Art

From Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita to Raven Leilani's Luster, the texts in this collection investigate themes related to the power and promise of many types of art — from the written word to visual arts such as painting and cinema.

Big Magic

by Elizabeth Gilbert

Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Language, Art, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude

Tags Self-Improvement, Business & Economics, Psychology, Arts & Culture, Inspirational, Psychology

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015) is a self-help guide by author and journalist Elizabeth Gilbert. This New York Times bestseller outlines six elements of creativity: courage, permission, enchantment, persistence, trust, and divinity. Gilbert uses anecdotes from her life and writing career, as well as the work of others, to explain these concepts, and presents her views and philosophical musings about creativity and inspiration. The work explores themes such as The Importance of Play... Read Big Magic Summary

Born to Run

by Bruce Springsteen

Publication year 2016

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Memory, Love, Coming of Age, Midlife, Childhood & Youth, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Art, Fame, Justice, Music, Equality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Music, Arts & Culture, Mental Illness, Social Justice, US History, Biography

... Read Born to Run Summary

Bronx Masquerade

by Nikki Grimes

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Race, Self Discovery, Community, Art

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, African American Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

Bronx Masquerade is a young adult novel written by New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes. It was published in 2002. Bronx Masquerade chronicles an academic year in the lives of high school students in Mr. Ward’s English class. It includes the ways they relate to each other and their classwork, which prominently features Harlem Renaissance writers, as well as their hopes and dreams. The novel is written in both prose and poetry, with each... Read Bronx Masquerade Summary

Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture

by Ross King

Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Art, Wins & Losses, Perseverance, Social Class, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Technology

Tags European History, Arts & Culture, Renaissance

Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture is a 2000 nonfiction book by Ross King. The book describes how Filippo Brunelleschi radically altered the course of architectural history, defying expectations by designing and building the dome for Florence’s cathedral during the early Renaissance. Receiving widespread praise from critics, King has been commended for making a complex subject accessible to lay readers. King is a bestselling nonfiction writer who lectures across Europe and North America... Read Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture Summary

Buddenbrooks

by Thomas Mann

Publication year 1901

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Loneliness, Regret, Masculinity, Mental Health, Death, Appearance & Reality, Marriage, Economics, Art, Power & Greed

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, German Literature, World History, Classical Period

Thomas Mann’s novel Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family was first published in 1901 and came to be recognized as a monumental work in the canon of modern literature. Thomas Mann (1875­–1955) was a German novelist and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929 for his novels, Buddenbrooks and The Magic Mountain. Mann draws on his own family history to craft Buddenbrooks’ narrative, demonstrating profound understanding of societal and familial dynamics in the... Read Buddenbrooks Summary

Bunny

by Mona Awad

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Loneliness, Art, Appearance & Reality, Mental Health

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Bunny Summary

Cat's Cradle

by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Publication year 1963

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Science & Technology, Safety & Danger, Religion & Spirituality, Art, Death

Tags Satirical Literature, Science Fiction, Postmodernism, Humor, American Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Cat’s Cradle is a satirical science fiction novel by Kurt Vonnegut, published in 1963. The novel, which explores themes related to science, technology, and religion against the backdrop of the Cold War arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, won critical acclaim for Vonnegut and was nominated for a Hugo Award. This guide refers to the 2010 Dial Trade Press edition.Content Warning: This guide references death by suicide and sexual assault found... Read Cat's Cradle Summary

Cat's Eye

by Margaret Atwood

Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes The Past, Memory, Gender Identity, Art, Aging

Tags Coming of Age, Psychological Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

Cat’s Eye is a 1988 coming-of-age novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood that centers on Elaine Risley, a successful painter who is returning to Toronto for a retrospective show of her work. Throughout the novel, she has vivid recollections of her childhood and adolescence in the city during the postwar years—particularly of her friendship with Cordelia, who persecuted her in a way that had an indelible impact on her life. The novel was a finalist... Read Cat's Eye Summary

City Spies

by James Ponti

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude, Joy, Loneliness, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Justice, Art, Good & Evil, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Science & Technology, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Teamwork, Family, Climate, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Self Discovery, Community, Wins & Losses, Friendship, Place, Order & Chaos

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

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Click

by Kayla Miller

Publication year 2019

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Coming of Age, Friendship, Art, Self Discovery

Tags Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

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Confess

by Colleen Hoover

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Art, Family, Fathers, Guilt

Tags Romance, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

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Count Me In

by Varsha Bajaj

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Shame & Pride, Race, Childhood & Youth, Objects & Materials, Friendship, Grandparents, Self Discovery, Community, Immigration, Art, Safety & Danger

Tags Children`s Literature, Social Justice, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts & Culture

... Read Count Me In Summary