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 ...
Just try taking your eyes off of this captivating and horrifying novel by Katherine Dunn. Preview Have you ever been stuck in horrible traffic—the kind where your complete lack of momentum causes you to slam down on your horn and grind your teeth in frustration? Eventually after having spent too ...
Fannie Flagg's touching novel is hard to put down. Preview…First and foremost, Fannie Flagg's poignant and light-hearted novel is a story about two friendships. The first of these friendships involves middle-aged Evelyn Couch as she struggles with being “too old to be young and too young to be old” in ...
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 ...
"Owen Meaning" has a profoundly emotional impact on his readers, just as author John Irving intended it. Preview… Often times we create high expectations for the books we read, based on good reviews, the recommendation of a friend or a fondness for previous works by the same author. John Irving’s ...
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 ...
"Girl, Interrupted" is equally compelling in its original literary form. Preview… The film adaptation of Susanna Kaysen's “Girl, Interrupted” is unequivocally my absolute favorite movie. Possessing such an unshakable fondness for the film, I was a bit hesitant to pick up the novel. I must declare that the book is ...
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com AnnArbor.com's partner news site MLive.com is on a quest to find the best barbecue in ......
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