The Dutch philosopher Erasmus said, “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” Why do we value books and literature so highly? This thematic collection gathers books that offer unique insights into the power, energy, and appeal of, well, books!
Publication year 2018
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Language
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Diversity, Social Justice
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Historical Fiction, Health / Medicine, Asian Literature
Publication year 2009
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture, Diversity, Education, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Western
The Dark Tower by Stephen King is the climactic conclusion to his epic Dark Tower series, blending fantasy, horror, science fiction, and Western genres. The novel, like the series as a whole, follows protagonist Roland Deschain on his relentless quest to reach the Dark Tower and save the interconnected multiverse from collapsing. The book was part of the inspiration for the 2017 film The Dark Tower, as well as a planned television series based on... Read The Dark Tower Summary
Publication year 1982
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction, Psychology, Psychology
Originally published in 1982, The Day They Came to Arrest the Book is Nat Hentoff’s only novel for youth. Hentoff was a multi-talented scholar and entertainer, known for his years as a columnist at the legendary Village Voice, an alternative newspaper in New York City. He was also a music critic and professor. Hentoff was regarded as an eloquent, tireless advocate for freedom of speech; he made his arguments in essay form for adults in... Read The Day They Came to Arrest the Book Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Politics / Government, History: World, Biography, Social Justice
Publication year 1967
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Language
Tags Philosophy, Education, Education, Arts / Culture, Literary Criticism, French Literature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1353
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender
Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, Italian Literature, Gender / Feminism, Religion / Spirituality, Class, Education, Education, History: World
The Decameron is a collection of short stories by Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio, completed in 1353. The book was published in the wake of the Black Death, a bubonic plague which swept through Europe in the 14th century. The plague killed a large percentage of the population of Boccaccio’s native Florence. Boccaccio uses the epidemic as a key part of the book’s framing narrative, as in the book, a group of young Florentine men and... Read The Decameron Summary
Publication year 1889
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Philosophy, Victorian Period, Education, Education, Arts / Culture, Literary Criticism, History: World, Philosophy, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture, Class, History: European, Military / War, Gender / Feminism, British Literature, History: World, Romance
Publication year 1964
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags History: World, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Literary Criticism, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Written by C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), The Discarded Image is a 1964 nonfiction book that explores the literary landscape of Europe during the Medieval Era. Lewis, who is best known for his children’s book series The Chronicles of Narnia, was also a literature professor at Oxford and Cambridge, as well as one of the most widely celebrated Christian apologists of his time. Published shortly after his death, The Discarded Image explores how medieval writers and... Read The Discarded Image Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Identity: Language, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Nation, Society: Education, Self Discovery, Relationships: Fathers
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Free verse, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, History: African , African American Literature, History: World
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 1743
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Satire, British Literature, Georgian Era, Education, Education, History: World, Humor, Classic Fiction
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Lyric Poem, Ancient Greece, Italian Literature, Classical Period, History: World, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Midlife, Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Identity: Language, Society: Community, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Philosophy, Class, Arts / Culture, Depression / Suicide, Relationships, French Literature
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery was published in 2006 and translated by Alison Anderson into English for publication in 2008. The novel has been translated into more than 40 languages and was a major bestseller in France. The novel was adapted into a film called The Hedgehog (Le Hérisson) in 2009 to critical acclaim. The Elegance of the Hedgehog follows the narrative point of view of two erudite narrators: Renée, a concierge... Read The Elegance of the Hedgehog Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Romance, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams
Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor, Children's Literature
Publication year 1908
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Existentialism
Publication year 1752
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Language, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humor, Classic Fiction