Does size matters?
The classification of book as novel, novella, novelette
and short story is not an easy job. Reviewers/Editors/Critiques classify
randomly and seldom bother to follow international standard. Some literary
guild had been doing the exercise but they also do not have universal
acceptance.
If we say that the novella is written with a satirical, moral or
educational nature and purpose, it would be a gross generalization and the very
object of the author could be defeated by such blatant categorization. Or a
story may even have the ingredient of a novel like multiple characters, sub-plots,
conflicts and twists, and all novels are also ultimately a story.
"The Science
Fiction" and "Fantasy Writers of America" specifies word lengths
for each category of its Nebula award categories: Novel over 40,000 words,
Novella 17,500 to 40,000 words, Novelette 7,500 to 17,500 words, Short Story
under 7,500 words.
How the words would be counted, is also not defined.
There are different opinions and "different word counting programs may give varying results, depending on the
text segmentation rule details, and on whether words outside the main text
(such as footnotes, endnotes, or hidden text) are counted. But the behavior of
most major word processing applications is broadly similar" as endorsed by
Wiki.
A reader, however remains
unaffected by such jugglery and is straightforward in judging the true value of
the books. Some, such books which are though small in word count, but have
influenced the life or thought process of millions of people are listed here.
If by chance we have over passed any of them earlier this is the high time to
pick it now.
1. Jonathan
Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach is a book that teaches self
-perfection, how to be true to yourself and keep working on love. It is
motivational, life changing book, if taken seriously.
2. Notes from
the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a book from which many theories of
Philosophies have emerged and also a paradigm shift in many existing
philosophies has occurred. The description of mental state when one enjoys
sufferings and conscious inertia makes this book as a masterpiece.
3. The Little Prince by Antoine De
Saint-Exupery is most-read, most-translated book of the world. The book has
been tagged in the category of "Children's Book" would sure leave
every mature wondering about the strangeness and logistics of the adult world.
4. Who moved my
cheese? By Spencer Johnson would change how you perceive the changes that
are taking place in your life. It is written like a fable which has maximum
appeal for the human psyche.
5. Self-reliance
by R.W. Emerson is a book of essay. You
may have to re-read to grasp the depiction of self worth by trusting your own
self.
6. The old Man
and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway can be put at the top of the list, if this
matters at all. There are very few books in the world that would touch your
heart and mind both equally. Moreover who would not honor the struggle of old
man and also would feel honored in doing so.
This list would
grow if you can add few books of your choice in the comments.
