10 short books that leave long-lasting impression

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There are literary works that are quick and easy to read, but still leave a deep impact. They don't need to be compared to "War and Peace" - their beauty is in brevity.

In the following article books less than 300 pages long are collected, but still capable to prove once again - size doesn't really matter in literature.

1. Truman Capote "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Each of us is looking for his/her place in life, but not everyone succeeds in it. Holly Golightly is elegant and lonely, full of dreams and cynicism. She is a rambler and gold hunter. Her bags are packed and ready. She has a striped Cat but they yet haven't found a place where they belong. This is a sharp story about how hard it is to stay true to yourself and how bitter visible freedom can be. True to life.

2. Anna Gavalda "35 Kilos of Hope"

This is a small poetical parable about the essentials: the choice of path in life, about power of love and faithfulness. About family. A story of a thirteen-year old boy, who once has to gather all his strength and face the adult life. It proves again that dreams come true. In the end, no matter how many kilos we have, we always hope for something.

3. Jerome D. Salinger "The Catcher In the Rye"

This book is a desk companion for several generations of young far-outers reminds about the state of mind when it is not yet consumed by the system and the questions you ask no one can answer, because no one ever thought of them. This book reminds about how hard it is to fit the world when you are 16. Or 27, or 48.

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4. Terry Pratchett "The Unadulterated Cat"

In the beginning was the Word, and the word was Cat. This truth was enunciated to the people by the God of Cats through his obedient pupil Terry Pratchett. This is the Cats' Testament. You will learn everything about cats: what they are made of, their inner set-up, laws that work for them and those that don't, what they eat and drink. Perfect reading for cat-lovers of all types and ages.

4. Ernest Hemingway "The Old man and the Sea"

This 110 pages masterpiece of literature gave Hemingway Nobel and Pulitzer prizes. On the surface - long and exhausting struggle of an old fisherman Santiago with a huge fish. In the depth - the meaning of life for everyone of us and anthem to human strength. "But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated".

5. Franco Arminio "Postcards from the Dead"

In his book, Franco Arminio collected several dozens of first-person reports depicting a narrator's moment of death. "I am one of those, who was perfectly fine one minute before death". But strangely enough - the book doesn't leave the feeling of fear of death. On the contrary, it gives a desire to live fully.

6. Agatha Christi "And Then There Were None"

This novel - is a real date with a legend, a recognized master of detective. Ten perfectly strange people in a mansion on an isolated island... Who called them over here with a single invitation? Who is killing them one by one in most incredible ways and why? Why is all that's happening so tightly intertwined with a jolly boyish rhyme?

8. Alessandro Baricco "1900. Legend of a pianist"

This is not a usual book. This is a monologue. Reminiscences of a beautiful time. Purest music, melody of waves, song of a sea. Words, coming from the bottom of the heart. Memory of a friend, a unique musician, unequalled then and ever, who never stepped ashore from a ship, became a basis for a famous eponymous movie.

9. Francis Scott Fitzgerald "The Great Gatsby"

If only jazz notes could be translated into words they would make up a novel called "The Great Gatsby". The history of the "lost generation" in search of the American dream , Romeo and Juliet of the 20th century, real love tragedy in the material world - everyone will find in this creation something close to his own heart.

10. Jorge Amado "Sea of Death"

In every word, in every phrase of Amado's novel one can hear lyric strains, sad melody combining wind flow, waves and sun with coastal people's destinies, ancient beliefs and traditions of old gods. This book, unusual in its conciseness, will charm you with its rhythmic, fluidity and melodiousness of narration and will carry you away from your everyday life.

Did you like the article? What other impressive books do you know? Tell us in the comments!

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