Many literary agents won’t consider projects shorter than 90,000 words. It’s simple, or so they say: books have to fit comfortably with others on shelves and endcaps, so a minimum word count is necessary to produce a certain heft. Fair enough. With only 20% of books being read in a digital format, there are ergonomic considerations that can’t be denied.
There is also a cost to this, though. Stories have a natural ebb and flow that can be interrupted by unnecessary detail. Imagine if your favorite short novel needed to be stretched out: The Catcher in the Rye would be tedious if it went on that long; To Kill A Mockingbird would not have the same punch with additional subplots. The business side of publishing can get in the way of storytelling.
A lot of popular writers seem to reach this requirement by having an excessively long third act. A standoff between rivals, an epilogue with years passing, or a drawn out kidnapping can hit the necessary word count, but it can also harm an otherwise strong narrative.
Here are three books that would have been better with fewer words.
1.
After meeting her husband at a restaurant for an anniversary dinner, Claire witnesses his murder. She soon discovers files on his computer that hint that he has a secret, disturbing habit.
Claire hasn’t had the easiest life. Years ago her sister was murdered and the killer was never found. These two plots merge together into highly effective suspense, complete with a record-scratch twist at midpoint. I loved the first 70% of this story. Unfortunately, though, the pace slows towards the end as the protagonist faces off with her sister’s killer. This is supposed to be deeply satisfying, but the showdown goes on so long I found myself wanting it to be over. A five-star read gets knocked down by too much action.
2.
Grace is a likeable heroine, balancing the demands of life with the obligation to care for her Down Syndrome sister, Millie. When she meets affable Jack, her life seems to be taking on a romcom glow.
Alas, this is not a romantic comedy. Jack is controlling and abusive and has sinister motives that go beyond just his marriage. The tension here is awful as you root for Grace and Millie to get away.
I read about half of this in thrall to the story. It was a solid four-star book. At a certain point, the story reaches its natural conclusion. The problem, though, is the book doesn’t end there. There is an unnecessary escape plot that goes on way too long, especially since the outcome is clear. A gripping read is ultimately disappointing. It would have been better if it were fifty pages shorter.
3.
Popular fiction at its best, this is an epic coming-of- age story set amidst unforgiving terrain. After her father returns from Vietnam, Leni and her mother move with him to Kaneq, Alaska to try homesteading. Helped through their first summer by locals, as the first winter hits the stakes rise considerably.
This is a story where you can taste the fresh salmon and hear the birdsong. I loved all the local detail and the cast of characters. Regrettably, the book doesn’t know when to end. After Leni leaves the tundra for the city, her dislocation is palpable. I would have preferred a quieter ending than the extended epilogue we get. Sometimes less is more. Here we get everything and the kitchen sink.
Books Smitten 