Novella appreciation
It's just so happened that recently I've read a few novellas. Wasn't deliberate, just happened that way. I'm very into the idea of novellas. I think there's a lot to be said for a reading experience of two hours or so, whole thing in one sitting. (Not that one can't read a full-length novel in one sitting but it's generally a bit harder to find the time.)
If my definition is 'a two-hour (or so) reading experience' that's going to be unhelpfully different book lengths for different people. But generally it seems to be around 50k is 'a short novel', 40k and under is a novella. There's even novelettes under about 20k. Then short stories under 10k.
Short stories are a well-respected, precise art form. And there are some seriously serious novellas. Some of the great classics of literature. But in general - or especially contemporary ones - as a format? Not so much respected.
A novella is generally a nice, streamlined, concise storyline. I don't always need subplots and complications. One of my favourite books, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, is so fascinating and provoking and layered and suspenseful... and less than 30k.
Considering most books could easily lose ten percent of their words, probably more, I often wonder what length a book would naturally have been, would the author tend towards, if they didn't feel bound to how long a story is 'supposed' to be, or needs to be for publishing. Maybe it would have been the perfect novella.