- The virtue of short books
- 1. “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- 2. "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
- 3. “Silk” by Alessandro Baricco
- 4. «The Stranger» by Albert Camus
- 5. “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
- 6. «Death in Venice» by Thomas Mann
- 7. “Letter from an Unknown Woman” by Stefan Zweig
- 8. “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
- 9. “A Room of One’s Own” by Virginia Woolf
- 10. “The Puppies” by Mario Vargas Llosa
- Why I love this short book format
- They are books for those who do not like to read.
Has this ever happened to you? You're not sure what to read, You go to that shelf that you have full of books that you haven't started yet and You find a small, lonely book hidden among all the others that you've never paid much attention to.You dust it off and think, “Oh, I’ll finish it in a little while.”
Well, that's what this article is about. If you're looking for a book that you can devour in one day but that will leave you thinking all week, I guarantee you'll find it here. There is something magical in those short stories which, without the need for many pages, manage to leave a deep mark on our minds.
For me, short books have a particular merit, since They have the power to capture intense emotions and convey powerful ideas. in a condensed format, allowing your messages to resonate long after the last page has been turned. And that's very difficult to do right.
The virtue of short books
Sometimes, the shortest works contain the purest essence of narrative, managing to convey complex feelings and profound reflections in just a few pages. Its brevity is not a limitation, but a virtue. that allows every word and every phrase to count, with no room for unnecessary embellishments. They get straight to the point…
Although they are often underestimated for their size - I must admit that this has happened to me - these works possess a depth and beauty that It has nothing to envy of longer novelsThey are gems that allow us to quickly immerse ourselves in a story and live a complete literary experience in just a couple of hours, but whose emotional and philosophical impact can last for days, weeks or even a lifetime.
I leave you below 10 short but powerful books, perfect for an intense day of reading And if all goes well, be prepared to spend a few days afterwards racking your brains.
Moreover, each of them has something special, a message or an emotion that can resonate deeply and make us see the world with different eyes.
1. «The Little Prince» by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
We start with what must undoubtedly be the first on the list. A classic that you can read in an afternoon, but that has the ability to change your way of seeing the world forever. "The Little Prince" is a fable about love, friendship and the meaning of life.
Through the story of the little prince who travels from planet to planet, the author invites us to question our priorities, to see with the eyes of a child and to value the essential things that are invisible to the eyesWith just 96 pages, this work is a philosophical journey full of symbolism that leaves a deep reflection in each reader.
Absolutely a must have!
2. «The Metamorphosis» by Franz Kafka
One of the books that left me feeling the worst after reading it, but from which I learned the most… With 136 pages, Kafka immerses you in a story as surreal as it is disturbingGregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up one morning transformed into a giant insect.
From that moment on, he must face rejection and isolation from his family, and the story becomes a crude metaphor for alienation and dehumanization. "The Metamorphosis" is a powerful reflection on the loss of identity and misunderstanding from the environment towards those who are different.
Distressing, claustrophobic but essential.
- Kafka, Franz (Author)
3. "Silk" by Alessandro Baricco
It is only 128 pages long, but even with so few pages, "Silk" tells the story of Hervé Joncour, a French silk merchant, who embarks on a long journey to Japan in search of worm eggs. Through this journey, an impossible love story unfolds, narrated in a poetic and minimalist style.
Baricco creates an atmosphere of delicacy and mystery, where the beauty of the unsaid and the implicit prevails. «Silk» is a meditation on love, nostalgia and the search for beauty in everyday life.
4. «The Stranger» by Albert Camus
"The Stranger" presents us with the story of Meursault, A man who seems emotionally disconnected from the reality around himWhen he commits a motiveless murder, Meursault's indifference and lack of emotion clash with society's norms, turning his trial into a reflection on the meaning of life and the absurdity of existence.
Camus, through this work and in less than 130 pages is able to explore the principles of existentialism and the lack of meaning inherent in the human condition. Don't tell me it's not meritorious!
5. «Animal Farm» by George Orwell
"Animal Farm" is less than 150 pages long and is a political fable that tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human owners in the hope of creating a just and equal society.
However, they soon discover that power corrupts, and the revolution takes an unexpected turn. Orwell offers A biting allegory about totalitarian regimes and the corruption of power, presenting a message that remains relevant in contemporary politics.
A fundamental reading at any age. You can't miss it.
- Orwell, George (Author)
6. «Death in Venice» by Thomas Mann
This fantastic book tells the story of Gustav von Aschenbach, a writer who travels to Venice in search of inspiration. There, he becomes obsessed with the beauty of a young man named Tadzio., and this obsession leads him to question his own limits and desires.
Thomas Mann offers us A reflection on desire, decadence and the inexorable attraction towards beauty, in a context where the city of Venice becomes a symbol of corruption and death. Mann's elegant and profound narrative makes this book a disturbing and powerful work.
Just over 120 pages full of narrative quality.
7. «Letter from an unknown woman» by Stefan Zweig
«Letter from an unknown woman» It has less than 80 pages and it is one of Stefan Zweig's most striking stories. In this work, Zweig presents us with the letter that a woman writes to the man she has loved all her life, a man who does not even remember her existence.
Through these pages, We are shown unrequited love, devotion and the sadness of a life dedicated to an unattainable ideal.Zweig's emotional intensity and delicate prose make this story a moving and heartbreaking experience.
One of the shortest and most time-consuming ones…
8. «The Old Man and the Sea» by Ernest Hemingway
Another classic among classics. With about 200 pages, it is one of the longest in this article., but it can be read perfectly in just a few hours and is so special that it can be read in one sitting.
"The Old Man and the Sea" tells the story of Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman who has gone 84 days without catching anything. One day, he faces a huge fish in an epic fight that becomes a reflection on resilience, dignity and fighting adversity..
Hemingway, with his simple but powerful prose, leads us to question the meaning of success and failure, and to value perseverance. This work is a clear example of the power of human will. in the face of nature's challenges.
9. «A Room of One's Own» by Virginia Woolf
"A Room of One's Own" is an essay of just over 150 pages that certainly deserves a place on this list. In it, Virginia Woolf exposes the importance of economic independence and the need for a space for women writers.
Through her reflections, Woolf explores the historical barriers that women have faced in order to dedicate themselves to literary creation. This text, although brief, is a fundamental work of feminism which invites us to think about gender equality and the role of women in art and society.
10. «The Cubs» by Mario Vargas Llosa
"The Cubs" is a short novel in which we count just over 100 pages that follows the lives of a group of friends in Lima from childhood to adulthood, focusing on the story of Cuéllar, a boy who suffers a tragedy that will mark his life and set him apart from the rest.
Vargas Llosa explores themes such as masculinity, stigma and alienation, and does so with a direct and sincere styleThis novel offers a look at social expectations and the suffering of growing up feeling different, leaving the reader with a bitter and profound reflection.
Why I love this short book format
We live in an age of immediacy and we seek immediate pleasure, with quantity taking precedence over quality. Despite this, there are still people - myself included - who enjoy a long story., more complex, dense and convoluted.
But there are times, even in the middle of a longer read, when I need that little release. That break that allows me to take a breath of fresh air from the density of my usual reading, as entertaining as it may be.
These books fulfill that purpose perfectly: they are brief, but their ideas reach deep into the heart. If you have little time but want a reading that leaves a mark, any of these options are perfect for you.
They are books for those who do not like to read.
In addition, these books also They can be a great way to rediscover the pleasure of reading, without the pressure of having to tackle a lengthy work.In a world where we are often short on time, these literary gems allow us to take a break and enjoy a well-told story in a single day.
Whether they are for you and you have lost the habit of reading or if you want to give a book to that person you want to start reading, these works are absolutely fantastic no matter what you are looking for.
If you are one of those who love the power of the written word and enjoy reflecting on the ideas that each page leaves in the soul, these short books are the perfect choice.. Don't underestimate their size: many times, the shortest stories are the ones that leave a deeper mark.At the end of the day, what matters is not the number of pages, but the quality of the emotions and thoughts they awaken.
And you? Which of these books would you dare to devour in a single day? Or do you have another title in mind that meets this requirement? Tell us in the comments and share your reading experience! We would love to hear your recommendations and discover together new readings that inspire us and leave us thinking for days.