The classics genre is broad and varied, with books from many time periods and cultures to explore. However, due to the old-fashioned language, complexity of the topic, and often extensive length, they can be difficult to get into. Here are a few of my favorite classics which can be read in a single day!

These books vary in maturity; please read at your own discretion.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Shirley Jackson

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Written by the master of the gothic-horror genre, Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle follows the lives of Mary Katherine Blackwood and her sister, Constance. After a tragic incident, the two sisters isolate themselves on the family estate. They are ostracized by the people in town, but live happily in their solitude―that is, until an estranged cousin comes to visit and Mary Katherine becomes wary of his motives.

With the unique Mary Katherine as the narrator, this story feels somewhat magical, and almost fairytale-like at times. Filled with amateur spells, unsettling characters, persisting familial love, and an ominous mystery underneath it all, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is perfect for fans of the gothic genre or the movie/book Coraline!

Take the Quiz: Which Literary Fiction Should You Read Next?

Jump into the world of literary fiction with the one of these novels based on your existing favourites.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Aleksandr Solzhenitzen

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One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitzen may be one of the most immersive books I have ever read. However, be warned, it takes place in a Soviet Union prison camp.

Ivan Denisovich describes in great detail every part of his day from the hard labor in the below-freezing climate to the meager food rations, the unlikely friendships to where exactly prisoners hid stolen goods. More unsettling than anything is the repetition: the same thing day in and day out with little hope of change.

My description makes the book sound completely bleak, but it is still absolutely worth reading. The beautiful thing about literature is that it can transport you to a completely different world, which then forces you to view your own world with a new perspective. More prevalent than the desolation and fear is the invisible thread of humanity and hope that Ivan Denisovich holds onto throughout it all.

The Outsiders, S. E. Hinton

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Classic of the middle school reading list, The Outsiders is a book I could read over a hundred times. You’ve potentially already read this and maybe even wrote a book report on it, but I highly encourage reading it again.

Ponyboy Curtis lives with his older brothers, along with a few close friends who might as well be brothers, in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s. They call themselves the Greasers, opposite of their wealthier enemies the “Socs”. There has always been tension and violence between the two groups, but it takes a turn when Ponyboy’s best friend, Johnny, accidentally kills a Soc and they go on the run.

The Outsiders is full of vibrant characters, complex relationships, and heartfelt emotions at every turn. The book meant a lot to author S.E. Hinton, who wrote it as a teenager, and that passion seeps through every word.

The Stranger, Albert Camus

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The Stranger by French writer Albert Camus is a classic piece of philosophical literature told from the perspective of Mersault, a man who views the world with an apathetic lens. He details his mother’s passing, his job, and the beginning of a relationship with a woman he meets at his job, seemingly unmoved by it all. He then kills a man and the story follows his trial and thought process in the aftermath.

While The Stranger is a quick read, it is a bit unnerving and will certainly keep you thinking for a while afterward. It is also a great introduction to philosophical literature, dealing with questions of absurdity, rationality, and the overall purpose of life.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Truman Capote

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While many know of the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, brought to life by Audrey Hepburn, few are aware it started as a book. Less than a hundred pages, but packed with glamour, heart, and the peculiar wonder that is Holly Golightly, Truman Capote’s masterpiece is well worth reading.

In 1940s New York, an aspiring writer (whose name is never revealed) meets young socialite Holly Golightly and is immersed in her world of entertaining wealthy men, shoplifting, and overall living life in a completely different way. But, Holly has a mysterious past and is naively wrapped up in legal trouble.

Short Stories

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If you are just getting into classics, short stories are also a great way to start! Here are a few suggestions:

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

• The narrator is locked in an upstairs room by her husband and begins to see images in the wallpaper

All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury

• Set in an uncertain future, an elementary school class on Venus only gets to see the sun once every seven years

Goblin Market by Christina Rosetti

• A fairytale-like story written in verse in which two sisters are tempted by a parade of fruit-and-treasure-towing goblins

The Seagull by Anton Checkov

• A slow-paced play that follows the relationships between four remarkable and unique characters on a country estate; a peculiar deviation from the melodramatic plays that frequented Russian theaters

Whether you prefer gothic, philosophical, or coming-of-age fiction, the classics genre has something for everybody, though it can be daunting to begin exploring. Hopefully, these suggestions, all with fewer than 200 pages, can provide a gateway to longer and more complex books.