10 short books that leave long-lasting impression
1/17/2018
7,642 views
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.
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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- An unusual hotel in Tokyo for people who like to read in bed
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What are your thoughts on this subject?
65 Comments
Jacquie Blair
One of my all time favs is a novella by Richard Bach - Jonathan Livingston Seagull. It's a story about a Seagull who is trying to learn about life. I read it in my youth and picked it up again as an adult because it meant so much to me!
Darla Deats
I liked the article. My favorite..... To Kill A Mockingbird.
gmikedear
I love “The Stranger” by Albert Camus.
Jeanette Purchase
Interesting! I too enjoyed -Jonathan Livingston Seagull! I found it so profound. It helped me through difficult times and to find my way. Great!
Mike Hibner
I reread "Catcher in the Rye" a few years ago. It doesn't hold up that well...
Ellen Sheehan
God Made Sunday by Walter Macken. A novella that tells the story of a plain man’s struggle with the sea on an island off the coast of Ireland. Beautifully written. The story stays with one for years.
Fern Russell
That’s because there are 2 number 4’s
Janet Webster
Victoria Hislops’ The Island.
Jim Jenkins
The Outsiders. Yes a middle school book but I'm 57 and I still reflect on it. "Stay golden Pony Boy"
Raymond Cardona
I too have read all of Agatha Christie'a books when I was younger and I also enjoyed Jonathan Livingston seagull when I was a teenager
Bonnie
David Roy
There's no number 7!
David Roy
Donna Morris, it's not under 300 pages.
Nancy Gardner
I’ve read most of those, but will reread some, thanks for the reminder.
littledick
Donna Morris, And the author is "The Most High".
David Hill
it said 10
SHORT BOOKS. I was thinking something like “Everything I ever needed to know I learned in Kindergarten” Zig Ziglar if I recall
Nadin
Read all of them
Karen Adams
Shel Silverstein's THE GIVING TREE ans Richard Bach's ILLUSIONS should have been ibcluded
Ilias Tsiabardas
Very good article my favorite is the Old man and the Sea
Richard D. Boyle
H James Brown, Robert Burns said it originally and perhaps best in his poem “To a Mouse” (1786); the quote from which Steinbeck took his title is as follows: “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men/ Gang aft a-gley”. The concluding phrase is usually translated as “often go awry” or “oft’ go astray”. I have read six of the short novels mentioned and agree that each is worthy of inclusion; however, I would have selected Steinbeck’s wonderful novella as my first choice and perhaps “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury as my second. These are two of the most important and memorable examples of short fiction from the last century. I very much like the subject of this article and the comments from other QC members.
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