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Literature

Explore books in the Literature category

144 books in this category

The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest Hemingway

A novella about an aging fisherman's epic battle with a giant marlin, symbolizing perseverance and personal triumph.

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The Oxford Shakespeare

The Oxford Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

A complete collection of Shakespeare’s plays, with analysis and commentary on language, themes, and cultural impact.

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A Gentleman in Moscow

A Gentleman in Moscow

Amor Towles

A novel about a Russian count sentenced to house arrest, exploring themes of resilience and adaptability.

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Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon

Toni Morrison

A novel exploring African American identity, history, and family, with deep cultural and emotional themes.

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An American Marriage

An American Marriage

Tayari Jones

A novel exploring love, race, and social injustice, focusing on a marriage disrupted by wrongful incarceration.

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The Iliad

The Iliad

Homer

An ancient Greek epic poem about the Trojan War, exploring themes of honor, heroism, and fate.

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The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini

A novel about friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history.

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Station Eleven

Station Eleven

Emily St. John Mandel

A post-apocalyptic novel that follows the lives of survivors after a global pandemic, exploring themes of art, resilience, and humanity.

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Anonymous

An ancient Mesopotamian epic poem following the adventures of Gilgamesh, exploring themes of friendship, mortality, and heroism.

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Americanah

Americanah

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A novel about a Nigerian woman’s experiences with race, identity, and love in America and Nigeria.

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The Moviegoer

The Moviegoer

Walker Percy

A novel about a man searching for meaning in his life, exploring themes of alienation, identity, and self-discovery.

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The Swerve

The Swerve

Stephen Greenblatt

Chronicles the rediscovery of Lucretius’s *On the Nature of Things*, and its impact on modern thought and the Renaissance.

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The Overstory

The Overstory

Richard Powers

A novel exploring the interwoven lives of people connected by their experiences with trees, highlighting ecological themes.

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The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried

Tim O'Brien

A novel about a platoon of American soldiers in the Vietnam War, blending fiction and memoir to explore trauma and memory.

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As I Lay Dying

As I Lay Dying

William Faulkner

A Southern Gothic novel about a family’s journey to bury their matriarch, exploring themes of family, identity, and mortality.

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What Makes Sammy Run?

What Makes Sammy Run?

Budd Schulberg

A novel about a ruthless screenwriter in Hollywood, critiquing ambition, greed, and the American Dream.

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In Search of Lost Time

In Search of Lost Time

Marcel Proust

A multi-volume novel exploring memory, time, and identity, often considered one of the greatest works of modern literature.

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A Fine Balance

A Fine Balance

Rohinton Mistry

A novel set in India during the Emergency period, exploring the lives of four people brought together by adversity.

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Kafka on the Shore

Kafka on the Shore

Haruki Murakami

A surreal novel blending parallel narratives, exploring themes of memory, fate, and the unconscious.

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Leaves of Grass

Leaves of Grass

Walt Whitman

A collection of poetry celebrating individuality, nature, and the human spirit.

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How to Read a Book

How to Read a Book

Mortimer J. Adler

A guide to reading comprehension, offering techniques for understanding and analyzing books effectively.

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All the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr

A novel set during WWII following a blind French girl and a German soldier, highlighting resilience and fate.

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Great Expectations

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

A coming-of-age novel about an orphan named Pip, exploring themes of wealth, love, and identity.

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A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini

A novel about the struggles of two Afghan women over decades, highlighting resilience and the impact of war.

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The Hero with a Thousand Faces

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

Joseph Campbell

Analyzes the universal hero myth, showing recurring themes in mythology and storytelling across cultures.

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In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood

Truman Capote

A true crime novel about the brutal murder of a family in Kansas, blending reportage with novelistic storytelling.

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The Corrections

The Corrections

Jonathan Franzen

A novel about a dysfunctional Midwestern family, exploring themes of ambition, regret, and family dynamics.

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The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Michael Chabon

A novel about two Jewish cousins in the comic book industry during WWII, blending history, love, and adventure.

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Lincoln in the Bardo

Lincoln in the Bardo

George Saunders

A novel set in the afterlife, exploring grief and redemption as Abraham Lincoln mourns his young son.

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The Opposing Shore

The Opposing Shore

Julien Gracq

A philosophical novel set in an imaginary land, exploring themes of isolation, waiting, and existentialism.

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Bel Canto

Bel Canto

Ann Patchett

A novel about a hostage crisis at a diplomatic party, exploring themes of love, beauty, and human connection.

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A Suitable Boy

A Suitable Boy

Vikram Seth

A novel set in post-independence India, following the lives of four families and exploring themes of love, politics, and society.

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The Sheltering Sky

The Sheltering Sky

Paul Bowles

A novel about an American couple traveling in North Africa, exploring themes of existentialism and alienation.

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The Book of Laughter and Forgetting

The Book of Laughter and Forgetting

Milan Kundera

A novel blending politics, memory, and humor, set in Communist-era Czechoslovakia.

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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Betty Smith

A coming-of-age novel about a young girl growing up in poverty in early 20th-century Brooklyn.

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Under the Volcano

Under the Volcano

Malcolm Lowry

A novel set in Mexico about an alcoholic British consul, exploring themes of despair, love, and self-destruction.

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Beautiful Ruins

Beautiful Ruins

Jess Walter

A novel that spans decades and continents, following characters connected by love, fame, and fate.

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A Prayer for Owen Meany

A Prayer for Owen Meany

John Irving

A novel about faith, destiny, and friendship, following the life of a unique and unforgettable character, Owen Meany.

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The Dutch House

The Dutch House

Ann Patchett

A novel about siblings grappling with their past, exploring themes of family, forgiveness, and home.

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Life

Life

Georges Perec

An experimental novel that captures the essence of daily life through interconnected stories and vignettes.

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Sometimes a Great Notion

Sometimes a Great Notion

Ken Kesey

A novel about a family’s struggle in logging town Oregon, exploring themes of independence and resilience.

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The Transit of Venus

The Transit of Venus

Shirley Hazzard

A novel about love, loss, and destiny, following the lives of two sisters and their relationships.

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Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

A classic novel about friendship and hardship during the Great Depression, following two displaced workers.

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Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost

John Milton

An epic poem about the biblical story of the Fall of Man, exploring themes of free will and redemption.

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Essays

Essays

Plutarch

A collection of Plutarch's essays, covering topics related to ethics, politics, and human nature.

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Either/Or

Either/Or

S√∏ren Kierkegaard

A philosophical work examining two different views of life: one based on aesthetics and pleasure, the other on ethics and duty.

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Sixteen Satires

Sixteen Satires

Juvenal

A collection of satirical poems critiquing Roman society, touching on themes of corruption, greed, and hypocrisy.

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The Red and the Black

The Red and the Black

Stendhal

A novel about a young man’s ambition and romantic entanglements in post-Napoleonic France, exploring themes of social mobility.

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Evenings and Avenues

Evenings and Avenues

Stuart Dischell

A poetry collection exploring themes of urban life, relationships, and existential reflection.

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The Book of Disquiet

The Book of Disquiet

Fernando Pessoa

A fragmented collection of introspective reflections, capturing themes of solitude, existential angst, and introspection.

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Dig Safe

Dig Safe

Stuart Dischell

A poetry collection by Stuart Dischell, exploring themes of life, memory, and the search for meaning.

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The Joy Luck Club

The Joy Luck Club

Amy Tan

A novel about Chinese-American immigrant families, exploring themes of identity, generational conflict, and cultural heritage.

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A Death in the Family

A Death in the Family

James Agee

A semi-autobiographical novel about a family’s grief and struggles after the sudden death of the father.

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Feel Free

Feel Free

Zadie Smith

A collection of essays on a range of topics including art, politics, and personal experiences.

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Backwards Days

Backwards Days

Stuart Dischell

A poetry collection that captures the nuances of human relationships, emotions, and self-reflection.

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Alien vs. Predator

Alien vs. Predator

Michael Robbins

A poetry collection that blends pop culture references with humor and social commentary.

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A Tale for the Time Being

A Tale for the Time Being

Ruth Ozeki

A novel that intertwines the lives of a Japanese teenager and a writer in the Pacific Northwest, exploring themes of time, identity, and loss.

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The Signature of All Things

The Signature of All Things

Elizabeth Gilbert

A historical novel following a female botanist in the 19th century, exploring themes of science, adventure, and self-discovery.

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Life of Pi

Life of Pi

Yann Martel

A novel about a young boy stranded on a lifeboat with a tiger, blending themes of survival, faith, and adventure.

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The Western Canon

The Western Canon

Harold Bloom

A defense of classic literature, exploring works Bloom considers essential to Western culture.

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The Great Code

The Great Code

Northrop Frye

Analyzes the Bible as literature, examining its influence on Western culture and storytelling.

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A Collection of Essays

A Collection of Essays

George Orwell

A compilation of Orwell’s essays, covering topics from politics to literature and social commentary.

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The Diary of Anais Nin

The Diary of Anais Nin

Anais Nin

A personal diary capturing Nin’s thoughts, emotions, and reflections on relationships and her artistic life.

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Words with Power

Words with Power

Northrop Frye

Examines the symbolic power of language and literature, focusing on myth, poetry, and biblical texts.

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Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson

A collection of Samuel Johnson's essays and writings, showcasing his reflections on literature, society, and human nature.

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The Complete Greek Tragedies

The Complete Greek Tragedies

David Grene

A collection of ancient Greek tragedies, including works by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, translated into English.

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The Stone Angel

The Stone Angel

Margaret Laurence

A novel about a strong-willed elderly woman reflecting on her life, dealing with themes of family, memory, and independence.

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Children with Enemies

Children with Enemies

Stuart Dischell

A poetry collection exploring themes of conflict, humanity, and personal reflection.

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Mind-Body Problem

Mind-Body Problem

Rebecca Goldstein

A novel exploring the philosophical dilemma of the mind-body problem through the life of a female philosopher.

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A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms

Ernest Hemingway

A classic novel about love and loss set against the backdrop of World War I.

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The Mental Life of Modernism

The Mental Life of Modernism

Samuel Jay Keyser

Examines the cognitive and linguistic influences on modernist literature, focusing on how modernist writers depicted consciousness.

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Selected Epigrams

Selected Epigrams

Martial

A collection of witty, often satirical poems by the Roman poet Martial, reflecting on Roman society.

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Carried Away

Carried Away

Alice Munro

A collection of short stories by Alice Munro, exploring themes of love, loss, and self-discovery in everyday life.

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A Million Little Pieces

A Million Little Pieces

James Frey

A controversial memoir about addiction and recovery, later revealed to contain fictional elements.

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The Lowland

The Lowland

Jhumpa Lahiri

A novel about two brothers from India, dealing with themes of family, politics, and cultural identity.

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The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye

Toni Morrison

A novel about a young African American girl facing racism and identity issues, examining the impact of societal beauty standards.

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Plato at the Googleplex

Plato at the Googleplex

Rebecca Goldstein

Imagines Plato in modern-day scenarios to explore philosophical questions, blending ancient and contemporary thought.

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Love in the Time of Cholera

Love in the Time of Cholera

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

A novel about love and obsession set in a Caribbean town, exploring themes of passion, aging, and memory.

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Happy All the Time

Happy All the Time

Laurie Colwin

A lighthearted novel about relationships and love, following the lives of two couples navigating romance and friendship.

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The Beautiful and Damned

The Beautiful and Damned

F. Scott Fitzgerald

A novel following a young couple’s decadent lifestyle in 1920s New York, exploring themes of wealth, love, and moral decay.

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The Cat's Table

The Cat's Table

Michael Ondaatje

A coming-of-age novel about a boy’s journey on a ship, filled with rich characters and mysteries.

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The Night Circus

The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern

A fantasy novel about a magical competition between two illusionists, set in a surreal, enchanting circus.

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Little Boy Blue

Little Boy Blue

Edward Bunker

A gritty novel about a young man's struggle with crime and redemption, based on the author's own life experiences.

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I Capture the Castle

I Capture the Castle

Dodie Smith

A coming-of-age story about a young girl living in a crumbling English castle, exploring love, family, and self-discovery.

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The Hours

The Hours

Michael Cunningham

A novel that interweaves the lives of three women, inspired by Virginia Woolf’s *Mrs. Dalloway*, exploring themes of life and art.

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The Paris Review Interviews, I

The Paris Review Interviews, I

The Paris Review

A collection of interviews with notable writers, discussing their creative processes and personal philosophies.

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Gilead

Gilead

Marilynne Robinson

A novel about an elderly preacher reflecting on his life and faith, addressing themes of forgiveness and legacy.

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Jesus' Son

Jesus' Son

Denis Johnson

A collection of interconnected short stories about addiction, loneliness, and redemption, told from the perspective of a drug addict.

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The Goldfinch

The Goldfinch

Donna Tartt

A novel following a young man whose life is shaped by a tragic event and an obsession with a painting, exploring themes of loss and beauty.

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Brideshead Revisited

Brideshead Revisited

Evelyn Waugh

A novel about faith, love, and friendship, centered on an aristocratic English family and their relationship with the narrator.

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Mythology

Mythology

Edith Hamilton

A retelling of ancient Greek, Roman, and Norse myths, providing insights into classical mythology.

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Infinite Jest

Infinite Jest

David Foster Wallace

A complex novel exploring addiction, entertainment, and family dynamics, blending dark humor with philosophical themes.

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Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

David Foster Wallace

A collection of stories examining complex human behavior, often through dark humor and experimental narrative.

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Marjorie Morningstar

Marjorie Morningstar

Herman Wouk

A novel about a young Jewish woman’s dreams of becoming an actress, set in mid-20th century New York.

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Growth of the Soil

Growth of the Soil

Knut Hamsun

A novel that explores the connection between humans and nature, focusing on a man’s life as a farmer in rural Norway.

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While I Was Gone

While I Was Gone

Sue Miller

A novel about a woman confronting her past and re-evaluating her life, exploring themes of identity and regret.

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The Topeka School

The Topeka School

Ben Lerner

A novel exploring American culture and politics through the lens of a high school debate champion in Kansas.

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The White Goddess

The White Goddess

Robert Graves

A poetic and scholarly exploration of the “White Goddess” figure in European mythology and poetry.

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Cancer Ward

Cancer Ward

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

A novel set in a Soviet cancer ward, exploring themes of illness, mortality, and human dignity.

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Enemies, a Love Story

Enemies, a Love Story

Isaac Bashevis Singer

A novel about a Holocaust survivor in New York navigating complex relationships and past traumas.

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Jimmy Corrigan

Jimmy Corrigan

Chris Ware

A graphic novel about a lonely man dealing with family issues, told through intricate illustrations and a unique narrative style.

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Essays

Essays

George Orwell

A collection of Plutarch's essays, covering topics related to ethics, politics, and human nature.

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Go Tell It on the Mountain

Go Tell It on the Mountain

James Baldwin

A novel about a young African American boy’s journey of faith and identity, set in Harlem.

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A Lesson Before Dying

A Lesson Before Dying

Ernest J. Gaines

A novel about a man wrongfully condemned to death and the impact of his story on a small Southern community.

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White Teeth

White Teeth

Zadie Smith

Follows the intertwined lives of two families in London, exploring themes of multiculturalism and identity.

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A House for Mr Biswas

A House for Mr Biswas

V. S. Naipaul

A novel about a man’s struggle for independence and identity in post-colonial Trinidad.

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The Reader

The Reader

Bernhard Schlink

A novel about a young man’s relationship with an older woman, exploring themes of love, guilt, and the Holocaust.

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Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage

Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage

Alice Munro

A collection of short stories examining complex relationships and human connections, often set in rural Canada.

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Tolstoy

Tolstoy

Henri Troyat

A biography of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, exploring his life, works, and philosophical evolution.

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Mother Night

Mother Night

Kurt Vonnegut

A novel about a former Nazi propagandist reflecting on his actions and identity, questioning morality and duality.

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The Tiger's Wife

The Tiger's Wife

Téa Obreht

A novel set in the Balkans, blending myth and reality as a young doctor uncovers stories of her grandfather's life.

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Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Haruki Murakami

A novel about a man’s journey to reconnect with old friends and understand past betrayals, blending existential themes with Murakami’s surreal style.

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A Literary Companion to Science

A Literary Companion to Science

Walter Gratzer

A collection of essays on scientific topics, written to be accessible and engaging for a broad audience.

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Beowulf

Beowulf

Seamus Heaney

A modern translation of the classic Old English epic poem, recounting the hero’s battles against monsters.

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Fight Club

Fight Club

Chuck Palahniuk

A novel about an unnamed narrator’s descent into anarchy and violence, exploring themes of identity and consumerism.

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Cultural Amnesia

Cultural Amnesia

Clive James

A collection of essays on influential figures and ideas in Western culture, reflecting on art, history, and politics.

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The Dream of a Common Language

The Dream of a Common Language

Adrienne Rich

A collection of poetry that addresses themes of love, feminism, and social justice.

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Bewilderment

Bewilderment

Richard Powers

A novel about a widowed father and his son, exploring nature, environmentalism, and human connections.

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Ring

Ring

Jonathan Yardley

A memoir reflecting on love, loss, and personal transformation, with a focus on the enduring bonds of relationships.

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The Source of Self-Regard

The Source of Self-Regard

Toni Morrison

A collection of essays, speeches, and reflections from Morrison on society, literature, and identity.

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The Voice That Is Great Within Us

The Voice That Is Great Within Us

Hayden Carruth

A collection of essential American poetry from various authors, offering a snapshot of American life.

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Dickens and Prince

Dickens and Prince

Nick Hornby

A comparative exploration of Charles Dickens and musician Prince, examining their creativity and cultural impact.

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The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Mordecai Richler

A coming-of-age novel about a young man’s ambition and his complex relationship with family and success.

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Ways of Escape

Ways of Escape

Graham Greene

An autobiography reflecting on Greene’s life, writing, and encounters across the world.

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Dante

Dante

John Took

A biography and analysis of Dante Alighieri's work and life, especially his *Divine Comedy*.

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Paradise

Paradise

Toni Morrison

A novel about an all-black town and the mysterious events surrounding a convent of women nearby.

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Ruby

Ruby

Cynthia Bond

A novel that explores trauma, resilience, and love within a small Southern town.

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Parables and Paradoxes

Parables and Paradoxes

Franz Kafka

A collection of Kafka’s philosophical reflections and short writings.

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Labyrinths

Labyrinths

Jorge Luis Borges

A collection of Borges's surreal and philosophical stories.

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The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas

The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas

A complete collection of poetry by Dylan Thomas.

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Three Book Sebald Set

Three Book Sebald Set

W. G. Sebald

A set of Sebald’s reflective and haunting novels.

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The Lost Writings

The Lost Writings

Franz Kafka

Rare and previously unpublished works by Kafka.

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The Orphan Master's Son

The Orphan Master's Son

Adam Johnson

A novel set in North Korea, blending political thriller with human drama.

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The Largesse of the Sea Maiden

The Largesse of the Sea Maiden

Denis Johnson

A collection of short stories reflecting on mortality, redemption, and the human condition.

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Anything Is Possible

Anything Is Possible

Elizabeth Strout

Linked stories exploring the lives of small-town characters facing love, pain, and resilience.

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Tenth of December

Tenth of December

George Saunders

A collection of darkly humorous and thought-provoking short stories.

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To Show and to Tell

To Show and to Tell

Phillip Lopate

A guide for writers on crafting personal essays, blending memoir and narrative techniques.

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Sing, Unburied, Sing

Sing, Unburied, Sing

Jesmyn Ward

A novel about family, history, and race, following a family's journey through the rural South.

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Orwell's Revenge

Orwell's Revenge

Peter Huber

Examines George Orwell’s work in the context of modern technology and surveillance.

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A Swim in a Pond in the Rain

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain

George Saunders

Literary analysis of Russian short stories, blending lessons on writing and life.

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The Spectator

The Spectator

Joseph Addison

Collection of essays from *The Spectator* magazine, offering social commentary and wit.

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Essential Bukowski

Essential Bukowski

Charles Bukowski

Collection of selected works by poet and novelist Charles Bukowski.

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The Annotated Flatland

The Annotated Flatland

Ian Stewart

Annotated edition of "Flatland," explaining its mathematical and social themes.

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An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope

An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope

Anthony Trollope

Memoir of the life and career of Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope.

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