Do you prefer books with long or short chapters ?

Use this forum for book and reading discussion that doesn't fall into another category. Talk about books, genres, reading issues, general literature, and any other topic of particular interest to readers. If you want to start a thread about a specific book or a specific series, please do that in the section below this one.
Post Reply
User avatar
Bluebird03
Posts: 1288
Joined: 29 Dec 2018, 20:13
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 127
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bluebird03.html
Latest Review: Retort and Retribution by Jak Dello

Re: Do you prefer books with long or short chapters ?

Post by Bluebird03 »

I probably land somewhere in the middle. If the chapters are too long, I feel like they drag on forever without a good stopping point. But chapters that are too short become distracting.
User avatar
RoxieReads
Posts: 197
Joined: 28 Jun 2019, 20:10
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 16
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-roxiereads.html
Latest Review: Code Name Lily by Julien Ayotte

Post by RoxieReads »

Short chapters can sometimes be a little annoying to me because they can happen unnecessarily, which is why my preference is long chapters.
~Roxie~
shravsi
Posts: 565
Joined: 01 Apr 2016, 01:01
Favorite Book:
Currently Reading: Crime and Punishment
Bookshelf Size: 115
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-shravsi.html
Latest Review: Sam the Chosen by Wally Jones

Post by shravsi »

I don't mind the length of the chapters as long as it is interesting. If its a non-fiction, short chapters might be good. Especially some data.
User avatar
Nightreaderx
Posts: 36
Joined: 16 Aug 2019, 12:18
Currently Reading: Unhinged
Bookshelf Size: 11

Post by Nightreaderx »

I am okay with both long and short chapters. :)
User avatar
Inkroverts
Posts: 298
Joined: 15 Jul 2019, 00:38
Currently Reading: The Book Thief
Bookshelf Size: 67
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-inkroverts.html
Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman

Post by Inkroverts »

In my perception, short chapters sort of mean that the author has neatly organised the plot. So I'd prefer those. But if multiple consecutive short chapters are talking about the same event, I'd get disappointed.
User avatar
NetMassimo
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 6639
Joined: 24 Jul 2019, 06:37
Currently Reading: Star Maker
Bookshelf Size: 426
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-netmassimo.html
Latest Review: The Ripsons by Joe Morrow
2024 Reading Goal: 60
2024 Goal Completion: 36%

Post by NetMassimo »

Short chapters are great when I have less than half an hour to read: they allow me to fill that time better while with long chapters I can read only one for 15-20 minutes and sometimes I'm forced to read only a part of it if it's really long.
Ciao :)
Massimo
User avatar
Kibet Hillary
Official Reviewer Representative
Posts: 3664
Joined: 26 Jul 2017, 01:48
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 3040
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kibet-hillary.html
Latest Review: Disappearance by Julien Ayotte

Post by Kibet Hillary »

I prefer short chapters since I'm always motivated to continue reading other than long ones that seem not have an ending.
“It just hurts too much to admit what is wanted so badly when there’s no guarantee of its availability.”
- Dr. Larry Crabb
User avatar
DD129
Posts: 204
Joined: 29 Jun 2019, 08:41
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 11
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dd129.html
Latest Review: The Message? by Avam Hale

Post by DD129 »

I don’t really care either way. Chapters will end when they need to end. If a scene requires a lot of words, then I don’t mind it. Personally, I actually like longer chapters (though not too long) because it lets me get into the story more. Shorter chapters would keep interrupting the flow.
User avatar
Inmortalbooklover
Posts: 39
Joined: 27 Apr 2019, 03:09
Currently Reading: Glass Sword
Bookshelf Size: 46

Post by Inmortalbooklover »

I don´t mind it very much, but if I had to choose I would prefer books having short chapters because that way it is easier to stop reading when the chapter finishes than having to stop in the middle of a long chapter
Aditi Sapate
Posts: 389
Joined: 26 Apr 2019, 02:18
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 118
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-aditi-sapate.html
Latest Review: Miracles Love a Believer by Stacy Manning Casaluci

Post by Aditi Sapate »

I don't really have a hard and fast rule, but if I had to choose, I'd choose books with shorter chapters. This is especially beneficial when you get distracted or disturbed by someone all the time while you're reading. Shorter chapters make it easier to concentrate during such times.
gregs317
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 401
Joined: 23 Jul 2013, 22:17
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by gregs317 »

I like shorter chapters better. I feel like I can move through the book faster. Also, it's better since I can take little breaks when I get done reading for the night.
User avatar
Kourtney Bradley
Posts: 2137
Joined: 10 Oct 2015, 21:45
Favorite Book: Bridges of Madison County
Currently Reading: Layla
Bookshelf Size: 412
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kourtney-bradley.html
Latest Review: Dante's Demons by K.L. Barstow
Reading Device: 1400697484

Post by Kourtney Bradley »

I prefer shorter chapters. It's very difficult for me to take a break while reading if I'm in the middle of a chapter, so being able to stop once I'm, at the end of a chapter seems to work best for me.
Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light. :techie-studyingbrown:
–Vera Nazarian
User avatar
Reynaa
Posts: 311
Joined: 17 Apr 2019, 23:11
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 29
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-reynaa.html
Latest Review: Sucsexful: by Rachel Martin

Post by Reynaa »

I don't really pay attention to chapters unless they are different characters in each chapter.
User avatar
HeatherEi
Posts: 276
Joined: 08 Aug 2019, 12:38
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 22
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-heatherei.html
Latest Review: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz

Post by HeatherEi »

I think I usually prefer short chapters so I can stop at a good place if I am busy and can't read long.
User avatar
Art West
Posts: 56
Joined: 01 Oct 2019, 14:05
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 16
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-art-west.html
Latest Review: Waterworks by Jack Winnick

Post by Art West »

Short chapters. It is easier to find a stopping point plus I feel like the book seems to go faster.
Post Reply

Return to “General Book & Reading Discussion”