Novellas in November, 2025
- thecontentreader
- Oct 14
- 2 min read
The time has come for Novellas in November hosted by Cathy of 746 Books and Beck of Bookish Beck.
This is the time we have a look at our book shelves, or searching for an e- or audio-novella to enjoy when autumn sets in. Novellas are usual regarded to be books between 70 - 200 pages, but one can be a little bit flexibel.
Ten best novellas of all time?
This year I have checked out some novellas that are considered to be the ten best one. It is always individual, but I thought I start there. Here is one list (from Irrelevant Matters).
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
Billy Budd, Sailor by Herman Melville
The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
I have read all except Billy Budd and The Awakening which I will try to read during November. Which are my favourites? I would say The Turn of the Screw, Of Mice and Men and The Old Man and the Sea. Great novellas. What are you favourites among these ten novellas?
My lists
On my shelves I have the following books I want to read. I am travelling during this time so will bring books I don't need to carry back home again.
Thirst for Love by Yukio Mishima (200 pages)
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (212 pages)
Perdu by Paride Rombi (165 pages)
Völsungasagan by Katarina Harrison Lindbergh (168 pages)
Gilgamesh (71 pages) (already read)
We have always lived in the castle by Shirley Jackson (176 pages)
I also have a list of e-books that will be easy to take with me. I am afraid there might not be so much time to read though. Anyway, always good to mix novels and novellas.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
I am a Legend by Richard Matheson
Billy Budd, Sailor by Herman Melville
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
The Murderbot Diaries, volume 1 by Martha Wells
Den sista vargen by Laszlo Krasznahorkai
Looking forward to sharing the reading of novellas with you.
Agree with you about Turn of the Screw being one of the best.
Thanks for joining us! I think I've read 8 of those top 10 novellas. This year I'm thinking of rereading The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is great!
I need to amend my list I added a different Melville book thinking it was Billy Budd the Sailor. Now I need to make sure I read all the best novellas. Thanks for the heads up.