What Books Have You Read In A Single Sitting (8/6/23)?

[Marc]

Are there books you've read in a single sitting (or close to it)? Which ones?

[Ellen]

Just recently, Foster by Claire Keegan

When I was in my 20s, I did that a lot--my concentration and the speed of my reading were so much stronger--but I love it today when I am so caught up I can't stop.

[Stacia]

I do that sometimes. It seems to especially happen when I'm reading something creepy or disturbing like The Open Curtain by Brian Evenson, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix, or Head in Flames by Lance Olsen.

[Erika]

Usually when I do this, it’s because I am a captive audience (very long car ride, plane ride, etc) or because it’s a very short book. I read Dracula in one sitting (on a very long bus ride) decades ago.

[Tracy]

My work shifts are 11 hours, and I listen to books while I work. Many days I can get through a book in one sitting, but it’s a listen. The last one I got through was Family Lexiconby Natalia Ginzburg.

I think the longest book I read in one sitting was The Little Friend by Donna Tartt. It was a long car ride and I hadn’t planned my reading well for the trip.

[Robert]

Generally if a book is under 150 pages I’ll finish it in one sitting. I’ll list the long books I’ve read in one sitting:

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - started at 6pm and finished it at 2am - this was back in 1999.

A Confederacy of Dunces

And the Ass Saw the Angel

The Broom of the System (I still don’t know how I did that)

Then we Came to the End

The accidental

[Ruben]

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss - a fantastic reading experience.

[Bretnie]

Most books I read over multiple days, but two come to mind that I read in one sitting that were unique experiences:

Fever Dream by Samanta Schewblin
and
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

It helps when they are short and have an element of "what is happening?!" that keeps you going.

[Erika]

I think I read Piranesi in one sitting, too. It was magically absorbing.

[Risa]

The recently published “Open Throat” by Henry Hoke is a novella that needs to be read in a single sitting. It’s terrific.

[David]

I read Study for Obedience in a single sitting today. That's my preferred way to experience a book, depending on length.