10 Brilliant Classics You Can Read in One Day

Readings classics can feel daunting and overwhelming.

Most people shudder when they hear the word classic. What we immediately imagine is a dense book with difficult vocabulary and enough pages to wallpaper the house with. And I get it. I once spent an entire 10-day beach holiday ignoring the sea, trying to finish Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. In case you didn’t know, that book has over 655 000 words. I gave up my swimming all holiday, and I didn’t even finish the bloody thing.

But not all classics are like that. There are so many wonderful books out there that are quick and easy reads. I have compiled a list of some of my favourites that you can finish in one day.

1) The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Word count: 17 000 words

The Little Prince is a novella — which means it’s very short. It’s the perfect classic to start with. The language is simple; the message is sweet. You get a lot more out of it than you have to put in. You can finish this in an hour or two, and then you have the rest of the day free.

2) The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Word count: 21 000 words

A man wakes up to find out he’s turned into an insect. His first thought is that it’s going to be difficult to get to work on time like this.

This is probably Kafka’s most famous work, and it’s definitely worth a read. While the premise of the book sounds absurd, it tackles a lot of serious issues and will leave you with lots to think about. The ending of this book is chilling and really left a mark on me.

3) The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Word count: 30 000 words

Hemingway is one of the greatest American writers of all time. He has a Nobel Prize in literature, and this book was one of the reasons he got it. It’s man versus fish, which sounds silly, but it’s not. The book describes nature as both beautiful and cruel, and it’s one of the best-written novellas out there.

4) The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Word count: 27 000 words

Most people have heard about this story or have seen at least one screen adaptation of it. And there’s a reason for that. With its eerie atmosphere and secrets, this book sucks you in right away, and you won’t be able to stop reading.

5) Animal Farm by George Orwell

Word count: 30 000 words

In my opinion, this is one of the best books I have ever read. The name might sound like you’re in for a nice, relaxing time, but don’t be mistaken. Animal Farm is a terrifying allegory for early 20th century Russia. What’s scary is how much of what he writes about reminds you of some of today’s politics and politicians. Give it a read and see for yourself.

6) The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

Word count: 32 000 words

Who doesn’t like a bit of time-travel sci-fi? This is exactly what you’d think it is. A story about a person who travels in time and sees some surprising things. It’s fun and adventurous, but it also commentates on society and some of its issues. Wells wrote many sci-fi stories, and this is one of his more popular ones.

7) A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood

Word count: 40 000 words

This book tackles many themes and topics, such as grief, sexuality, homophobia, and the weight of existence. It’s short — it only depicts one day in the main character’s life. It’s a book unlike any other on this list and deals with issues like grief in such a poetic and beautiful way.

8) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Word count: 47 000 words

I don’t think there’s anyone in the universe who hasn’t heard of The Great Gatsby. It has to be one of the most famous books ever written. And if you give it a read, you will understand why. Everyone in this book is honestly kind of annoying, but they’re all very human and real at the same time. Come for the roaring twenties atmosphere; stay for the frustrating incompetence of all the characters.

9) Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Word count: 77 000 words

Everyone has heard of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma. But not that many people know about Northanger Abbey. Which is a shame.

This is Austen’s first novel (although it was only published posthumously), and it’s brilliant. It’s a coming-of-age story about the young and naïve Catherine Morland, who loves Gothic novels a bit too much. It’s the Jane Austen version of a YA book, and it’s hilarious.

10) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Word count: 78 000 words

Last but not least, I had to go with Oscar Wilde’s perhaps most famous novel. Dorian Gray is young and beautiful, and all he wants is to stay that way forever. Things happen. It doesn’t all go to plan.

This book goes quite dark quite quickly and has a lot of philosophical questions in it. And it makes you aware of how undesirable vanity is. We can’t be young and beautiful forever, and that’s a good thing.

There are so many great books out there that people are afraid to read. They think they’re not smart enough or say that they don’t have enough time. But every single one of the books on this list is accessible and can be read by anyone.

So, go out there and give these a try. You won’t regret it. And even if you don’t enjoy some of them, you can still say you read it. If nothing else, you will seem smarter in front of your friends and family.

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This article was originally published on Medium. This is a slightly altered version.