Culture
25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration
Slide Nr 1Longer than a short story, but less expansive than a novel, novellas have too often been overlooked and easily dismissed. Despite past prejudices, these bijou narratives have produced masterpieces as diverse as Orwell’s Animal Farm, Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. More than that, in today’s instant on-demand digital world, novellas are fast becoming the most vital and vibrant literary form of our age. Start your novella journey with our list of 25 essential works.
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Culture
25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 2THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY – Thornton Wilder (1927)
This short book packs a powerful punch with its dramatic setup and philosophical exploration of life, love, fate and death. The story: A Franciscan monk witnesses the collapse of a rope bridge and the death of five people who plummet into the gorge below. Understandably disturbed by the experience, he becomes obsessed with trying to find meaning in the tragedy, and unwittingly sealing his own fate. Need to know: Wilder’s sophomore work not only won the Pulitzer Prize in 1928, but was also the best-selling fiction book of the year in the USA.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 3SNOW COUNTRY – Yasunari Kawabata (1948)
Set deep in, yes, you guessed it, Japan’s snow country, this wintry backdrop will transport you away from the summer sun. The story: Shimamura travels to a distant onsen (hot springs) town by train, intent on rekindling his love for a young woman, Komako, who has since become a geisha. Need to know: Widely considered to be Kawabata’s masterpiece, this lyrical novella was among three key works cited by the Nobel committee when the author was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1968.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 4BONJOUR TRISTESSE – Françoise Sagan (1954)
Beginning with the line “Adieu tristesse. Bonjour tristesse.” [“Farewell sadness. Hello sadness.”], this book is imbued with profoundly French and bourgeois musings on life and love. The story: Cécile, the 17-year-old daughter of a widowed philanderer, is enjoying a lazy summer before she gets caught up in her own and her father’s romantic entanglements – with tragic consequences. Need to know: Published when Sagan herself was only 18, the story made the author an overnight sensation.
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Culture
25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 5BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S – Truman Capote (1958)
Generations of readers continue to marvel at Capote’s sublime prose style, with even peers like Norman Mailer regarding him as the most perfect writer of his generation. The story: A young writer narrates the tale of his neighbour, a country girl who transforms herself into a Manhattan party girl, and gets caught up in a series of intrigues. Need to know: You may be more familiar with the movie than the book, but did you know the author originally wrote the character of Holly Golightly with his friend Marilyn Monroe in mind?
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Culture
25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 6NO ONE WRITES TO THE COLONEL – Gabriel García Márquez (1961)
If you enjoyed the Colombian master’s longer works, it’s surely time to discover his equally remarkable novellas and short stories. The story: A retired colonel and his wife show dignity in the face of poverty and the death of their son. Need to know: Ever the contrarian, García Márquez liked to challenge critics who only focused on his greatest masterpiece, One Hundred Years of Solitude, by saying that he only wrote that far longer work in order to get people to read his shorter works, such as No One Writes to the Colonel.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 7WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE – Shirley Jackson (1962)
The summer sun may be shining, but perhaps you feel drawn to read something a little darker, more gothic? The story: Murder is in the air when Cousin Charles arrives at the Blackwood family home with unknown intentions. How will young Mary Catherine (‘Merrikat’) and her sisters (not to forget Uncle Julian) respond? Need to know: This is the perfect introduction to Shirley Jackson’s macabre literary world, a world that has already attracted literary fans as diverse as Paul Theroux, Donna Tartt and Neil Gaiman.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 8THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET – Sandra Cisneros (1984)
The perfect choice if you prefer literary works that are relatable and rich in universal human stories. The story: A series of vignettes reveals the experiences of a young Chicana girl as she grows up in Chicago in the sixties. Need to know: Cisneros’s prose is spare and at times profoundly poetic, while her characters and stories linger in the memory. The House on Mango Street inspires readers to hold onto their hopes and dreams.
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Culture
25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 9FUP – Jim Dodge (1983)
Jim Dodge has a well-deserved cult following who treasure his small but incredibly rich body of work. Think of Dodge as the literary lovechild of Mark Twain and Jack Kerouac, and you wouldn’t be far wrong. The story: Grandaddy Jake lives in the backwoods with Tiny, his giant adopted son, and Fup, a twenty-pound mallard duck with a foible for moonshine. Together they decide to hunt down Lockjaw, a brazen hog with a habit of digging up their fence posts. Need to know: This ‘Fup duck’ story might just restore your faith in the world and change your life. Yes, really.
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Culture
25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 10THE LOVER – Marguerite Duras (1984)
First of all, set aside any memories of the 1992 film adaptation of The Lover. As lavish as the cinematography was, the film failed to capture the essence of Duras’ semi-autobiographical work. The story: A young French girl is charmed by a wealthy Chinese businessman in 1930s Saigon, but their relationship faces serious challenges… Need to know: Duras was 70 when The Lover was published, and had already earned fame as a novelist, essayist, screenwriter and filmmaker.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 11THE MEZZANINE – Nicholson Baker (1988)
Warning: You may hate this novella. The upside? You may love it. And we mean truly, madly, deeply love it. It really is that kind of book. The story: Baker recounts the course of a single lunch hour, documenting in forensic detail each and every thought that crosses his mind. Need to know: The Mezzanine is a work of literary bravura like few others – surprising, witty, quirky, unique. Trust us, you’ll never look at aglets, drinking straws or staplers in the same way again.
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Culture
25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 12NIGHT TRAIN – Martin Amis (1997)
The author, who passed away in May 2023, emerged from the same extraordinary early eighties generation of Brit Lit talent as Julian Barnes, Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, Graham Swift and Iain Banks. For many, it was Amis whose prose shone brightest. The story: ‘Mike’ Hoolihan, a troubled female detective, is asked to investigate the apparent suicide of Jennifer Rockwell, a young astrophysicist. Need to know: Depending on the reader’s perspective, Night Train could be seen as part-parody, part-homage as Amis delves into the hardboiled world of American pulp crime fiction.
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Culture
25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 13BIG FISH – Daniel Wallace (1998)
The author subtitled his work as, “A novel of mythic proportions”, and that spirit imbues every line of this book, which reminds that all fiction – however fantastical – is inspired by a kernel of truth. The story: William Bloom is confronted by the imminent death of his father, the larger-than-life Edward Bloom. Trying to separate fact from fiction, he struggles to understand his father’s life and come to terms with his impending loss. Need to know: If you enjoyed Tim Burton’s 2003 film of the same name, we’re sure you will enjoy this charming novella even more.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 14THE CARPENTER’S PENCIL – Manuel Rivas (1998)
A thought-provoking choice for readers who like to immerse themselves in historical fiction that richly evokes dramatic and often painfully difficult moments in time. The story: Herbal, a former prison guard, recounts experiences of Dr Daniel Da Barca, a republican activist imprisoned during the Spanish Civil War, as well as his partner, Marisa, and an artist who fatefully sketches a scene at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. Need to know: This breakthrough work was the first of the Galician author’s to be translated into English.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 15THE DAYS OF ABANDONMENT – Elena Ferrante (2002)
Okay, we admit that this is certainly more of a novel than a novella, but we’re sure you can allow us to stretch the rules of our list to include a work from this fiercely intelligent and influential writer. The story: Olga, a wife and mother of two children, is left by her husband of 15 years and plunged into a state of emotional desolation. Need to know: If you think the plot is a trope that has been told thousands of times before, that doesn’t take away from the need to read Ferrante’s singularly unflinching account.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 16GIRL MEETS BOY – Ali Smith (2007)
A whimsical and joyful gender-fluid account of girl meets boy meets girl. The story: The tale of two Scottish sisters, Anthea and Imogen, and their progression after Anthea meets Robin: “she was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen”. Need to know: Critics have highlighted echoes of the Roman poet Ovid and the story of Iphis and Ianthe in Smith’s exuberant work.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 17ON CHESIL BEACH – Ian McEwan (2007)
A short, but still significant Ian McEwan work, featuring his usual compassionate eye, sensitivity to human frailties, and focus on portentous moments. The story: Set in the summer of 1962, an innocent newlywed couple, Edward and Florence, are beset by anxiety and doubts ahead of their wedding night. Events unfold that will have lifelong consequences for them both. Need to know: If you enjoyed the poignant film adaptation of the novella, you may be interested to know that the ever-brilliant Saoirse Ronan, who stars as Florence in the 2017 film, also played the young Briony Tallis in another Ian McEwan film adaption, Atonement, in one of her earliest roles back in 2007.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 18SIGNS PRECEDING THE END OF THE WORLD – Yuri Herrera (2009)
An enthralling read for anyone who likes stories that seem urgently modern, while also having echoes of eternal and universal human challenges. The story: A brave and resolute young Mexican woman, Makina, crosses the border into the USA in search of her lost brother, who made the crossing long before her. She carries with her two important messages. Need to know: Herrera has been widely heralded as Mexico’s greatest contemporary novelist.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 19POINT OMEGA – Don DeLillo (2010)
An accessible entry point to the works of Don DeLillo and his particular take on the soul of America – especially if you haven’t discovered his other books yet. The story: A former defence consultant, Richard Elster, is living deep in the desert – ‘south of nowhere’, as DeLillo so vividly puts it – when he is unexpectedly visited by a filmmaker, Jim Finley, who is intent on documenting his story. This is followed soon after by the arrival of Elster’s daughter Jessie. Need to know: At times puzzling, this is a story that leaves the reader with plenty to mull over, as well as space to make their own interpretations.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 20GALATEA – Madeline Miller (2013)
If you enjoyed Madeline Miller’s luminous novels The Song of Achilles and Circe, then you will surely want to read this short, but equally brilliant novella with its retelling of the story of Pygmalion. The story: In Ovid’s original tale, we learn of the ancient King Pygmalion falling in love with the nameless statue he has sculpted. Miller cleverly inverts the story with her account of Galatea – the statue that has been brought to life, carved by a nameless sculptor, but who has hopes and dreams all of her own. Need to know: First published as an e-book in 2013, Galatea was reissued in hardback in 2022 as a perfect appetiser while waiting for Miller’s next major project: Persephone.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 21BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD – Toshikazu Kawaguchi (2015)
Perfect if you like your stories to surprise and pack an emotional punch, while leaving you with a warm glow. The story: Funiculi Funicula, a Tokyo café, has one seat that offers patrons a surprising amenity: the chance to travel back in time to a moment of their choosing. The catch? They must follow a set of strict conditions… Need to know: This is a book to savour – much like the perfect cup of coffee. Just don’t let it get cold.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 22THE VEGETARIAN – Han Kang (2015)
This South Korean story drew attention for its title and striking cover, but became a phenomenon with its dark, unsettling and violent tale that earned it the prestigious Man Booker International Prize in 2016. The story: Homemaker Yeong-hye leads a mundane life with her husband until she one day decides to be vegetarian. “I had a dream”, she announces, not revealing just how dark that dream was, or realising how events will soon spiral out of control. Need to know: This is an experience as much as a story, and an extreme departure for English-language readers.
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Culture
25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 23MARGARET THE FIRST – Danielle Dutton (2016)
An irresistible story for lovers of historical novels, who know that fact is often stranger than fiction. The story: A fictional biography of the extraordinary life of Margaret Cavendish, the 17th-century poet, playwright, scientist, visionary and all-round renaissance woman. She was also a duchess and lady-in-waiting to Queen Henrietta Maria, with whom she went into exile after the execution of Charles I during the English Civil War. Need to know: If your fascination for Cavendish lingers after you finish the book, you could visit the monument to her and her husband in Westminster Abbey, where Margaret is buried.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 24THAT REMINDS ME – Derek Owusu (2019)
This important and original work is a beautifully observed coming-of-age story. The story: ‘K’ journeys from a troubled childhood to adulthood, while facing parental neglect as well as alcohol and mental health issues, and at the same time searching for his own identity, sexuality and a sense of belonging. Need to know: Owusu brilliantly conjures his tale using a smart fragmented style with short chapters and poetic flourishes. Each of the book’s five sections starts with a statement addressed to Anansi, the cunning trickster of West African folklore.
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25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 25RING SHOUT – P. Djèlí Clark (2020)
If your literary taste lies in a more fantasy, supernatural, alternate history or even dystopian direction, then you will be delighted to discover P. Djèlí Clark’s rollicking Southern Gothic tale. The story: Sword-wielding Maryse Boudreaux is on a quest with fellow resistance hunters Cordelia Lawrence and Sadie Watkins to hunt down and destroy demons known as ‘Ku Kluxes’, summoned from hell by the Ku Klux Klan. The fate of 1920s Macon, Georgia depends on them. Need to know: Clark’s multi-award-winning story is currently in active development to become a Netflix Original series.
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Culture
25 Essential Novellas For Instant Inspiration.
Slide Nr 26SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE – Claire Keegan (2021)
An extraordinary short story writer, Keegan’s novella was published in 2021 to universal acclaim, and shortlisted for The Booker Prize. The story: Set in a small Irish town, a coal merchant, Bill Furlong, is working during the busiest period of the year leading up to Christmas, when a discovery forces him to reevaluate his past, his community and the role of the church. He is then faced with a decision that could have deep consequences. Need to know: Keegan is a storyteller who knows that ‘small things’ matter and that the most ‘ordinary’ and unassuming of characters can still display quiet heroism, and be capable of the most extraordinary and inspiring acts.25/25
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