25 Recommended Novels for University Students: From Beginner to Advanced, Recommended Works by Level!

Introduction

In this article, I would like to introduce novels that I highly recommend for readers of all levels, from beginners to advanced. Some may argue that categorizing or grading reading is questionable, but these are merely guidelines. Factors such as readability, page count, and the amount of foundational knowledge required do exist in reality.

Besides, I personally cannot recommend diving straight into difficult books. Everything is something you improve at little by little, starting from a beginner level. The same applies to books. I believe that if you are going to read novels, choosing books that are just a little bit of a stretch for you will be of great help to your own growth.

Also, basically, all the books introduced here are masterpieces that I want to recommend with confidence. Every one of them is an incredibly interesting work, so please do not worry about the classifications like beginner or advanced, and feel free to take a look at the linked pages for any books that pique your interest. On the linked pages, I have posted more detailed explanations of each book as well as related works. I have built this site so that you can connect to even more books through these titles, so I would be happy if you could make good use of it.

Now, let's start by looking at the 5 books in the <Beginner's Edition>. Even though it is the <Beginner's Edition>, the content is rich. I hope you find it helpful.

5 Recommended Novels <Beginner's Edition>

1. Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"

When asked, "I don't usually read books, but are there any novels that are easy to read and interesting even for someone like me?" I recommend this Sherlock Holmes series without hesitation.

Although it is the first short story collection in the Sherlock Holmes series, its quality is guaranteed. There are many more short story collections to come, but I think this one is so interesting that it might even be the best among them.

Among them, my favorite case is definitely "A Scandal in Bohemia." First of all, the title itself is incredibly stylish. I take my hat off to the translator's sense of word choice.

And in this case, the famous Irene Adler appears. She is a brilliant, peerless beauty whom even Sherlock Holmes, who has no interest in women at all, holds in high regard. Of course, not in a romantic sense, but she is a character with extraordinary wit who outsmarts Holmes.

Also, the conversation between Holmes and Watson told in this case is very interesting. What can be called the very foundation of the Sherlock Holmes series is spoken here. I would like to introduce that conversation.

"Seeing" and "observing" are decisively different!

When you hear it put that way, it's truly a striking statement! Holmes's sharpness was thanks to this "power of observation." It makes you admire him, doesn't it?

"A Scandal in Bohemia" is outstanding in the interest of the story itself, but it is also a short story I love because you can hear this exchange between Holmes and Watson.

Also, this short story collection includes famous stories such as "The Red-Headed League," "The Man with the Twisted Lip," "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," and "The Adventure of the Speckled Band." "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" is one of my favorite cases.

Each short story is less than 50 pages long, so you can read through them quickly. It's truly effortless!

Whether you read at a leisurely pace of one a day or finish them all at once, there are many ways to enjoy them.

This is a collection of short stories that is a masterpiece I can confidently recommend even to reading beginners.

2 Shinichi Hoshi “Bokko-chan”

This book is a collection of short-shorts (ultra-short stories) by Shinichi Hoshi, a leading figure in Japanese science fiction.

I first learned about Shinichi Hoshi's work when a friend who loves science fiction recommended it to me.

And when I started reading it, I was surprised by the impact of the stories.

The first story in this book is called “The Devil,” and believe it or not, it is only five pages long! Yet, within those five pages, a surprising story unfolds. From the very first page, I was drawn in, wondering, “What will happen next?” and was taken aback by the unexpected twist at the end.

“Wow! So this is Shinichi Hoshi!”

It was a unique worldview that I couldn't help but admire. This is amazing! I was completely captivated by his ability to embody such surprising developments in such a short number of pages.

Moreover, while it goes without saying that they are interesting, I even found myself thinking, “This is somehow stylish.”

This book has a mysterious title, “Bokko-chan,” which even feels cute, but no, no, the work itself is incredibly cool. It is stylish. It is sophisticated.

Since they are short-shorts, each story is extremely compact, so it is also nice that you can read them easily at any time. This is also a work I recommend to reading beginners. Of course, there is no doubt that even experts will be impressed by this collection of extraordinary masterpieces. Why not pick it up and see for yourself?

3 Andersen “Andersen's Masterpieces: The Little Match Girl / The Little Mermaid”

When it comes to Andersen's fairy tales, I think everyone has had the experience of being exposed to them through picture books or animation when they were children. I am one of them. Stories that are fairy-tale-like but also feel somewhat poignant leave an impression that you cannot forget once you have read them, don't they?

First, the one you meet at the beginning of this book is “Thumbelina.” This work is also incredibly famous, isn't it? I also have memories of reading it.

And when I actually read it, I was immediately surprised.

The language itself is simple, and the story is a fairy tale where toads, moles, and swallows talk like humans. But I feel an indescribable depth in that story. If you let your guard down thinking it is for children, you will be surprised. I have been reading books intently for the past few years, and I felt that this was on par with those books—no, I felt that the depth could be felt even more precisely because it was told as a fairy tale.

Both the narration and the story are simple. But the human heart told through the figures of Thumbelina and the animals has an indescribable flavor. I really want you to read this. There is a delicacy to the story that you can only understand because you are an adult. It is the flavor of Andersen's fairy tales that becomes visible precisely because you have become an adult, had various experiences, and have various thoughts about life.

I highly recommend this. Once I started reading, I was drawn in immediately and couldn't stop. I also appreciate that each piece is short, allowing for a brisk reading pace.

Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales are far deeper than I had imagined. They are truly exquisite works that can only be fully appreciated by adults.

Also, "The Little Mermaid" included in this book is the original work that became the basis for that Disney masterpiece "The Little Mermaid".

The "Little Mermaid" written by Andersen is a delicate and poignant story characteristic of him. It is also very fun to read while thinking about how Disney adapted it.

Also, while I picked up Andersen's fairy tales this time, I highly recommend reading them together with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales as a set.

When it comes to fairy tales, it's Andersen and Grimm. They are the two great pillars of Western fairy tales, so to speak, and it is truly interesting to compare them and see the differences.

If I had to describe them, perhaps Andersen is delicate and romantic, while Grimm is dark and violent; in any case, they are different.

In particular, Grimm's "Snow White," which also became the original for a Disney film, "Snow White" is incredible. You will definitely be shocked when you read it.

It is a violence completely different from Andersen's romantic stories! It is a recommended fairy tale that I would like Disney fans to read as well. Entering the world of literature from such familiar sources is highly recommended as an introduction.

4 Madoka Hino "Biography of Musicians: The First Book to Read, Mendelssohn"

This work, "Biography of Musicians: The First Book to Read, Mendelssohn," was a work I had been waiting for.

The reason is that the protagonist of this work, Mendelssohn, is my favorite classical musician. (Mendelssohn is also the composer of that famous Wedding March.)

The trigger for my encounter with Mendelssohn was the great Czech composer Smetana. A few years ago, while learning about Czech history, I ended up reading "Smetana: Music is the Life of the Czech People! (Composer Story Series)" by Madoka Hino, who is also the author of this book. This "Composer Story Series" is the predecessor to the currently published "Biography of Musicians: The First Book to Read" series.

This biography of Smetana was so interesting that I read through the "Composer Story Series" all at once, and the person I came to like the most among them was Mendelssohn. And this work, "Biography of Musicians: The First Book to Read, Mendelssohn," is the newly published and reissued version of "Mendelssohn: A Beautiful yet Harsh Life (Composer Story Series)" that I once read and was moved by. I cried when I read this book. Mendelssohn's life was so dramatic that I couldn't help but be moved. I was shocked that such an amazing person existed.

And above all, the wonderful storytelling of Madoka Hino.

Madoka Hino's works are written with the concept of "Readable from age 10, providing genuine inspiration even to adults. Making the lives of great historical musicians as easy to read as a story." This is easy to say, but how difficult it is!

However, this book perfectly embodies this concept! I have devoured many biographies of great people from all times and places, but Madoka Hino's biographies are of outstanding quality. And among them, this biography of Mendelssohn can be called her greatest masterpiece.

I was so moved by this book that I once lent it to my mother. When my mother was hospitalized before, she asked me, "If there is a good book, I would like to read it." Since her request was for "a book that is interesting even if I don't usually read books," I chose Madoka Hino's book without hesitation. And as for the reaction, my mother also cried. And she seemed surprised at how easy it was to read.

I recommend it to students in junior high school and junior college classes as a work that I especially want beginners to reading to read. And it was well-received by them as being easy to read and interesting.

Biographies realistically depict how a person lived and died within a certain era and society.

I am convinced that we can learn far more than we imagine through the lives and deaths of great figures.

The situations these great figures were placed in were filled with difficulties, and one tumultuous event after another occurred.

Because they were geniuses, some rushed toward their own destruction, while others worked diligently without sparing effort even in adversity, eventually grasping success through hardship.

They also faced sudden illnesses and the deaths of loved ones.

What you notice when reading biographies from the 18th and 19th centuries is that there is simply so much illness and death. We are also confronted with the suffering of composers who lost many of their precious children.

Being able to learn about the lives of these great figures, who possessed such an extraordinary scale, while witnessing both their glory and their anguish.

And along with that, being able to think about what the modern world we live in is by learning about the historical background and history they lived through.

I think this is the wonderful point of biographies.

I even feel that there is nothing better than this series for an introduction to reading. While this series is not strictly a "novel," I have introduced it here from the perspective of "reading high-quality stories." In this series, you can learn about various musical greats, starting with Smetana.

I have explained this series in detail in the article above, so please refer to that as well.

This is the series I most recommend for an introduction to reading. It is incredibly interesting and easy to read. I am sure you will be surprised when you read it. Currently, this series is being reissued one after another by Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, making it easier to get your hands on.

As new releases, works about great Japanese musicians as well as world composers are coming out, so I recommend these as well.

5 Ryunosuke Akutagawa "Rashomon"

"Rashomon" is a work published in 1915, and like Osamu Dazai's "Run, Melos!", it is a short story familiar from school textbooks.

The setting of the story is Kyoto, where natural disasters such as earthquakes, fires, and famines were continuing. A man is taking shelter from the rain under the Rashomon gate. The entire city of Kyoto is in a miserable state. There was nothing to eat or sell, and even Buddhist statues and altar fittings were being destroyed and sold as firewood.

Because of such circumstances, the Rashomon gate was also left in ruins, and at some point, it became a hangout for outlaws and even a place to leave corpses. A man ended up at such a Rashomon gate.

Then, he happened to find a ladder leading up to the gate's tower, and when he climbed up, he sensed the presence of a person. There, he met an eerie old woman. This woman was silently pulling hair from a corpse.

When he approached her fearfully and asked for the reason... that is the general flow of Rashomon.

Oh, the sheer brilliance of Akutagawa's short story technique! Climbing the Rashomon gate, the eerie presence appearing in the darkness of the night. Even as an adult, I find myself just as captivated as ever, wondering what is lurking there. It's almost like a cinematic technique; the sense of realism is incredible.

In this work, Akutagawa decisively captures the very moment a man steps onto the path of evil. The ending, which exquisitely exposes that delicate psychological state, is a masterpiece.

And within this "Rashomon," there is one passage that has left a deep impression on me. It is this one.

"To do something about the unavoidable, one has no time to be choosy about the means."

This phrase carries a weight that can only be appreciated by an adult who has tasted both the bitter and the sweet. Isn't this a sentiment that resonates even more as you get older? "Rashomon" is harsh. It shows us the harsh, harsh reality of the world in every way possible. It is precisely because of this line that the story that follows hits home with such realism. It leads directly to what it means to step onto the path of evil. It is truly magnificent.

While it is a work that is easy for beginners to read, it is also a masterpiece that makes even experts nod in appreciation. It is a work I highly recommend.

Recommended Novels <Beginner Edition> Summary

First, I introduced five books as the "Recommended Novels <Beginner Edition>."

These are five books carefully selected from a vast number of options. These are works I recommend with confidence.

As this is the beginner edition, I chose them based on readability and compact length, but their content is also rich. I have tried to pick not just books that are easy to read, but works that are renowned as masterpieces.

If you are going to read, I want you to read works called masterpieces. This is also my wish. While there are many books in the world, the reality is that it is quite difficult to encounter a true masterpiece. Those who get discouraged with reading might be choosing difficult books from the start, or perhaps they have a bad match, or even worse, they might be choosing mediocre books to begin with.

No one can read difficult books from the start. Everyone begins with picture books in childhood, and from there, they grow little by little until they can read books.

"Being able to read a book" and "being able to read characters" are completely different things. Just because you can read characters does not mean you can immediately read books.

Just as you cannot hit a home run off Shohei Ohtani's pitch right away, it is a tough task for someone unaccustomed to reading to suddenly pick up Dostoevsky's massive work, "The Brothers Karamazov." In everything, order is important. There is no need to push yourself. Let's read books while enjoying them slowly and steadily.

The five books introduced here are the best works to serve as that gateway. You will gain skills while having fun. Reading high-quality stories is the best way to build reading ability. I would be more than happy if these works could serve as your starting point on the path of reading.

Note: Added on July 21, 2025. "Kamo no Negi ni wa Doku ga Aru" is incredibly interesting! I highly recommend it so you don't get scammed by multi-level marketing or cults!

While this is not a novel, it is a fantastic manga that I would like to recommend to students.

I discuss the details in the following “'Kamo no Negi ni wa Doku ga Aru' is incredibly interesting! Highly recommended to avoid being deceived by multi-level marketing or cults!” article, but it is a wonderful manga that teaches you what to do to protect yourself.

Besides, it is incredibly interesting to begin with!! It is a very high-quality story. Although this is an article about "recommended novels," I would like to introduce this manga as a "high-quality story that provides learning."

10 Recommended Novels (Intermediate Level)

From here on, it is for those who have no resistance to reading books. I highly recommend these to those who may not reach for extremely difficult, long novels but would like to read them if they are interesting.

Let's get started.

1. Orwell, “Animal Farm”

The first book in the intermediate recommendation list is George Orwell's "Animal Farm." First, let's look at the synopsis of this book.

I first read this work about 15 years ago when I was a student, just like Orwell's masterpiece “1984”. I still haven't forgotten the shock I felt at that time.

In particular, the scene at the very end of the story where the pigs march on two legs was such a shock that I still vividly remember the surprise I felt then.

And after some time had passed and I had learned the history of the Soviet Union, I reread this book and realized how excellent it was. I cannot help but be amazed at the technique of describing and satirizing the movements of the Soviet Union from the 1917 Russian Revolution to the Lenin and Stalin regimes so well.

Reading "Animal Farm," I truly realized that one must be careful of sweet words and words that incite hatred. And I also noticed the strength of the pigs' rhetoric. Because of their eloquence, the animals on the farm, even while feeling that "something is wrong," are easily talked into it. And by the time they realize it, they are ruled by violence. Moreover, even though that has happened, they continue to be deceived by their clever tricks of disguise.

You should be careful of people who create enemies, incite hatred and dissatisfaction, and use that to advertise that they will defeat the enemy. "Animal Farm" teaches us what happens after the enemy is defeated.

"Animal Farm" is a short work of about 150 pages. The writing style is easy to read, and you can read it all at once. Despite being such an easy-to-read work, it is condensed with a surprising amount of essence.

"1984" is a major work, and it is a fact that it is difficult to read in terms of content. Many people may have given up on it. For those people, I highly recommend this "Animal Farm." Of course, reading it as a set with "1984" is best, but I guarantee that this book alone will be a shocking reading experience.

2. Aldous Huxley, “Brave New World”

While Orwell's "1984" is famous when it comes to dystopian novels, this work was actually published 17 years before that. I was first surprised that this book was written as early as 1932.

And while "1984" depicts a dark world completed through the construction of a thoroughly controlled society, there is no such darkness in Huxley's "Brave New World." The people living there are truly "happy," and there is no need for the kind of thorough surveillance seen in "1984." This is a major difference, but we readers feel fear and discomfort at this eerie "happiness" and how that happiness is created.

It is the origin of dystopian novels, and a book I would recommend not only to SF fans but to everyone. "1984" is quite painful to read, but this work is not that harsh. (Though it certainly gives you a lot to think about...)

It is a work that is easy to read even for those who have given up on "1984."

What is happiness? What is a utopia? What would happen if there were a magic drug called Soma that could make you forget your suffering? Would I actually use it? Even if I did use it, could forgetting all suffering and entering a state of ecstasy be called a life? These are just some of the countless thoughts that come to mind. "1984" is also a work that makes your brain work at full capacity, but this work makes it work in a different way.

3 Ray Bradbury "Fahrenheit 451"

We are continuing with SF, but this is another masterpiece I highly recommend.

I will say this in advance, but this book is incredible...! The first half was difficult to get into the worldview, and it was hard to read, but from the middle onwards, I was completely drawn in. From there, I read it with such intensity that I was in a state of daze the moment I finished it. The aftertaste was so strong I couldn't do anything for a while. It had been a long time since I had such an aftertaste. It was truly blank. I felt as if I had been completely possessed by this work.

What exactly is the information we consume every day? What do books bring to us? While we can easily access information due to the evolution of technology, what are the harmful effects of that?

These are clearly explained. I felt truly terrified after reading this... I shuddered at how accurately this work, published in 1955, describes the modern day. This is a warning to us living in the present. You absolutely should know about it.

The aftertaste of this work was extraordinary. It might have been a long time since I felt this blank.

However, to be honest, the first half of this work is not very interesting. It is precisely because I love this work that I dare to be harsh. It would be one thing if the SF-specific worldview was just hard to understand, but in addition to that, the story was verbose, and the dialogue didn't suit my sensibilities. This is my personal feeling, so I am sure there are many people who have a different impression. However, I think there are many people who gave up in the first half of this work. I myself thought about stopping reading it so many times...

But from the middle onwards, the story suddenly becomes interesting. Once that happens, there is no stopping it. I was surprisingly immersed in this work. If you can somehow get through the first half, the rest is terrifyingly interesting. So, please try not to give up, and even if you skim the first half, just keep going until the middle. If you do, the appeal of this book will surely be conveyed to you. Honestly, my impression changed so much that I felt like it was written by a different person.

This work is a masterpiece of SF dystopian novels, alongside "1984" and "Brave New World." Why not pick it up? Highly recommended!

4 Chekhov "Ward No. 6"

The masterpiece novella "Ward No. 6" by the Russian literary giant Chekhov. This is also amazing...!

First, there is something I want to tell you all.

That is "this work is so terrifying and so shocking."

This work might be considered one of the most outstanding, or rather, the most brutal story among Chekhov's works.

I think you can get a glimpse of it just by reading the synopsis, where the head doctor is unknowingly turned into a mental patient, fired from the hospital, and even thrown into a psychiatric ward where he meets his end, but you will understand its horror even more once you read the work. It might be scarier than watching your average horror movie.

However, this fear is not a "horror movie-style fear," but rather a fear that forces you to confront human nature and your own vanity.

Reading this work will likely raise various questions, such as: "Wait, then what am I? How am I different from this head doctor or the mental patients? What is the difference between sanity and madness? Is my only path to be used by people who live cunningly? ...Is everything meaningless in the face of violence?"

This work left a particularly strong impression on me, not just among Chekhov's works, but among all the books I have read recently. I believe this is a work that should be spread much, much more in Japan.

Chekhov is just so interesting! If I were asked, "What do you recommend in Russian literature?" I would immediately answer, "Chekhov!" I cannot help but be astonished by the magnificent human drama that unfolds within such short works. It is a work I highly recommend.

5 Karel Čapek R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)

When thinking of Czech writers, one might associate them with Franz Kafka, famous for "The Metamorphosis."

However, there was another incredible genius in the Czech Republic. That is the person I am introducing here, Karel Čapek.

If I were asked, "What is your favorite book?" and I answered, "Čapek's 'R.U.R.'!", that alone would have a huge impact. At the very least, I would think, "Oh! Who is this person!" and hold them in high regard. Like Kafka, Čapek also cuts through society with humor-filled satire.

The synopsis of "R.U.R." introduced here is as follows.

I was first surprised that a science fiction novel with the theme of robots already existed in 1920. And I was also surprised that the word "robot" itself was created by this work and spread throughout the world.

I like Kafka's works too, but honestly, I was captivated by this Čapek. "R.U.R." is a work that deserves to be known to the world much, much more. Although the genre is different, I think it is a wonderful work that is in no way inferior to "The Metamorphosis".

Wow, I've encountered a great book.

It is a work I definitely want to recommend. I don't think you will regret it at all. It is that interesting. Why not pick it up?

6 Shakespeare "Othello"

Many people might think of Shakespeare as difficult or have a stiff image of him.

However, during Shakespeare's lifetime, people from the upper class to the lower class would gather in a single theater, laughing and chatting while enjoying his plays. In other words, it was exactly the same as how we enjoy theater and comedy today. Shakespeare's works were enjoyed just as we go to see plays we like or go to see comedy shows casually.

Doesn't that make it feel more accessible when you think about it that way?

In reality, Shakespeare's works are incredibly interesting. While there might be the difficulty of remembering names unique to foreign works, the story development and psychological descriptions are top-notch. They are just so interesting!

In particular, Othello, which I introduced here, stands out for its dramatic nature and readability.

The protagonist of this work is an African general named Othello.

He showed exceptional bravery in battle and rose to that position. Furthermore, he is a general with a noble and straightforward personality who is deeply trusted by others.

The woman such a general took as his wife was Desdemona, a daughter of a noble family with a long history. Desdemona and Othello were united in a way that was almost like an elopement. Although the two should have been bound by such strong love, they are torn apart by the schemes of Iago, one of Othello's aides.

When you hear the name Iago, many people might think of the parrot character from "Aladdin." It is said that the Iago in "Othello" is the origin of that name.

This is because the Iago in this work is incredibly smooth-talking and surprisingly skilled at deceiving people. His ability to deceive others is so frightening that it makes you shudder while reading.

Although Othello is the protagonist of this work, Iago actually has more screen time and is depicted more vividly. His struggles and the brilliance of his schemes are portrayed so well that he could even be the title character.

Such villainy of Iago is also a major highlight of this work. Like the Iago in "Aladdin," he is a villain who deceives people, but for some reason, he has a strange charm that makes you unable to hate him. Please enjoy Iago's maneuvers as well.

Personally, this is one of my favorite works. You can experience a sensation as if you are peering into human madness and chaos. It is one of the most recommended works among Shakespeare's plays.

7 Haruki Murakami "Dance Dance Dance"

This book is a work that holds a lot of sentimental value for me.

I first read this work in the spring of my freshman year of college. It was assigned as a required reading for a class. It was part of an orientation-style course meant to teach us how to write reports as we prepared to start our university life.

So, I read this book, and it was my first experience with Haruki Murakami.

Thinking about it now, the professor who chose this book as a required reading was quite ruthless, making a bright-eyed freshman who had just arrived in Tokyo read this right away (laughs). This work, which exposes the dark side of the glamorous world of media and entertainment as well as the inescapable social systems, is honestly quite intense.

I was completely influenced by this work, and I continued to carry that influence with me until I was in my late twenties.

If you were to ask me whether this was a good thing or a bad thing, I would answer that it was a good thing in the end. However, it is not that simple. What was said in this book resonated so perfectly with me at the time that it ended up having a tremendous influence on my subsequent thinking.

Looking back now, I feel that this reading of Haruki Murakami was the trigger that started me on the path to becoming a true bookworm. During high school, my main focus was on entrance exam preparation, so I wasn't able to read that many books. Of course, I liked books themselves, but I think that being hit with the baptism of "Dance, Dance, Dance" during that fresh period right after entering university is what shaped my reading history. Thinking about it that way, I owe a debt of gratitude to the teacher who made this work a required reading that I can never fully repay. Encounters are mysterious, aren't they?

It is "Dance, Dance, Dance" that reminds me of my student days and my twenties. This work is a treasure to me even now.

8. W. Somerset Maugham "Then and Now"

I read this work because of a book titled "Florence: The Fate of Early Renaissance Art" by Shuji Takashina.

In this book, I learned about the political situation in Florence, which reached its peak during the Renaissance in the 15th century, and the historical background of Italy as a whole.

I was surprised to learn that the prosperity of Renaissance art was greatly influenced by Italy's unique political situation, and that Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were indeed used as tools in the political maneuvering between countries.

And it was none other than Machiavelli, famous for "The Prince," who was living in that very same era.

"The Prince" is so famous that the term Machiavellianism exists, but the book itself is quite difficult to read and is a formidable work. I had tried to read this book before, but I gave up halfway through and left it at that.

However, when I read "The Prince" again after reading "Florence: The Fate of Early Renaissance Art," it showed a completely different face! It was just so interesting! Once I understood the historical background, Machiavelli's words began to sink in easily.

Once that happened, I became incredibly curious about Cesare Borgia, who was the model for "The Prince." Since he was the person who served as the model for "The Prince," which would go on to sweep the world, he must have been an incredibly massive figure. I searched for a book because I really wanted to know more, and the result was this book, "Then and Now."

I will say this in advance: this book was incredibly interesting! It is a superb historical novel! I have found a great book!

A dense human drama woven by two geniuses, Machiavelli and Cesare Borgia! And you can also learn about the historical background of the Italy they lived in. It is a very packed work, with famous quotes reminiscent of "The Prince" appearing in the dramatic story development, and you can also get to know the human side of Machiavelli.

Italy and Europe around 1500 were truly a world of war, much like Japan's Sengoku period. For us Japanese, historical novels and Taiga dramas about the Sengoku period are heart-pounding, and this novel can be called the European version of that. There is no doubt that this is a super exciting work for those who like historical stories. It is a masterpiece that I would highly recommend.

I also introduce recommended books about Rome and Florence in the following article, so please refer to it if you are interested.

9. Fyodor Dostoevsky "The House of the Dead"

Now, the big name among big names is finally here.

When people think of Dostoevsky, many likely imagine "Crime and Punishment" or "The Brothers Karamazov," but in my personal opinion, "The House of the Dead" is the work most suitable as an entry point.

The reason is that "Crime and Punishment" strongly features Dostoevsky's unique black-magic style, and if you dive into this work suddenly, you might be taken aback. Also, as I will introduce later, "The Brothers Karamazov" is profound and has an incredible volume, so my honest opinion is that I cannot really recommend it as an entry point.

Since this work is by Dostoevsky, a monster of psychological exploration, who lived with extraordinary prisoners in the extreme situation of a Siberian prison and observed them up close, it cannot be anything but interesting.

As Tolstoy and Turgenev highly praised, the scene descriptions in this work are drawn as realistically and vividly as if you were watching a movie. It is depicted with such intensity that you feel as if you are there yourself while reading.

The story also moves quickly, and scenes shift one after another, so you cannot stop turning the pages.

Moreover, in the midst of all that, Dostoevsky performs astonishing human analysis throughout.

I feel that Dostoevsky's eye for approaching the essence of humanity is further sharpened in the extreme situation of a prison.

In that sense, this book could be called a work close to Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning."

I believe this work sinks that deeply into the depths of humanity.

When thinking of Dostoevsky, one imagines psychological descriptions that dig out the sludge deep in the heart, but in this work, rather than such internal descriptions, the style proceeds as if calmly analyzing the surrounding situation and the psychology of other prisoners through the eyes of the protagonist. In that sense, this novel can be said to be much easier to read than other Dostoevsky works. (Of course, it is Dostoevsky. The content is quite heavy and deep, so it is not straightforward.)

If asked what I recommend as an entry point to Dostoevsky's works, I would first name this one.

This work is optimal for peering into the depths of human psychology. Let me call it a formidable work! Why not pick it up?

10 Anna Dostoevskaya "Reminiscences of Dostoevsky"

When it comes to the Russian literary giant Dostoevsky, he is a great master well-known in reading circles as a final boss-like figure, with works such as "Crime and Punishment" and "The Brothers Karamazov."

I love Dostoevsky. However, to be honest, if asked whether I want to recommend Dostoevsky's works to everyone, that is not the case. His works have quite a lot of quirks, and the volume is incredibly large. Although I introduced it above, it is a recommendation with "conditions." He is that much of a troublesome existence.

But Dostoevsky as a person was a human being of tremendous scale who lived out the phrase "truth is stranger than fiction." His life itself is far more interesting than an average novel.

The person who supported Dostoevsky most closely was his wife, Anna. And this work, "Reminiscences of Dostoevsky," is what she wrote looking back on her married life with Dostoevsky.

To be precise, this work is not a novel, but it can be read like a biographical novel written in Anna's first-person perspective. Well, this is incredibly interesting! Honestly, I would recommend it overwhelmingly more than Dostoevsky's works themselves.

It was because I read this work by Anna that I came to love Dostoevsky from the bottom of my heart.

Dostoevsky, a good-for-nothing who kept making his wife cry due to his gambling addiction.

Dostoevsky, the devoted husband.

Dostoevsky, the doting father.

Dostoevsky, who overcame his gambling addiction after finding the perfect partner.

Dostoevsky, who became skilled at grinding coffee.

You will see various sides of Dostoevsky in this work.

I love the dramatic married life of Dostoevsky and his wife Anna so much that I cannot get enough of it.

And I can only think that the meeting of these two was fate. I talked about this in the article “(14) I can only think that the marriage of Dostoevsky and his wife Anna was fate—why did Anna love him and try to protect him?” as well, but their meeting was truly something that could only be called fate.

I am always moved by their struggles and recovery following that fateful meeting. I think Dostoevsky was a truly lucky man. Without a partner like Anna, his life would have been a total ruin.

Dostoevsky is a massive human being. He lived a life of an extraordinary scale that would be impossible for an average person. He was a man who could not be satisfied unless he took everything to the extreme. His life opens up the 'vastness of the world' to us.

The married life of the Dostoevskys can be said to be equivalent to a single work told on a massive scale.

I felt a great drama in this life journey. Could there be a journey more dramatic and moving than this?

I like Dostoevsky. But more than anything, I like 'Dostoevsky when he is with his wife Anna'.

My feelings grew so strong that in 2022, I traveled to Europe to visit places associated with the two of them.

I think many people might take a step back when they hear the name Dostoevsky, but don't you think you could read a top-tier story written about his life rather than his works? Honestly, it is overwhelmingly more interesting than an average novel. This is a work I would especially like those who had no interest in Dostoevsky to read. Huh? Was he this kind of person? There is no doubt you will be surprised. I highly recommend this work as a novel.

Summary of Recommended Novels <Intermediate Level>

You might feel that the level has gone up all at once compared to the <Beginner Level>, but I don't think any of these works are that difficult in terms of readability.

By reading these works, you can also learn about the historical background, thoughts, and lives of people at that time. The wonderful thing about books is that you can learn about a world completely different from the one we live in while staying right here.

If you are led to various other books through the ones introduced here, it would be my greatest joy.

10 Recommended Novels <Advanced Level>

We have introduced the [Beginner] and [Intermediate] sections of recommended novels, and now we move on to the Advanced section. From this point on, the works will be longer and require foundational knowledge, a certain level of reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills.

However, none of these works consist of extremely difficult prose like that of Kant, Hegel, or Marx. Since they are novels, it is generally not the case that they are difficult to even read. While it might be tough for a complete beginner to jump straight into these, if you were able to enjoy the books introduced in the [Intermediate] section, you will certainly be able to enjoy these as well.

Now, let's get started.

1. Cervantes "Don Quixote"

"Don Quixote" is a novel that begins in the La Mancha region of Spain.

However, even if you have heard the name "Don Quixote," it is perhaps surprisingly little known what kind of novel it actually is or what makes it so great.

Although the episode where Don Quixote charges at a windmill is famous, if you were asked the reason for that event, it would likely become even more of a mystery.

While "Don Quixote" is famous, it might actually be called a novel shrouded in mystery.

Many translations by various authors have been published to date, but I am a devoted reader of the Iwanami Bunko edition translated by Nobuaki Ushijima.

The Nobuaki Ushijima translation is, above all, easy to read. The language is modern, and we can read it without any sense of awkwardness. If you want to enjoy reading in a familiar style, I think the Iwanami Bunko edition translated by Nobuaki Ushijima is the best.

Furthermore, the illustrations inserted at key points are also wonderful.

Thanks to the illustrations, it is easier to imagine the state of Don Quixote more vividly, making it easier to get immersed in the story.

In a word, I can assert that "there are few classics as easy to read as this."

When you think of classics, you might have an image of something difficult that you have to read with a furrowed brow, but with "Don Quixote," it is the exact opposite.

I read "Don Quixote" when I want to cheer myself up or when I want to be in a bright mood.

Reading about Don Quixote, who burns with ideals and charges forward, and who keeps moving forward brightly without getting discouraged even when he faces hardships, strangely gives me strength.

During my trip around the world in 2019, I also kept "Don Quixote" on my Kindle as a companion for my travels.

And when I was robbed in Bosnia and feeling down, it was none other than "Don Quixote" that gave me strength. (For details regarding the robbery, please refer to the article "Takahiro Ueda, Robbed in Sarajevo. 'It could happen to me.' The Day I Learned the Terror of Sudden Violence - Bosnia Part 9".)

'Don Quixote is going through such a hard time. If so, isn't it natural that I would also go through a hard time! If I set out on a journey and try to challenge something, it is natural to face hardships. Rather, that is exactly what is important in the chivalry of wandering! I can still do more! I must imitate Don Quixote and continue my journey positively!' I vividly remember being encouraged by these thoughts.

That was the moment when "Don Quixote" became a decisively important book for me.

However, the reality is that if you try reading this work right away, it is quite difficult to grasp anything beyond the impression of a crazy, strange old man causing trouble wherever he goes and getting into terrible situations.

That was the case when I first read "Don Quixote" as well.

It is true that the first volume has a certain humor that makes you chuckle, but there are not many such scenes after that.

It just continues with Don Quixote causing trouble, and the people he angers beating him and his companions up.

Honestly, I remember that right after finishing it, I had no idea why this novel was called the greatest piece of literature in the world.

But that is to be expected, as the author, Cervantes, uses a technique of hiding plenty of underlying messages within what appears to be a strange and pleasant adventure.

In other words, if you cannot read the hidden messages lurking behind the novel, you end up just reading an endless chronicle of the troubled adventures of a madman named Don Quixote.

So, it is only natural that you would have no idea what is so great about this novel.

Under these circumstances, it is quite painful to read.

Therefore, I recommend reading a commentary book in advance when you read "Don Quixote".

Among them, I especially recommend the book titled "The Journey of Don Quixote: The Knight-Errant Who Defies God" by Nobuaki Ushijima, published by Chuko Shinsho. I highly recommend reading it as a set with this book. With this, you will be unstoppable. Once you understand the appeal of "Don Quixote," you will definitely be hooked. I think you will clearly understand why this book is celebrated as one of the greatest novels in the world. Please enjoy it.

2 Balzac "Old Goriot"

Now, we have finally entered French literature. You might think French literature sounds difficult, but it is okay. Please rest assured. This "Old Goriot," while the title sounds rather rugged and heavy, is actually an incredibly interesting work. It is easy to see why Somerset Maugham chose it as one of the ten greatest novels in the world.

The protagonist of this work, Rastignac, has come to the flower city of Paris to become a lawyer.

However, he feels that studying diligently there is a dead end.

How can he succeed more quickly? Such thoughts eventually begin to occupy his mind.

From here on, I will refer to "French Literature is Useful!" by French literature scholar Shigeru Kashima.

Rastignac tries to get ahead quickly. However, that means entering a world of intrigue where one must deceive and betray others. It was a path to success that even involved exploiting love.

Vautrin's words are truly diabolical. While I cannot introduce them in full due to the length of this article, he confronts him with tremendous intensity, asking, 'What is good, what is evil, and what is the reality of this world?' He presses on, saying, 'Discard virtue. Despise humanity. Look for loopholes in the law. You are going to deceive people and commit crimes anyway. The only difference is whether you shed blood or not. Even that is just a form of murder.'

And Rastignac tries desperately to resist this. What will become of him? This is the theme of 'Le Père Goriot'.

What do you think? It sounds interesting, doesn't it? Balzac exposes the dark essence of human nature and the mechanisms of society to the fullest. The words of Vautrin, the mentor of evil, are truly chilling. What is a human being? This is a masterpiece among masterpieces that I highly recommend to those who want to know the depths of human psychology.

You can enjoy it even more by reading it alongside the French culture commentary books by French literature scholar Shigeru Kashima. I have compiled those books in the following article, so please refer to it as well.

3 Victor Hugo 'Les Misérables'

This work is a well-known masterpiece published by Victor Hugo in 1862.

Based on this novel, there have been numerous stage and film adaptations, and perhaps those are more memorable for some.

By the way, I am a huge fan of the musical. I cry every time I watch it, and I still listen to the soundtrack often.

There is salvation in this story. It makes you feel energized when you read it.

It is true that this work, as the title 'Les Misérables' suggests, depicts many 'miserable people.' Fantine is the prime example.

However, in this world that produces such miserable people, there are those like Jean Valjean who continue to fight. There are noble and kind people like Bishop Myriel. And their power of goodness is passed on to the next generation.

This work depicts such sublime power of goodness and ideals that humans possess.

'Les Misérables' is quite long, and the original work is rarely read, but fundamentally it is not difficult reading; the distinction between good and evil is extremely clear, and the story itself is exceptionally interesting.

Moreover, it is not just 'too interesting.' This work is packed with everything Hugo had. In other words, it is an incredibly profound work. As I learned more about this piece, I could only be astonished by its depth.

The original work is excellent, and the musical is excellent. It is a work you cannot go wrong with. Even if you find reading the original difficult, please try watching the musical film first. It is the quintessential classic! You will undoubtedly be captivated by the overwhelming music, singing, and story development.

On this blog, I also update commentary articles on Les Mis, so if you are interested, please take a look at those as well.

4 Émile Zola 'Les Rougon-Macquart'

Simply put, the "Les Rougon-Macquart" series is a collection of works that can be described as Émile Zola's social observation series set during the French Second Empire (1852-1870). The Paris Exposition that Eiichi Shibusawa visited in the 2021 Taiga drama "Seiten wo Tsuke" corresponds exactly to this era. The Parisian culture he witnessed would later be brought to Japan, connecting to us who live in the present.

It was during this era that the department store, which is a common existence today, was born, and it was also during this time that a commercial style was established that intentionally stimulates desire and creates people's feelings of "wanting" things. (For details, see the article "Department stores started here! The French Second Empire and Le Bon Marché")

The Second Empire is a very important era directly linked to our lives. The origins of our modern lifestyle are right here.

And to understand the historical background and human psychology of that time, Zola's "Les Rougon-Macquart" series is an unparalleled historical tapestry.

Zola's works are by no means just depictions of a past era. He tried to approach the essence of humanity. The people he depicts are no different from us living today.

Zola's works are the best textbook for understanding how the world works.

How is this society structured? Why do humans fight? Why can't humans resist desire? What tricks do people who successfully exploit the desires of others use? Zola teaches us so many things that it would be endless if I tried to list them all.

Zola shows us the harsh reality of the world. In his works, the muddy, dark emotions and worldly desires of humans, stripped of any pretense, fly about as much as they possibly can.

It is as if he is saying, "To know the world, you must also eat poison. How can you navigate the world if you live in a sterile room?"

The culmination of Zola's work is the "Les Rougon-Macquart" series, which includes Zola's masterpieces "L'Assommoir" and "Nana". And while each work is connected, they can also be read as standalone pieces. The first Zola work I read was "L'Assommoir," and it was so interesting! I was truly shocked by how interesting it was. (For that shock, see the article "Zola's series 'L'Assommoir' and 'Nana' are too interesting! The French literary master Zola is recommended for social studies!")

As this is a "10 Recommended Novels" list, the rule is usually to list one work, but I have included the Les Rougon-Macquart series here because I love the work as a whole. Everything in it is incredibly interesting, but I have picked out my recommended works below. Please refer to these as well.

5 Thomas Mann "The Magic Mountain"

This novel is a very important work for me. If I were to choose my "top ten novels," "The Magic Mountain" would definitely occupy a large place among them. That is how powerful and intensely impactful this work is. It is a work of such grand scale!

I first read this book after I became a graduate student. I was looking to read a profound novel written about life's problems, and this was the work I happened to encounter. As for Thomas Mann, I had already read "Death in Venice" when I was a student, and his name had come up in connection with Goethe, so he was someone I was already interested in.

Well, anyway, it's huge! The scale of this novel is extraordinary. The setting of the novel itself is the "Magic Mountain," a closed space, but it is precisely because it is an otherworldly realm that blows away our daily lives that we experience the magic that exists in this book.

And the passage that left the deepest impression on me in this novel is the following:

"What is life? No one knew. No one knew the natural point of origin from which life springs and burns."

"Compared to the distance between the simplest form of life and a natural object that is not even worth calling dead because it is inorganic, the distance between a vertebrate and an amoeba with pseudopods was not even an issue."

What is the difference between living and non-living things? What is life...

I still cannot forget the shock I felt when I read this passage. If you read this passage alone, it might seem like a trivial question. It is surely a question that everyone has asked themselves at least once. However, after placing yourself in the strange world of "The Magic Mountain" and walking this far with Hans Castorp, this question appears before us with an unbelievable weight.

I could not help but ask myself. What is the difference between me and a pebble? What is that ultimate step that separates a pebble from a living thing? Assuming it is life, then what is life? What is the difference between the dead and the living...

Thinking about it this way, questions link together infinitely, and fundamental problems that we would almost never look at in our daily lives emerge. I truly felt at that moment that this is what it means to read a great novel slowly and carefully. Even the same passage, when told within a grand story, carries an overwhelming weight. You will understand if you read it. I hope you will read this novel and experience it for yourself.

Nearly ten years have passed since I first read this novel, but the impact of this book still remains intense.

This is also a work I would definitely like to recommend to students. I think it is a very valuable experience to meet the intense characters of "The Magic Mountain" together with the protagonist, Hans Castorp, during the sensitive period of being a student. You can meet people even by reading books. The good thing about books is that you can meet people across time and space while staying right here. Please try to face characters of such incredible scale as Mr. Settembrini and Peeperkorn. You will definitely be blown away. It is a masterpiece I highly recommend.

6 Orwell "1984"

"1984" is the pinnacle of dystopian novels, as everyone knows.

I first read this work about ten years ago when I was a student. I was only in my early twenties and didn't know much about the world, but I remember being strongly impressed by the horror of this book.

I reread "1984" for the first time in a while, but this time I felt a completely different kind of terror than before.

This is because I have recently been learning about the history of the Soviet Union, the Nazis, and the German-Soviet War, and I felt the horror of totalitarianism more than ever.

(※ Please refer to the following category pages where I have compiled articles)
・"History of the Soviet Union in the Lenin-Stalin Era"
・"The German-Soviet War: The War of Annihilation between the Soviet Union and the Nazis"
・"Stalin and Hitler's Massacres and the Holocaust"
・"Learning from the History, Thought, and Literature of the Cold War World"
・"Modern Russia and the Russia-Ukraine War"
・"Learning from the Tragedies of the Bosnian War and the Rwandan Genocide: International Conflicts after the Cold War"
・"Is Marx a Religious Phenomenon?"

This work was not written simply by imagining a future dystopia. It depicts what was actually happening under totalitarianism in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.

But let's think about it carefully. Is this work a vision of the future for us, or a vision of the past?

I felt that this work could also be a reflection of our present.

That is something I also felt strongly when I was learning about the history of the Soviet Union.

How to guide the spirit of the people and make them act in ways convenient for those in power. Totalitarian regimes try to control this using every possible means.

It infiltrates us gradually, at a level that we cannot notice unless we are careful and observant.

Even in the world of "1984," Big Brother did not have total control from the very beginning. However, before they knew it, the citizens began to pledge loyalty to Big Brother of their own volition and started monitoring each other. Once it reaches that point, if an individual has doubts, they are easily captured like Winston, and are either vaporized or reformed.

1984 is a work that questions the "present" in any era.

In the "present," what kind of world are we living in?

It is a work that forces us to confront that question intensely. It is a masterpiece that can be called essential reading for any book lover.

7 William Golding Lord of the Flies

Now, the Lord of the Flies introduced here is another truly staggering work.

I cannot forget the shock I felt when I first read this book.

At first, the children were supposed to be living happily on their own, but before we knew it, that began to collapse. Watching the process of rational and kind children succumbing to barbaric and violent forces is extremely painful to read. It is truly a traumatic book.

Whether they are children or not, humans are humans. Humans have a beast living within them. There is no distinction between adults and children in that regard. Anyone can become a beast. This is what this work forces us to confront.

Why was I so shocked by this work? It is because the world it depicts is all too familiar.

It is not a distant world like the sci-fi setting of 1984. I feel as if it is reflecting the very world we live in today.

I am sure you have all seen in your childhood how the strong formed groups and dominated their society (the classroom). Some of you may have actually been victims of such "strong ones." Or perhaps the opposite...

This work reminds us not only of those childhood memories but also of things that make us shudder even now as adults.

Honestly, I do not know how else to convey this.

It is just that this work is too familiar... it is too intense.

Reading it truly makes my stomach churn. I feel genuine anger, wondering why kind children have to be tormented so much by violent ones. I will be clear: this book is painful to read. It is not a work to be enjoyed with a smile.

However, there is no doubt that it is a work that provides an unparalleled impact when considering the essence of humanity.

Humans can become anything. Both rational and beastly.

Why did the children, who were supposed to be friends at first, end up committing murder? This work exposes that mechanism with the utmost precision.

Honestly, I have so many thoughts about this work that I no longer know what to write.

Golding's allegory is so effective that I no longer know where or what to talk about. I am in a state of panic.

That is how intense this work is.

I truly hope you will read this work and experience that shock for yourself. It is a highly recommended work.

7 Goethe "Faust"

Goethe's "Faust" is a masterpiece of world literature that goes without saying.

However, I suspect that the number of people who have actually read it is quite small. I think this phenomenon is similar to other classics like "Don Quixote" or "Les Misérables".

"Faust" is famous, but rarely read.

And what makes this work tricky is that it is simply difficult to understand. It has a different atmosphere from "Don Quixote," which you can read through smoothly once you start.

I myself have been tormented by "Faust" many times.

I first read this work when I was a university student. At that time, although I read it, I didn't understand it at all; I just finished it. I tried again when I was a graduate student, but even then, I couldn't understand what was interesting about it at all.

"Faust" is certainly difficult. But that is not just because it is abstruse, but because "how one should read it" and "the background in which this work was written" are difficult for us living in the modern age to understand. Therefore, once you understand these, you can enjoy it immensely.

If you think about it, when "Faust" was published, people at the time were truly captivated by it. This is not because people at the time were overwhelmingly smarter than they are now, but because this work contained content that resonated with the hearts of people in that era. (Of course, there is no doubt that its perfection as literature and its artistic sublimity are also among the best in the world.)

Until now, "Faust" was at the top of my list of works I disliked.

But now, it has become one of my favorite works. I don't think I will ever forget the joy of the moment I felt this book was "interesting!" I was that happy.

To be able to understand something that you couldn't understand no matter how many times you faced it. To be able to find it interesting.

I think this pleasure is one of the greatest joys of reading.

In the following article, I will talk about how I came to be able to enjoy reading "Faust." It is, so to speak, tips for reading "Faust." It is an article I highly recommend.

9 Tolstoy "War and Peace"

Now, it is finally time for the appearance of the great master Tolstoy, who could be called the final boss of the literary world.

The king of kings in the world of epic novels, "War and Peace." It is truly a masterpiece worthy of the name "Advanced Level."

"War and Peace" is a work of immense scale.

You should read this work as early as possible while you are young. It is a work that should especially be read while you are a student.

First of all, it takes too much time to read. If you wait until you are a working adult, it will require an incredible amount of resolve.

Furthermore, it is better to receive a solid lecture from the great master Tolstoy while you are young and your mind is flexible.

In this work, countless lessons appear, such as "What is life? How should one live as a human being?"

It is definitely better to hear this as early as possible, rather than after you have aged and your personality has become somewhat set, as it will lead to better things later on. You are free to nod along with or rebel against the great master Tolstoy's lectures. Either is fine. However, I believe that the experience of being hit with stories and life lessons told on such an overwhelming scale is something irreplaceable.

I read "War and Peace" for the first time at the age of 31. I felt that it would have been nice to read it when I was a student, but I also think that the timing now, after having researched Dostoevsky and learned about various literature and history, was not bad either.

By the way, although I was overwhelmed by the great master Tolstoy's lectures, I am one of those who felt a sense of rebellion. I feel that this is likely to happen if you have Dostoevsky-like thinking.

If Dostoevsky writes stories where a few people gather in a small, dark room and repeat strange exchanges of words, Tolstoy's image is of the vast world of Russia and the Caucasus, or the gorgeous grand halls of the nobility.

If Dostoevsky feels like diving deep, deep into the abyss of the human inner self, Tolstoy feels like a spatial expansion that spreads high into the sky and far into the distance.

Dostoevsky diving deep, deep down, and Tolstoy trying to grasp the world high and wide.

It was the work "War and Peace" where I could feel the difference between the two so strongly.

It is not a work that I can recommend to everyone, but there is no doubt that it is a tremendous work. It has an overwhelming scale that you will never forget once you read it. If you want to feel the giant Tolstoy, this is the work.

10 Dostoevsky "The Brothers Karamazov"

"The Brothers Karamazov" is the final work of his life, written in Dostoevsky's later years.

In this work, Dostoevsky depicts the fundamental problem of "God and Man" that he held onto throughout his life.

Now, a major climax in this novel is the "Grand Inquisitor" chapter.

I personally first read this book in the winter when I was 20 years old. I don't know how much I was able to grasp at the time, being an immature person with shallow knowledge of religion.

However, this chapter, 'The Grand Inquisitor,' dealt me a tremendous shock.

It was the first time I had ever seen such scathing words attacking religion. Moreover, the person uttering those words was the Grand Inquisitor, a high-ranking Catholic prelate, and, of all people, the person he was addressing was Jesus Christ.

The Grand Inquisitor is the official responsible for burning heretics at the stake. And yet, he is the one attacking Christ. What a paradox that is!

However, this Grand Inquisitor was not a critic of Christ to the core. No, rather, he was once a fervent admirer of Christ. He lived for Christ and had sought and practiced the free faith that Christ preached with great passion.

But in the end, he sided with the Catholic Church. He, too, had his own unbearable suffering and inner conflict.

I am left in awe by the descriptions of this aspect as well.

Although I did not know it at the time, Dostoevsky himself was a devout believer in the Russian Orthodox Church. It was precisely because Dostoevsky sought faith so fervently that he pursued and debated the problems of faith to their absolute limits. While this 'Grand Inquisitor' chapter appears intensely atheistic on the surface, it is actually because this chapter exists that the subsequent developments are made possible.

Now, I have spoken at length about 'The Grand Inquisitor,' but at the time, I was struggling with questions like 'What is religion?' and 'What is the difference between Aum and me?' when Dostoevsky's lightning struck me.

I had come to know. There was no turning back.

I could no longer live my life ignoring the problems raised in this 'Grand Inquisitor' chapter.

It was the moment a clear path was forged for me, as I had previously been vaguely troubled by questions of 'What is religion?' and 'What is the difference between Aum and me?'

Will I be able to overcome this problem?

Is religion truly what the Grand Inquisitor says it is?

This became the starting point of my study of religion. There is a major reason why I have continued to update books on world literature and history under the theme of 'Shinran and Dostoevsky' on this blog. I discuss this in more detail in the summary article below, so please refer to it.

The Brothers Karamazov is not just dark and heavy.

Moreover, while it has a strong reputation for being 'difficult,' when you actually read it, you don't encounter such difficult expressions. You might even say the language itself is easy to read.

Admittedly, the first half of the first volume requires patience. To be honest, the first half is like a prologue, or rather, content that serves as preparation for the excitement that begins in the middle. (Once you get used to it, this part becomes incredibly interesting. In fact, I have recently come to find charm here as well, as this is where Dostoevsky's skillful novelistic techniques are poured in.)

Perhaps this is where the majority of people give up.

But if you persevere through this, the engine starts to run at full speed from the second half of the first volume.

If you have patiently read this far, you will find yourself swept away by the momentum of Dostoevsky's writing, as if the energy you have been building up is suddenly exploding.

That momentum does not stop even as you enter the middle and final volumes. I guarantee you will be so immersed that you won't be able to escape. That is how incredible this work is.

Once you break through the first half of the first volume, the rest is like a raging torrent.

This work is by no means difficult. It is not difficult, but deep. (If you would like to know more about this work, please refer to the article 'Why is The Brothers Karamazov Difficult? What Themes Was It Written With and What Was the Background? - What Dostoevsky Wanted to Convey in This Novel'.)

There is a reason why 'The Brothers Karamazov' has continued to be loved by so many people for 120 years since its publication.

I believe it continues to be read precisely because of the charm this story itself possesses and because it has something that appeals to the reader.

For me, this work is in a class of its own. There is no doubt that this is the book that has had the greatest influence on me.

It is a formidable work that is long and requires some basic knowledge, but why not try tasting this 'world-class novel'?

Conclusion

We have introduced 25 works so far, from beginner to advanced levels.

Every one of them is a work I love and one I highly recommend.

On this blog, I have introduced many books so far. Every one of them is a work I can recommend with confidence.

The 25 books introduced this time are the elite among the elite. There are actually many more works I would like to introduce, but I had to leave them out with tears in my eyes. Naturally, some works were excluded because they were too niche or not for everyone. However, there are works that resonate precisely because they are niche, aren't there? I introduce many such works on this blog as well, so I hope you will take a look around the site.

I would be more than happy if this has been helpful for your reading.

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