We know life’s busy. There are so many ways to read yet it can still feel like there’s little time to get in a long reading session in between the demands of our daily routine. That’s why we’ve put together a list of short, unputdownable books that you can take with you on the go or when you only have a couple hours to spare. Whether you are looking for something full of humour that will make you forget about your to-do list or something sharp and compelling that will reignite your love of reading, there is a book for you that you’ll want to stay up all night finishing.
Inside the House Inside by Rosalind Goldsmith (Ronsdale Press)
This remarkable debut short-story collection is rich in compassion, capturing lives lived in the margins. Featuring multiple POVs, we meet characters that are facing the harsh realities of a constantly changing world from homelessness and climate change to mental health and the cycle of abuse. Each story is linked, offering a raw look at human experiences full of understanding and empathy.
Out Now
Return to Spinner’s Inlet by Don Hunter (Touchwood Editions)
Originally a serialized newspaper column that ran in the Province, Don Hunter’s Return to Spinner’s Inlet follows the quirky inhabitants of a fictional coastal community. The collection expands on the original material, transforming it into short stories that will both charm you and make you laugh out loud. This book is perfect for readers who are fans of Jack Hodgins, Bill Gaston, and Pat Carney.
Out Now
Canoes by Maylis de Kerangal, translated by Jessica Moore (Talonbooks)
The seven stories in Canoes follow the lives of women; some are daughters, friends, or sisters, while others are young and old, talkative or daydreaming. Author Maylis de Kerangal artfully weaves their stories together to explore the precarious balance between life and death.
Out Now
Shut Up You’re Pretty by Tea Mutonji (Arsenal Pulp Press)
Shortlisted for Canada Reads 2024, Shut Up You’re Pretty is Tea Mutonji’s punchy and sharp debut story collection that interrogates the lines between longing and choosing. Readers follow the stories of several women’s lives as they navigate family, identity, motherhood, and mental health. Infused with humour and empathy, Mutonji offers a nuanced perspective on femininity and womanhood that will linger with you long after the last page.
Out Now
This Unlikely Soil by Andrea Routley (Caitlin Press)
This Unlikely Soil, the second collection from Lambda Literary Award finalist Andrea Routley, is a sharp, funny, and moving set of five linked novellas centered on queer women in a rural West Coast community. Through flawed characters and tangled relationships, Routley explores the limits of kindness, connection, and self-awareness.
Out Now