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.

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler

by Italo Calvino

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Truth & Lies, Art, Community, Beauty

Tags Magical Realism, Postmodernism, Italian Literature, Science & Nature, Arts & Culture, Politics & Government, Sociology, World History, Classic Fiction

If on a winter’s night a traveler is a 1979 postmodernist novel by Italo Calvino. The dual narrative is composed of two parallel strands: numbered chapters in which the narrator directly describes to the audience the process of reading the book, and titled chapters constructed from hypothetical first chapters of various books that the audience is reading. The innovative novel has been praised by critics and hailed as highly influential.This guide uses the 1998 Vintage... Read If on a Winter's Night a Traveler Summary

I, Juan de Pareja

by Elizabeth Borton De Treviño

Publication year 1965

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Race, Equality, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Arts & Culture, World History, Classic Fiction

Elizabeth Borton de Treviño’s I, Juan de Pareja is a young adult historical fiction novel published in 1965. Its complicated portrayal of slavery, art, and self-expression earned it the Newbery Medal in 1966. In 1656, Spanish Golden Age painter Diego Velázquez unveiled his newest portrait: a simple study of one of his enslaved workers entitled Portrait of Juan de Pareja. Upon viewing the painting, de Treviño was inspired to imagine the story of this man... Read I, Juan de Pareja Summary

I'll Give You the Sun

by Jandy Nelson

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Shame & Pride, Aging, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Sexual Identity, The Past, Death, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Fate, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Coming of Age, Magical Realism, Romance, Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ+, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction

I’ll Give You the Sun (2015) is an award-winning novel penned by Jandy Nelson about relationships, art, and destiny. It follows the story of twins Noah and Jude Sweetwine who once shared a close relationship but find themselves barely speaking to each other two years after their mother’s death.Jandy Nelson is an American author who writes young adult fiction. I’ll Give You the Sun is her second novel, which won numerous awards and honors, including... Read I'll Give You the Sun Summary

Imagining Argentina

by Lawrence Thornton

Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Hope, Memory, Politics & Government, Art, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Military & War, Education, Education, World History

Imagining Argentina (1987) is a fantasy novel by American author Lawrence Thornton. Set against the backdrop of Argentina’s Dirty War, Imagining Argentina centers Carlos Rueda, a Buenos Aires native whose supernatural abilities grant him insight into the fates of Argentina’s disappeared. The novel’s complicated consideration of power, memory, and authoritarianism has been critically acclaimed, earning a nomination for the PEN/Faulkner Award in Fiction. Thornton would later expand the story into two succeeding novels, Naming the... Read Imagining Argentina Summary

Inferno

by Dan Brown

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Globalization, Art, Literature, Science & Technology, Environment, Future, Power & Greed

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Arts & Culture, Science & Nature, European History, Renaissance, Italian Literature, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

Inferno by Dan Brown is the fourth installment in Brown’s Robert Langdon series of mystery/thriller novels, following (in order) Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and The Lost Symbol, and preceding Origin. Each edition covers a self-contained story, so readers need not follow the series in order, and often includes themes centered on European and Christian history and cultural traditions. The title character, Robert Langdon, is the only recurring character. Inferno won the Goodreads... Read Inferno Summary

Inkling

by Kenneth Oppel

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Family, Fathers, Siblings, Art

Tags Magical Realism, Children`s Literature, Humor, Arts & Culture, Fantasy

... Read Inkling Summary

In Pieces

by Sally Field

Publication year 2018

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Joy, Love, Mental Health, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Death, Marriage, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Art, Beauty, Fame, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Trauma & Abuse, Gender & Feminism

... Read In Pieces Summary

In Praise of Shadows

by Jun’Ichirō Tanizaki, Transl. Thomas J. Harper, Transl. Edward G. Seidensticker

Publication year 1933

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Beauty, Globalization, Future, Art

Tags Philosophy, Arts & Culture, Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

The essay “In Praise of Shadows” was originally published in 1933 in Japan and was written by the Japanese author Jun’ichirō Tanizaki (1886-1965). His work spanned a wide array of subjects, including the cultural impact of World War II, sexuality, and family relationships. He was especially interested in exploring the cultural differences between Japan and the West. Tanizaki was awarded Japan’s Imperial Prize in Literature in 1949 and wrote novels, short stories, essays, plays, and... Read In Praise of Shadows Summary

Intimacies

by Katie Kitamura

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Friendship, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, Art, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Intimacies Summary

Invisible Women

by Caroline Criado Perez

Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Love, The Past, Art, Safety & Danger, Economics, Science & Technology, Gender Identity, Politics & Government, Equality

Tags Gender & Feminism, Science & Nature, Social Justice, Finance, Sociology, Business & Economics, Technology, Health, Politics & Government, Women`s Studies

... Read Invisible Women Summary

Ion

by Plato

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Literature, Art

Tags Philosophy, Ancient Greece, Education, Education, Philosophy, Arts & Culture, Literary Criticism, Classical Period, Classic Fiction

... Read Ion Summary

Jesse

by Gary Soto

Publication year 1994

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Loneliness, Masculinity, Race, Family, Friendship, Community, War, Art, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Social Class

Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts & Culture, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Agriculture, Social Class, US History, Poverty, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Vietnam War

... Read Jesse Summary

John & Paul

by Ian Leslie

Publication year 2025

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Joy, Love, Memory, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Place, Family, Friendship, Mothers, Teamwork, Community, Art, Fame, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music, Order & Chaos

... Read John & Paul Summary