There are some books that are simply ‘unputdownable’. There are others that leave a huge impact on us. Here are 10 page-turners which you can read in one sitting. These books will stir you and change your perspective about life
Chess Story by Stefan Zweig
Travellers by ship from New York to Buenos Aires find that an arrogant chess world champion is among them. They come together to match their skills against him and are soundly defeated. Then a mysterious passenger steps forward to advise them on their game and the game changes. Chess Story, also known as The Royal Game, is a powerful dark novella and one of the most famous works by Stefan Zweig that was unfortunately published after his suicide.
Night by Elie Wiesel
Night (1960) is an autobiographical work by Elie Wiesel about his experience — with his father — in the Nazi German concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald towards the end of World War II. In over 100 pages of fragmented narrative, Wiesel writes about cutting ties with God, dehumanisation of the spirit under extreme circumstances and a chilling account of the Holocaust. Wiesel's vivid account of his darkest experiences in concentration camps earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Set in the jazzy-age of the 1920s, it is the story of Nick Carraway who gets caught up in the world of wealth of his millionaire neighbour Jay Gatsby. This American novel also reflects both love and the breakdown of the American dream. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald writes the most elegant prose and some brilliantly profound symbolism.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
The novel is an allegory; about the spiritual journey of a simple boy in ancient India. Siddhartha, the son of a Brahmin, leaves home in quest of enlightenment and search of knowledge. He goes through a series of transformations during his journey and finally reaches his goal. The reader follows Siddhartha's state of mind as he reflects on the meaning of events throughout the story.
The Stranger by Albert Camus
This is the story of an ordinary man who, unintentionally, commits a senseless murder on an Algerian beach. The book is eloquent and a pleasure to read, but forces the reader to consider some philosophical and existentialist questions which leave you pondering deeply.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
One of the most popular works by Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck, it tells a realistic story of two migrant workers, who go in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression in the United States. This is a classic which is no way an 'easy' short read. Steinbeck uses rich symbolism and effective foreshadowing.
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
One of Hemingway's most famous works, it is the tale of an old man, a young boy and a giant fish. It won Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and Nobel Prize for Literature. Read a thought-provoking quote by the author on his book: "There isn't any symbolism. The sea is the sea. The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish. The sharks are all sharks no better and no worse… What goes beyond is what you see beyond when you know."
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
This book was written in 6th century BC by Lao-Tzu. Tao Te Ching translates roughly as "The book of the Way of the Virtue" or "The Classic of the Way's Virtues." This book has been translated into English more than any other work, except the Bible. In its 81 verses, it guides one on living with goodness and integrity.
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The 6,000-word short story first published in 1892 is regarded as an important work in American feminist literature. It's a story about a woman who suffers from mental illness after being trapped within her home. The author hoped to change mindsets about women's role in society.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The Little Prince is a novella, in which a pilot stranded in the desert meets a young prince who has fallen to Earth from an asteroid. It's a moral allegory and philosophical work. It is one of the best-selling books ever and the fourth-most translated title.