One of my favorite literary delights is finding a book I just can’t stop reading. Today I’m sharing five books that provided such pleasure. All of the books I’m talking about were ones I read in one sitting. They’re entirely different from each other, but the one thing they have in common is compulsive readability. Keep reading to see what I just couldn’t put down.
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The wife of the title is Clare who’s married to Henry. They’re deeply in love, but their relationship is complicated because Henry moves in and out of time due to a newly-diagnosed medical disorder. We see Henry and Clare at different ages and stages of their lives. Henry can’t control when he time travels, and that adds gripping suspense to the story and raises the stakes immensely. Their struggle to have a typical family and marriage is what makes this book so captivating.
I’m not typically a fan of science fiction, fantasy, or romance, yet I devoured all 500 pages of this book which includes aspects of all three genres. I read this over ten years ago, and I can still remember the way it broke my heart and held my attention.
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
I wasn’t afraid of flying, and then I experienced some turbulence flying through a storm. (I do not recommend flying through storms.) Since that awful flight, airplanes and I don’t get along. Sometimes I have to fly, though, and during one of those mandatory flights, I brought this book with me. I’m usually too antsy to read on a plane, but I ended up reading this straight through. Kaling’s wit had no trouble holding my attention. I truly enjoyed reading about the beginning of her career, her time on The Office, and her love of comedy. This lighthearted yet honest book was perfect for that moment when I felt nervous and out of control.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
A couple of summers ago, I was really sick with pneumonia. All I had the strength to do was sprawl on my couch. I knew I needed a fast-paced book to hold my attention, so I picked up Big Little Lies. I had low expectations because I’d heard this book referred to as chick-lit. I’m not a fan of that term or the books that are often ushered under its umbrella. It turns out my doubts were gone by page three.
This book tells the story of Madeline, Celeste, and Jane, mothers whose children attend the same elementary school. Someone dies at the beginning of the story and as the novel progresses we get more and more clues about who it was and how it happened. Moriarty’s pacing is pure perfection and her ability to write fully fleshed out characters keeps me coming back to her work.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murato
This book tells the story of Keiko Furukura who lives in Tokyo. Her parents always thought she was a bit different. In college, she begins working in a convenience store. Convenience stores in Japan are much bigger and nicer than they are in America, so her employment was especially exciting. When Keiko is in her mid-thirties, she’s still in the same job. She’s single and doesn’t socialize much. Her life is far from what society expects it to be. But for all her quirks, Keiko seems quite comfortable with that. I enjoyed this book and related to the desire for a simple life. This quirky story is one that’s stayed with me.
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness
by Austin Channing Brown
This book offers a powerful indictment against the evil that is white supremacy and explains how it must be renounced for genuine reconciliation to occur. Austin Channing Brown describes a college trip in which she and some fellow students take a bus tour to see various sites important in Black history, a journey that changes her life and influences her to become the activist she is today. Her stories about the discrimination she’s faced are heartbreaking yet beautifully told. Brown is a person of faith whose convictions are shaped by deep compassion and understanding. This is an important book, especially for those of us in the Church who sometimes struggle to see and address the racism that is all too pervasive in our ranks. This book is reasonably short, but Brown is able to fit so much in its pages. It was gripping like the best nonfiction always is. (From my Goodreads review)
Do you ever read books in one sitting? If so, what books are on your list?
Andrea Is Reading 