The Gift of the Novella

We all know what it's like when some weeks are busier than others. Hard as I try, with little time for leisure activities, the one thing I miss is time to read. Recently I rediscovered novellas.  I love reading series and longer books, but put off reading them because my time is limited. For some reason I can't seem to read a long book on my kindle.

Short Stories vs Novellas

Short stories are just that - a short story. They have less complicated plots than novellas. The word count can be as little as 1,000 words. However, opinions differ on word count for what makes a short story.
A novella is a short book over 20,000 words. The story has fewer conflicts than a novel and can be read in a day or two.
Short stories and novellas have a long history that goes way back.

Charles Dickens

I've always been a big Charles Dickens fan. His novel, Martin Chuzzlewit was originally released in monthly installments. If I had been around then, I'm sure I would have waited impatiently for the next installment. Sarah Gamp, the somewhat kind alcoholic nurse/caregiver is one of my favorite Dickens characters. Her iconic battered black umbrella was so popular with the Victorian public, Gamp became a slang word for umbrella.

O'Henry

The Gift of the Magi by O'Henry - written in 1906 is my all time favorite short story.

Contemporary Novellas

Solstice Island is the latest contemporary novella I read on a busy Sunday.  I started reading in the afternoon, put it down to run some errands, and finished that evening. There is always a certain satisfaction when you've completed a book you enjoy.

When I completed my first novella, Chocolate & Sensibility I realized it was just the length it needed to be. Adding more conflict or plot would have made it a different story.







Reading is a personal preference.  As more readers rediscover these shorter stories, I hope they'll be able to find the time in their busy schedules to read.