The Novice: A Story of True Love
Format: kindle
ASIN: B004PYDNIS
A very short read via Scribd at about 100 pages. The first 70 or so are the story, the last 30 about the history of the story and its influence in Vietnam, Buddhism, and the author who is a Buddhist teacher and his experiences. You could skip the ending if you're not particularly interested in Buddh...
This is a retelling of an old Vietnamese folk tale by [a:Thich Nhat Hanh|9074|Thich Nhat Hanh|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1231009210p2/9074.jpg]. It should definitely be read as a Buddhist lesson, rather than as literature. If you read it as literature, it will be disappointing, but as an example...
Abiding works of spiritual fiction are relatively rare. This one is destined, I think, to take its place alongside The Death of Ivan Ilych, The Diary of a Country Priest, and The Little Prince. http://goo.gl/GYDOd