Books & Literature

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!

The Lost Steps

by Alejo Carpentier

Publication year 1953

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Gender Identity, Indigenous Identity, Masculinity, Race, The Past, Marriage, Colonialism, Art, Literature, Music, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Magical Realism, Symbolic Narrative, Latin American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

The Lost Steps, first published in 1953 by Cuban novelist Alejo Carpentier, is a parody of the lost world novels that were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864) and Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World (1912). The novel follows an unnamed New York City composer on a quest for Indigenous musical instruments in South America. Carpentier, known for his roles as a... Read The Lost Steps Summary

The Magician

by Colm Tóibín

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Conflict, Sexual Identity, Family, Marriage, Siblings, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Education, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Art, Justice, Music, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, LGBTQ+, Military & War

... Read The Magician Summary

The Marriage Plot

by Jeffrey Eugenides

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Marriage, Self Discovery, Social Class, Literature

Tags Romance, American Literature, Relationships

Jeffrey Eugenides’s The Marriage Plot (2011), set in the early 1980s, follows a love triangle among a group of recent Brown University graduates. As the 20-somethings forge a path into adulthood, they explore the dynamics of love and commitment while wrestling with ways to imbue their lives with meaning and make a purposeful mark on the world. The title references a plot trope common to 19th-century British novels, such as those by Jane Austen, in... Read The Marriage Plot Summary

The Marvelous Land of Oz

by L. Frank Baum

Publication year 1904

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Hope, Love, Femininity, Gender Identity, Language, Masculinity, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Plants, Nature Versus Nurture, Objects & Materials, Place, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure

... Read The Marvelous Land of Oz Summary

The Master

by Colm Tóibín

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Sexual Identity, Literature, Loneliness, Love, Mental Health, Aging, Death, Family, Friendship, Social Class, Art

Tags Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, Irish Literature

... Read The Master Summary

The Message

by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Publication year 2024

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Guilt, Hope, Race, Colonialism, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Justice, Literature, Truth & Lies

Tags US History, Race & Racism, African American Literature, Biography

... Read The Message Summary

The New York Trilogy

by Paul Auster

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Language, Literature

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Postmodernism, Philosophy

The New York Trilogy is a series of three interconnected and experimental detective stories by American author Paul Auster, published in 1987. The three parts were originally published separately as City of Glass (1985), Ghosts (1986), and The Locked Room (1986). The trilogy is a postmodern reinterpretation of the detective novel, linking mystery with metafiction as it explores the meaning of literature, language, and identity. City of Glass was adapted into a graphic novel in... Read The New York Trilogy Summary

The Octopus

by Frank Norris

Publication year 1901

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Fate, Literature, Power & Greed, Justice, Science & Technology, Economics, The Past, Future, Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, Naturalism, Technology, Business & Economics, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction, Politics & Government

... Read The Octopus Summary

The Once and Future King

by T. H. White

Publication year 1958

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Conflict, Justice, Hope, Good & Evil, Literature

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale & Folklore

The Once and Future King (1958) by T. H. White is considered a classic of epic fantasy and (alongside Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, from which it draws inspiration) the definitive retelling of the legend of King Arthur. White’s tale spans the entire life of the legendary king, from his orphaned youth to his apprenticeship under Merlyn to the establishment of Camelot. The story is comprised of four separate novels, each of which focuses on... Read The Once and Future King Summary