Size Up Your Reading Habits (or Your Readers)

by Beth Erin

I’m starting to think there’s something in the Seekerville water because I always feel compelled to make some sort of confession or engage in deep introspection when I post here. What happens in Seekerville stays in… oh, wait, that’s an entirely different town’s motto. Okay, enough awkward beating around the bush already!

A few phrases which I often repeat in regard to my reading life are:

I’d rather be reading.
Variety is the spice of life.
I like big books... 

(and I cannot lie, I am a reformed secular 90s child, saved by grace! Praise the Lord!)

So, that last one got me thinking (about myself, cue introspection) … when it comes to books, does size matter? Like the dutiful overthinker I can often be, I reached the complex conclusion of yes and no. As I expound on just a few of the many points I have pondered, I want to encourage my fellow readers to examine why we gravitate towards certain sweet spots or shy away from others (and for my author friends, think about your writing habits or your readers). It's a thinking party and you're invited!

Photo by Maciej Ostrowski on Unsplash

Mass Market versus Trade 

Issues of physical thickness and height and width and story length are elementary considerations here. For those of us who dearly love ink and paper and the reading experience they create, this comparison is far from simple. Due to the difference in price/cost, these two sizes vary widely when it comes to paper and cover texture, spine integrity, and adhesive scent (yes, I am a book sniffer and no, I’m not trying to quit). Trade books look so pretty on my shelves but oh those mass markets fit so nicely in my purse!

Standalone Novellas versus Novella Collections 

How much can an author accomplish in less than a hundred pages?! Quite a lot when done right! Standalone novellas are a wonderful medium for series prequels, sequels, and spinoffs. There’s no denying, I love it when several of these quick reads are combined in collections by genre, troupe, setting, or as intricate pieces of a larger multi-author story. No matter where you find them, novellas are especially suited for seasons when life cuts into your reading time!

Standalone Novels versus Series 

(Duology vs Trilogy vs Four or more book series vs Interrelated series)

With the one-stop story shopping of standalone novels, you get the whole shebang in one fell swoop. No waiting for future installments, no cliffhanger endings, no wondering what happens next. The commitment required of series readers yields rich benefits in building a connection to the characters and setting. Most authors keep the overall series arc subtle enough to spark curiosity yet allow each individual installment to shine on its own. If you’re especially hardcore or find an author you adore, a series or four or more books or even a collection of interrelated series is a storied paradise!

Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash

I hope I gave y’all a little food for thought and while my initial statement about big books will always be true (400+ pages of story thrills me!), the first and second reading life phrases always take priority! Our experiences and mood and season of life can greatly influence what size book we pick up but if you’re a reader who is stuck in a rut, step up and try something new!

Before we go, I asked a few of my book blogger friends, who each read a variety of book sizes, “What’s your book size sweet spot?”

Carrie: "300 or so is my sweet spot. Snack books (Love Inspired and novellas) also make me happy because I knock a few out in an evening but when I DO get a longer book, I curl up and get all cozy to read it. My sweet spot is really genre, no matter the size."

Annie: "I read any size. Depending on time, I would choose novellas."

Katie of Fiction Aficionado: "The bigger the better? In all seriousness, probably 350-400 pages is a good average."

Rachel of Bookworm Mama: "Honestly, size depends on my mood...and the time of year. I am a sucker for short and sweet novellas, especially around Christmas time. But novellas are great for when I'm in between books and just need a different direction/genre. However, bigger is definitely better. "

Giveaway!

contents may vary (pic compliments of Annie)

One commenter will win a Christian Fiction Readers Retreat swag bag full of books and all kinds of delightful bookish swag! (US only) 

Let us know if you'd like your name tossed in the hat!

Winner will be announced in next week's Weekend Edition so y'all have time to tell your friends! Maybe there's a little voice in your head saying not to tell anyone because there go your chances of winning... BUT we'll have more giveaway opportunities for CFRR swag bags on Just Commonly, Reading Is My SuperPower, and Faithfully Bookish in the near future. Sharing is caring and I'll even give you bonus entries in my future giveaway for sharing this post now!

Tell us, what is YOUR story sweet spot?

Readers, are you drawn to a certain story size or length? Do you find yourself reaching for a particular format in different situations?

Authors, are you more comfortable or popular in a specific book size or format? Is there a story size you've not yet tried but would like to?

I feel obligated to leave this here, just in case...

Beth Erin is a Christian fiction enthusiast, book reviewer, and blogger. She strives to edify and connect with readers and authors at Faithfully Bookish and on social media. 

Beth also contributes to the Seekerville, Hoarding Books, and Diversity Between the Pages blogs. She is passionate about promoting authors and their entertaining, encouraging, and redemptive stories.