Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Jealousy
A Separate Peace
by John Knowles
A coming-of-age story about two boys and their complex friendship set during World War II.
Gene Forrester returns to his old prep school, Devon (a thinly veiled portrayal of Knowles's alma mater, Phillips Exeter Academy ), , 15 years after he graduated, to visit two places he regards as ... (Wikipedia)
The Ground Beneath Her Feet
by Salman Rushdie
A modern retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, exploring themes of fame and adoration.
Salman Rushdie's most ambitious and accomplished novel, sure to be hailed as his masterpiece. At the beginning of this stunning novel, Vina Apsara, a famous and much-loved singer, is caught up in a ... (Goodreads)
The Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern
A fantastical story of two magicians locked in a mysterious duel at a mesmerizing, nocturnal circus.
The Night Circus is a phantasmagorical fairy tale set near an ahistorical Victorian London in a wandering magical circus that is open only from sunset to sunrise. Le Cirque des Rêves (The Circus of ... (Wikipedia)
The End of the Affair
by Graham Greene
A man's obsession and journey of love, struggling with faith, hatred and forgiveness.
"A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses a moment of experience from which to look ahead..." "This is a record of hate far more than of love," writes Maurice Bendrix in the opening ... (Goodreads)
The Ladies' Paradise
by Émile Zola
A story of ambition and romance set in the world of a 19th Century Parisian department store.
The Ladies Paradise (Au Bonheur des Dames) recounts the rise of the modern department store in late nineteenth-century Paris. The store is a symbol of capitalism, of the modern city, and of the ... (Goodreads)
Secrets of a Summer Night
by Lisa Kleypas
A romantic comedy of manners, full of misadventures and unexpected love.
Four young ladies at the side of the ballroom make a pact to help each other find husbands . . . no matter what it takes., Proud and beautiful Annabelle Peyton could have her pick of suitors—if only ... (Goodreads)
Betsy Was a Junior
by Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy Ray navigates the ups and downs of high school life, from friendships to first love.
The novel begins with the return of Betsy's childhood friend Thelma (Tib) Muller, who had been living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin since her parents were independent and they wanted to return to their old ... (Wikipedia)
The Other Boleyn Girl
by Philippa Gregory
A historical fiction recounting the rivalry between two sisters vying for the love of King Henry VIII.
In 1521 England, Queen Catherine of Aragon's failure to provide King Henry VIII a male heir has strained their marriage. Thomas Boleyn and his brother-in-law Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, plan ... (Wikipedia)
The Devil Wears Prada
by Lauren Weisberger
A young woman's quest for career success in the cutthroat world of fashion.
Andrea Sachs, a recent graduate of Brown University with a degree in English , moves to New York City with her best friend, Lily, a graduate student at Columbia . Andrea hopes to find a career in ... (Wikipedia)
Kane & Abel
by Jeffrey Archer
Two rival men, from different backgrounds, fight for success and power in a cutthroat world.
The book tells the stories of two men born worlds apart. They have nothing in common except the same date of birth (18 April 1906 in the book, and 1901 in the miniseries based on it) and a zeal to ... (Wikipedia)
The Custom of the Country
by Edith Wharton
A woman's rise to the top of high society, exploring the cut-throat world of New York.
The Spraggs, a family of midwesterners from the fictional city of Apex who have made money through somewhat shady financial dealings, arrive in New York City at the prompting of their beautiful, ... (Wikipedia)
Vanity Fair
by William Makepeace Thackeray
A story of social climbing and ambition, set against the backdrop of 19th century England.
A novel that chronicles the lives of two women who could not be more different: Becky Sharp, an orphan whose only resources are her vast ambitions, her native wit, and her loose morals; and her ... (Goodreads)
Othello
by William Shakespeare
A tale of jealousy, manipulation, and tragedy, as one man's descent into madness leads to disastrous consequences.
In Othello, Shakespeare creates a powerful drama of a marriage that begins with fascination (between the exotic Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona), with elopement, and with intense mutual ... (Goodreads)
The Duke and I
by Julia Quinn
A tale of forbidden love and unexpected romance between a duke and an ordinary woman.
A #1 New York Times bestseller From, New York Times, bestselling author Julia Quinn comes the first novel in the beloved Regency-set world of her charming, powerful Bridgerton family, now a series ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Last Mrs. Parrish
by Liv Constantine
A woman's mission to gain the life she's always wanted by manipulating those around her.
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER AND A REESE WITHERSPOON HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK “Will keep you up. In a ‘can’t put it down’ way. It’s ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ with XX chromosomes.” —The Skimm ... (Barnes & Noble)
Love Bites
by Lynsay Sands
A forbidden love story between a vampire and a human, testing the boundaries of destiny.
True Love: Good From The First Bite... Etienne Argeneau's three hundred years of bachelorhood were at an end. Either that, or he'd be forever alone. He could only "turn" one human in his lifetime, ... (Goodreads)
Splendid
by Julia Quinn
A romantic tale of two star-crossed lovers, navigating family drama and secrets.
There are two things everyone knows about Alexander Ridgely. One, he's the Duke of Ashbourne. And two, he has no plans to marry anytime soon... That is until a redheaded American throws herself in ... (Goodreads)
Enduring Love
by Ian McEwan
A story of obsession and its consequences, as two men clash over a woman's affections.
Joe planned a postcard-perfect afternoon in the English countryside to celebrate his lover's return after 6 weeks in the States. The perfect day turns to nightmare however, when they are involved in ... (Goodreads)
The Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare
A tale of justice, mercy, and revenge, a struggle between religious and secular law.
Bassanio, a young Venetian of noble rank, wishes to woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia of Belmont. Having squandered his estate, he needs 3,000 ducats to subsidise his expenditures as a ... (Wikipedia)
Queen Margot
by Alexandre Dumas
An epic tale of political and religious intrigue, filled with love and revenge.
The story begins in Paris in August 1572, during the reign of the Valois King Charles IX , it is the French Wars of Religion . The protagonist is Marguerite de Valois , better known as Margot, the ... (Wikipedia)
The Garden of Eden
by Ernest Hemingway
A couple's love story, caught between the beauty and danger of paradise.
The novel is fundamentally the story of five months in the lives of David Bourne, an American writer, and his wife Catherine. It is set mainly in the French Riviera , specifically in the Côte d'Azur ... (Wikipedia)
Irish Hearts
by Nora Roberts
An epic tale of love and desire, set against the backdrop of Irish folklore and ancient legends.
The novel follows the relationship between Irishwoman Adelia "Dee" Cunnane and American Travis Grant. As the story begins, the young and penniless Dee emigrates to the United States to live with her ... (Wikipedia)
The Kreutzer Sonata
by Leo Tolstoy
A man's moral journey of jealousy, envy and betrayal.
When Marshal of the Nobility Pozdnyshev suspects his wife of having an affair with her music partner, his jealousy consumes him and drives him to murder. Controversial upon publication in 1890, The ... (Goodreads)
Forever Amber
by Kathleen Winsor
Epic story of a young woman's journey from poverty to becoming a courtesan in 17th century England.
Judith Marsh has been engaged since birth to her neighbor, John Mainwaring, heir to the Earl of Rosswood. In 1644, she has her engagement broken off when her family and the Mainwarings find ... (Wikipedia)
Helen of Troy
by Margaret George
An epic retelling of the classic Greek myth of Helen of Troy, exploring the power of love and war.
A lush, seductive novel of the legendary beauty whose face launched a thousand ships Daughter of a god, wife of a king, prize of antiquity's bloodiest war, Helen of Troy has inspired artists for ... (Goodreads)
Four Great Tragedies: Hamlet / Othello / King Lear / Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
Exploration of human nature and the consequences of ambition, delusion, and revenge.
The greatest tragic plays of William Shakespeare–including, Hamlet,, Othello,, King Lear, and, Macbeth,. What is tragedy? The Elizabethans defined it as a "lofty" play showing "personages of great ... (Goodreads)
The Stranger I Married
by Sylvia Day
A woman marries a stranger to escape her past, but soon discovers her husband has secrets of his own.
Together For All The Wrong Reasons. . . The Marquess of Grayson never felt a twinge of guilt when he stole the beautiful Lady Pelham right out from under his best friend's nose. After all, they were ... (Goodreads)
Fairest
by Marissa Meyer
A twisted tale of beauty and ambition, exploring the power of identity and the consequences of choices.
In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told. Mirror, mirror on the wall,Who is the fairest of them all? Fans of the ... (Goodreads)
Juliet, Naked
by Nick Hornby
A story about a complex love triangle, set against a backdrop of music and fandom.
Duncan, an obsessive music fan, receives a CD of Juliet, Naked , an album of solo acoustic demos of the songs on the album Juliet by his favourite artist, Tucker Crowe. Duncan's girlfriend, Annie, ... (Wikipedia)
Fruits Basket, Vol. 5
by Natsuki Takaya
A young girl discovers the secrets of a cursed family and must decide how to save them.
For a springtime treat, Shigure arranges for Tohru and the gang to spend Golden Week at the Sohmas' vacation home. On a rainy day, as the holiday draws to a close, who should make a surprise visit ... (Goodreads)
Something Borrowed
by Emily Giffin
A woman must decide between her friendship and her desires when she falls in love with her best friend's fiance.
The novel centers around the protagonist and narrator , Rachel White, a thirty-year-old single woman who is a consummate good-girl. She and Darcy Rhone have been best friends since childhood , and ... (Wikipedia)
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
by Alexander McCall Smith
Mma Ramotswe's detective agency faces new challenges as she takes on a case of a missing person and navigates the complexities of love.
Mma Ramotswe talks with her fiance Mr JLB. Matekoni about the future of her assistant, Mma Makutsi, who seems to have difficulty finding suitable men. Later the two women discuss the same topic. At ... (Wikipedia)
The Tale of Genji
by Murasaki Shikibu
A classic Japanese novel about the romantic life of a nobleman and his various loves.
The work recounts the life of, Hikaru Genji, , or "Shining Genji", the son of an ancient Japanese emperor , known to readers as Emperor Kiritsubo, and a low-ranking, but beloved concubine called ... (Wikipedia)
Rich Man, Poor Man
by Irwin Shaw
A family saga spanning generations, exploring the power of money and its influence on relationships.
In the early parts of the novel Shaw goes to great lengths to make the point about "Jordache blood" – violent, bitter, resentful. One of the ways he does this is by meticulously describing the ... (Wikipedia)
My Cousin Rachel
by Daphne du Maurier
A young man's journey of suspicion and intrigue, searching for the truth about his mysterious cousin.
Ambrose Ashley is the owner of a large country estate on the Cornish coast and has been guardian to his orphaned cousin Philip since he was three years old. On Sundays, Philip's godfather , Nick ... (Wikipedia)
Six Years
by Harlan Coben
A man's search for the truth of his lost love, uncovering secrets of a mysterious past.
Six years have passed since Jake Fisher watched Natalie, the love of his life, marry another man. Six years of hiding a broken heart by throwing himself into his career as a college professor. Six ... (Goodreads)
When Love Awaits
by Johanna Lindsey
A medieval romance between a knight and a lady, filled with passion, danger, and intrigue.
Once Lady Leonie cursed 'the Black Wolf' - handsome Rolfe d'Ambert, the mercenary Lord of Kempston - for his bloody deeds and cruelty to the local peasants. Now she must marry the magnificent ... (Goodreads)
Dom Casmurro
by Machado de Assis
A man's descent into paranoia and suspicion after his wife's suspected infidelity.
Dom Casmurro é a alcunha de Bento Santiago, que, velho e só, desvela as suas memórias. Uma promessa da mãe, traça-lhe o destino como padre, mas Bento Santiago apaixonado, abandona o seminário. Estuda ... (Goodreads)
Paradise
by Judith McNaught
A passionate, whirlwind romance between two star-crossed lovers against the backdrop of a turbulent world.
Corporate raider Matthew Farrell had come a long way from the poor, scruffy kid of Indiana's steel mills. A long way from the country club where, feeling like an outsider, he had dared to fall in ... (Goodreads)
Vision in White
by Nora Roberts
Four friends come together to celebrate a wedding, finding love, friendship and self-discovery.
The novel follows the relationship of photographer Mackensie "Mac" Elliot and English teacher [,discuss,] Carter Maguire. Mac and her childhood friends Parker, Emma, and Laurel are the founders of ... (Wikipedia)
A Knight in Shining Armor
by Jude Deveraux
A modern woman finds her true love in the form of a 16th-century knight.
an alternate cover editions can be found, here, and, here, New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux will capture your heart with signature classic novel, a time-travel romance featuring a ... (Goodreads)
P.S. I Like You
by Kasie West
A teenage girl's struggles to discover her identity, with the help of a secret admirer.
Signed, sealed, delivered...While spacing out in Chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the ... (Barnes & Noble)
Jacob Have I Loved
by Katherine Paterson
A young girl's struggle to find her place in the world as she grapples with sibling rivalry and identity.
Esau have I hated . . . Sara Louise Bradshaw is sick and tired of her beautiful twin Caroline. Ever since they were born, Caroline has been the pretty one, the talented one, the better sister. Even ... (Goodreads)
Three Sisters, Three Queens
by Philippa Gregory
A tale of intrigue and ambition surrounding the wives of Henry VIII.
As sisters they share an everlasting bond; As queens they can break each other’s hearts. “There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters. We never take our eyes off each other. ... (Goodreads)
Dance with the Devil
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dark, thrilling romance between a demon and a mortal woman seeking revenge.
Zarek’s Point of View: Dark-Hunter: A soulless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. Yeah, right. The only part of that Code of Honor I got was eternity and ... (Goodreads)
The Virgin's Lover
by Philippa Gregory
Historical fiction about the turbulent relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley.
The book opens in the autumn of 1558, just after the death of Mary I, and bells are heralding the fact that Mary's half-sister, Elizabeth, is now queen. The book is told from four main perspectives: ... (Wikipedia)
The Other Queen
by Philippa Gregory
A powerful Tudor Queen battles her rival for the throne, while the fate of England hangs in the balance.
Mary Stuart , cousin to Queen Elizabeth , has fled to England after she has lost the support of the Scots after marrying Bothwell , whom the people believe murdered her second husband, Henry Stuart, ... (Wikipedia)
After
by Anna Todd
A passionate love story between two college students, battling misconceptions of their relationship.
Tessa Young, an incoming freshman at Washington State University , arrives at college with her mother, Carol, and boyfriend Noah. The conservative Carol is horrified by Tessa's alternative-styled ... (Wikipedia)
Indulgence in Death
by J.D. Robb
Detective Eve Dallas unravels a web of murder and deceit in pursuit of justice.
When a murder disrupts the Irish vacation she is taking with her husband, Roarke, Eve realizes that no place is safe - not an Irish wood or the streets of the manic city she calls home. But nothing ... (Goodreads)
Save the Date
by Mary Kay Andrews
A wedding planner's life is turned upside down when her sister's wedding is threatened by family secrets and unexpected events.
Can this wedding be saved? Up-and-coming floral designer Cara Kryzik is about to score the wedding of a lifetime—one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for Savannah society nuptials. The ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Perfect Match
by Kristan Higgins
Divorced woman falls for her brother's best friend, but he's engaged. Will she find love again?
What if the perfect match is a perfect surprise? Honor Holland has just been unceremoniously rejected by her lifelong crush. And now—a mere three weeks later—Mr. Perfect is engaged to her best ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Girl in the Gatehouse
by Julie Klassen
A young woman, Mariah, finds herself living in a gatehouse, hiding her past and falling in love with the local squire.
Miss Mariah Aubrey, banished after a scandal, hides herself away in a long-abandoned gatehouse on the far edge of a distant relative's estate. There, she supports herself and her loyal servant the ... (Goodreads)
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