The Hobbit is a fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. It follows the quest of home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by Smaug the dragon. Bilbo’s journey takes him from light-hearted, rural surroundings into more sinister territory. He encounters various magical creatures along the way, including dwarves, elves, and the creature Gollum.
The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J. D. Salinger, first published in 1951. The story is told from the perspective of Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old boy who is recovering from a nervous breakdown. Holden narrates his experiences in New York City over the course of a few days after being expelled from Pencey Prep, a prestigious boarding school. The book explores themes of adolescence, isolation, loss, and the superficiality of society.
The Brothers Karamazov is a novel written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It is a deeply philosophical and psychological novel that delves into the moral debates of God, free will, and morality. The story revolves around the lives of three brothers, each representing a different aspect of Russian reality, and their trials after their father’s murder.
The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical novel by Sylvia Plath. It follows the protagonist, Esther Greenwood, a successful young woman who becomes mentally ill. Esther’s mental breakdown is depicted with vivid, metaphor-laden prose, as she descends into a state of complete despair, eventually leading to suicide attempts and psychiatric treatment.
The Art Thief by Noah Charney is an intriguing mystery novel that revolves around three thefts from three different cities. These involve a Raphael painting in Rome, a pile of artworks in Paris, and a single altar piece in London. The story tracks the journeys of art crime specialist Gabriele Rossi, French art detective Genevieve Delacloche, and English art professor, Tom Kirk, as they unravel the connections between these seemingly unrelated crimes.
Surrender is a psychological thriller novel by Ray Loriga that takes the readers in a dystopian future where an unnamed man and his wife live in total isolation. When a stranger from the City arrives, they’re forced to surrender themselves to the City, where their memories are erased, and they’re given new identities.
Spare, a breathtaking novel by National Book Award finalist author Robert Reed, narrates a post-apocalyptic world where human beings are rare. The story follows a young protagonist’s journey through a landscape both familiar and alien, where he encounters various remnants of a bygone era.
In ‘Small Mercies’, author Richard Anderson explores the complexities of rural life in Australia, focusing on the Mercy family. The book portrays the struggles of daily life, family dynamics, and the impact of drought on rural communities. It’s a tale of resilience, survival, and the strength of community spirit amid adversity.
Slaughterhouse-Five is a darkly humorous critique of war and society, told through the story of Billy Pilgrim. He is an American soldier captured by the Germans during WWII and experiences the bombing of Dresden firsthand. The novel uniquely combines elements of science fiction, such as time travel and alien abduction, with historical facts.