A concise guide for all your readings
November 19, 2024
Memory is a significant and recurring theme in Kazuo Ishiguro’s “An Artist of the Floating World.” Through the perspective of the protagonist, Masuji Ono, the novel explores the intricacies of memory, its fallibility, and its role in shaping personal identity and understanding one’s past. Throughout the narrative, Ono grapples with the unreliability and selective nature
READ MOREIn Kazuo Ishiguro’s “An Artist of the Floating World,” the portrayal of art is a central theme that runs throughout the novel. Through the protagonist, Masuji Ono, Ishiguro explores the power and limitations of art, the changing role of the artist in society, and the complexities of artistic expression. Ono is a traditional Japanese artist
READ MOREPersonal responsibility is a central theme in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, “An Artist of the Floating World.” Through the protagonist, Masuji Ono, Ishiguro explores the concept of personal accountability and the consequences of one’s actions. Ono’s journey serves as a poignant examination of the weight of guilt, the complexities of reconciling past choices, and the transformative
READ MORE“By then Esthappen and Rahel had learned that the world had other ways of breaking men. They were already familiar with the smell. Sicksweet. Like old roses on a breeze.”
― Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things
“A Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley is a dystopian novel set in a future society where technology and scientific advancements have created a seemingly perfect world. However, beneath the surface, the novel explores the themes of individuality, freedom, and the price of societal conformity. The story is set in the year AF 632 (After
READ MORE“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison is a powerful and haunting novel that explores themes of race, beauty, identity, and the devastating effects of societal expectations. Set in Lorain, Ohio in the 1940s, the story follows the life of Pecola Breedlove, a young African-American girl who longs for blue eyes in the belief that they
READ MORE“Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a captivating novel that explores themes of race, identity, love, and the immigrant experience. The story follows Ifemelu, a young Nigerian woman who leaves her home country to pursue her education in the United States. The narrative opens with Ifemelu living in America and working as a successful blogger,
READ MORE“Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a captivating novel that explores the themes of family, freedom, and the clash of tradition and modernity in post-colonial Nigeria. The story follows Kambili, a young girl growing up in a wealthy and devoutly Catholic family led by her oppressive father, Eugene. The narrative opens with Kambili and
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“Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë is a haunting and tumultuous novel that delves into the passionate and destructive love story between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. Set in the desolate moorlands of Yorkshire in the late 18th century, the narrative explores themes of love, revenge, social class, and the power of nature. The story begins with
READ MORE“Survival in Auschwitz,” also known as “If This Is a Man,” is a gripping and harrowing memoir by Primo Levi, an Italian Jewish chemist who was imprisoned in the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. The book provides a firsthand account of the brutal conditions, dehumanization, and daily struggle for survival in one of
READ MORE“As I Lay Dying” by William Faulkner is a complex and thought-provoking novel that delves into the lives of the Bundren family as they embark on a harrowing journey to fulfill their deceased matriarch’s dying wish. Set in the rural South during the early 20th century, the story explores themes of death, grief, family dysfunction,
READ MORE“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare is a delightful comedy that takes place in ancient Athens and the enchanted forest. The play explores themes of love, magic, and the whimsical nature of human desire. With multiple intertwining storylines, the narrative follows the romantic escapades and misadventures of four young lovers, a group of amateur
READ MORE“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien is a collection of interconnected stories that explore the experiences of soldiers during the Vietnam War. Through a series of vivid and emotionally charged vignettes, O’Brien delves into the physical and emotional burdens carried by the soldiers and the profound impact of war on their lives. The book
READ MORE“The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro is a poignant and introspective novel that explores themes of duty, self-repression, and the passage of time. Set in post-World War II England, the story follows Stevens, an aging butler who reflects on his life and grapples with the choices he has made. The narrative unfolds through
READ MORE“The Crucible” serves as an allegory for McCarthyism and the Red Scare of the 1950s, when Miller wrote the play. He draws parallels between the witch trials and the persecution of suspected communists during that era, highlighting the dangers of paranoia, fear-mongering, and the erosion of civil liberties.
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