George Orwell’s 1984 is a political novel that addresses the problems of totalitarianism. The book follows Winston Smith, a government employee who slowly starts to question the government and its policies. Winston is a complex character, and his development throughout the novel is fascinating. Winston Smith is a citizen of Oceania, a country that is … Read more
Frankenstein is a novel written by Mary Shelly in 1818. The novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a monster from body parts of dead people. Frankenstein is considered to be one of the first horror novels ever written. Despite being nearly 200 years old, Frankenstein remains popular today and has … Read more
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel This Side of Paradise, the protagonist Amory Blaine is preoccupied with his own image and self-identity. He frequently reflects on his own character and personality, using mirrors as a metaphor for his reflections. For Amory, mirrors represent a way to examine himself objectively, and he often turns to them as … Read more
The title of Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening is rife with symbolism. The most obvious and pervasive symbol in the title is the awakening itself. The protagonist, Edna Pontellier, is figuratively awakened from her monotonous life as a wife and mother to the possibilities of self-expression and independence. The awakening is also physical, as Edna … Read more
Frankenstein is a novel written by Mary Shelley in 1818. The novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a monster made from body parts of different people. Frankenstein is horrified by his creation and rejects it. The monster is lonely and angry, and begins to kill Frankenstein’s friends and family. Frankenstein … Read more
The Little Prince is a novella written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The story is about a young prince who leaves his home planet to explore other worlds. He meets different people and learns about the importance of relationships and love. The Little Prince is a timeless classic that teaches important life lessons. In the form … Read more
Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe that was published in 1852. The novel is about the slavery era in the United States and it addresses the morality of slavery. Uncle Tom’s Cabin has been called one of the most important novels in American history because it helped to start the Civil … Read more
A Farewell to Arms is a novel by Ernest Hemingway. The novel follows the love story of an American ambulance driver and a British nurse in Italy during World War I. The novel is set against the backdrop of the war, and its themes include love, loss, betrayal, and disillusionment. The novel opens with the … Read more
Any work of literature is going to be chock-full of symbols. And The Awakening by Kate Chopin is no different. In fact, symbols are incredibly important to the novel and help to establish the central themes. For example, one of the most important symbols in The Awakening is the ocean. The ocean symbolizes both freedom … Read more
The Metamorphosis is a novel by Franz Kafka, first published in 1915. The story follows Gregor Samsa, a young man who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect-like creature. The novel has been interpreted in many ways, but is often seen as a commentary on the human condition, and our … Read more
Joseph Andrews is a novel by Henry Fielding. The novel tells the story of Joseph Andrews, a young man who is unjustly accused of theft and sent to prison. Joseph is eventually released from prison and decides to return to his home town, where he meets his friend, Mr. Abraham Adams. Mr. Adams helps Joseph … Read more
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a novel about love, sin, and redemption. The story follows Hester Prynne, a woman who has an affair and bears a child out of wedlock. She is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest as punishment for her sin. The novel explores the themes of shame, … Read more
James Dashner’s The Maze Runner is a novel full of suspense, mystery, and adventure. The book has many different literary elements that make it an enjoyable read. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns. The characters are well-developed and likable. The setting is unique and interesting. The book is also well-written and … Read more
Moby Dick is a novel by Herman Melville. The plot follows the sequence of events in the novel. Moby Dick tells the story of Captain Ahab’s quest to kill the white whale that took his leg. The novel follows Ahab and his crew as they sail across the ocean in search of the whale. Along … Read more
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel by Oscar Wilde that tells the story of a young man, Dorian Gray, who becomes corrupted by his own vanity. The novel explores the themes of morality, corruption, and art. The Picture of Dorian Gray was first published in 1890 and has been adapted into various forms … Read more
The Kite Runner is a novel by Khaled Hosseini. The novel is about the relationship between two boys, Amir and Hassan. The story is set in Afghanistan, and explores the themes of friendship, betrayal, and love. The novel opens with a brief history of Afghanistan and the Soviet Union’s invasion of the country. The narrator, … Read more
The Call of the Wild is a novel by Jack London. The novel tells the story of Buck, a dog who is stolen from his home in California and sold into service as a sled dog in Alaska. The novel was published in 1903 and became an immediate bestseller. It remains one of London’s most … Read more
The Great Gatsby and Ethan Frome are two novels that are both set in the early 20th century. The Great Gatsby is set in 1922, while Ethan Frome is set in 1911. Both novels explore the themes of love, betrayal, and class. The Great Gatsby is a tragedy, while Ethan Frome is a drama. The … Read more
Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith are both characters in Virginia Woolf’s novel, Clarissa. Clarissa is a wealthy socialite who is married to a politician, while Septimus is a World War I veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Clarissa is largely happy with her life, while Septimus struggles with mental illness and eventually commits suicide. … Read more
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that was published in 1939. The novel tells the story of the Joad family, who are forced to leave their farm in Oklahoma and travel to California during the Great Depression. The Grapes of Wrath is considered one of the greatest American novels of all … Read more
Neal Shusterman’s Unwind is a novel that tells the story of a future world in which children are Unwound – that is, their organs are harvested for transplantation. The novel follows three main characters – Connor, Risa, and Lev – as they try to escape their fate. The novel is notable for its complex and … Read more
The Scarlet Letter is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne that was first published in 1850. The story is set in Puritan New England in the 17th century. The novel revolves around the life of Hester Prynne, who is forced to wear a scarlet A on her chest as punishment for having an affair. The novel … Read more
The Once and Future King is a novel by T. H. White that was first published in 1958. The book is a retelling of the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, set during the early years of Arthur’s reign. One of the main themes of the book is the idea … Read more
Animal Farm is a novel written by George Orwell. The story is about the rebellion of the animals against their human masters on Manor Farm. Animal Farm is a social criticism, as it highlights the problems with Soviet Russia and Stalin’s rule. The novel has become an important part of world literature and is often … Read more
Sue and Arabella are two of the most important characters in Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure. The novel revolves around Sue and Arabella’s complex relationship, which is fraught with jealousy, anger, and ultimately, tragedy. Sue is a working-class woman who has been forced to marry Arabella’s brother, Jude. From the beginning, it is clear that … Read more
Lord Jim is a novel by Joseph Conrad about a young man who leaves his home in England to seek adventure and excitement in the East. He eventually becomes shipwrecked and is rescued by a native tribe. However, when he returns to England, he is haunted by his experience and feels tremendous guilt for abandoning … Read more
The dust in The Great Gatsby is a symbol of the change that is happening in the world. The dust represents the decay and destruction that is happening to the American dream. The dust is also a symbol of the darkness and corruption that is beginning to take over the world. The dust is a … Read more
Although The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is not a political novel, Joyce does include several scenes that show how politics can impact an individual’s life. The most obvious example of this is the scene where Stephen Dedalus is beaten by his classmates for refusing to sing ‘God Save the Queen’. This … Read more
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a novel by Jenny Han that tells the story of Belly, a teenage girl who spends her summer with her family at the beach house. The novel follows Belly as she navigates through the ups and downs of her teenage years, including falling in love for the first time … Read more
The Joy Luck Club is a novel by Amy Tan that tells the stories of Suyuan and Jing-Mei Woo. The novel follows the lives of four Chinese-American mothers and daughters who meet to play mahjong and tell stories. The stories focus on the relationships between the mothers and daughters, as well as the challenges they … Read more
Death of a Salesman is a novel by Arthur Miller that was first published in 1949. The novel centers around the relationship between father and son, and how it is affected by the death of the father. Death of a Salesman is a story about the decline of the American dream. The novel follows Willy … Read more
Lolita is a novel by Vladimir Nabokov, first published in 1955. Lolita is the story of a middle-aged man’s sexual obsession with a 12-year-old girl. Lolita has been adapted into film twice, once in 1962 and again in 1997. The 1962 Lolita, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is considered one of the greatest films of all … Read more
Lord Jim is a novel by Joseph Conrad, first published in 1900. The book tells the story of Jim, a young man from England who goes to sea and gets involved in a series of adventures. The novel has been praised for its exploration of themes like morality, cowardice, and betrayal. Lord Jim is considered … Read more
Wuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Brontë. The novel centers around the love story of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and their families. Wuthering Heights is considered to be a classic example of a Romantic novel. Wuthering Heights, a Romance novel written by Emily Bronte, is representative of many aspects of Romanticism. The Industrial Revolution … Read more
Amy Tan is the author of The Joy Luck Club, a novel about the experiences of four Chinese-American women and their mothers. An-Mei Hsu and Rose Hsu Jordan are two of the main characters in the book. An-Mei Hsu’s mother, Suyuan Woo, was a woman who had to endure many hardships in her life. She … Read more
One of the most important aspects of The Great Gatsby is the symbolism that is used throughout the novel. In particular, Fitzgerald uses symbolism to represent houses and cars. The houses in The Great Gatsby can be seen as symbols of the American Dream. The most impressive and expensive house in the novel belongs to … Read more
The novel The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway is a story about a fisherman, Santiago, and his journey to catch a fish. The fish he catches is a marlin, which is one of the largest fish in the ocean. The journey and the fight to catch the marlin are metaphors for the … Read more
The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J. D Salinger. The novel follows Holden Caulfield, a teenager from New York City, who is expelled from his prep school and then takes a journey around America. The novel deals with themes of teenage angst, alienation, and rebellion. Holden often struggles with these themes and … Read more
Spring Silkworms is a novel by Chinese author Mao Dun. Spring Silkworms was first published in 1932. The novel tells the story of a group of silkworm farmers in China who are struggling to make a living. The farmers are forced to sell their silkworms to a local merchant, who then sells the silkworms to … Read more
Cold Mountain is a novel set in the American Civil War, written by Charles Frazier. The story follows Inman, a Confederate soldier who deserts and makes his way back to Cold Mountain, in western North Carolina, where he had been raised. Along the way, he meets various people and experiences different aspects of the war. … Read more
War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy, is a novel about the Napoleonic War and its aftermath. The novel tells the story of five families in Russia during the war, and how their lives are affected by it. War and Peace is considered one of the greatest novels ever written, and has been praised for its … Read more
Lord Jim, a novel by Joseph Conrad, tells the story of a man who is disgraced after a failed attempt to do the right thing. Jim is an idealist who believes in the honor of seafaring life. When his ship sinks, Jim takes it upon himself to lead the crew in an escape attempt. However, … Read more
The Awakening is a novel written by Kate Chopin that was published in 1899. The novel tells the story of a woman named Edna Pontellier who struggles to find her identity and independence in a society that expects her to conform to certain standards. The novel addresses several major themes, including: – The conflict between … Read more
Holes by Louis Sachar is a novel about a boy named Stanley Yelnats who is sent to a camp called Camp Green Lake for stealing sneakers. The novel follows Stanley’s time at the camp and the strange occurrences that take place there. Holes is an enjoyable read and is perfect for young adults. Sachar does … Read more
All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel set during World War I, written by Erich Maria Remarque. The novel follows the story of Paul Baumer, a young German soldier who fight in the trenches and experiences the horrors of war. One of the most important characters in the novel is Katczinsky, an older … Read more
The Outsiders is a novel by S. E. Hinton that explores the conflict between self identity and group identity. The novel follows the story of Ponyboy Curtis, a teenage boy who is trying to find his place in the world. He is constantly torn between the desire to be independent and the need to belong … Read more
Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo is a novel that is rife with universal themes. Some of these include love, redemption, and hope. Love is one of the most central themes in Les Miserables. The love between Marius and Cosette is perhaps the most prominent example, but there are many other instances of love in the … Read more
Moby Dick is a novel written by Herman Melville in 1851. The story follows the journey of the whaling ship Pequod, and its captain Ahab, who seeks revenge on a giant white sperm whale. Moby Dick is considered to be one of the great American novels, and has been adapted into numerous films and stage … Read more
The 1920s was a time of great change in America. The economy was booming and many people were moving to cities in search of opportunities. The traditional way of life was changing, and with it came new challenges and controversies. One of the most controversial books to come out of the 1920s is The Great … Read more
Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith are two characters in a novel by Virginia Woolf. Clarissa is a wealthy socialite who is married to a government minister. Septimus is a young man who has been traumatized by war. Both Clarissa and Septimus struggle with their mental states throughout the novel. Clarissa is able to compartmentalize … Read more