7 Quick Reads

I am currently in a bit of a reading slump, so I made a video of some quick reads. I hope I come across more nice quick reads to help me out of my current slump. This list is in alphabetical order.

A Sister to Scheherazade by Assia Djebar

I read this book for my undergrad dissertation and I would absolutely like to read it again because it was so beautifully written and thought-provoking.

This book follows two women married to the same man. The first woman has left her husband and is enjoying her newfound freedom, but missing the daughter she left behind. The second woman struggles with being a second wife, living in the shadow of her predecessor. She also struggles with her husband's expectations of her and that she wants more from life.

Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi

This is a graphic novel by the author of Persepolis about a violinist who has given up on life because his beloved violin has been broken. This does not seem like an uplifting read, and there are definitely tragic things that happen in this story, but the overall vibe is about finding yourself and healing. Since this is a short graphic novel, you can read this in about half an hour and it is absolutely worth it. I also love the movie that came out in 2011, starring Mathieu Amalric.

Kissing the Witch by Emma Donoghue

This is a collection of short, subversive fairytale retellings that feed into each other, much like Scheherazade's stories in 1001 Nights. I love fairytales and fairytale retellings, so this book was perfectly crafted for me.

Pine by Francine Toon

This is a fun thriller about a girl, Lauren, who goes for a drive at night and come across a woman who looks like Lauren's deceased mother. Upon arriving home, Lauren asks her father about the woman, but he has no memory of her. Viewing the disappearance of her mother, and the mysterious apparition in the woods through a ten-year-old's eyes gives the story an added layer of spook. Lauren is observant and perceptive and her mounting sense of foreboding while everyone else seems oblivious is what makes the creepiness of the story truly spine chilling. It's a short book, but slow-paced, which enhances the building mystery and disquietude.

Toon's writing style gives the perfect eerie vibe of remoteness and isolation. I could practically smell the pine forest. This was the perfect read for curling up under the covers on a rainy evening in October and I am so glad I picked it up.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Another thriller: this thriller is a page-turning easy read, even though it is not very "short." A woman receives news that she has inherited a large house in Chelsea in London on her 21st birthday. The same house she was found in as a baby, well cared for, several days after what looks like a group suicide. The main character delves into her past and her family's interaction with what seems like a creepy cult leader.

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

This one is another thriller, set in an Agatha Christie-esque closed-room murder mystery. A group of university friends go to a remote Scottish cabin to celebrate new year's eve and old rivalries come to the surface. When the snow storm cuts the cabin off from the outside world, the friends start to notice that something is very wrong.

You Exist Too Much by

I read the ARC of this book in 2020 and loved it.

Zaina Arafat’s writing style is gorgeous, and every sentence is like wandering through a fresh-smelling garden. The plot is also meandering and explores the relationship the main character has with herself. Her journey with her sexual, national, and familial identities is fresh yet relatable.