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 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Bullying, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fame, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Animals, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Magical Realism
Publication year 1953
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Identity: Gender, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Magical Realism, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Latin American Literature, History: World, 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
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2024
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, African American Literature, Biography
Publication year 1990
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Language, Society: Nation, Society: Globalization, Society: Education
Tags Humor, History: World, Arts / Culture, History: U.S., Science / Nature, Travel Literature
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Historical Fiction, Vietnam War, Asian Literature, Military / War, Asian Literature, History: World
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: War, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, British Literature, History: World
Publication year 1985
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Post Modernism, 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
Publication year 1910
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Class
Tags Classic Fiction, German Literature
Publication year 1901
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Economics, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, Naturalism, Technology, Business / Economics, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government
Publication year 1958
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: 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
Publication year 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice
Publication year 1955
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Surrealism
Publication year 1961
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Relationships
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Historical Fiction, The Lost Generation, LGBTQ, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, French Literature
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Music, Natural World: Animals
Tags Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Animals, Relationships, Class, Music, Parenting, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1846
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Language
Tags Philosophy, American Literature, Arts / Culture, Literary Criticism, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Edgar Allan Poe’s essay “The Philosophy of Composition” first appeared in Graham’s Magazine in 1846. A year earlier, his poem “The Raven” made him a celebrity. In the essay, Poe describes the process he claims to have followed in writing that poem. The essay illustrates Poe’s aesthetic principles according to which a poem must have a certain length, “unity of effect,” and connection among its elements. It also presents his ideas concerning beauty in poetry... Read The Philosophy of Composition Summary
Publication year 1933
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Christian literature, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality