Four really good short reads with big ideas. I think short books are an amazing way of getting into a new genre, and as a fantasy fan, I find them a great break in between reading thicker fantasy tomes. 

All of these are under 300 pages and great books to read if in the mood to try something different:

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (fantasy) 

This novel sits beautifully at the intersection between fantasy and literary fiction, and fans of both genres I think would love this book. It's a story filled with mystery and adventure, a perplexing read that will continuously leave readers thinking what will happen next. 

Piranesi follows the titular character, a young man tasked to go on expeditions throughout the ever-changing, ever-growing House and discover its inner workings. But the more Piranesi discovers,  the more he stumbles onto things that will make his world turn. The novel is masterfully crafted, tense yet tender, short yet complex, and it's truly a gem in the fantasy genre. If there are literary fans out there that wish to get into fantasy and don't know where to start, I would definitely recommend this book.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler (sci-fi/historical fiction)

Kindred is a gripping, heart-breaking and poignant read. It follows a young writer in the 1970s that gets transported back to the Antebellum South and begins to uncover and experience her family history.

Butler's confrontational yet perceptive writing style and the way she deconstructs and explains human experience and the characters' various perspectives is so well done it makes them feel so real. Kindred is one of those novels that should be read by everyone at least once in their lifetime. It's extremely significant read that will truly leave a mark.

After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz (speculative non-fiction)

After Sappho is a book about womanhood, following various famous historical queer women navigating through a world where they don't belong and doesn't understand them. Inspired from the fragments of Sappho’s poetry, this novel has one of the most experimental uses of language and form I've read in a while. Because of its fragmented form and narrative, After Sappho might not be for everyone, but if you like experimental literature this is a great read to check out. 

What I loved about After Sappho is that the fiction narrative really helped make these women feel real and helped to feel connected to them. The prose is luscious and poetic, and I personally loved the use of fragmentation. To me it reminded the reader that we can only get glimpses into these characters, because so much gets lost to history, even more so when queerness plays a part. 

A Room of One's Own (non-ficion/ essay)

A Room of One’s Own is an influential essay for feminism in literature written by Virginia Woolf. In it Virginia argues that the reason there have been few female literary voices is because they didn't have a room of their own, a space created through independent and financial means that is only theirs to write. 

For me the essay was thought-provoking because it was imperfect. It had some intriguing strands of thought about women's (lack of) opportunities throughout history, and at the same time her voice as a white woman from a wealthy background made me ponder on the link between history, privilege, gender and writing.