The Metamorphosis is a surreal and disturbing story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. He becomes isolated and alienated from his family, who are repulsed and ashamed by his condition. He also loses his identity and his sense of humanity, as he struggles to adapt to his new form.
Kafka wrote this book as a metaphor for his own feelings of alienation and anxiety, as well as a critique of the modern society that dehumanizes and exploits its individuals. The Metamorphosis is a haunting and profound book that explores the themes of identity, family, and society.
7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Page count: 158
Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel that imagines a future where books are banned and burned by the firemen, who are tasked to enforce the censorship. The protagonist, Guy Montag, is one of the firemen who begins to question his role and his society, after meeting a rebellious girl named Clarisse and witnessing the suicide of a book-loving woman. He decides to join a secret group of book lovers who preserve the knowledge and culture of the past.
Bradbury wrote this book as a warning against the dangers of conformity, ignorance, and mass media, as well as a celebration of the power and beauty of books. Fahrenheit 451 is a visionary and influential book that challenges the readers to think for themselves and to value their freedom.
8. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Page count: 182
Lord of the Flies is a Nobel Prize-winning novel that depicts the descent into savagery of a group of boys who are stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. They attempt to create their own civilization, with rules and roles, but they soon succumb to their primal instincts and turn against each other.
Golding wrote this book as a response to the horrors of World War II, as well as a critique of the human nature and the society. He shows how the thin veneer of civilization can be easily shattered by the forces of fear, violence, and power. Lord of the Flies is a disturbing and compelling book that reveals the dark side of humanity.
9. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Page count: 104
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