Short on time but in the mood for some ridiculously good literature? This curated selection of contemporary fiction offers a delightful solution. In just one sitting, encounter modern masters like Morrison and Kundera, alongside rising stars like Moshfegh and Smith. These bite-sized brilliance bursts pack powerful stories and unforgettable voices, leaving you wanting more. 8 books that are safely under 200 pages and extremely devour-able. No excuses now:)
The Beautiful Summer by Cesare Pavese
Cesare Pavese’s The Beautiful Summer paints a poignant portrait of a young woman named Ginia. Lush Italian summerscapes bloom alongside her blossoming emotions as she encounters Amelia, a free-spirited artist, and Guido, an enigmatic painter. Their bohemian world ignites Ginia’s first love, a passionate and fragile flame captured in Pavese’s lyrical prose. Though fleeting, this summer sears itself into Ginia’s heart, a bittersweet testament to youthful love and the bittersweet ache of growing up.
The Festival of Insignificance by Milan Kundera
Kundera’s final novel, “The Festival of Insignificance,” explores the weight of fleeting moments in exquisitely crafted prose. Through interwoven narratives, it delves into themes of mortality, love’s complexities, and the human desire for significance, all set against the backdrop of a world increasingly obsessed with the trivial. Kundera’s masterful storytelling celebrates the beauty of the insignificant, finding profound meaning in the impermanent.
The Wife of Willesden by Zadie Smith
In a North London pub, Alvita, a Jamaican-born woman in her fifties, captivates strangers with her life story. Zadie Smith’s vibrant prose transforms Chaucer’s classic Wife of Bath into a modern odyssey. Alvita recounts five marriages, each a testament to her strength and wit. Through laughter and bawdy details, she challenges societal views on womanhood and celebrates female power, making “The Wife of Willesden” a poignant and hilarious exploration of life, love, and resilience.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
In lyrical prose, Dai Sijie’s novella paints a portrait of two city boys exiled to a remote Chinese village during the Cultural Revolution. Their solace comes in a hidden trove of forbidden literature – Balzac, Dumas – and their encounters with the Little Seamstress, a captivating young woman. As they devour chapters and navigate love triangles, the boys discover a world of beauty and passion that transcends the harsh realities around them.
McGlue by Ottessa Moshfegh
McGlue, a whirlwind of a novella, throws you into the grimy hold of a ship with its anti-hero, McGlue. Hungover and possibly a murderer, he wrestles with fragmented memories. Moshfegh’s prose gleams like a shard of glass in the muck, crafting a darkly beautiful journey through his fractured mind. It’s a relentless exploration of guilt, alcoholism, and the brutal underbelly of 1851 Salem.
Recitatif by Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif” is a haunting melody of two lives intertwined. The narrator and Roberta, girls of unknown race, meet in a shelter, their bond blossoming amidst childhood hardship. Their paths diverge, then converge again, with each encounter sparking questions about race, memory, and the enduring power of connection. Morrison’s prose is as beautiful as it is unsettling, forcing us to confront the complexities of race and identity with every lyrical turn.
At Night All Blood Is Black by David Diop
In David Diop’s “At Night All Blood Is Black,” lyrical prose paints a brutal portrait of WWI through the eyes of Alfa, a Senegalese soldier. Grief for his fallen friend fuels a descent into madness, blurring the lines between revenge and survival. The horrors of war are rendered in stark beauty, forcing us to confront the dehumanisation that lies beneath the colour of blood.
Pick up any of these 7 Brilliant Bite-Sized Fiction By Renowned Authors from any Kunzum store or WhatsApp +91.8800200280 to order. Buy the book(s) and the coffee’s on us.