Binge reads: Books with 150 pages or less

Editor’s note: We like big books, but sometimes, we love the nifty novella that is deceptive in size (and pages) but packs a punch. Sneha’s list of books with 150 pages or fewer is full of great short reads with diverse themes and plots—from toxic families to notes from astronauts’ diaries and so much more. 

Written by: Sneha Pathak is a freelance writer and translator. Her works have appeared in The Telegraph, Deccan Herald, Strange Horizons, and The Chakkar. You can follow her on Instagram. 

Here’s a list of novellas of around 150 pages in length belonging to different genres that you can pick up when you want to read something but aren’t willing (or able) to commit a lot of time to it.

The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark: This novella is a masterclass in tension-building. It tells the story of a thirty-four-year-old woman who is taking a holiday in an unspecified location with a specific aim in mind. As she moves from man to man, unable to find someone suitable, someone “her type”, the reader travels with her. She seems on edge and almost maniacal about fulfilling her destiny, and as readers, we can only watch this character from outside and marvel at the writer who created her and this nifty, little powerhouse of a novella. Best read in a single sitting or two, ‘The Driver’s Seat’ is an excellent introduction to Spark and her brand of writing.

Orbital by Samantha Harvey: Winner of the 2024 International Booker Prize, ‘Orbital’ is a novella about a group of astronauts at the International Space Station, collecting data and conducting scientific experiments. It records the astronauts’ musings on their lives, the planet Earth, and everything else as they spend their days in space. It is what one would call a plotless novel, but its beauty and appeal lie in its lyrical writing and beautiful descriptions that will charm readers who prefer their novels just so.

Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag: This novella portrays a dysfunctional Indian family and the cost at which families sometimes decide to stay together in their toxic little chambers. Set in Bangalore with a first-person narrator who tells the story of the ups and downs of his family’s fortunes. He describes how things have come to the present situation—a complete ghachar ghochar—that cannot be disentangled. With its sparse writing style and the gradual building of suspense and tension, ‘Ghachar Ghochar’ is a delight to read.

Snapshot by Brandon Sanderson: Sanderson might be more well-known for his mammoth creations like the Mistborn series, but he also shines through in ‘Snapshot’, a speculative thriller novella that manages to pack a punch. The story follows Anthony Davis, a policeman who lives in a world where everything a person does is available as a snapshot that can be lived as reality for a day. This makes everything easier for the police and the courts. That is, until Davis decides to investigate something he hasn’t been assigned. He enters the rabbit hole of a snapshot, which takes him and the readers on a wild ride with an ending that just might make your jaw drop. 

The Yellow Dog by Georges Simenon: A prolific writer, Simenon wrote over a hundred novellas and several novels. ‘The Yellow Dog’ features his much-loved protagonist, Chief Inspector Maigret, who must investigate a shooting and a possible murder in the small French town that is increasingly in the grip of terror. Added to this is the mystery of a yellow dog who seems to be making an appearance at the crime scenes. Like most of Simenon’s works, it draws heavily from psychology and is a great place to begin reading the Chief Inspector Maigret novels.

Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan: The author was just 18 years old when she wrote the book. It tells the story of a seventeen-year-old girl Cécile, who, in a fit of pique and strange jealousy, decides to sow the seeds of discord between her father and the woman in his life. The result? You will have to read not just to know what happens but also for the sensuousness of its writing and the languid atmosphere of the French Riviera in summer. The book captures the confusions and conflicts of adolescence with great depth.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson: This gothic novella by Jackson is the story of the Blackwood family, particularly the two Blackwood sisters, Constance and Merrycat. Cut off from the rest of the world and living their lives in isolation after the death of the rest of the family members six years earlier due to arsenic poisoning, the lifestyle of the sisters is threatened with the arrival of a cousin, who acts as a reminder of the outside world. The lengths the Blackwoods might go for self-preservation make for a riveting read. Nobody writes terror and a sense of escalating dread like Jackson, and she ensures that no reader will forget the book easily.

Prime Meridian by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: This book is set in Mexico City sometime in the unspecified future when settlement on Mars has already begun. The protagonist is a young woman with no degree and no proper job who wants to live on Mars. While it is more of a dystopian novella with some elements of science fiction, ‘Prime Meridian’ is a brilliant piece of writing that makes the grinding life of its main character come alive, along with transporting its readers to the sights and sounds of Mexico City. It also helps that the novella closes on a positive note with a glimmer of hope for its protagonist. 

Reunion by Fred Uhlman: A book of no more than a hundred pages, this one is a work of great power and impact. First published in 1971, it is the story of the friendship between a Jewish boy and a Christian boy in 1930s Germany. But they live in changing times, and the boys soon realise that the nature of their friendship cannot remain untouched by what’s happening around them. With twists and turns that can give any thriller a run for its money, along with its deeply emotional core, the final sentence of ‘Reunion’ has the power to keep you reeling for days to come.

Double Indemnity by James M Cain: This is one of those classic noir novels where no one is likable, yet one cannot help but read it till the end. The story of an insurance investigator who helps a beautiful woman plan her husband’s murder and split the insurance. This fast-paced book, with its sparse writing style, is perfect for a trip back to a century ago (the book was first published in 1936) when life was simpler, but the crimes were complex. P.S. The book has also been adapted into an excellent film whose screenplay was co-written by the author with Raymond Chandler.