The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner

Title:

The Sound and the Fury

Author:

William Faulkner

Year:

1929

Country:

America

Themes:

The dark, underlying nature of that exists in the South

The pain of unattainable love

The hatred of things that are abnormal

Synopsis:

The story of a Southern family struggling to maintain its reputation amidst a number of social aberrations.

This Side of Paradise - F Scott Fitzgerald

Title:

This Side of Paradise

Author:

F Scott Fitzgerald

Year:

1920

Country:

America

Themes:

The quest for self-knowledge

The barriers that social classes present to romance

The difficulty in moving up or down in social position

Synopsis:

The story of a young man on a quest to define himself and discover the meaning of life.

The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

Title:

The Great Gatsby

Author:

F Scott Fitzgerald

Year:

1925

Country:

America

Themes:

The desire to obtain that which we cannot reach

The emptiness that exists within the upper class

The pain of rejection and the lengths men will go to rid themselves of it

Synopsis:

The story of a fabulously rich and successful man trying to win the heart of his former lover.

The Last King of Scotland - Giles Foden

Title:

The Last King of Scotland

Author:

Giles Foden

Year:

1998

Country:

England

Themes:

The pain of trying to fix a problem that is impossible to solve

The ruthlessness of evil men once they are empowered

The difficulty of escaping a terrible situation

Synopsis:

The story of a young Scottish doctor who finds himself employed by the tyrannical Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

Lord of the Flies - William Golding

Title:

Lord of the Flies

Author:

William Golding

Year:

1954

Country:

England

Themes:

The loss of innocence and its effects on humanity

The temptation to act purely out of self-interest

The conflict that is bound to arise between natural-born leaders

Synopsis:

The story of a group of young boys stranded on a tropical island and their struggle to survive and prosper.

Mythology - Edith Hamilton

Title:

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes

Author:

Edith Hamilton

Year:

1942

Country:

America

Themes:

The nature of supernatural beings

The similarities that occur within the mythologies of various historical cultures

The Greek Epic tradition as the foundation for future works of literature

Synopsis:

A collection of the most famous and most influential works of mythology throughout human civilization.

The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Title:

The Scarlet Letter

Author:

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Year:

1850

Country:

America

Themes:

The permanent and aggressive nature of human sin

The lasting effects of human decisions

The relationship between hatred and misunderstanding

Synopsis:

The story of a young woman who gives birth to a child as a result of an adulterous affair and suffers the vicious scorn of her community.

The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway

Title:

The Old Man and the Sea

Author:

Ernest Hemingway

Year:

1952

Country:

America

Themes:

The desire within all men to engage in combat

The lengths men will go to in order to protect their pride

The inherent symmetry between man and his fellow living creatures

Synopsis:

The story of an aging fisherman who sets out into the Atlantic Ocean to do battle with a behemoth Marlin.

A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway

Title:

A Farewell to Arms

Author:

Ernest Hemingway

Year:

1929

Country:

America

Themes:

The emotional devastation of World War I

The difficulty to allow yourself to love after witnessing atrocities firsthand

The manipulation that some people can employ to get what they want

Synopsis:

The story of wounded war veteran balancing his romantic life with the emotional devastation from which he is trying to escape.

The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway

Title:

The Sun Also Rises

Author:

Ernest Hemingway

Year:

1926

Country:

America

Themes:

The devastation of World War I on the generation it affected

The struggle to find fulfillment in life after love has been lost

The delusions that people can pursue when trying to find happiness

Synopsis:

The story of the lost generation drinking, partying and carousing throughout Europe in an attempt to bury the painful reality of their lives.

The Outsiders - SE Hinton

Title:

The Outsiders

Author:

SE Hinton

Year:

1967

Country:

America

Themes:

The separation between social classes

The brotherhood that can form between close friends in challenging times

The sacrifices humans are willing to make for those they love

Synopsis:

The story of a bitter rivalry fought for pride between the impoverished Greasers and the privileged Socs.

King Leopold's Ghost - Adam Hochschild

Title:

King Leopold’s Ghost

Author:

Adam Hochschild

Year:

1999

Country:

America

Themes:

The separation between the civilized world and tribal communities

The devastation that advanced technology can inflict on an unprepared, primitive civilization

The desire to build and leave a legacy

Synopsis:

The story of the devastation inflicted upon the Congo by King Leopold II of Belgium during the beginning of the Twentieth Century.

The Odyssey - Homer

Title:

The Odyssey

Author:

Homer (Translated by Alexander Pope)

Year:

850 BCE

Country:

Greece

Themes:

The desire to return home

The advantage that wit and cunning can provide

The price a mortal must pay for angering a higher power

Synopsis:

The story of Odysseus’ long and challenging journey home in the aftermath of the Trojan War.

The Iliad - Homer

Title:

The Iliad

Author:

Homer (Translated by Alexander Pope)

Year:

850 BCE

Country:

Greece

Themes:

The desire to leave a legacy  

The obligation to protect one’s home

The high cost of war

Synopsis:

The story of the ten year Trojan War and its various combatants.

American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis

Title:

American Psycho

Author:

Bret Easton Ellis

Year:

1991

Country:

America

Themes:

The horror that can lie beneath a seemingly fine exterior  

The cruelty of corporate America

The danger that is present within sociopaths

Synopsis:

The story of a delusional corporate banker who entertains high society by day and commits acts of horror by night.

Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston

Title:

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Author:

Zora Neale Hurston

Year:

1937

Country:

America

Themes:

The lengths that people will go to when in love

The struggles to overcome poverty

The desire to honor loved ones when they die

Synopsis:

The story of a colored woman trying to make a good life for herself in the American South.

Jerusalem, 1913 - Amy Dockser Marcus

Title:

Jerusalem, 1913

Author:

Amy Dockser Marcus

Year:

2008

Country:

America

Themes:

The fact that both sides of a conflict have their own justifications  

The importance of monetary dominance

The conflicts that arise between neighboring ethnic groups

Synopsis:

The story of the Zionist movement and its long-term effect on the Middle East.

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Title:

To Kill a Mockingbird

Author:

Harper Lee

Year:

1960

Country:

America

Themes:

The viciousness of racial injustice  

The types of courage that can exist in all people

The loss of innocence that is inflicted from outsiders

Synopsis:

The story of a small Southern town engaged in a heated trial fueled by prejudice.

The Trial - Franz Kafka

Title:

The Trial

Author:

Franz Kafka

Year:

1925

Country:

Austria

Themes:

The confusing nature of bureaucracy  

The tendency to deny the severity of a bad situation

The difficulty that lies in depending on others

Synopsis:

The story of a man engaged in a mysterious trial against an unknown court system.

Ulysses - James Joyce

Title:

Ulysses

Author:

James Joyce

Year:

1922

Country:

Ireland

Themes:

The desire to possess a father-son relationship

The strain of marriage on people who no longer love each other

The guilt that threatens to overwhelm us all

Synopsis:

The story of an ordinary man going about his life in Dublin.

Martin the Warrior - Brian Jacques

Title:

Martin the Warrior

Author:

Brian Jacques

Year:

1993

Country:

England

Themes:

The lengths people will go to escape a tyrant

The changes that can a great leader can bring forth

The idea that greatness can manifest itself in both good and evil ways

Synopsis:

The story of a young mouse leading a rebellion against an evil tyrant and becoming a legend.

Redwall - Brian Jacques

Title:

Redwall

Author:

Brian Jacques

Year:

1986

Country:

England

Themes:

The great things that people can accomplish unexpectedly

The eternal struggle between good and evil

The path necessary to becoming a true hero

Synopsis:

The story of a young mouse becoming a hero in order to defeat an evil rat threatening to destroy his home.

The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan

Title:

The Great Hunt

Author:

Robert Jordan

Year:

1990

Country:

America

Themes:

The balance of good and evil in the universe

The cyclical nature of existence

The pressure of being called upon to fulfill one's destiny

Synopsis:

The story of a young man destined for greatness in a cycle of good and evil.

The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan

Title:

The Eye of the World

Author:

Robert Jordan

Year:

1990

Country:

America

Themes:

The balance of good and evil in the universe

The cyclical nature of existence

The pressure of being called upon to fulfill one's destiny

Synopsis:

The story of a young man destined for greatness in a cycle of good and evil.

All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy

Title:

All the Pretty Horses

Author:

Cormac McCarthy

Year:

1992

Country:

America

Themes:

The individualism of those working on the frontier

The risks people will take for love

The power of the desire to return to one’s home

Synopsis:

The story of a young cowboy facing the wrath of his Mexican lover’s powerful father.

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter - Sharyn McCrumb

Title:

The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter

Author:

Sharyn McCrumb

Year:

1992

Country:

America

Themes:

The horrors that Corporations can inflict on rural society

The importance of keeping hope

The bonds that exist between small communities

Synopsis:

The story of an Appalachian town coming together to face a multitude of problems.

The Ballad of the Sad Cafe - Carson McCullers

Title:

The Ballad of the Sad Cafe

Author:

Carson McCullers

Year:

1951

Country:

America

Themes:

The hardships faced by an independent woman working in a world dominated by men

The flaws that love allows people to see past

The misconception that love and marriage are innately synonymous

Synopsis:

The story of an enigmatic woman whose secretive love life threatens to destroy her.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave - Frederick Douglass

Title:

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

Author:

Frederick Douglass

Year:

1845

Country:

America

Themes:

The importance of knowledge and education

The struggles faced by slaves

The pride that all human beings can attain

Synopsis:

The story of an ex-slave gaining his freedom and fighting to help his people.

The Water Is Wide - Pat Conroy

Title:

The Water Is Wide

Author:

Pat Conroy

Year:

1972

Country:

America

Themes:

The struggle to overcome prejudice in a society that promotes it

The impact that a teacher can have on a student’s life

The restrictions faced by those in extreme poverty

Synopsis:

The story of a teacher working in an extremely impoverished and socially detached area.

The Awakening - Kate Chopin

Title:

The Awakening

Author:

Kate Chopin

Year:

1899

Country:

America

Themes:

The struggle to find one’s own self-identity

The female rebellion against conformity

The barrier that marriage can present to happiness

Synopsis:

The story of a woman trying to find fulfillment within the confines of her domestic lifestyle.

The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer

Title:

The Canterbury Tales

Author:

Geoffrey Chaucer

Year:

1400

Country:

England

Themes:

The nature of relativism in daily life

The variety that can exist within a group of people

The contradictions that exist within the chivalric code of medieval knights

Synopsis:

The collected stories of an assortment of pilgrims travelling to the Canterbury Cathedral.

Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

Title:

Wuthering Heights

Author:

Emily Bronte

Year:

1847

Country:

England

Themes:

The desire for things that cannot be possessed

The clashes that can arise between social classes

The hardships faced by women in a patriarchal society

Synopsis:

The story of a man and woman destroyed by their unanswered passion for one another.

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

Title:

Jane Eyre

Author:

Charlotte Bronte

Year:

1847

Country:

England

Themes:

The conflict that can arise between love and morality

The divide that exists between social classes

The search for a place to call home

Synopsis:

The story of an orphaned young girl who struggles to find love and fulfillment in Victorian England.

Of Plymouth Plantation - William Bradford

Title:

Of Plymouth Plantation

Author:

William Bradford

Year:

1630-1650

Country:

America

Themes:

The struggles endured by the pilgrims

The struggle for territory between the colonists and Native Americans

The hope that religion can provide in times of strife

Synopsis:

The story of the colonists who travelled to start a fresh life in the New World.

Watchmen - Alan Moore

Title:

Watchmen

Author:

Alan Moore

Year:

1986

Country:

America

Themes:

The question of whether the ends can justify the means

The cyclical nature of the threats to human society

The pressure faced by those who protect others

Synopsis:

The story of an assortment of heroes trying to protect mankind in an alternate version of the Cold War.

Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller

Title:

Death of a Salesman

Author:

Arthur Miller

Year:

1949

Country:

America

Themes:

The pain of realizing one has lived an unaccomplished life

The hope that exists within one’s children

The conflict of interests that exists within families

Synopsis:

The story of an unsuccessful business man trying to provide his sons both a better life and more impressive career.

The Crucible - Arthur Miller

Title:

The Crucible

Author:

Arthur Miller

Year:

1952

Country:

America

Themes:

The cruelties that humans will participate in when in a state of fear

The hasty mistakes people make when thrown into frantic confusion

The use of religion as a weapon of evil

Synopsis:

The story of a New England town dealing with the chaos of a witch hunt.

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

Title:

Lolita

Author:

Vladimir Nabokov

Year:

1955

Country:

Russia

Themes:

The cruel nature of love

The effects of not growing up with a maternal figure

The human ability to block out horrible situations

Synopsis:

The story of a pedophiliac scholar who engages in a love affair with his young teenage step-daughter.  

Mutiny on the Bounty - Charles Nordhoff & James Norman Hall

Title:

Mutiny on the Bounty

Author:

Charles Nordhoff & James Norman Hall

Year:

1932

Country:

America

Themes:

The catastrophic results of inept leadership

The simplicity of native island life

The difficulty of escaping one’s past crimes

Synopsis:

The story of the mutiny which occurred on the British HMS Bounty as a result of the cruel authority onboard.

Animal Farm - George Orwell

Title:

Animal Farm

Author:

George Orwell

Year:

1945

Country:

England

Themes:

The exploitation of the working class by the social elite

The deception required to achieve political supremacy

The animalism that humans can resort to when seeking power

Synopsis:

The allegorical story of a group of farm animals engrossed in a political power struggle.

Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell

Title:

Nineteen Eighty-Four

Author:

George Orwell

Year:

1949

Country:

England

Themes:

The danger that comes along with government intervention in private life

The violent nature of nationalism

The degree to which censorship and propaganda can harm a culture

Synopsis:

The story of a man attempting to break free of the oppression and horror of the oligarchic society he lives in.

The Last Book in the Universe - Rodman Philbrick

Title:

The Last Book in the Universe

Author:

Rodman Philbrick

Year:

2000

Country:

America

Themes:

The sacrifice of intelligence that comes from mindless entertainment

The lengths that parents will go to protect their children

The ruin that intellectual stagnation can bring upon a society

Synopsis:

The story of a young boy trying to make his way in a world that has advanced too far for its own good.

The Trial and Death of Socrates - Plato

Title:

The Trial and Death of Socrates

Author:

Plato

Year:

399 BCE

Country:

Greece

Themes:

The moral ambiguity of existence

The dangers of groupthink

The importance of questioning life’s unanswerable questions

Synopsis:

The story of Socrates’ final days before his trial and execution by the citizens of Athens.

Anthem - Ayn Rand

Title:

Anthem

Author:

Ayn Rand

Year:

1938

Country:

Russia

Themes:

The importance of being an individual

The dangers of stifling science

The artificiality of a communal society

Synopsis:

The story of an individual trying to break free of his oppressive society.

The Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson - Mary Rowlandson

Title:

The Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson

Author:

Mary Rowlandson

Year:

1682

Country:

America

Themes:

The stark difference between early American colonists and the Native Americans

The horrors of war that can be inflicted upon innocents

The atrocities that humans will commit to protect their homes

Synopsis:

The story of a colonial woman who was taken captive by “savages.”

Antigone - Sophocles

Title:

Antigone

Author:

Sophocles

Year:

441 BCE

Country:

Greece

Themes:

The grief of losing a family member

The willingness to sacrifice great things for the ones we love

The power struggle within noble families

Synopsis:

The story of the daughter of Oedipus trying to honor her fallen brother despite the harsh rule of her tyrannical uncle.

Oil! - Upton Sinclair

Title:

Oil!

Author:

Upton Sinclair

Year:

1927

Country:

America

Themes:

The cruel nature that capitalism can display

The conflict between giant corporations and independent business-men

The problems that money can cause within a family

Synopsis:

The story of the son of an oil magnate forming opinions of his own as a result of the variety of major influences within his life.

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Title:

Frankenstein

Author:

Mary Shelley

Year:

1818

Country:

England

Themes:

The dangers involved with trying to play God

The love that can exist in any living creature

The pain of accidentally hurting the ones we love

Synopsis:

The story of a demented scientist bringing to life a monstrous being made of an assortment of dead human body parts.