One Hundred Years of Solitude is a seminal work of magical realism by Gabriel García Márquez. It tells the story of the Buendía family over seven generations in the mythical town of Macondo. The novel explores themes of solitude, destiny, war, love, lust, death, and human folly.
Of Mice and Men is a novella written by John Steinbeck. Published in 1937, it tells the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression in the United States.
Normal People by Sally Rooney follows the complicated relationship between Connell and Marianne, two teenagers from different social backgrounds in a small town in Ireland. Their bond continues through their years at Trinity College, Dublin, despite the changing dynamics of their friendship. The novel explores themes of love, power, class, and the struggles of young adulthood.
Mixed Signals by Liz Curtis Higgs is a romantic novel about Belle O’Brien, a radio producer, who, after years of loneliness, falls in love with a man she’s never met – a DJ with a deep and seductive voice. However, she must choose between her unseen love and her handsome boss who seems to be interested in her.
Lord of the Flies is a gripping and allegorical tale by William Golding. It explores the primitivity beneath the decorum of civilization and questions mankind’s inherent nature. Is it civilized or driven by primal and savage instinct? A group of boys, stranded on an uninhabited island, attempt to form a functional society, which ultimately descends into savagery and chaos.
Little Women is a classic novel written by Louisa May Alcott. The narrative revolves around the lives of four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March—detailing their passage from childhood to womanhood. The story explores themes like domesticity, work, love, and friendship against the backdrop of the American Civil War.
Set in the 1960s, Lessons in Chemistry revolves around Elizabeth Zott, an incredibly talented chemist. Shunned from the male-dominated scientific world, she finds a new path on a TV cooking show. Here, she uses her scientific knowledge to explain why recipes work, and becomes an unlikely national hero, challenging gender norms and societal expectations.
Jerusalem is a novel by British author Alan Moore, released in 2016. The novel is a sprawling epic that weaves together the stories of the inhabitants of Moore’s hometown of Northampton, England, across different timelines and realities. The book explores themes of time, existence, poverty, and the supernatural, all tied together by a deep love for the city of Northampton itself.
Jane Eyre is a novel by English writer Charlotte Bronte. Published in 1847 under the pen name ‘Currer Bell’, it follows the emotional development of a young orphan girl named Jane Eyre. After an unhappy childhood, Jane becomes a governess and falls in love with her employer, Edward Rochester. They are about to marry when a dark secret from Rochester’s past is revealed, leading to a dramatic climax.