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!

There Is No Antimemetics Division

by qntm

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Loneliness, Memory, Language, Mental Health, Death, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Marriage, Teamwork, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy

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The Sand Child

by Tahar Ben Jelloun

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Literature, Power & Greed

Tags Magical Realism, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Gender & Feminism, African Literature, African American Literature, French Literature, LGBTQ+, Classic Fiction

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The Sandman Omnibus Vol. 1

by Neil Gaiman

Publication year 2015

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Family, Truth & Lies, Apathy, Conflict, Forgiveness, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Loyalty & Betrayal, Literature, Justice, Fate

Tags Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Arts & Culture, Love & Sexuality, Grief & Death

... Read The Sandman Omnibus Vol. 1 Summary

The Savage Detectives

by Roberto Bolaño, Transl. Natasha Wimmer

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Childhood & Youth, Art

Tags Latin American Literature, Postmodernism

Roberto Bolaño’s literary novel The Savage Detectives, first published in Spanish as Los detectives salvajes in 1998, is a semi-autobiographical work that fictionalizes the author’s experiences as a co-founder of the Infrarealist poetry movement in 1970s Mexico City. The novel centers on Arturo Belano and Ulises Lima, two young poets who lead a rebellious literary movement known as visceral realism. Divided into three parts, the story follows the duo’s chaotic adventures and their obsessive search... Read The Savage Detectives Summary

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

by James Thurber

Publication year 1939

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Literature, Masculinity, Marriage

Tags American Literature, Humor, Classic Fiction, Satirical Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

First published in the New Yorker in 1939, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is James Thurber’s short story about the flamboyant fantasy life of a timid suburban Everyman. A gentle satire of the human imagination (among other things), the story struck an immediate and lasting chord in the midcentury American imagination and is widely regarded as a comic masterpiece. Its distinctive mixture of pathos and parody made it one of the most anthologized short... Read The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Summary

The Secrets We Kept

by Lara Prescott

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Self Discovery, Sexual Identity, Politics & Government, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Russian Literature, World History

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The Shadow of the Wind

by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Hate & Anger, Good & Evil

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Gothic Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy

Structured as a mystery wrapped within a story within a story, The Shadow of the Wind by the Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón and translated  into English by Lucia Graves, explores themes of love and the importance of storytelling in keeping alive memories of the dead. Part mystery, part potboiler, part romance, and part gothic horror story, the novel mingles realism and magical realism elements into a dramatic plot, while also delineating a large cast... Read The Shadow of the Wind Summary

The Shallows

by Nicholas Carr

Publication year 2010

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Science & Technology, Literature, Future, Memory

Tags Science & Nature, Technology, Sociology, Philosophy, Information Age, Education, Education, Technology, Psychology, Psychology, Self-Improvement

The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains (2011) is a nonfiction book by writer, editor, and media critic Nicholas Carr. Carr is a prolific nonfiction writer known for his analysis of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and human society. A 2011 Pulitzer Prize Finalist, The Shallows combines elements of personal essay, journalism, and academic research to explore The Impact of the Internet on Cognitive Processes, The Nature of Learning and Media in the... Read The Shallows Summary

The Sleeper and the Spindle

by Neil Gaiman

Publication year 2014

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Memory, Revenge, Femininity, Gender Identity, Aging, Social Class, Beauty, Good & Evil, Literature, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale & Folklore

The Sleeper and the Spindle is a standalone short story written by English American author Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Chris Riddell. It first appeared unillustrated in the 2013 anthology Rag & Bones: New Twists on Timeless Tales. The story is a loose retelling of Sleeping Beauty, featuring two unnamed female characters who act as reimagined versions of the sleeping princess and of Snow White. It uses classic fairy tale tropes and motifs to upend... Read The Sleeper and the Spindle Summary

The Storied Life Of Aj Fikry

by Gabrielle Zevin

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature

Tags Korean Literature, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a 2013 novel by Gabrielle Zevin (Elsewhere, Young Jane Young, Out of the Easy, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow) that centers on the titular character, owner of a bookshop on Alice Island, a fictional island off the coast of Massachusetts. A.J. Fikry’s stubborn and bitter personality is on full display at the start of the story when he learns that his favorite publisher’s agent has died—and been replaced by... Read The Storied Life Of Aj Fikry Summary