I have no trouble picking up a big novel, the more pages the better I kind of think. Gone With The Wind was one of my first big books, and I’ve read countless big novels since Goodness, I was so excited when I saw Go and Tell the Bees I have Gone, that baby is like a brink!!. I’ve always loved the nitty gritty.. being swept away I guess. I love seeing character arcs and time passing, I remember people being disappointed when they saw Apples Never Fall, people were like gosh Liane Moriarty novels are getting bigger and bigger, I was like whooo hoo Liane Moriarty novels are getting bigger and bigger!!!!
But a couple of weeks ago my friend Adriarn read The Rat Catcher by Kim Kelly, I had read it a while ago, and loved it then; but I was really surprised with what an impact it had made on me. It’s a teeny tiny book, like only 100 pages. But I didn’t even have to stop and think! I immediately started to remember Patrick and how gorgeous he was, Old Scratch and Manly.. Have you read it? You think it’s going to be all rat plagues and pipers maybe, but it’s love and empathy and Sydney in the 1900s. I am astounded it made such an impact on me! I’ve probably read hundreds of books since The Rat Catcher, and yet I was instantly back there- it has this fun and funny newspaper article that I meant to look up to see if it really was from the time…the tiniest little story and goodness, what a cracker!!
I was left thinking I have got to read me some more short stories!
But then, I keep seeing people posting pictures of Homecoming by Kate Morton, goodness that was a chunk of a novel, I just went and checked; it’s 547 pages! But how wonderful was it to be so immersed, I could see the Adelaide Hills, I was leaning into the book that Jess was reading, I was so invested in the Turner family I can still see that kitchen bench! Ahh to have access to that level of detail and to be able to be so invested in the plot. It was completely wonderful!!
So it turns out I am just here for the story, be it long or short! As long as it’s good I am here for it!
