20 Classic Novels You can Read in One Sitting - Page 2

Ron. · 05-03-2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

I've read at least fourteen of the twenty--I'm quite impressed with myself! I think most of them were assigned in high school. No idea how many I might have read in one sitting.

The one that really doesn't seem to belong there is Wuthering Heights--I don't have a copy handy, but isn't it much longer than most of the others listed? Or did it just seem longer?

288 pages a bit long to read in one sitting and yes it seems much longer

RolandD · 05-03-2011, 08:35 PM

To me, it's not the length of the book that determines whether I can read it in one sitting. It's how tightly it grabs your attention and how easy it is to process. Some books, you just need to set it aside so you can wrap your head around what you just read. A lot of books on this list are those type of books.

GA Russell · 05-03-2011, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RolandD

Some books, you just need to set it aside so you can wrap your head around what you just read.

Agreed! I find that often to be the case.

ctol · 05-04-2011, 12:29 PM

Have read all of them except Night by Elie Weisel. All done in one sitting in my younger days. BTW Andanzas, a friend of my did manage to do War And Peace in one sitting. It did take me two days though.

sakman70 · 05-06-2011, 09:01 AM

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. That reminded me of my high school reading list for AP English... (half of which I only read in cliff notes). But I did enjoy the ones I read!

BenG · 05-07-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctol

BTW Andanzas, a friend of my did manage to do War And Peace in one sitting. It did take me two days though.

But why would you want to?

Edit: Not why would you want to read it, but why two days. It seems that would be more like work than reading for pleasure.

butterbescotch · 05-07-2011, 09:34 PM

Thanks for the share.

Prestidigitweeze · 05-08-2011, 04:01 PM

I've read fifteen out of twenty, and the five I haven't read I stopped reading or avoided for a reason.

I tend to think it's a disservice to a great book to read it all at once, but there are good arguments to be made for getting the gestalt of it first and then returning for the intricacies.

I'd never make a list that included all or only those books. Dickens specifically would never make my greatest list.

astrodad · 05-10-2011, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andanzas

They forgot to mention War and Peace.

Haha, yeah! That is definitely a one-sitting book. I've read nine of the books but none of them in one sitting.

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05-03-2011, 08:35 PM	#17
RolandD Fanatic Posts: 561 Karma: 3228980 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Branson, MO, USA Device: Kindle Touch is now my main eReader.	To me, it's not the length of the book that determines whether I can read it in one sitting. It's how tightly it grabs your attention and how easy it is to process. Some books, you just need to set it aside so you can wrap your head around what you just read. A lot of books on this list are those type of books.

05-04-2011, 12:29 PM	#19
ctol Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 303523 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Arizona Device: Nook, Fire Tablet, Windows RT Tablet Windows Phone	Have read all of them except Night by Elie Weisel. All done in one sitting in my younger days. BTW Andanzas, a friend of my did manage to do War And Peace in one sitting. It did take me two days though.

05-06-2011, 09:01 AM	#20
sakman70 Member Posts: 20 Karma: 556842 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Upstate NY Device: kindle (droid)	Thanks for the trip down memory lane. That reminded me of my high school reading list for AP English... (half of which I only read in cliff notes). But I did enjoy the ones I read!

05-07-2011, 09:34 PM	#22
butterbescotch Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: none	Thanks for the share.

05-08-2011, 04:01 PM	#23
Prestidigitweeze Fledgling Demagogue Posts: 2,384 Karma: 31132263 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: White Plains Device: Clara HD; Oasis 2; Aura HD; iPad Air; PRS-350; Galaxy S7.	I've read fifteen out of twenty, and the five I haven't read I stopped reading or avoided for a reason. I tend to think it's a disservice to a great book to read it all at once, but there are good arguments to be made for getting the gestalt of it first and then returning for the intricacies. I'd never make a list that included all or only those books. Dickens specifically would never make my greatest list.

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