/lit/ - Literature

We were in class when the head-master came in followed by a "new" boy, not wearing the school uniform, and a school servant carrying a large desk. Those who had been asleep woke up, and every one rose as if just surprised at his work.

I also agree with Flaubert's Sentimental Education. While yes, plenty "happens" in the book, overall the political events of the 1840s felt like background to the general narrative flow. Personally as a dumbass, I didn't really fully understand what was going on politically in the novel and felt like it was just sort of vague, almost nameless turmoil. Perhaps that's what OP meant by ambient?

>>1635317
This is probably the best pick so far. Proust's language is just like a powerful, overflowing atmosphere that mesmerizes the mind with its "beautiful boredom," as Ezra Pound called it.

Actually, more come to mind. Dostoevsky's definitely. Notes from Underground, the Gambler, and the Double, for starters.
balzac's last book is a novella, the wrong side of paris, that i enjoyed...
and i'm currently almost done with three tales by gustave flaubert, which doesn't that count as a novella? even though it's 3 stories? they were all written together.
feel like haven't seen any novellas tonight that i haven't heard of already...