Last collection of books

Awakening

1920, John Galsworthy

"Awakening" is a novella that tells the story of a young man named Jon who is coming of age and grappling with his feelings for a woman named Fleur. Despite the fact that their families have a long-standing feud, Jon and Fleur are drawn to each other, leading to a complex and emotional love story. T

In Chancery

1920, John Galsworthy

"In Chancery" is the second novel in a series that explores the lives of an upper-middle-class British family, the Forsytes. The story focuses on the marital discord between Soames and Irene Forsyte, their subsequent divorce, and the impact of their separation on the family. It also introduces the c

Indian Summer of a Forsyte

1918, John Galsworthy

"Indian Summer of a Forsyte" is a continuation of the Forsyte Saga, a series that explores the lives of an upper-middle-class English family. The story focuses on the patriarch Soames Forsyte, who is struggling to accept the dissolution of his marriage and his unrequited love for his ex-wife Irene.

The Man of Property

1906, John Galsworthy

"The Man of Property" is a novel set in the late 19th century England, focusing on the wealthy Forsyte family. The story revolves around Soames Forsyte, a successful solicitor who views everything, including his beautiful wife Irene, as property. His possessiveness and inability to comprehend love a

The Forsyte Saga

1906, John Galsworthy

"The Forsyte Saga" is a series of three novels and two interludes that chronicle the lives of a wealthy, upper-middle-class family in England during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The saga explores themes of social class, wealth, love, and the changing societal norms of the time, with a par

The Poems of Robert Frost

1913, Robert Frost

This collection of poetry showcases the work of a renowned American poet, featuring his signature exploration of rural life, complex social and philosophical themes, and vividly depicted New England landscapes. The anthology includes some of his most famous poems, marked by a mastery of language, pr

The Hardy Boys

1927, Franklin W. Dixon

This book is a classic children's mystery series that follows the adventures of two teenage brothers, known for their detective skills. The boys, who live in the fictional town of Bayport with their famous detective father, often find themselves embroiled in various mysteries and adventures, using t

World of Wonders

1975, Robertson Davies

"World of Wonders" is the third novel in a trilogy that follows the life of a man named Paul Dempster, who is kidnapped as a child by a magician and later becomes a world-renowned illusionist himself. The story, narrated by his childhood friend, explores themes of identity, fate, and the magic of li

The Manticore

1972, Robertson Davies

The novel follows a man who, after the death of his father, seeks therapy to understand the complex relationship he had with him. Through the therapy sessions, the protagonist uncovers the depth of his father's influence on him, as well as his own personal identity. The narrative explores themes of

Fifth Business

1970, Robertson Davies

The novel follows the life of Dunstan Ramsay, a man haunted by a childhood accident that he believes he caused. The book explores his guilt and its impact on his life, as well as his relationships with others, including a woman he loves but cannot have, a brilliant but troubled friend, and a saintly

The Deptford Trilogy

1970, Robertson Davies

"The Deptford Trilogy" is a series of interconnected novels that explore the life of a man from a small Canadian town named Deptford, and the ripple effects of a single childhood event that shaped the lives of three boys. The narrative weaves themes of love, guilt, art, and the complexity of human n

Tarzan of the Apes

1912, Edgar Rice Burroughs

This novel follows the story of a young boy raised by apes in the African jungle after his aristocratic parents are marooned and later perish. He grows up learning the laws of the jungle and the ways of the wild, eventually becoming the leader of his ape tribe. His life takes a turn when he encounte

The Works of Max Beerbohm

1902, Max Beerbohm

This collection presents the works of a renowned British essayist and caricaturist known for his wit and satire. The book features a variety of his writings, including essays, parodies, and short stories, all imbued with his unique style of humor and keen observations of human nature. Additionally,

Poems of W. H. Auden

1930, W. H. Auden

This book is a collection of poems by a renowned 20th-century poet. The poems cover a wide range of themes, including love, politics, religion, and the human condition. The poet's unique style combines traditional forms with modernist free verse and his work is known for its technical achievement, e

Carry On, Jeeves

1925, P. G. Wodehouse

"Carry On, Jeeves" is a humorous collection of short stories that revolve around the antics of a young, wealthy, and somewhat clueless bachelor and his ingenious valet. The valet often assists his employer in navigating through various social dilemmas, romantic entanglements, and personal gaffes, pr

The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas

1881, Machado de Assis

The novel is a unique and satirical work, narrated by a dead man, Bras Cubas, who recounts his life from beyond the grave. The story is filled with ironic humor and philosophical musings as Bras Cubas explores his past, his relationships, and the societal norms of his time. The narrative breaks conv

Poems of Emily Dickinson

1890, Emily Dickinson

This collection of poetry encapsulates the works of a renowned 19th-century American poet, known for her unique style and themes. The poems, often characterized by their unconventional punctuation and capitalization, explore a wide range of topics including death, immortality, love, and nature. The

Richard III

1592, William Shakespeare

"Richard III" is a historical play that follows the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of its titular character. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is depicted as a ruthless, power-hungry man who will stop at nothing to take the throne of England, resorting to manipulation, deceit, and

The Poems of Wilfred Owen

1920, Wilfred Owen

This collection of poignant and powerful poetry provides an intimate look into the horrors of World War I, as seen through the eyes of a soldier. The poems, filled with raw emotion and vivid imagery, explore themes of war, death, and the human spirit. The author's personal experiences on the battlef

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion

1903, Unknown

"The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" is a controversial and widely debunked text that purports to describe a global conspiracy by Jews to control the world. This fabricated text, first published in Russia in the early 20th century, has been used throughout history to fuel anti-Semitism and justify

Lyrical Ballads

1798, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"Lyrical Ballads" is a collection of poems that marks the beginning of the English Romantic Movement in literature. The book features a series of poems that blend traditional forms with a direct, realistic style and themes focusing on rural life, the supernatural, and the struggles of common people.

An Anatomical Exercise on the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Living Beings

1628, William Harvey

This influential medical text is a detailed study on the circulatory system, specifically focusing on the movement of blood and the function of the heart in living organisms. The author challenges the long-standing medical theories of his time, arguing against the belief that blood was created in th

Atlas

1595, Gerardus Mercator

"Atlas" is a seminal work in the field of cartography, offering a collection of maps and scholarly texts that revolutionized the way the world was perceived in the 16th century. The author, a renowned geographer and cartographer, introduces an innovative projection system that allowed for more accur

Canon of Medicine

1025, Avicenna

This book is a five-volume medical encyclopedia written in the 11th century. It provides a complete system of medicine according to the principles of Galen (and Hippocrates). The work covers all aspects of human health, including diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, as well as pharmaceut

Kama Sutra

2024, Vātsyāyana

This ancient Indian text is a guide to virtuous and gracious living that discusses the nature of love, family life, and other aspects pertaining to pleasure-oriented faculties of human life. It is a comprehensive manual on the art of love and sexual behavior, providing detailed advice on courtship,

The Tao of Physics

1975, Fritjof Capra

The book explores the parallels between modern physics and eastern mysticism. It draws connections between quantum mechanics, relativity theory and concepts in Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Zen. The author argues that the two seemingly disparate areas of study - physics and mysticism - both seek t

Burr

1973, Gore Vidal

"Burr" is a historical novel that reexamines the life and times of Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the United States, who is most famous for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel. The narrative is presented in the form of a fictional memoir written by Burr's private secretary, which provides

The Natural

1952, Bernard Malamud

The book tells the story of a baseball prodigy named Roy Hobbs, whose career is almost ended when a mysterious woman shoots him. After years of recovery, he returns to the game as a middle-aged rookie and leads his team to the top of the league. However, his past mistakes and personal flaws lead to

Crow Lake

2002, Mary Lawson

"Crow Lake" is a compelling novel that explores the dynamics of a rural Canadian family dealing with tragedy. After the death of their parents, the Morrison children struggle to stay together and maintain their family farm. The story is narrated by the youngest daughter, who is now a successful zool

City of the Beasts

2002, Isabel Allende

A 15-year-old boy is forced to move in with his eccentric grandmother after his mother falls ill. Together, they embark on a journey to the Amazon rainforest in search of a legendary, healing beast. Along the way, they encounter various challenges, including dangerous animals, harsh environments, an

Chinese Cinderella

1999, Adeline Yen Mah

This book is a memoir of a young girl growing up in China during the 1940s and 1950s. The protagonist is considered unlucky by her family after her mother dies giving birth to her. She is mistreated by her stepmother and largely ignored by her father, leading to a lonely and challenging childhood. D

Chanda's Secrets

2004, Allan Stratton

Chanda's Secrets is a poignant story set in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the protagonist, a sixteen-year-old girl, grapples with the harsh reality of AIDS in her community. The novel explores the stigma and fear associated with the disease, as well as the courage and resilience of its characters. The p

Born Confused

2002, Tanuja Desai Hidier

The novel tells the story of an Indian-American teenage girl who struggles with her cultural identity. She feels caught between the traditional Indian values of her parents and the mainstream American culture she experiences every day. As she navigates high school, friendships, and first love, she b

American Shaolin

2007, Matthew Polly

The book is a captivating memoir of a young American's experience in China where he spends two years studying at the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of kung fu. The narrative follows his journey as he immerses himself in Chinese culture, learns Mandarin, and trains with the monks, becoming the first

Retold African American Folktales

1996, David Haynes

This book is a collection of African American folktales that have been retold and adapted for a modern audience. The stories are diverse and filled with magic, wisdom, and humor, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of African American communities. They present a variety of characters and situation

Enrique's Journey

2006, Sonia Nazario

"Enrique's Journey" is a poignant narrative about a young Honduran boy who embarks on a perilous journey through Central America and Mexico to reach his mother in the United States. The story, based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper series, explores the harsh realities faced by immigrants, the d

A Book of Luminous Things

1996, Czesław Miłosz

"A Book of Luminous Things" is a collection of international poetry, curated by a renowned poet himself. The anthology is divided into thematic sections, each prefaced by a brief introduction from the editor. The poems cover a wide range of themes such as nature, love, history, and the essence of hu

Funny in Farsi

2003, Firoozeh Dumas

This memoir tells the story of an Iranian family who migrated to America in the 1970s, offering a humorous take on their experiences. The narrative focuses on the author's childhood and adolescence, exploring themes of cultural identity, assimilation, and the immigrant experience in America. It high

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

1999, Lensey Namioka

Set in early 20th century China, the book tells the story of a young girl who challenges societal norms by refusing to have her feet bound, a painful tradition that symbolizes beauty and status. This decision leads to her being disowned by her family. She then becomes a servant for a wealthy family,

In My Hands

1999, Irene Opdyke

This memoir recounts the story of a Polish woman who, during World War II, worked as a housekeeper for a Nazi major while secretly aiding the Jewish resistance. She risked her life by hiding Jews in the basement of the Nazi officer's house, stealing food and supplies for them, and eventually leading

Dreaming in Cuban

1992, Cristina García

"Dreaming in Cuban" is a multi-generational narrative that explores the lives of several women from a Cuban family, spanning from the 1930s to the 1980s. The story oscillates between Cuba and the United States, reflecting on the Cuban revolution, exile, and identity. Through the perspectives of each

Dawn

1961, Elie Wiesel

"Dawn" is a poignant novel that explores the moral complexities of the aftermath of the Holocaust through the eyes of a young Holocaust survivor turned freedom fighter. He is tasked with the execution of a British officer in retribution for the British execution of a Jewish prisoner. As he awaits th

Before We Were Free

2002, Julia Alvarez

This novel tells the story of a young girl growing up in the Dominican Republic during a time of political turmoil. The protagonist and her family experience the fear and uncertainty of living under a dictatorship, as they are constantly surveilled by the government's secret police. Throughout the b

All But My Life

1957, Gerda Weissmann Klein

"All But My Life" is a poignant memoir of a young woman's six-year ordeal as a victim of Nazi cruelty. The narrative follows her life from a peaceful, upper-middle-class childhood in Bielitz, Poland, through her horrifying experiences and loss during the Holocaust, to her miraculous survival and mar

Pirate Freedom

2007, Gene Wolfe

As a young parish priest, Father Christopher has heard many confessions, but his own tale is more astounding than any revelation he has ever encountered in the confessional . . . for Chris was once a pirate captain, hundreds of years before his birth.Fresh from the monastery, the former novice finds

What Is the What

2006, Dave Eggers

The novel is a fictionalized account of a real-life Sudanese refugee, Valentino Achak Deng, who was forced to flee from his village during the Second Sudanese Civil War. The story follows his harrowing journey as a child through Ethiopia and Kenya, his life in various refugee camps, and his eventual

Living Up The Street

1985, Gary Soto

"Living Up The Street" is a collection of autobiographical essays that explore the experiences of a Mexican-American boy growing up in the barrios of Fresno, California. The book delves into the realities of working-class life, highlighting themes of poverty, violence, and the struggle for identity.

There Are Doors

2001, Gene Wolfe

There Are Doors is the story of a man who falls in love with a goddess from an alternate universe. She flees him, but he pursues her through doorways-interdimensional gateways-to the other place, determined to sacrifice his life, if necessary, for her love. For in her world, to be her mate . . . is

I Have Lived a Thousand Years

1997, Livia Bitton-Jackson

This memoir tells the harrowing story of a 13-year-old Jewish girl's survival during the Holocaust. The narrative follows her life from her quiet existence in Hungary through the horrors of Auschwitz and other concentration camps, and finally to her liberation and the struggle to rebuild her life in

Red Scarf Girl

1997, Ji-li Jiang

"Red Scarf Girl" is a memoir of the author's childhood during the Cultural Revolution in China. The story follows a 12-year-old girl from a previously respected family who is labeled a class enemy and forced to turn against her own parents. The book provides a deeply personal account of the extreme

Obasan

1981, Joy Kogawa

The book is a semi-autobiographical novel that tells the story of a Japanese-Canadian woman named Naomi, who reflects on her experiences during World War II. As a child, Naomi was forced into internment along with thousands of other Japanese-Canadians, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The narr

Chronicle of a Death Foretold

1981, Gabriel García Márquez

The novel unfolds as a murder mystery, revealing the planned revenge killing of a young man named Santiago Nasar by the Vicario brothers. They believe Santiago has dishonored their sister, Angela, by taking her virginity before her marriage to another man. Despite the impending murder being common k

A Borrowed Man

2015, Gene Wolfe

In the twenty-second century, our civilization has retained many familiar characteristics, but the population is smaller. Technology has made significant advances, and there are more robots--and clones.One such is E.A. Smithe, a borrowed person, a clone who lives on a third-tier shelf in a public li

Annie John

1985, Jamaica Kincaid

The novel centers around the coming-of-age story of the protagonist, Annie John, in Antigua. Throughout her childhood and adolescence, she grapples with her complex relationship with her mother, her self-identity, and the colonial influence of the British on her island home. As she matures, her once

Exodus from the Long Sun

1997, Gene Wolfe

Wolfe's recent multi-volume novels have invited interpretation as religious allegory. In the "Book of the Long Sun," the fourth volume of which is Exodus from the Long Sun, religion is at least an inspirational starting point. This book is set on a starship, the Whorl, whose inhabitants have lost tr

Kaffir Boy

1986, Mark Mathabane

This autobiography tells the story of a young boy growing up in apartheid-era South Africa. Despite enduring extreme poverty, brutal police raids, and constant racial discrimination, the protagonist manages to escape his harsh reality through education and tennis. His determination and resilience ev

Soldier of Arete

1990, Gene Wolfe

The second volume of Gene Wolfe's powerful story of Latro, a Roman mercenary who, while fighting in Greece, received a head injury that deprived him of his short-term memory. In return it gave him the ability to converse with supernatural creatures, gods and goddesses who invisibly inhabit the ancie

Three Cups of Tea

2006, David Oliver Relin

The book tells the true story of a man who, after a failed attempt to climb K2, the world's second highest mountain, is taken in by the people of a small village in Pakistan. Touched by their kindness and noticing their lack of educational facilities, he promises to build them a school. The story fo

Nectar in a Sieve

1954, Kamala Markandaya

"Nectar in a Sieve" is a tale of an Indian peasant woman named Rukmani who endures the hardships of rural poverty, natural disasters, and personal tragedy, while trying to raise her children and maintain her marriage. The book explores themes of love, hope, and the strength of the human spirit again

Soldier of Sidon

2006, Gene Wolfe

Latro forgets everything when he sleeps. Writing down his experiences every day and reading his journal anew each morning gives him a poignantly tenuous hold on himself, but his story's hold on readers is powerful indeed. The two previous novels, combined in Latro in the Mist (Soldier of the Mist an