/lit/ - Literature

Not 'The old man and the sea' I though it was pretty boring.

I really enjoyed The Smegma Chronicles by Brandon Broherty.

>>5216207
2deep4me

>>5216195
Although it's one of my favorite novels, and one of my favorite books in general, it could easily be seen as 'dull'. I like that Hemingway puts his emotions deep down into his writing, where you can't fully see them, but you know the profound sadness of the Old Man's struggle. He has a very stoic manner of writing.

Of Mice and Men
Ivan Ilyich
Animal Farm
Ethan Frome
along with The Old Man and the Sea (off the top of my head)

>>5216242
forgot A Christmas Carol, which might be my favorite of all.

>>5216225
i felt that a bit, but i still don't get why it won all those awards. i suppose its style is in strong contrast to whatever was around at the time and that made it interesting. idk.

my favourite... the royal game / stefan zweig

>>5216187
The one you like the best.

There's a couple of lists in the sticky fyi

>>5216256
Sorry you couldn't enjoy it.

My favorite novella, aside from The Old Man and the Sea, is A Clockwork Orange. It's just so hilarious.

Heart of Darkness

this is what made me want to write important and poignant novellas.

>>5216242
I assumed everyone read Ethan Frome in 8th grade and hate the memory of it. Why do you like it so much?

>>5216187
I am going to go with The Stranger. I haven't read it in French (yet, I am learning the language now), but from what I've heard it doesn't lose too much in translation. I can't think of a book that affected me personally as powerfully.

>>5216268
i liked it actually, it reminded me of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJkM3cAv9bk

just didnt strike me as groundbreaking enough for the nobel prize. not that i'm opposed to him getting it, i just don't quite get my head around how they choose their favourites is all

Kafka - The Metamorphosis
or Crying of Lot 49

Bump

The dead. Obviously.

>>5218497
That's a short story

The Old Man and the Sea
The Death of Ivan Ilych
Heart of Darkness

>>5219499
I've read two of those.

Is The Death of Ivan Ilych as good as the other two?

>>5219535
Yes.

Breakfast at Tiffany's.

>>5216187
Italo Calvino's A Plunge into the Real Estate. Shame that it doesn't get very much. Perfect mix of his realism/social commentary and playfulness.

>>5216288
let's see, in grade 8 I think I had to read "The Outsiders" (which you are very much correct, I'm not fond of the memory of that book). But I'm also Canadian so I'm sure our English curriculum was different.

For a story where not much happens, I liked the way it opened before it got into the real story of Ethan, I enjoyed Wharton's writing style, and the ending (though tragic) was well done. But I'm far from "patrician" when it comes to my personal lit tastes, so take the previous as you will.

>>5216292
This. Siddhartha is also a good one, but I consider Damien to be superior. Really, I'm not much a fan of novellas...I can usually think of books that expound on an idea better.

whats a novella
why dont you just say book

Candide. It has a poignant, if prolonged message. Beyond the fact that the writing and prose are superb. I really did enjoy the El Dorado bit. Not the best Voltaire, but in my subjective opinion, the best novella. And one of the best books, ever written.

>>5220203
A novella is more specific. It is a shortish Novel.
(Not op)

>>5220204
A worthy selection, and very funny one too. On my part, I have no single favorite but many.

>>5216187
Original Poster, there have been many fantastic titles already suggested (I have a particular love of The Metamorphosis) but I would encourage you investigate the wonderful, perplexing works of Italian writer Italo Calvino if you have not already, particularly The Castle of Crossed Destinies.

>>5216287
That book's intense as fuck.

>>5216303
>i just don't quite get my head around how they choose their favourites is all

Like any award which is subjective in nature - politics.

Kafka - The Trial

Train Dreams is one of the best books I've read of any length. Highly recommend it. "An epic in miniature form."

>>5220245
yeah, i love how it has you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning while it's honestly just creeping along and waving to you sadly in its prose.

>>5220204
love this