10 Books You Can Read in a Day
Here are 10 short stories and novellas (short novels) that can be quickly read in a day. Despite these books being short they are entertaining, filled with intrigue and thoughtful points. Read in a day or take your time and savor great words written by great men and women.
Quick Reads that Pack the Punch of a Long Novel
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Billy Budd, Sailor – Herman Melville
Billy Budd, Sailor is a novella (short novel) that was left unfinished by Herman Melville upon his death in 1891. After complications with reading Melville’s handwriting and notes, the story was finished and published in 1924. The modern and more “correct” version was published in 1962. Billy Budd is a “handsome sailor” who is pressed into the King’s Navy. He has the great misfortune of becoming the target of the Master-at-arms John Claggart. After orchestrated mishaps and twisted intentions, Billy Budd is accused of mutiny. And in the face of such charges, makes a fatal mistake.
This story has been a favorite of mine for years. I revisit it often, and am fond of the Radio Theatre dramatization.
The Pearl – John Steinbeck
The Pearl is a novella (short novel) written by John Steinbeck and published in 1947. It is a tale of a pearl diver named Kino, who finds a pearl incomparable in size and beauty. With such fortune now his. Kino sees the pearl as the greatest blessing. When greed meets him at his door, he must make a difficult decision before all is lost.
This story was my introduction to Steinbeck’s works. His The Log from the Sea of Cortez stays on my nightstand to calm my brain before bed.
How Much Land Does a Man Need? – Leo Tolstoy
How Much Land Does a Man Need? is a short story from the brilliance of Leo Tolstoy. A man who claimed many crimes in his life as well as pleasures. Turning from his dastardly ways Tolstoy, used his life experience as inspiration for some of the greatest literature ever written. The protagonist of the story is a peasant who thinks to himself “if I had plenty of land, I shouldn’t fear the devil himself!”. The devil himself happened to be listening, and had a proposition for the peasant he could not refuse.
A most entertaining and thought provoking tale. I have enjoyed it many times through the years.
The Turn of the Screw – Henry James
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a gothic horror novella (short novel) of mind-twisting proportions. It follows a governess as she takes on her new charges Miles, and Flora. As she spends more time in the manor, she believes the grounds to be haunted by ghosts. She is desperate for answers as she seemingly begins to grow mad.
The Turn of the Screw may be but a short story but upon recommendation I always give this warning. Do not read it unless you want your idea of reality rewritten! Not from the thought of ghosts, but from the brilliance of the story.
The Call of the Wild – Jack London
The Call of the Wild is a short adventure novel written by Jack London, and published in 1903. It is set in Yukon, Canada, during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, when teams of sled dogs were in high demand. We follow one such dog named Buck and his adventures are both good and bad. Buck becomes more primitive in nature in the wild, harsh environment of Alaska, where he is forced to fight to survive other dogs.
This story was written when the men who wrote such stories lived the lifestyle first. Jack London spent almost a year in the Yukon, before writing The Call of the Wild. I re-read this book many times growing up and find it a great reminder of true adventures are still to be found in the world.
The Time Machine – H.G. Wells
The Time Machine is a novella (short novel) is a dystopian post-apocalyptic science fiction tale by H.G. Wells. A scientist invents a machine he believes will allow him to travel backwards and forwards through time. His curiosity to see another time in the world gets the best of him, and he uses the machine to travel to the future. He is shocked by what he finds the future to be!
Inventions, refined society, and collected savagery are the interests this story has for me. I have enjoyed The Time Machine many times. It is a quick read and highly entertaining.
Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson
Treasure Island originally titled The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys, is a novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. It was published in 1883, and tells a story of a boy who after meeting up with several nefarious buccaneers, sets out on an adventure to find treasure. The boy’s mettle is tested as he navigates good men against bad and their all-consuming greed.
This was the first adventure novel I remember reading as a child. I was around 6 or 7 years old and still remember the sinking impact the first few paragraphs had on my mind. It felt so real, so tangible. It felt as though my consciousness seeped through the ink in the pages into the reality of the words. The nefarious pirates and their evil intentions scared me, and yet, I could not stop reading! As many times as I read it, I think it continued to scare me until I was around 10 years old! I grew up in a world that was not yet saturated with content available at finger’s touch, and so this tale felt all the more real and possible. Treasure Island remains a favorite for me.
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol is a novella (short novel) written by Charles Dickens and was a pronounced influence in the revival of Christmas traditions in the mid 1800s. It may be a story set at Christmas, with the main character Ebenezer Scrooge, being dragged through Christmases past, present, and future; and ending on Christmas Day. But this is a tale to be read “all the year.”
Scrooge and his journey from miser to mercy is another cherished story for me. I highly recommend giving it a read and enjoying the vivid imagination of Charles Dickens. It is a story that can be read quickly or a few pages at a time for reflection. Even though it is a story set at Christmas, its themes and lessons are that of the everyday. A Christmas Carol is an amazing quick read.
A Study in Scarlet – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A Study in Scarlet is the first of the Sherlock Holmes tales written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is the first of the detective novels in the series and sets the tone for all of the proceeding short stories and following novels. Sherlock Holmes is in great demand as a detective as his inductive reasoning skills allow him to solve the most unsolvable and notorious cases. Dr. John Watson joins Sherlock, on his adventures in solving case after case. Sometimes putting themselves in imminent danger and other times not even having to leave their favorite chairs at 221B Baker Street.
Whether you have A Study in Scarlet as a stand alone novel or a collection of many of the Sherlock Holmes cases. The stories are easily read in a day with the short stories being read in mere minutes. They are excellent stories filled with great detail and fantastical adventure. Another great favorite of mine!
The Giant Killer – A.L.O.E.
The Giant Killer written by A.L.O.E. (A Lady of England/Charlotte Maria Tucker) is an allegorical tale following Knight Fide on his journey to defeat great Giants such as Pride, Sloth, Anger and others. As Lady Wisdom offers her guidance to Knight Fide, he must decide if he will give in to the temptations the giants have to offer or battle them until the end. A tale of valor and great victory, this book has a sequel called The Battle.
A personal favorite author of mine A.L.O.E. did a phenomenal job with this knight’s tale. It is told from a story perspective to children who are learning themselves to navigate real life giants. I love the allegorical style. Somehow one can be far more brave in real life when imagining battles of self being fought with shining armor worn and sword in hand. It’s also a great read aloud book. The Giant Killer is available from Lamplighter Publishing in a beautiful hardcover copy.
Not every book worth its weight in paper and ink is a thousand pages long and filled with droll sentences. I have read short stories that have had just a profound effect on me as full length, multi novel masterpieces. All of these books and stories above are fantastic reads, and can be savored over time, or quickly read and then pondered. I have read all of them many times in my life and still enjoy them to this day. Filled with thought provoking parallels that encourage self-reflection. These are stories that bring about courage and knowing thyself. A great danger to those who would own your thoughts.
