Match BookSlow-burn books
A slow burn earns its effect gradually. Not much may happen in the first hundred pages, and then you realise you care enormously about everyone in it.
These books all read as slow burns. They reward attention, and they are a poor choice for a week when you are reading in five-minute gaps.
134 books, best known first. New to the dimensions? Here's what each one means.
- A Little LifeHanya Yanagiharaliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · dark ending
- Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human ExperienceBrené Brownnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Between the World and MeTa-Nehisi Coatesnarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- BlindnessJosé Saramagoclassics · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Demon CopperheadBarbara Kingsolverliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
She’s Come UndoneWally Lambliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending- The Brothers KaramazovFyodor Dostoevskyclassics · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The IdiotFyodor Dostoevskyclassics · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Little FriendDonna Tarttliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · dark ending
The Lovely BonesAlice Seboldliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The MetamorphosisFranz Kafkaclassics · eerie · slow burn · dark ending
- The Name of the RoseUmberto Ecohistorical fiction · eerie · slow burn · dark ending
The Secret HistoryDonna Tarttliterary fiction · dark · slow burn · dark ending- Bastard Out of CarolinaDorothy Allisonliterary fiction · dark · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the WestCormac McCarthyclassics · dark · slow burn · dark ending
- ButterAsako Yuzukicontemporary fiction · tense · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- Canon Alberic's Scrapbook (Fantasy and Horror Classics)M.R. Jameshorror · eerie · slow burn · dark ending
- Critique of Practical ReasonImmanuel Kantnarrative nonfiction · melancholy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Critique of Pure ReasonImmanuel Kantclassics · tense · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Cry to HeavenAnne Ricehistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- DemonsFyodor Dostoevskyclassics · dark · slow burn · dark ending
Drowning RuthChristina Schwarzhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- Flax-Golden TalesErin Morgensternfantasy · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Garden SpellsSarah Addison Allenfantasy · cosy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending- Groundwork of the Metaphysics of MoralsImmanuel Kantclassics · tense · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
HamnetMaggie O'Farrellhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
Her Fearful SymmetryAudrey Niffeneggerhorror · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Letter from the Birmingham JailMartin Luther King Jr.classics · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending- Memories, Dreams, ReflectionsC.G. Jungmemoir · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- My Absolute DarlingGabriel Tallentliterary fiction · dark · slow burn · dark ending
- Netochka NezvanovaFyodor Dostoevskyclassics · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Notes from UndergroundFyodor Dostoevskyclassics · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- On the Genealogy of MoralsFriedrich Nietzschenarrative nonfiction · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Our Wives Under the SeaJulia Armfieldliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
PiranesiSusanna Clarkefantasy · cosy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Saint XAlexis Schaitkinliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- SidharthaHermann Hesseclassics · cosy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The Artist Who Painted a Blue HorseEric Carleclassics · heartwarming · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- The Authority Gap: Why Women Are Still Taken Less Seriously Than Men, and What We Can Do About ItMary Ann Sieghartnarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
The BindingBridget Collinsfantasy · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The Birth DearthBen J. Wattenbergnarrative nonfiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The book of evidenceJohn Banvilleliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Buried GiantKazuo Ishigurofantasy · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The Case of Mary Bell: A Portrait of a Child Who MurderedGitta Serenynarrative nonfiction · dark · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The Death of the HeartElizabeth Bowenclassics · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The Drowned WorldJ.G. Ballardscience fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Forgotten Beasts of EldPatricia A. McKillipfantasy · eerie · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The GamblerFyodor Dostoevskyclassics · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous endingThe Goblin EmperorKatherine Addisonfantasy · heartwarming · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
The HistorianElizabeth Kostovahorror · eerie · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
The Left Hand of DarknessUrsula K. Le Guinscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Name of the Rose (Helen and Kurt Wolff Books)Umberto Ecohistorical fiction · eerie · slow burn · dark ending
The Nine TailorsDorothy L. Sayersmystery · eerie · slow burn · resolved and happy ending- The OverstoryRichard Powersliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The Perennial PhilosophyAldous Huxleynarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The SafekeepYael van der Woudenhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The Slow Regard of Silent ThingsPatrick Rothfussfantasy · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook: Recipes and Wisdom from an Obsessive Home CookDeb Perelmannarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
The Starless SeaErin Morgensternfantasy · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending- The StrangerAlbert Camusclassics · dark · slow burn · dark ending
The WhispersAshley Audrainliterary fiction · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Witching HourAnne Ricehorror · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The WonderEmma Donoghuehistorical fiction · eerie · slow burn · resolved and happy ending- Thinking In Systems: A PrimerDonella H. Meadowsnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- ThornhillPam Smyhorror · eerie · slow burn · bittersweet ending
We Are All Completely Beside OurselvesKaren Joy Fowlerliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong BookshopHwang Bo-Reumcontemporary fiction · heartwarming · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- What the Road SaidCleo Wadenarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Women & Power: A ManifestoMary Beardnarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Women Who Run With the WolvesClarissa Pinkola Estésnarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in AmericaLaila Lalaminarrative nonfiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Five Quarters of the OrangeJoanne Harriscontemporary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- HarrowJoy Williamsliterary fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
HausfrauJill Alexander Essbaumliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · dark ending- I Gave You Eyes and You Looked Toward DarknessIrene Solàliterary fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- I Who Have Never Known MenJacqueline Harpmanscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Last ThingsJenny Offillliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- Leaven of MaliceRobertson Daviesliterary fiction · funny · slow burn · bittersweet ending
Light Can Be Both Wave and ParticleEllen Gilchristliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
More Than You KnowBeth Gutcheoncontemporary fiction · heartwarming · slow burn · bittersweet ending- Of Cattle and MenAna Paula Maialiterary fiction · dark · slow burn · dark ending
Sarah ConleyEllen Gilchristcontemporary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
SistersDaisy Johnsonliterary fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending- SolenoidMircea Cărtăresculiterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Summer Hours at the Robbers LibrarySue Halperncontemporary fiction · heartwarming · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
The Anna PapersEllen Gilchristliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- The Bass RockEvie Wyldliterary fiction · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Cabal and Other StoriesEllen Gilchristliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The drowning GirlCaitlín R. Kiernanhorror · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The gracekeepersKirsty Loganscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The HoleHiroko Oyamadaliterary fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The List of Suspicious ThingsJennie Godfreyhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The ListenersJordan Tannahillscience fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The Living and the RestJosé Eduardo Agualusaliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The Meaning of Shakespeare, Volume 1Harold Clarke Goddardnarrative nonfiction · cosy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Memory PoliceYōko Ogawaliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- The New MeHalle Butlercontemporary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The New WildernessDiane Cookscience fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Raven TowerAnn Leckiefantasy · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Saturday Night Ghost ClubCraig Davidsonyoung adult · eerie · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The Shadow at the Bottom of the WorldThomas Ligottihorror · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- The Snow GardenChristopher Riceliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Swan ThievesElizabeth Kostovamystery · eerie · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
The Tiger's Daughter (Ascendant)K Arsenault Riverafantasy · romantic · slow burn · cliffhanger ending- The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and DisasterSarah Krasnosteinmemoir · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- The Twenty Days of TurinGiorgio De Mariahorror · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Water CureSophie Mackintoshliterary fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending- They Were Here Before Us: A Novella in PiecesEric LaRoccahorror · eerie · slow burn · dark ending
Things Don't Break on Their OwnSarah Easter Collinsliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- When I Arrived at the CastleE.M. Carrollhorror · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- WitchesBrenda Lozanoliterary fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Wyrd and Other DerelictionsAdam L.G. Nevillhorror · eerie · slow burn · dark ending
A Spectral HueCraig Laurance Gidneyliterary fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending- AsunderKerstin Hallfantasy · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- FirSharon Goslingliterary fiction · heartwarming · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Hunting Snipe: and Other Notes on the East Texas Cattle MutilationsPaul Avery Tindolnarrative nonfiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
Idle GroundsKrystelle Bamfordliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- ImpermanenceDaniel Frisanoliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- MaddyCarol Hallliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- Magnetized: Conversations with a Serial KillerCarlos Busquednarrative nonfiction · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- MagnusGeorge Mackay Brownhistorical fiction · dark · slow burn · dark ending
No Place, LouisianaMartin Poussonliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending- On a Clear Day, You Can See Block IslandGage Greenwoodcontemporary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
- Please Stop Trying to Leave MeAlana Saabcontemporary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Great Offshore GroundsVanessa Veselkaliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The GulfRachel Cochranliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Hole小山田浩子literary fiction · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending- The Paper YearAvery Asterliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The watchmaker of Filigree StreetNatasha Pulleyfantasy · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
The Winged HistoriesSofia Samatarfantasy · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending- The Wingspan of Severed HandsJoanna Kochhorror · eerie · slow burn · ambiguous ending
- Time Biases: A Theory of Rational Planning and Personal PersistenceMeghan Sullivannarrative nonfiction · hopeful · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
- Untold LessonsMaddalena Vaglio Tanetliterary fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
Why the Tree Loves the AxJim Lewisliterary fiction · dark · slow burn · ambiguous ending
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