Bernhard Schlink's thought-provoking novel teaches that sometimes life's most important relationships elude definition. Preview…I chose to delve into Bernhard Schlink’s novel “The Reader,” because, at only 218 pages, it seemed like a short and sweet selection. Although the actual word count was small, the story within was huge on meaning ...
"The Turn of the Screw" is a classic ghost story, but is it really about ghosts? Tired of rereading “Dracula” or “Frankenstein” (or “Harry Potter” or “Twilight”) each and every Halloween season? Looking for a new horror story to keep you company as you sip your steaming mug of spiced ...
"The Bluest Eye" is a beautifully written novel that explores dark and tragic themes. Preview…There are few novels so fraught with meaning as Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye.” Although the book is short and the prose is beautiful, the story itself is a heartbreaking extreme of some very real issues ...
James Joyce's "Ulysses" is an amazing, challenging read. Preview…If ever there’s a book that refuses to fit cleanly inside the literary mode, it’s James Joyce’s “Ulysses.” Upon my first reading attempt several years back, I quickly gave up, assigning the title of “literary Everest” to the lengthy tome. Now that ...
Haven't read Homer's epic work of poetry since your school days? It may be worth another look. Preview… If you’re looking for a crash course in ancient Greek mythology, there is perhaps no better choice of reading material than the exciting epic poem “The Odyssey.” The details of Odysseus’ heroic ...
"The Remains of the Day" asks its readers to contemplate the meanings of duty, dignity and love. Preview… Kazuo Ishiguro’s “The Remains of the Day” is a beautifully written tale that asks its readers to contemplate the meanings of duty, dignity and love. The story follows Stevens, a British butler ...
Robinson Crusoe is considered one of the first English novels. Preview…Daniel Defoe’s “Robinson Crusoe” has had an inarguably enormous effect on the literature of today. Widely considered the first English novel, it recounts the “life and strange surprising adventures” of its protagonist, who is marooned on an unidentified South American ...
James Ellroy's dark crime novel imagines an ending to the real-life murder mystery. Preview… Admittedly, I am not much of a fan when it comes to detective novels. In fact, mystery is probably my single least favorite genre—that’s right, I’d rather read romance or young adult almost any day. Bearing ...
Jack Nicholson brought unlikely hero RP McMurphy to life in the 1975 film adaptation of Ken Kesey's powerful novel. Preview…Reading fiction allows us to place ourselves right in the middle of a good book’s plot. Page by page, we can fall in love (without actually cheating on our spouses), pursue ...
This novel by Mark Haddon will take you deep inside the head of its protagonist, a 15-year-old boy with autism. Preview…If you’re looking for a read that can be completed in a single sitting or can be put down and resumed at will, then, reader, meet Mark Haddon’s “The Curious ...
Hesse's "Siddhartha" offers a quick read that is full of meaning. Preview…Hermann Hesse’s “Siddhartha” took on a highly personal level for me. Having married into the Hindu culture, I have become familiar with the principles of Eastern spirituality. This novel succinctly ties together many big lessons in one short, easy-to-follow ...
Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited" was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923. Preview…It is my belief that Evelyn Waugh’s “Brideshead Revisited” requires a firm commitment to the slow moving story line up-front in order for the reader to enjoy the intriguing characters, ...
Charlotte Bronte's masterpiece is an absolute must-read. "Jane Eyre" will pull you in and you won't want to leave! Preview…Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre” is without-a-doubt my favorite novel. From little Jane’s being locked-up in the scary red room at the beginning of the story all the way until her much ...
"Lady Chatterley's Lover" hold a great deal of meaning if you look beyond all of the sex. Preview…Do you enjoy novels that tell a love story that is wildly passionate, yet still believable? Do you feel compelled to read a book that has strong socio-political elements and a deeper meaning? ...
If you liked "Love in the Time of Cholera", give "One Hundred Years of Solitude" (by the same author) a try. Preview…Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude” has a lot going on. To truly love and appreciate this novel, it is important that you have an understanding of ...
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