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.
Publication year 1989
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction
Publication year 2003
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: U.S., Immigration / Refugee, Race / Racism, Politics / Government
Publication year 1996
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Satire, Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Humor, Post Modernism, 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
Publication year 1915
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Lyric Poem, Military / War, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Grief / Death, Health / Medicine, Biography
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Diversity, Disability, Bullying, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Disability, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Midlife, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Identity: Race
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1999
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: 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
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Poverty, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2017
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Grief / Death, Social Justice, Race / Racism, American Literature, African American Literature
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Historical Fiction, Satire, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1992
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Jazz by Toni Morrison is the second installment of the Beloved trilogy. Morrison outlines the entirety of the plot in the first paragraph of the novel, allowing the rest of the text to explore the histories and emotional landscapes of the characters. Set in Harlem in the 1920s, Joe Trace has an affair with a young woman named Dorcas. When Dorcas later rejects Joe, he relentlessly searches for her. Joe sees Dorcas dancing with another... Read Jazz Summary
Publication year 1949
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Religion / Spirituality, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, African American Literature, Race / Racism, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice
Publication year 1864
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Place
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Classic Fiction, French Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Journey to the Center of the Earth was written by the French writer Jules Gabriel Verne (1828-1905), who is best known for Extraordinary Voyages, a series of science fiction/dystopian adventure stories that includes Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864) as well as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870) and Around the World in Eighty Days (1872). Verne was born in the French port city of Nantes and from a young age was... Read Journey To The Center Of The Earth Summary
Publication year 1976
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Military / War, History: World, Philosophy
Publication year 2001
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics
Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Education, Education, Business / Economics, Sociology, Philosophy
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Health / Medicine, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Science / Nature
Publication year 2014
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race
Tags Grief / Death, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence