Popular Study Guides

The Popular Study Guides Collection brings together a selection of our most-visited Guides in one convenient place. Featuring titles ranging from classic literature with enduring appeal to popular book club picks, this Collection represents a diverse array of literature readers can't get enough of.

How the Light Gets In

by Louise Penny

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Revenge, Forgiveness, Memory, Fear, Conflict

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Leadership

Published by Minotaur Books in 2013, How the Light Gets In is the ninth book in Louise Penny’s bestselling Chief Inspector Gamache mystery series. The series is famous for its heroic protagonist, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, the head of the homicide division at the Sûreté du Québec. The novel comprises of three narratives: the murder of Constance Ouellet, the internal conflict at the Sûreté, and the mysterious death of a clerk at the Ministry of... Read How the Light Gets In Summary

How To Read Literature Like A Professor

by Thomas C. Foster

Publication year 2003

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Education, Literature, Trust & Doubt, Language

Tags Education, Education, Literary Criticism, Self-Improvement

Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines is a nonfiction book that aims to teach readers how to improve their reading skills. Foster, a longtime university professor, focuses on techniques that enable readers to puzzle out some of the deeper meanings of a story that exist below the surface level of the plot. Harper published the book in 2003, and the 2014... Read How To Read Literature Like A Professor Summary

Human Acts

by Han Kang

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Justice, Politics & Government, Community, Memory

Tags Historical Fiction, Grief & Death, Social Justice, Korean Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, World History

... Read Human Acts Summary

Humankind

by Rutger Bregman

Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Community, Politics & Government, Good & Evil

Tags World History, Psychology, Philosophy, Politics & Government, Sociology, Anthropology, Dutch Literature, Anthropology, Science & Nature, Psychology, Philosophy

... Read Humankind Summary

I Am Still Alive

by Kate Alice Marshall

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Revenge, Disability, Coming of Age, Death, Environment, Food, Fathers, Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Survival Fiction, Action & Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read I Am Still Alive 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

Imago

by Octavia E. Butler

Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Power & Greed, Femininity, Equality, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction

... Read Imago Summary

Infinite Jest

by David Foster Wallace

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Satirical Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Humor, Postmodernism, American Literature, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Sports

Infinite Jest is a fiction novel by David Foster Wallace. First published in 1996, the novel has an unconventional narrative structure with hundreds of extensive footnotes. Exploring themes of addiction, alienation, and the plight of modern existence, Infinite Jest is famous for its complexity and humor. The novel has been praised by critics and heralded as one of the most important literary works of the 20th century. This guide was written using the 2014 Abacus... Read Infinite Jest Summary

Inheritance

by Christopher Paolini

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction

Inheritance is the final book in American author Christopher Paolini’s tetralogy, The Inheritance Cycle, which was published between 2002 and 2011. Inheritance is set in the fictional realm of Alagaësia, a typical epic fantasy setting populated with humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Dragons. The young protagonist, Eragon, finally reaches the climactic conclusion of his journey as a Dragon Rider. After traveling across the land, gathering allies, and learning how to wield magic with his Dragon, Saphira... Read Inheritance Summary

In Love

by Amy Bloom

Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Marriage, Love, Grief, Disability, Death

Tags Grief & Death, Health, Biography

... Read In Love Summary

Intermezzo

by Sally Rooney

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Forgiveness, Love, Nostalgia, Regret, Disability, Mental Health, Midlife, Place, Siblings, Social Class, Economics, Literature, Wins & Losses

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

... Read Intermezzo Summary

Interpreter of Maladies

by Jhumpa Lahiri

Publication year 1999

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Immigration, Family, Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Indian Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature

Interpreter of Maladies is a 1999 short story collection by Jhumpa Lahiri, who is an American of Indian (specifically Bengali) heritage. Lahiri’s publishing debut, the collection was well-received and garnered many awards, including the 2000 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction and the PEN/Hemingway Prize. Its nine stories are works of literary realism that consider the immigrant experience in the United States and contemporary Indian life. They have been held up as a model for high cultural... Read Interpreter of Maladies Summary