In today’s digital age, it’s becoming harder and harder to find time time to read. Those who are avid readers can relate to the fact that when they start a book, it takes them months to finish it because there are too many things happening. So, we have compiled a list of books for you that you can finish in one day or if you are that big of a reader, just a couple of hours.

1. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom

Morrie was Albom’s teacher in college and in this book, Albom had written down the last lectures of Morrie as he was on his death bed, suffering from ALS. Filled with tear jerking life lessons on love, family, relationships, money, youth and every other stage of life; this book will make have you smiling at every word. Guaranteed to make you fall in love with Morrie and read this book again and again.

2. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Kahlil Gibran was a 20th century Lebanese-American writer and poet. Gibran’s work is mostly around philosophical and spiritual connections that we can find in our life. In ‘The Prophet’, a prophet is about to leave his people and leaves them with some last lessons on life. These lessons on love, children, marriage, death and on beauty. Only 107 pages once started, you won’t be able to put it down!

3. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

You all know him because of ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ but here John Green is at his wittiest and most comical form. ‘An Abundance of Katherines’ is an account of a boy who is a child prodigy but has been dumped by 19 Katherines since he was 1 years old. On a mission to develop a mathematical theorem which will somehow make him understand the concept of dumping and getting dumped, it’s easy to get pulled into the story.  The book even contains an appendix at the end having all the mathematics behind the theorem. A must read for a nice, laughter filled evening.

4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Most of you might have seen it’s movie adaptation, starring Leonardo Dicaprio but the book is a must read. Jay Gatsby’s struggle and longing for his love will leave you a little melancholy and in the emotions that come with the throws of true love and how humans are at their most vulnerable when they are in love.

5. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Plath is famous for her raw, melancholy poetry but this is the only fiction book by her (apart from her unabridged journals). The book follows the journey of a model who’s trying to make it in the fashion industry but the glam life takes the better of her as realises it is all a sham. The thing about Plath’s writing is that it is so pure that you will find your mood changing with the story. The book might leave you in a hang over but you’ll never regret it.

6. For One More Day by Mitch Albom

Another  warm book by Mitch Albom, the story focuses on a guy who gets a visit from his late mother whom he ignored all his life. The book can be read in a couple of hours and you will shed actual tears while reading it. After finishing it, you’ll go and hug your mama for all her sacrifices and love for you. That’s the power of Albom’s writing.

7. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

If you’re into reading teenage romance, this is a perfect book for you. It’s not your typical cliched Twilight type romance but the kind of young love you find in school, the type we all go through. It will remind you of your first love and all the feelings you that came with it.

8. Manuscript Found In Accra by Paulo Coelho

Everyone knows him as the author of ‘The Alchemist’ but there are dozens of Coelho’s books that beat Alchemist and ‘Manuscript Found In Accra’ is one of them. Somewhat formatted around Kahlil Gibran’s ‘The Prophet’. Set in the times when Jerusalem was going to be attacked, everyone was going to evacuate the city so they decided to have one evening with the most wise one in their community and ask important questions from him. The questions also revolve around beauty, life, marriage, love, rationalizing your dreams, etc. You will leave satisfied and happy after finishing this book.

9. Animal Farm by George Orwell

Though it sounds like a children’s book, ‘Animal Farm’ is a classic in understanding politics and human psychology. The way Orwell shows deep rooted, dirty business found in almost every government and leadership in the form of animals, is splendid. Although it’s a small book, the content is heavy on the nerves so it’s better to read it while taking breaks in between to let the narrative sink in. But if you’re someone who enjoys reading books who reflect on real life, then it’s a treat for you!

10. The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom

I know this is the third Albom book in this list but this one definitely deserves a mention. In this book, Albom makes us realise that life is precious and every other person that we encounter, is silently playing an important role in our life. It’s amazing that you will fall in love with life all over again even though dead people are asking you to.

11. Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka is popular for his short stories and ‘Metamorphosis’ stands out among them. Told from the perspective of a man who suddenly transforms into a cockroach after one night of deep sleep. Each sentence is intricately woven with life’s bitter realities and you’ll be sighing after every other page. A slightly heavy read but curiosity will take you to the end as you’ll be deeply engrossed in it.

12. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

This book talks about a time which we all should dread; a time where books will be burned and open thinking is banned. Ray Bradbury’s writing is absolutely marvelous. Btw 451 degree Fahrenheit is the temperature at which paper burns. So, you might get a little sad while reading it but it’s all in good reason.

13. Salt and Saffron by Kamila Shamsie

Shamsie talks about a desi family, ‘Dard-e-Dil’ whose members are proud of their deep khandani roots within the sub-continent. The book is filled with desi anecdotes and the way Shamsie describes desi food will immediately make you hungry. But the best part? How she relates food with the bond and ties we have with our families even if we leave them. This book will make you laugh, cry and hungry; all at the same time.

14. The Tales of Beedle The Bard by J. K. Rowling

If you’re a Harry Potter fan and you haven’t this book, you’re in for a treat. For the rest of non-Harry Potter folks, you’re gonna love this too. Basically it’s a children’s fairy tale book but without the fairies. It has wizards instead. The book contains five stories, filled with lessons non magical, mind you (See? it’s also for non magic folks). After each story, there are notes from Professor Dumbledore which are his insights on the story. So a little extra treat even if the series is over.

15. A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Filled with ‘magical realism’, this story is a five page story but it’ll leave you thinking for ages. By using a handful of characters and a small plot, Marquez talks about so many human traits that you will be indulged in deep thoughts for days. Marquez’s writing is simply magic.

16. The Broken Wings by Kahlil Gibran

Another gem by Kahlil Gibran. It is said that this story is actually of Gibran’s love life in Lebanon where he talks about longing and suffering he had to go through while being in love. You’ll sigh at every other sentence because his writing is so pure. Read it without any distraction and in one sitting. This is how you can have the most of it.

17. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

This is a go to Pakistani coming of age book. Hamid has amazingly described the growing up journey of a Pakistani guy who’s in his mid twenties. You will feel the same emotions as the protagonist is feeling from rage to clam, from fury to peace at heart, etc. You’ll find yourself here.

18. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Translated into almost all major languages of the world, J. D. Salinger gets real in this book about angsty teenage phase. Holden is your typical teenager who hates and dislikes almost every other thing but the brilliance about this book is that Salinger has used so many common phrases from our regular language that you’ll relate to Holden all the time or it’ll remind you of your teenage.

19. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Though it’s a children’s book, but in hindsight, Dr. Seuss is making readers realize that you have to accept change that life brings you. Instead of refusing them or ignoring them, try them out and have fun in your life with new things. It’s a 62 pages book but the amount of immense intelligence that is in this book will leave you loving Dr. Seuss more.

20. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

This is Satrapi’s own story of her life in Iran during Islamic Revolution. It has actually two parts but the best thing is that it’s in the form of comics. Satrapi depicts her life as growing up in Iran, her high school life, her marriage and later on divorce. Though books have also been made into a movie but of course, you’ve to read the books to get it’s real gist. Also, it’s a part of Emma Watson’s feminist book club, ‘Our Shared Shelf’.

21. Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

So, it’s a common misconception that Frankenstein is the monster but actually it’s the scientist, Victor Frankenstein who creates the monster. Although it sounds like a regular scientific-experiment-gone-wrong type of story, Shelly has actually shown that how much grotesque and alien life and humans can be. The story gets to your head and you’ll be awed by Shelly’s writing as she wrote it when she was only 18.

Do you have any other books which can be read in one day?

Cover image via: fropki.com