Books About Art

This assortment of study guides focuses on the arts, from cinema to cuisine. Read on to explore Aristotle’s Poetics, which analyzes the nature and uses of poetry; An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski, a manual for actors based on the author’s work and teachings at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia; and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, which chronicles the art of fine dining.

The Seventh Most Important Thing

by Shelley Pearsall

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Grief & Death, Realistic Fiction, World History, Arts & Culture

The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall (Penguin Random House, 2016) is a historical middle-grade novel. The book follows young Arthur Owens as he grapples with grief, discovers his own heaven, and learns how people, himself included, can surprise you. The Seventh Most Important Thing was nominated for 16 state awards and was an ALA Notable Book, an ILA Teachers Choice, and a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. Shelley Pearsall based the... Read The Seventh Most Important Thing Summary

The Sisters

by James Joyce

Publication year 1904

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Childhood & Youth, Community, Good & Evil

Tags Classic Fiction, Irish Literature, Religion & Spirituality, British Literature, Arts & Culture, World History

... Read The Sisters Summary

The Society of the Spectacle

by Guy Debord

Publication year 1967

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Community

Tags Philosophy, Sociology, French Literature, World History, Philosophy, Arts & Culture, Politics & Government

Guy Debord’s 1967 philosophy text, The Society of the Spectacle, analyzes the phenomena of alienation and argues that alienation’s root cause is located within the economic, political, and cultural spheres of modern society. While previous periods of capitalist development saw the hyper-exploitation of workers, the period of capitalism after WWII saw an improvement in labor conditions for greater numbers of workers in society. However, for Debord, this improvement in work conditions did not translate to... Read The Society of the Spectacle Summary

The Song Poet

by Kao Kalia Yang

Publication year 2016

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Fathers, Family

Tags Arts & Culture, World History, Biography

Kao Kalia Yang’s The Song Poet: A Memoir of My Father was published in 2016; this guide refers to the Kindle edition of the text. The book won the Minnesota Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Chautauqua Prize. The Song Poet presents the story of Kalia’s father, Bee Yang, as an artist and a song poet.Song poetry is a traditional form of Hmong art. The Hmong... Read The Song Poet Summary

The Storyteller's Secret

by Sejal Badani

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Social Class, Friendship, Community, Literature, Mothers, Love, Marriage

Tags Realistic Fiction, Indian Literature, Asian History, Gender & Feminism, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Historical Fiction, Romance, Arts & Culture

... Read The Storyteller's Secret Summary

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

by Lisa See

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Daughters & Sons

Tags Asian Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Chinese Literature, Arts & Culture

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is a novel by contemporary American writer Lisa See. See is one-eighth Chinese, and most of her books feature Chinese history and traditions. First published in 2017, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane centers around the story of a young girl named Li-yan, who lives with her family in remote tea mountains of China. In their everyday life, her village relies on rituals, belief, and taboos, and they are... Read The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane Summary

The Tequila Worm

by Viola Canales

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Education, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Poverty, Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Arts & Culture

The Tequila Worm, published in 2005 by Random House, (first edition) is a middle grade novel about a young Mexican American girl, Sofia, who comes from a family of storytellers. The tales Sofia hears strengthen her ties to her family and their traditions in the Texas barrio where they live. Though poor, the family does not struggle, finding riches in the practice of making Easter cascarones, (colored eggs) celebrating Dia de los Muertos, (Day of... Read The Tequila Worm Summary

The Titan's Curse

by Rick Riordan

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Hate & Anger, Appearance & Reality

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Mythology, Ancient Greece, Relationships, Arts & Culture, Military & War, American Literature, Children`s Literature

The Titan’s Curse (2007) is the third installment in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, following The Lightning Thief (2005) and The Sea of Monsters (2006) and preceding The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008) and The Last Olympian (2009). The series centers around the adventures of Percy Jackson, a boy who is the son of the Greek god of the sea Poseidon and a mortal woman named Sally Jackson. Percy learns that he... Read The Titan's Curse Summary

The War for Kindness

by Jamil Zaki

Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Apathy, Science & Technology, Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Science & Nature, Self-Improvement, Sociology, Arts & Culture, Technology, Business & Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality

... Read The War for Kindness Summary

The Weight of All Things

by Sandra Benitez

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief

Tags Historical Fiction, Education, Education, Latin American Literature, Military & War, Arts & Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Weight of All Things, written by esteemed American author Sandra Benitez, is a lyrical novel portraying the effects of the civil war in El Salvador during the 1980s. This war between conservatives and communists is portrayed through the eyes of a child; detailing the brutality of both sides and showcasing the futility of war. Written in the third person omniscient style, the events of a brutal war are depicted with graphic detail, yet the... Read The Weight of All Things Summary

The White Album

by Joan Didion

Publication year 1979

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes The Past, Self Discovery, Literature, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt

Tags US History, Journalism, Politics & Government, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Women`s Studies, Trauma & Abuse, Grief & Death, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction, Biography

... Read The White Album Summary