Honestly, we are kind of tired of having the same conversations about The Great Gatsby, Animal Farm, and The Metamorphosis at dinner tables. However, picking up a new classic of five hundred to thousand pages can seem terrifying (well, at least for me). My fear of books longer than 400 pages has led me to discover a world of short classics you actually have the time to read whilst your day-to-day hustle and bustle of life continues. I recently finished high school and these books kept me sane while was preparing for the exams and I am so grateful.
1. Lady Susan by Jane Austen
I could rename my blog to Jane Austen fan club considering how she is in every book list I create. Lady Susan is a unique treasure which isn’t widely read or known. This book was not set to be published until 1871. It takes you on a beautiful and regal journey through twisted and tough relationships. Being an epistolary (written in letters) of 180 pages, this book flows through swiftly. However, if you’re a beginner, you might start with some lighter books, this book isn’t always easy to grasp. I had to make a flowchart to keep up with the characters and relations.
2. The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark
The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark published in 1970 takes you on an incredible journey. It is a gripping, thriller novella dealing with murder, suicide, twisted relationships and madness. It is a perfect package of 180 pages. I finished this book in one sitting and believe it is supposed to be read that way as the tension rises and ultimately the climax. I would recommend this book to anyone going through a reader’s block. This quick, thrilling read gives you a perfect escape!
3. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I read The Little Prince as a part of my school coursework in 4th grade and I remember describing it as beautiful because of the vivid imagery of the author’s storytelling. I re-read a few years back, and this time along with the vivid imagery, I could also understand the book at its core. This book deals with human emotions in a simple tale captured in 96 pages. It draws a contrast between children and adults and their respective relations with hopes, dreams, loss and love.
4. Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor
Address Unknown is another epistolary novel set in Germany during WW2. It follows the correspondence of two friends, one in New York, other in Germany. Over 64 pages, we cover two years and behavioural and ideological changes between the two friends. The most striking factor about this novella for me was how it deals with the flat characters and round characters simultaneously over two years.
5. The Yellow Wall Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
This book is quite popular amongst lit majors. However, if your university is not forcing you to read this, I shall. This book paints for you the mind of a woman forced to solitary. The lucid and intense language of the book accompanied with the haunting story, the reader is constantly on the edge. This book will leave you feeling empathetic, scared, claustrophobic, all at once. I urge everyone to pick this book up at least once.
Well, this is my little list of underhyped classics under 200 pages you should pick up. I shall definitely keep adding more to this list. 😀
AVNI JAIN 