A concise guide for all your readings
November 19, 2024
“The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini is a powerful and emotionally charged novel that follows the journey of Amir, a young boy from Kabul, Afghanistan, as he grapples with guilt, redemption, and the complexities of friendship and family. Set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history, the story explores themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the
READ MORE“Chronicle of a Death Foretold” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a captivating novella that explores the themes of honor, fate, and the power of social norms in a small Colombian town. Set in the fictional village of Sucre, the story revolves around the murder of Santiago Nasar and the events leading up to his untimely
READ MORE“Madame Bovary” by Gustave Flaubert is a classic novel that follows the tragic life of Emma Bovary, a young woman living in rural France in the mid-19th century. The novel explores themes of passion, longing, and the destructive consequences of pursuing unattainable dreams. Emma, a romantic and idealistic young woman, is unsatisfied with her mundane
READ MORE“Animal Farm” by George Orwell is a satirical allegory that tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, Mr. Jones, in an attempt to create an egalitarian society. However, their idealistic vision of a utopia soon turns into a dictatorship, as the pigs, led by Napoleon, seize control
READ MORE“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker is an epistolary novel that tells the powerful and poignant story of Celie, an African-American woman living in rural Georgia in the early 20th century. Through a series of letters, Celie chronicles her life, struggles, and ultimate triumph over adversity, as she finds her voice and reclaims her identity.
READ MORE“The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a powerful novel set in 17th-century Puritan New England. The story follows Hester Prynne, a young woman who is branded with the scarlet letter “A” after committing adultery and conceiving a child out of wedlock. The novel explores themes of sin, guilt, redemption, and the hypocrisy of society.
READ MORE“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston is a novel that tells the story of Janie Crawford, an African-American woman living in the early 20th century. The narrative traces Janie’s journey through three marriages as she seeks to find her own identity, love, and fulfillment in a society defined by racial and gender
READ MORE“Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a psychological novel that delves into the depths of the human psyche, morality, and the consequences of one’s actions. The story follows Rodion Raskolnikov, a destitute ex-student in St. Petersburg, as he commits a heinous crime and grapples with the psychological and moral repercussions that follow. The novel
READ MORE“King Lear” by William Shakespeare is a tragic play that explores themes of power, madness, betrayal, and the consequences of human folly. The story follows the aging King Lear as he makes the fateful decision to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, leading to a series of tragic events that ultimately result in his
READ MORE“The Death of Ivan Ilyich” by Leo Tolstoy is a philosophical novella that explores the themes of mortality, the search for meaning in life, and the fear of death. The story follows the life and ultimate demise of Ivan Ilyich, a high-ranking government official in 19th-century Russia. The novella begins with the news of Ivan
READ MORE“Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck is a classic novella set during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The story revolves around two drifters, George Milton and Lennie Small, as they navigate a harsh and unforgiving world in search of a place to call their own and a sense of belonging. The novella begins
READ MORE“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is a memoir written by Maya Angelou that recounts her early years growing up in racially segregated America. The book provides a powerful and poignant exploration of Angelou’s experiences as she navigates her way through a difficult childhood, finding her voice and ultimately triumphing over adversity. The memoir
READ MORE“Medea” by Euripides is a tragic play that explores the depths of human passion, revenge, and the consequences of unchecked fury. The play centers around the protagonist, Medea, a woman of great intellect and cunning, whose actions and decisions drive the dramatic events that unfold. The play opens with Medea, a foreigner and former princess,
READ MORE“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë is a timeless classic that tells the story of its eponymous protagonist, Jane Eyre, as she navigates her challenging and unconventional life in nineteenth-century England. The novel explores themes of love, independence, social class, and the quest for self-identity. The story begins with Jane as a young orphan living with
READ MORE“Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller is a renowned American tragedy that delves into the life of Willy Loman, a traveling salesman in his sixties who is struggling with his fading career and deteriorating mental state. The play explores themes of the American Dream, identity, and the corrosive effects of capitalism. The play opens
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