Enjoyable as it is to immerse your self in an inches-thick book, having the time and focus to do so is becoming somewhat of a luxury. In order to keep you turning pages in between Netflix binges and your favourite television show, here are a few excellent books that will only take a day or two to read.
Vinegar Girl by the renowned author Anne Tyler is a modern-day retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. The story centres on Kate Battista, a pre-school teaching assistant whose quirky personality always makes her presence known. She faces a challenge, however, when approached by her scientist father to help his lab assistant stay in the country by agreeing to marry him. The drama that ensues between all the characters is mixed with more humour and gentleness than the original version but still makes for a lively, interesting read.
Timothy Christopher Greene’s latest novel, If I Forget You, is a story of lost love. Twenty-one years after a love affair, this memorable couple have parted; a chance encounter brings them back together. Each has married, Margot still unhappily married and Henry, now divorced. This love story is told in both past and present; each chapter brings a shift in time and delves into the different stages of a relationship. As the book evolves, each realizes that it is a love worth fighting for and one they do not want to lose again. This novel confirms how the choices we make can change the path of our lives forever.
Jacqueline Woodson’s Another Brooklyn is breathtaking. This unforgettable novel explores the beauty and hardship of girlhood in 1970s Brooklyn. Woodson manages to bring four black girls, August, Sylvia, Angela and Gigi, and their separate home situations, to life in vivid colour. The story follows their lives and struggles, and the family conflicts that they all endure. The friends share their hopes and fears and learn all about the complexities of youth, loss, friendship, family, race and religion. I loved this book — it simply wasn’t long enough.
Father’s Day by Simon Van Booy is a beautifully written book about a little girl named Harvey. Harvey becomes an orphan at the age of six following a car accident that takes the lives of her parents. She is put in the care of her father’s estranged older brother, Jason, who has more than his share of problems. An ex-con and recovering alcoholic, he is now suddenly thrown into the most important role of his life so far, that of a legal guardian to a child. Together, they negotiate the map of life, building memories while learning the importance of family.
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick is a fast read with unforgettable characters that move through grief and the process of starting over. After 40 years of marriage, Arthur’s wife dies unexpectedly. On the first anniversary of her death, he decides to clean out her belongings. It is here he finds a gold charm bracelet full of charms. He makes it his mission to trace his wife’s life through these charms. It is amazing what he discovers not only about her but also about himself in the process.
These and many other short reads are at your local library.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Caroline Wandell works at Port Coquitlam’s Terry Fox Library.
