10 on a Theme: Quiet
Featuring books by Natasha Brown, Sally Rooney, Raymond Carver, and more
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 you didn’t see coming. Instead, you’ll find meaningful insights, relatability, and stories that stay with you for a long time.
I’m sharing ten quiet books, including some all-time favorite reads, in this post. 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.
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 books that tackle class, race, and achievement, don’t miss this one.
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. Rooney writes dialogue so well.
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.”
If that doesn’t make you want to read Cathedral, I don’t know what will.
One of my favorite story types 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.
Two overwhelmed Irish parents send their daughter to live with relatives in this beautiful, haunting novella. 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. Claire Keegan is a masterful storyteller who shines in Foster.
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 treasure.
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 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 a brilliant writer, and if you’ve yet to read him, you can start here.
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 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 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.
I must confess something: 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 Ann Patchett because I haven’t stopped thinking about this novel since I finished it. It’s a simple 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.
Do you enjoy quiet books? What are some of your favorites? Give me some recommendations in the comments.
Sooooo appreciate this! Remains of the Day, just wonderful.
I recently read The Door-to-Door Bookstore and I thought it was a quiet read!