I love quiet books. Quiet books have minimal plot and find the heart of their story in characters living their everyday lives. You won’t find exciting twists in a quiet book or an explosive ending that you didn’t see coming; instead, you’ll find meaningful insights, relatability, and stories that manage to stay with you for a long time.
In this post, I’m sharing 10 quiet books, including some all-time favorites. If you’re looking for thoughtful, well-written fiction that explores what it means to be human, I’m sure you’ll find some titles that interest you on this book list.
Assembly by Natasha Brown
The protagonist of Assembly is an unnamed Black British woman who appears to have a wonderful life. She’s professionally successful and has a wealthy boyfriend with whom she’s planning to attend a fancy garden party, yet not everything is as it appears. The narrator faces emotionally draining yet unseen circumstances that tarnish the life she’s tried to build for herself. This slim book makes for a quick read, but the story has stayed with me since I finished it. If you’re interested in stories that tackle class, race, and achievement, don’t miss this one.
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney’s third novel follows four friends: Alice, Felix, Simon, and Eileen. Alice is an adrift writer who’s involved with Felix. Simon and Eileen have known each other for years, and Simon is trying to help Eileen survive a recent breakup. Beautiful World, Where Are You explores the realities of life as one settles into adulthood. These four friends struggle with romance, success, and belonging while being disillusioned with the state of the world. This book didn’t get as much love as Rooney’s hit, Normal People, but I thoroughly enjoyed this quiet story because it felt so real and raw.
Cathedral by Raymond Carver
I absolutely love what Goodreads has to say in the description for this story collection:
“It was morning in America when Raymond Carver’s Cathedral came out in 1983, but the characters in this dry collection of short stories from the forgotten corners of land of opportunity didn’t receive much sunlight. Nothing much happens to the subjects of Carver’s fiction, which is precisely why they are so harrowing: nothingness is a daunting presence to overcome. And rarely do they prevail, but the loneliness and quiet struggle the characters endure provide fertile ground for literary triumph, particularly in the hands of Carver, who was perhaps in his best form with this effort.”
I can’t beat that.
Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill
One of my favorite types of story is one that explores a messy, limping-along marriage. I’m fascinated by the intricacies of relationships, which is one of the reasons I enjoy Dept. of Speculation. The book gets inside the head of an unnamed wife and mother. Her marriage is indeed messy, and she struggles to understand who she is after becoming a mom. Jenny Offill’s writing is stunning, with some sentences reading like poetry. This book is less than 200 pages, so you could read it quickly, but it deserves to be savored.
Foster by Claire Keegan
Two overwhelmed Irish parents send their daughter to live with relatives in this beautiful, haunting story. Another baby is on the way and money is tight, so the father takes his little girl and drops her off at the Kinsellas. She doesn’t know how long she’ll be there and initially feels uncertain. As the Kinsellas show her love, tenderness, and attention, the child begins to blossom and experience life in ways she never had before. I’ll read anything Claire Keegan writes after reading Small Things Like These and Foster. She’s a master of short but powerful fiction.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
This beautiful book is a love letter from a father to his young son. An aging reverend reflects on his family, beliefs, and hopes as he delivers truths he wants to live on when he’s gone. I don’t underline or write in my books much when reading fiction, but my copy of Gilead is heavily annotated because of Marilynne Robinson’s powerful writing. Gilead is a stunning, theologically rich text that I deeply love.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Remains of the Day focuses on Stevens, who lives and works as a butler in post-World War II England. He’s ending his time serving Lord Darlington at Darlington Hall and reflects on his life, work, and legacy as he embarks on a drive. When I read this book in 2015, I wrote, “This is one of those rare novels where it seems every single word is in the right spot.” Kazuo Ishiguro is an excellent writer, and if you’ve yet to read him, you can start here.
Sam by Allegra Goodman
This touching coming-of-age story follows a girl named Sam from childhood through early adulthood. She lives with her mom and brother and has a dad whom she only occasionally sees. Despite that, she views him as a hero, making it even more heartbreaking when he fails her. Sam’s mom provides as much as she can for her kids, but money is always tight, and she pressures Sam to succeed so she can build a better life. Though this novel was published for adults, girls in their late teens would see themselves reflected in Sam, a character who does the best she can with what she’s been given.
Stoner by John Williams
Stoner is the first title I think of when I think about quiet books. I don’t know if there’s a better quiet novel than this story about William Stoner. Raised on a poor farm in Missouri, Stoner takes an unforeseen path and becomes an English professor. This novel tells the story of his life. John Williams is a brilliant, sensitive writer who crafted one of the most perfect novels I’ve ever read. This is a must-read if you love quiet books as much as I do.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
The most recent release on this list is Tom Lake, the newest novel from the beloved Ann Patchett. I must confess something before I continue: As I read Tom Lake, there were moments I was unimpressed. I wondered what the point was and struggled to see how the story would come together. I should know by now to always trust Patchett because I haven’t stopped thinking about this novel since I finished it. It’s a lovely story about a woman talking to her three adult daughters while recounting her time as an actress and exploring her relationship with a famous actor. Patchett writes families beautifully, and I was wrong to doubt her for even a second. Once I saw the whole picture, I knew I’d carry Tom Lake with me for a long time.
What quiet books do you love? Have you read any of these? I’d love your bookish thoughts!
Andrea Is Reading 