1 reason I’ve never read the Eragon series is the size.😂)
Hahaha me too! Food is just so FABULOUS. And SO MANY KINDS.
Exactly. We must be vain little bookworms and brag about this ability!
Omg hahaha! I read the first three but I honestly don’t know that I’ll ever finish it because I remember nothing and it’s so ginormous and with the writing… I don’t think I can do it!
I am one inch taller than you! Lol and the quiz said I prefer 300-400 pages which is probably accurate though I’ve never given it much thought before. I just LOVE BOOKS so much I will read anything regardless of page count, though with larger books, I may need extra coaxing. I am super intimidated by 500+ pg adult books with a teeny tiny font you need a magnifying glass to read. Also, just the other day, I dropped A Conjuring of Light on my toe and it really hurt. I actually love to read really fat YA books with an easy to read format and smooth writing style so when I finish it in two days, I feel really happy and like a fast reader (that’s a lie. I am not fast.).
Goodreads goals are so great, but they really put on the pressure, hence why I lowered mine for this year. Though when I’m behind on my goal, I…read a bunch of manga to catch up 😅.
Also, I LOVE STRANGER THINGS <3
Well, we’re PRACTICALLY THE SAME THEN. Practically twins at this rate, tbh. But the fact that you just love any and all books is legit the best thing ever. YOU ARE THE BEST KIND OF BOOKWORM.
(Also I’ve read a bunch of manga to catch up before.😂 #winning)
I guess small books read fast? 🙂 that’s a good thing about them. On the other hand.. I like moderately sized books because meh, I don’t want to let go of the characters so fast 🙁 it’s like a TV show that ends after one season! Which is a huge no no. Right?
Then there’s also that thing where I read mostly ebooks, and it’s REAAAAALY hard to judge the size of a book when you start out. I rememeber when I started Middlemarch, I wasn’t daunted at all, WHEN I REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. Only a few days in when I was only around 15% I realized that that book was around 1000 pages long. Dear oh dear. Not regretting it though.
Haha, totally get you on that “I might just finish it if I take it” thing. Been there 😀
I would agree that 300-400 is the best book size 🙂 over 250 is okay, but you might just feel that it ended too soon. Anything over 600 is already AN UNDERTAKING. Although it depends on enjoyment 🙂
Also, it’s totally unfair that your quiz makes me pick a genre. I WANT THEM ALL, WOMAN! Seriously D: also, I got “Over 500 pages” on the quiz. Pretty accurate, I’d say 😀
Nice post 🙂 now I’m done procrastinating and will be going to get read for that class I’m teaching in a few hours. See, Cait – you made me procrastinate. Here, have some CAIK. Caik like Cait. Huh? Huhhh??
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Ahh, that’s true.😂 And if the book is EXCELLENT then I’ll forever be wanting moooore. :’) And I always check up ebook page counts on goodreads haha so I can judge them accordingly. Or my kindle shows length of dots and when there are too many dots I start to sweat nervously and avoid. AVOID.
And I think too small books often DO end too soon *nods* 300-400 is the perfect place. <3
Tbh, I should just change my name to Cake because...IT'S SO CLOSE ANYWAY.😂
It is kinda uncanny how accurate this quiz is, haha! I got over 500 pages and that’s exactly how long I like my books to be! I haven’t visited your blog in FOREVER… please forgive me 🙈
Oh EXCELLENT. Because I mean that quiz was full of scientific questions for sure.😂😂 Aww, but that’s totally okay!!! I haven’t been to your blog for a while either and I’LL GO FIX THAT NOW!! *shares cake with you*
I am a Small Person, I”m like 160 cm and now my little brother is taller than me which is pretty devastating. I got 300-400 pages. I love devouring a good long fantasy book, but those medium sized ones are perfect for when you’re busy. I finished the short but ultra devastating When Breath Becomes Air this morning. I do like short books, but well plotted long books are also A++
I’m super lucky that I’m the 2nd youngest and my sister is 2cm shorter than me. I do not have to fight for height dominance. Phew.😂
And YES! Love the middle-ish ones for when reading time is scares particularly!!
I got 300-400 pages. That sounds pretty good to me. I think long books are usually unnecessarily long. I don’t need all that stuff; just tell me the story!
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I know right?!? Almost every book over 500 pages that I read, I feel like could’ve been severely edited! (But not aLL. Like…A Conjuring of Light = A+ perfection. 😍😍)
Big books are scary dude. So scary. Have you SEEN Illuminae and Gemina? I can bash someone’s skull in with those two. Reading those was a work-out, I’m telling you.
Also on a sidenote, that quiz… the last question I saw the pictures and I was like “OH I’ll pick Illuminae, easy! *scrolls further down* Oh no wait, Six of Crows is the better… *spots Simon VS* NEVERMIND OF COURSE I’LL PICK THAT ONE.”
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That’s why I listened to the audios.😂 SAVED MY WRISTS.
And that last question was definitely meant to be torture for everyone. :’)
Excellent use of all the of “Stranger Things” gifs. Love that show.
I’m weird in the sense that I luuuuurv short books, but I also adore series. Short books are just so satisfying to finish in a couple days, and while series can be super daunting, if I love the books, I get to hang out with the characters that much longer! My TBR has mostly longer books, though. #sigh
See, I would’ve put another check in the pro column for short books when it comes to travel. Only because they’re super easy to fit into a bag and don’t strain your shoulders from carrying it around all the time. 😉
I thought I’d get somewhere between 200-300 pages, but your quiz says 300-400, so obviously that has to be the right answer. And I guess I’m pretty tall? I’m a little over 5’6″, which is a couple inches above average for women, so I’m claiming my tall title.
Isn’t it just the best?!? #LOVE I still have to watch the finale haha, but I’m procrastinating because I hate cliffhangers.😂
And agreed *nods* Like if I’m obsessed with a series/characters, there are NEVER enough books/pages. But like generally I avoid the larger books. Hence my TBR is made up mostly of them and I’m scared. Hide me.😂 And yes. You are tall. *glares at you fiercely from so far below*
Oh man. Oh man. This was highly informative. And WHY EAT GREENS?! Also; your quiz was WRONG about me! It said 200 pages but I’m more of an 800 pages kind of girl… 😳😳😳😳 I LOVED the GIFs too. And I am a short person- my mom calls me a hobbit. Let us commence the tiny thimble-tea-drinking!
UGH TO THE QUIZ…well I mean, obviously it’s not my fault. Obviously it’s my dragon secretaries who made it…yes, their fault. *nods* Not mine.
HEY FELLOW HOBBIT THOUGH!! *hi fives*
Dragon secretaries are often rather flighty- that’s why I employ dwarves for that sort of thing.
HOBBITS FOR THE WIN. *misses your high five* Do-over?
Actually, I think it doesn’t matter so much. For example, I love “The Little Prince”, whose author wrote by the principle, that perfection is reached, when you can’t leave anything away anymore. So apparently he kept his books short. But I’ve started reading 500 pages fantasy books when I was ten an still stick with it until today and I love that a lot too. I got the over 500 pages reader, but really, I don’t care. A small book can be great or horrible and so can a big book. Content matters. And, just for instance, I think most of my school reading I had was also less than 500 pages and that’s the examplified (German) quality literature, kind of the “canon” of approved literature.
Though, I love telling people of Tad Williams, one of my favourite author of Fantasy ever. He writes series that have four volumes and each volume has almost a thousand pages. And he claims, that each series is actually just one book, like “The Lord of the Rings” and was also just split, because you need to serve books in sane amounts.
Ahahaha this post was perfection!! It was JUST the thing I needed to get me aaaaching to read again. I was trying to take a break from reading. I KNOW WHAT WAS I THINKING? WAS I THINKING? I DOUBT IT HIGHLY!
But anyway, I LOVED this list, and I think maybe I should start doing these Top Ten Tuesday things! They always seem like fun when you do them, so OBVIOUSLY they will be when I do them! I love logic.
I really don’t know which I like better. I think I’m sort of in the middle- which is annoying!! I’d rather be short though. Hugging is so awkward when you are tall! I like a nice even or nice under hug, so I’m pretty mad I kept growing till I was sixteen. EVIL WORLD.
As I was reading this I was thinking that MAYBE I LIKE SMOL BOOKS SINCE I WRITE SMALLER BOOKS. BUT THEN I WAS LIKE BUT I LIKE BIGGER BOOKS AND THEN I WAS SOO INDECISIVE AND IT WAS HOOOORRRRIIIIDDD!!!
AND THEN I FINISHED YOUR POST AND I WAS LIKE
YEP. SMOL ALLLL THE WAY WITH A FEW FANTASTIC BIG ONES.
BUT THEN.
I TOOK THE QUIZ.
AND IT SAID.
UGH IT WON’T LET ME COPY AND PASTE.
ANYWAY
I THINK IT SAID I LIKE LARGER BOOKS AND I AGREE WITH IT COMPLETELY BECAUSE
DUH
YOU SAID SO
AND SO I THINK I AM A MIDDLE PERSON???
I AM THE MIDDLE CHILD
AND OF MIDDLE HEIGHT
AND I LIKE MIDDLE BOOKS.
OKAY THEN.
*SIGHS HAPPILY*
THIS WAS THE BEAT POST OF EEEEVER!!!!!!
THEY ARE SUPER FUN!! I TOTALLY RECOMMEND IT! And like I do a lot of flexible things with the prompt because #rebel.😂 But it’s always a good way to get post ideas!
I stopped growing at like 14. And I think I’ve shrunk tbh. >_> What is this life. I’m going to be a hobbit soon. Although that doesn’t seem like a BAD thing…
BUT YOU CAN BE A MIDDLE PERSON. I’LL LET YOU.
Good then!! I will!!
Hobbits are cute, resilient, love food, and basically have acres of time in which to do nothing!!
Sounds good, where do I sign?
Sigh… If only I were shorter.
AWWW!! THANK YOU SO MUCH I AM IN YOUR DEBT FOR EVER AND EVER AMEN!!!! I HAVE THE APPROVAL OF HER MAJESTICALL QUEENLINESS!!!!!!!!!!
Loved the quiz and it totally worked for me. I like a good sized book, but certainly not much over 500 pages. A short book can be done well sometimes too.
YAAAS, QUIZ WIN!!! *awards self with cake* 😂
I love your prompt! This was so hilarious. 😀 I’m conflicted on how I feel about small and big books. I love small books because I feel like if a book, like The Great Gatsby, is small enough to be read in a day and can move mountains in a person’s spirit, then the small book has done it’s job; likewise, with big books like Outlander or Game of Thrones. I also don’t like small books that don’t have enough information or big books that have too much. I think it’s not about the size, but more about the ability of the writer to make pages fly by quickly no matter the page count. ^_^
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As long as the book tells the story, then it’s the right size, right?!?😂 But AGREED. Some of my favourite books are teeny tiny, but then some are MASSIVE. So like I prefer around 300 pages, buuuuut…not always.😂
I got 300-400 pages which is *probably* true, but if we hover too close to that 400 page mark, I am going to start to get itchy and break out in hives or something. You know I am afraid of big books. I pretend they don’t exist, most often..
So I am a medium sized human. 5’6″, which is technically taller than the average American woman, but I mean, not by a ton. My height is one thing about my body that I can tolerate so… yay? I do agree with your pros and cons list. I just… still like smaller books.
And Stranger Things… idk man. I mean, I watched one episode. And I was just like “what is this!?” and so I keep saying I will continue but that was about 6 months ago so it isn’t looking great. We’ll see, Cait. We’ll see.
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I HEAR YA, SHANNON. I DO. Honestly my TBR is mostly made up of 400+ page books nowadays because I keep procrastinating them.😂 And I’m facing an 800 page ARC I accepted and IDK why. Help me.
Noooo, Stranger Things is so cute!! So much FREAK and CREEP too, which is excellent. Okay but I haven’t seen the last episode because my TBR is controlling my life basically.
I am way way wayyyy too tall. Like, my dad is 6 foot 3 inches, so at the tender age of TWELVE, yes, you hear me, TWELVEEEE, I am 5 foot 7 bloody inches. Like, random people think that I’m the oldest when, in fact, I am a middle child and proud of it. My sister and I have perfected this awkward laugh whenever anyone thinks I’m older. It’s pretty damn annoying, dude. So my plan is, whenever anyone asks me, “how are you so tall???”(because I’ll definitely know, right?) I’m just going to tell them my dad hung me from a tree for six months.
WHY ARE YOU SO TOL, ZAYNAH. I FEEL LIKE A SMALL SPECK RIGHT NOW. 😂 Lucky for me at least is that all my sisters and I are the same size, like give or take a few cm, so at least we don’t have to fight for height rights. :’)
Apparently I like medium sized books? It really depends. If something is in a series, I don’t mind it being long, and if it’s a contemporary then short and if a standalone then medium. I’m very specific.
Also I haven’t watched Stranger THings but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it? I’m a small human creature; I think I’m about 155 cm but I don’t get measured much. *shrugs*. Also, ebooks that are long are annoying because nobody knows it’s long and then can’t be impressed by what you are toting around.
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Pfft, of COURSE you like medium sized books. If the quiz says, then it must be. How can the quiz lie? :’)
YOU ARE SMALL. WHICH MAKES ME FEEL TALL SO THEREFORE I SHALL KEEP YOU AS MY FRIEND FOREVER. #smallpersonlogic And Stranger Things is excellent and freaked me out so much. So lovely.
(And agreed about ebooks, sheesh. Also people just think you’re on your phone or whatever?? But like no?? I am a Super Nerd. Appreciate this zomg.)
I think everything from 300 to 500 pages is a good size, but actually, I rather judge the reading joy by the size of the font (very very important) and it’s floppiness. I hate if I have to break the spine.
Greets, Ella
http://passionandpages.blogspot.com/
Ugh I HATE breaking spines too. It makes me feel like I just murdered the book.😂
hahahah “be a grapefruit bcs mate dont make me choose” oh man. that got me.
I got 300-400 pages which is about right. Lately, I’ve been going to the even shorter ones but I’ve cut some slack for the ones that are 350 pages hahaha. I’ve been picking the shortest book on my shelf to read but I’m running out of short books and will need to read a longer one soon. HOWEVER, font size and line spacing are taken into account. Like, a book could be 400 pages, but maybe the size of paper is bigger, the font is a little smaller and the spacing isn’t as much. I’ll put it down and find a shorter ones with bigger font hahahah
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That’s what I’ve been doing!!😂 My TBR is like 70% huge books now and I’m scared. What have I done??? I should’ve mixed it up more haha but the small books are just SO less daunting!! And that’s also true about the spacing/sizes of fonts. Also like some books have short chapters but still lots of blank pages? So that confuses things hah.😂
I got 300-400 pages on your quiz – and that seems to be most of what I read actually! 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
OH EXCELLENT. My mind reading powers are working.😂
I’m also a fan of books that are 300-400 pages. Sometimes fantasy books need to be long, and I get that and am okay with that, but WHY are some YA books more than 500 pages?! (cough The Unexpected Everything cough).
Also, we can be smol together because I’m barelyyyyyy 5’2. Once they measured me and told me I was 5’1, so maybe I shrunk. Who knows?! I do like being short though, as annoying as it is to be used as an arm rest and not be able to reach the top shelves of anything…I can fit into lots of boxes and other small places though (there are lots pictures to prove it! Hahaha)
I knooooooow. I don’t think contemporaries EVER need to be 500 pages.😂😂 It’s too much! I have to psych myself up to read a book that’s 500 pages but like when that’s just a summery teenagery thing (like Morgan Maston *stares hard at her books*) I just lose motivation.😂
HEYYYYY WE ARE SMOL TOGETHER! THIS IS GREAT NEWS!! I think it’s handy to be small because you can disappear easily. Mawhwhwa. *runs away with all my books*
The quiz worked fine. I think the result was 200 pages? I took it a couple days ago. I think that sounds like a decent length of book, but maybe just barely. I used to pick the biggest books possible because I got more material for my money (or,at the time, my parents’ money), but now they feel a bit daunting sometimes. I still like big books, but when I’ve got a lot of book related commitments, a shorter one can feel refreshing.
I LOVED Stranger Things. It was a binge watch for me and then I rewatched the last few episodes with my husband again. Speaking of weird and twisty shows, have you watched The OA? I think you’d like it if you liked Stranger Things or if you like strange mind-bending stories in general.
I’m a medium human, height wise: 5’5″ (167cm). I think I’ve shrunk a bit; maybe it’s carrying all those big books around? 😀
I totally get that!! I have like SO many books to read these days that if I take more than 2 days on a book I feel like I’m slacking.😂 WHICH IS DUMB but omg someone needs to get my TBR under control. It actually fell over today and I just saw my life flash before my eyes.😂
*whispers* I haven’t watched the last Stranger Things episode because someone spoiled it for me so I’m just like…argh. I will watch it, but I HATE spoiler. It always turns me off!! I haven’t heard of The OA! is that an abbreviation?
Your quiz is le AWESOME! But that last question was EVIL. You had multiple favorite books to choose from. WHHYHYYYYYY???!!!! Also, it is eerily accurate. Nicely done! I’m middle of the road, and I totally attribute the fact that I didn’t get short books almost entirely to the fact that I read fantasy. Almost exclusively. And most fantasy authors write SOOOOOOOoooooooooo much. And, well, worldbuilding. :/
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YAS I’M GLAD MY MIND READING POWERS WORKED. Erm, wait, I mean, my purely scientific quiz worked. *nods sagely* 😂
Stranger Things tho
PROTECT ELEVEN AT ALL COSTS THO.
I generally lean toward 300-400 page books as well (which the quiz agreed with—apparently my cake choice was perfect for medium-sized books). Contemps over 400 often seem WAY too long to me, but I can definitely handle longer fantasies. A fantasy has to be over 500 pages for me to feel like it’s long.
I totally agree about contemporaries!! There really isn’t ever enough plot to stretch over 400 pages, right?!? That is why I kind of die at Morgan Matson books.😂 Although I still generally do like them, haha.
I’m a small human creature. I think I’m 5’0, but sometimes I measure at 4’11, but shhh no one needs to know that 🙊 I think I’m similar to you. I like 300-400 pages in a book. Maybe 500. Depends on the book really. If it’s a contemporary, definitely 300 or less. I can’t stand too much cuteness cause I need dragons and we all know how big dragons are and of course they have big egos. ALSO TOOTHLESS. Fantasy books I like to be long, but I don’t want them to drag too much (ahem, ahem ACOTAR/ACOMAF). Historical fiction really depends on the story and writing style. Sometimes long books can work and other times they don’t. TOOTHLESS (I have a slight obsession with HTTYD 🙈)
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Well we obviously both have the PERFECT pAGE PREFERENCE. *hi fives* 😉 And I definitely agree that it’s dragons > cuteness. Although I won’t deny I like cute dragons. (All dragons ARE cute though, let’s be real here.)
I got >500 pages and HELL YEAH THAT’S ACCURATE!! I rarely read books that are less than 400 pages because I want time to lose myself in the world and learn all the things about the characters and have big epic fight scenes!! The bigger the better really 😉
Ahhh you’re braver than me!! If it’s above 400 pages I start to cry softly in the corner. 😂 Although if it’s an excellent fantasy then I always want mooooore.
The quiz gave me over 500 pages! Which, I don’t know. I mean, I do like big books, and I will read long books, but I don’t think there’s much need to go over 600 pages. I love fantasy, and I love a long fantasy, but I think you can manage to get everything done well in that many pages. You don’t need more. Unless you do. And, if it sounds good or is by a fave author, I’ll still read it. Ok, I’m lying. The Redemtption of Althalus, which is one of my fave books by one of my fave authors is a high fantasy stand alone, and it’s 928 pages. But I thought it was shorter. I don’t think numbers work for me, I need to see the size of the book. I was quite happy to read that book, I love it! And I’m thinking of a re-read soon!
But I don’t mind books that are around 300 pages. I don’t consider that short, I consider that normal. I read a lot of contemporary YA, so that’s the length I normally read (though fantasy is my favourite genre). Fun post, Cait!
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So we’ll say lowkey quiz fail?😂😂 And yES! If it’s a favourite author than page counts stop really mattering haha, unless it’s like a teeny tiny book. Like Maggie Stiefvater’s new book is apparently going to be 288 pages?? NO THAT’S NOT ENOUGH I NEED MORE.😂
I’ll admit it, I’m a tall person. But I’m fond of this particular opening line by a smol character. “It is a fact universally acknowledged that a short girl in search of something above her head must be in need of some young man to get it down for her.” Spoken saracastically of course. But Water Princess, Fire Prince is by no means a smol book. It’s almost 500 pages. The sequel which was mean to be shorter probably is that long. So I do like long books. Unless they’re classics and dreadfully slow.
But I can think of some novellas I love. One I read really recently felt quite sizable for a novella. Perfect amount of world building, complex plotting, a really well developed anti-hero protagonist. I’m biased though because I’m on the author’s street team and the book is releasing in a few days. It’s a Hansel and Gretal reimagining with an elemental stone and bandits.
When you have to resort to ebooks, length doesn’t make so much difference. Also you don’y always realize you’re at the end which is really frustrating when you’re reading the first book of a trilogy and it stops while you feel it’s just the beginning. But if it’s something I really like, I just want more. Extra character QnA’s and deleted scene or scenes from a few years later or when they were kids. Give it all to me.
Well I’m glad that’s spoken sarcastically.😂 Because why would one need a man when they can use a stepladder.😂
And people who can manage to do an amazing novella and do all the world/building/character development are just ACTUAL WIZARDS OF TALENT AND I BOW TO THOSE SKILLS!! All the novellas I’ve read have always managed to feel like they were half a story.😂
Yeah, that’s why this one stood out to me. It’s Shadows of the Herweald (I think I spelled that right, why do people make up names for title?) by Hope Ann. There probably isn’t all that much world building beyond what’s absolute essential to the plot, but it felt right to me. Probably a little less is needed because it’s actually the third in a very loosely connected series.
And of course Clara does get a guy even thought she don’t need him. Turns out that even though he’s skinny and knows nothing about fighting (so she gets to boss him around), fire is still needed as well as water to banish the dragon. (and rule afterwards, she doesn’t like the idea of ruling) And being the Fire Prince of course he has red hair which is annoying because a friend has teased her into hating redheads and that’s the last thing she wants. And characters must always be given what they don’t want and have the thing they really want held just out of reach.
OH INTERESTING mine was “about 200 pages.” And given my attention span I’m surprised it’s not less 😉 But then again Order of the Phoenix is my favourite Harry Potter book, so basically I’m a walking contradiction.
Mwahahh, the quiz wooooorks. I should award myself. Like obviously it was based solely on science there.😂
Haha, I loved this quiz. The last book I read was actually between 300-400 pages (that’s what I got). Btw, my fav colour is yellow. The quiz definitely worked.
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Oh oh I’m glad you liked the quiz and it worked!! SCORE FOR ME. CAKE FOR US ALL!! (And yellow is awesome.😂)
*sings* I LIKE BIG BOOKS AND I CANNOT LIE.
I’ll admit it: I’m a sucker for huge fantasy books/series. In fact, the bigger the page count the more determined I am to read it. This has caused some problems, like the fact that I’ve been reading The Wheel of Time series for three freaking years now and I’m still not finished. Hard times.
Although short books are good too. Basically I like my contemporaries short and my fantasies long.
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Hahah, you’re amazing.😂 I just basically have to psych myself up for MONTHS before I read anything over 500 pages. I generally average on one 500+ page book a month…and I’m tracking my reading stats this year so I know for sure.😂😂
Contemporaries are definitely better short! Too long and they start to feel rambly.
I have so much I have to read for work (whether I like the genre or not) that I tend to watch my page length to make sure I have time for my leisure reading as well as my librarian reading. About 350 pages tends to be my sweet spot, I have no trouble getting through those. Once a book starts nearing 500 pages I get a bit nervous. How in the world am I going to find time for this book? It doesn’t fit into my purse, I can’t just take it with me when I have to hurry up and wait. (Granted the Kindle solves this particular problem.)
Though I have to disagree with shorter books not having enough time for world building. I think that’s just a sign of weakness in the storytelling. I think you can do a lot with the shorter format if it’s well written. My biggest complaint is that I end up wanting more but the story has ended too soon. 🙁 An Elephant in the Garden, Grayson by Lynne Cox, and Skellig are great and pretty popular because my kids actively look for books around 100 pages. And David Lubar’s Weenie books, creepy/gross funny short story collections that we can’t keep in the library. Sharon Draper’s “Out of my Mind” is absolutely fantastic and I’ve never had someone dislike it. Though now that I’m looking at this list, these are upper elementary or middle grades books. Actually, I can’t think of any short story collection or shorter book that I’d consider to be awesome YA. Huh.
I totally get that! I get so nervous when it’s up to 500 pages. I just know it’ll take me longer to read and I have SO many books I should’ve read by now.😂 I mean, reading is definitely not a contest, but the pressure of the TBR is so there haha.
I agree short books lacking in good world building can be just the fault of the writing! OR it’s subjective.😂 I’ve praised a book’s world building before only to find another reviewer saying it was non-existent haha.
300-400 pages, which sounds about right! Loved the quiz and the photos, very colorful 🙂 Just came across your site and I’m in love, definitely bookmarking.
Oh hello and welcome, Alexandria!! And I’m SO glad you liked my post. <3 And I'm glad the quiz worked hahha.😂
I think it definitely depends on the book. Some books just naturally need more pages to tell the story, and some don’t need quite as many. As long as the pacing is good, the characters are engaging, and the writing is solid, I don’t mind whether a book is long or short (unless it’s wayyyyy too long – then I’ll get bored). Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous discussion! <3
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Well that’s just downright SENSIBLE AND LOGICAL of you, Zoe.😂
*ToG shows up in the quiz*
me: ‘CAIT HOW DARE YOU.
wait that was probably rude.
but true’
Haha, 😂 I know other people like it!
yeeeeeeees i know. But that’s still my reaction any time I see it XD (although, to be honest, the first book WAS amazing. It just went downhill after that XD)
Before I got to the bottom where you said 300-400 pages, that is,exactly what I was thinking. P!us, I think fluffier Contemporary YA doesn’t need to be tome long. I have been seeing some hefty looking YA romances lately. 🙂
I know right?!? When a contemporary gets to be 400+ pages, I get worried.😂😂
You would love my novels, in that case! THEY ARE SMOL. In the extreme. It bothers me. I want to write big strong books that I must pare down in edits, BUT NOOOOO. Ugh.
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You’ll get there! I used to write small books and thicken them up in edits, and now I write MASSIVE TOMES and have to do so much axing of words. 😂😂
Ohhhh…. I read your whole post and was totally wondering how you could even like short books over long. Then I realized that you meant short as in 300 pages. I actually haven’t read many books longer than that…I mean, probably all the Lord of the Rings together are that long, right? And I feel short too (at least as compared to my brother… 🙂 )
all those stranger things gifs have me dead.
STRANGER THINGS IS EXCELLENT.
[ preach ]