Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Sorrow
The Night Before Christmas
by Clement C. Moore
A magical tale of a visit from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
On the night of Christmas Eve , a family is settling down to sleep when the father is disturbed by noises on the lawn outside. Looking out the window, he sees Saint Nicholas in a sleigh pulled by ... (Wikipedia)
The Year of Magical Thinking
by Joan Didion
A woman's reflections on life and death after the sudden loss of her husband.
'An act of consummate literary bravery, a writer known for her clarity allowing us to watch her mind as it becomes clouded with grief.' From one of America's iconic writers, a stunning book of ... (Goodreads)
The English Patient
by Michael Ondaatje
A World War II love story, exploring the depths of human emotion in the midst of tragedy.
With ravishing beauty and unsettling intelligence, Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize-winning novel traces the intersection of four damaged lives in an Italian villa at the end of World War II. Hana, ... (Goodreads)
Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott
A timeless story of sisterhood, family, and female empowerment in the backdrop of Civil War America.
Four sisters and their mother, whom they call Marmee, live in a new neighborhood (loosely based on Concord ) in Massachusetts in genteel poverty. Having lost all his money, their father is serving as ... (Wikipedia)
Suite Française
by Irène Némirovsky
A story of love and loss set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied France.
The first two stories of a masterwork once thought lost, written by a pre-WWII bestselling author who was deported to Auschwitz and died before her work could be completed. By the early l940s, when ... (Goodreads)
Orientalism
by Edward W. Said
Exploration of the Middle East through the West's prejudiced lens.
More than three decades after its first publication, Edward Said's groundbreaking critique of the West's historical, cultural, and political perceptions of the East has become a modern classic. In ... (Goodreads)
Milk and Honey
by Rupi Kaur
An exploration of love, loss, trauma, and healing through short prose and free-verse poetry.
“Rupi Kaur is the Writer of the Decade.” –, The New Republic, #1, New York Times, bestseller, milk and honey, is a collection of poetry and prose about survival. About the experience of violence, ... (Barnes & Noble)
Paradise Lost
by John Milton
Epic poem of the Fall of Man, exploring the depths of human nature and the consequences of sin.
John Milton's Paradise Lost is one of the greatest epic poems in the English language. It tells the story of the Fall of Man, a tale of immense drama and excitement, of rebellion and treachery, of ... (Goodreads)
E.E. Cummings: Complete Poems 1904-1962
by E.E. Cummings
Collection of iconic poetry from the American modernist, exploring themes of life and love.
At the time of his death in 1962, E. E. Cummings was, next to Robert Frost, the most widely read poet in America. Combining Thoreau's controlled belligerence with the brash abandon of an uninhibited ... (Goodreads)
Medea
by Euripides
Tragedy of a woman's vengeful wrath against her husband and his family.
One of the most powerful and enduring of Greek tragedies, Medea centers on the myth of Jason, leader of the Argonauts, who has won the dragon-guarded treasure of the Golden Fleece with the help of ... (Goodreads)
Beware of Pity
by Stefan Zweig
A story of unrequited love, detailing the consequences of being too kind to those in need.
The young lieutenant Anton Hofmiller is invited to the castle of the wealthy Hungarian Lajos Kekesfalva. He meets Kekesfalva's paralyzed daughter Edith and develops subtle affection and deep ... (Wikipedia)
Address Unknown
by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor
A powerful story of friendship and betrayal, set against the backdrop of the rise of Nazism.
Martin, a gentile, returns with his family to Germany, exhilarated by the advances in the old country since the humiliation of the Great War. His business partner, Max, a Jew, remains in the States ... (Wikipedia)
Speaker for the Dead
by Orson Scott Card
A search for the truth about an alien species, uncovering secrets of the past.
Now available in mass market, the revised, definitive edition of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning classic. In this second book in the saga set 3,000 years after the terrible war, Ender Wiggin is ... (Goodreads)
The Leopard
by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
Epic story of a Sicilian nobleman's struggle to preserve his family and their way of life in a rapidly changing world.
Most of the novel is set during the time of the, Risorgimento, , specifically during the period when Giuseppe Garibaldi , the hero of Italian unification, swept through Sicily with his forces, known ... (Wikipedia)
Wise Blood
by Flannery O'Connor
A darkly comic Southern Gothic tale of faith and sin, and a man's struggle to find redemption.
Recently discharged from service in World War II and surviving on a government pension for unspecified battle wounds, Hazel Motes returns to his family home in Tennessee to find it abandoned. Leaving ... (Wikipedia)
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory
by Caitlin Doughty
A journey through the funeral industry, exploring death, grief, and the beauty of life.
"Morbid and illuminating" ( Entertainment Weekly )—a young mortician goes behind the scenes of her curious profession. Armed with a degree in medieval history and a flair for the macabre, Caitlin ... (Barnes & Noble)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
by Lisa See
Story of two women in 19th-century China, exploring the power of female friendship.
In rural Hunan province called Puwei (nicknamed the Common Beauty Village), a county in China, Lily is destined to become a, laotong, pair with Snow Flower, a girl of the same age from Tongkou (the ... (Wikipedia)
The Beginner's Goodbye
by Anne Tyler
A man's journey of healing and acceptance after the death of his beloved wife.
Anne Tyler gives us a wise, haunting, and deeply moving new novel in which she explores how a middle-aged man, ripped apart by the death of his wife, is gradually restored by her frequent ... (Goodreads)
August: Osage County
by Tracy Letts
A darkly comic and dramatic family reunion, exposing dysfunction and tensions.
The action takes place over the course of several weeks in August inside the three-story home of Beverly and Violet Weston outside Pawhuska, Oklahoma . Prologue The play opens with Beverly Weston, a ... (Wikipedia)
Forever
by Pete Hamill
A love story of two star-crossed lovers who span the ages, testing the power of eternal love.
This widely acclaimed bestseller is the magical, epic tale of an extraordinary man who arrives in New York in 1740 and remains . . . forever. Through the eyes of Cormac O'Connor – granted immortality ... (Goodreads)
A River Runs Through it and Other Stories
by Norman Maclean
A series of stories about the life of a family and the relationship between two brothers.
Just as Norman Maclean writes at the end of "A River Runs through It" that he is "haunted by waters," so have readers been haunted by his novella. A retired English professor who began writing ... (Goodreads)
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
by Bryan Stevenson
A powerful true story of justice and redemption, exposing the flaws of America's criminal justice system.
In 1989, idealistic young Harvard law graduate Bryan Stevenson travels to Alabama hoping to help fight for poor people who cannot afford proper legal representation. Teaming with Eva Ansley, he ... (Wikipedia)
Silent Spring
by Rachel Carson
Expose of the environmental damage caused by the widespread use of chemical pesticides.
Silent Spring is an environmental science book. The book documents the adverse environmental effects caused by the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading ... (Goodreads)
The Sisters Brothers
by Patrick deWitt
A unique western, following two brothers on a quest to find and murder a prospector.
In 1851, Eli and Charlie Sisters, a pair of assassins of minor repute, are hired by a wealthy businessman known only as "the Commodore" to travel from Oregon City to California in order to murder a ... (Wikipedia)
Where Is God When It Hurts?
by Philip Yancey
An exploration of faith through suffering, and how to find hope in times of despair.
OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD! An inspirational classic for more than thirty years,, Where Is God When It Hurts?, honestly explores pain—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—and sheds new light ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
by Richard Flanagan
A man's journey to reconcile his past and make sense of his actions during the Japanese occupation of Burma.
Dorrigo Evans has found fame and public recognition as a war veteran in old age, but inwardly he is plagued by his own shortcomings and considers his numerous accolades to be a “failure of perception ... (Wikipedia)
Now We Are Six
by A.A. Milne
A collection of poems about the joys and innocence of childhood.
When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six complete the four-volume set of deluxe editions of the Milne and Shepard classic works. Like their companions, the Winnie-the-Pooh 80th Anniversary Edition ... (Goodreads)
From Here to Eternity
by James Jones
Tragic tale of fate and destiny, set in the backdrop of World War II.
In February 1941, Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt, nicknamed "Prew", reports to his new posting at G Company, a US Army infantry unit stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Prew is a career soldier ... (Wikipedia)
The Island
by Victoria Hislop
A family's secrets unfold as they grapple with the consequences of the Greek Civil War.
On the brink of a life-changing decision, Alexis Fielding longs to find out about her mother's past. But Sofia has never spoken of it. All she admits to is growing up in a small Cretan village before ... (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 Dovekeepers
by Alice Hoffman
Four women living in a fort in ancient Israel tell their stories of survival and faith.
According to the official trailer , Tagline: The trailer featured the tagline, "Their journey. Their passion. It all leads up to this. Take a stand." The adaptation garnered negative reviews: Keith ... (Wikipedia)
Long Day's Journey into Night
by Eugene O'Neill
Tragic story of a family's struggles with addiction, emotions and guilt.
Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical play Long Day's Journey into Night is regarded as his finest work. First published by Yale University Press in 1956, it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1957 and has since ... (Goodreads)
Theft of Swords
by Michael J. Sullivan
Epic fantasy tale of two brothers on a quest to free a kingdom from an evil tyrant.
After a successful raid, Royce and Hadrian (together known as Riyria) are approached by a man offering much gold to steal a sword owned by Count Pickering, from the royal palace in Medford, the ... (Wikipedia)
The Orenda
by Joseph Boyden
An exploration of the spiritual bonds between a small Huron tribe and their European invaders.
In the remote winter landscape a brutal massacre and the kidnapping of a young Iroquois girl violently re-ignites a deep rift between two tribes. The girl’s captor, Bird, is one of the Huron Nation’s ... (Goodreads)
Shadows of the Workhouse
by Jennifer Worth
A nurse's journey of compassion, courage and determination amidst the harsh realities of a workhouse in 1950s London.
In this follow up to CALL THE MIDWIFE, Jennifer Worth, a midwife working in the docklands area of East London in the 1950s tells more stories about the people she encountered. There's Jane, who ... (Goodreads)
Hocus Pocus
by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
A darkly comedic tale of a man's struggle to cope with the absurdity of life.
Eugene is fired from his job as a college professor after having several of his witticisms surreptitiously recorded by the daughter of a popular conservative commentator. Eugene then becomes a ... (Wikipedia)
Any Human Heart
by William Boyd
A man's life journey, chronicling his loves, losses, and adventures.
Logan Gonzago Mountstuart, writer, was born in 1906, and died of a heart attack on October 5, 1991, aged 85. William Boyd's novel Any Human Heart is his disjointed autobiography, a massive tome ... (Goodreads)
Mom & Me & Mom
by Maya Angelou
A powerful memoir of a daughter's journey to understand her complex relationship with her mother.
For the first time, Angelou reveals the triumphs and struggles of being the daughter of Vivian Baxter, an indomitable spirit whose petite size belied her larger-than-life presence—a presence absent ... (Goodreads)
Sleepers
by Lorenzo Carcaterra
A gripping story about four boys and their horrific experiences in a juvenile detention centre.
Sleeper (colloq.): 1. out-of-town hit man who spends the night after a local contract is completed. 2. A juvenile sentenced to serve any period longer than nine months in a state-managed facility. ... (Goodreads)
An Enchantment of Ravens
by Margaret Rogerson
A forbidden romance between a mage and a faerie, tested by dark secrets and magical forces.
An instant, New York Times, bestseller! An Indie Next Top 10 Pick A Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Winner “A funny, action-packed, and sweet romance.” —,School Library Journal ,(starred review) “A ... (Barnes & Noble)
Emily's Quest
by L.M. Montgomery
A young woman's journey of self-discovery and growth, struggling to find her place in the world.
Emily Starr is now seventeen and a high school graduate. The residents of New Moon consider her an adult and allow her much more freedom. Emily and Teddy Kent have been friends since childhood, and ... (Wikipedia)
A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories
by Will Eisner
Collection of interweaving stories about the struggles and joys of life in an immigrant tenement in the Bronx.
Go back to where graphic novels all started, on the Bronx street of Dropsie Avenue and A Life Force, in Will Eisner's groundbreaking 1978 creation. The human drama, the psychological insight – Eisner ... (Goodreads)
The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss
by Anderson Cooper
A candid conversation between a mother and son, exploring their past and present.
A charming and intimate collection of correspondence between #1 New York Times bestselling author Anderson Cooper and his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, that offers timeless wisdom and a revealing ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Birth of Venus
by Sarah Dunant
A passionate story of love and art set in 15th century Florence.
Alessandra Cecchi is not quite fifteen when her father, a prosperous cloth merchant, brings a young painter back from northern Europe to decorate the chapel walls in the family’s Florentine palazzo. ... (Goodreads)
Faithful
by Alice Hoffman
A young woman's journey of healing and redemption, grappling with the power of faith and love.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Marriage of Opposites and The Dovekeepers comes a soul-searching story about a young woman struggling to redefine herself and the power of love, ... (Barnes & Noble)
Love Poems
by Pablo Neruda
A collection of passionate and sensual poems that explore the depths of love and desire.
Sensual, earthy love poems that formed the basis for the popular movie Il Postino , now in a beautiful gift book perfect for weddings, Valentine's Day, anniversaries, or just to say "I love you!" ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Children of Noisy Village
by Astrid Lindgren
A group of children living in a small Swedish village, navigating the joys and sorrows of life.
Welcome to Noisy Village! Go crayfishing in the summer at Nocken, "dipping in the pot" at Christmastime with Lisa and Karl, and join Britta and Anna who know the best way to go about "nutting" for ... (Goodreads)
Captains of the Sands
by Jorge Amado
Tale of a group of street children in Brazil, and the hard realities of poverty.
Capitães da Areia é o livro de Jorge Amado mais vendido no mundo inteiro. Publicado em 1937, teve a sua primeira edição apreendida e queimada em praça pública pelas autoridades do Estado Novo. Em ... (Goodreads)
Every Dead Thing
by John Connolly
Private detective's quest for justice and revenge following the murder of his family.
Tortured and brilliant private detective Charlie Parker stars in this thriller by, New York Times, bestselling author John Connolly. Former NYPD detective Charlie "Bird" Parker is on the verge of ... (Goodreads)
Sister of My Heart
by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
An intertwining story of two young women and the bonds of family and friendship.
Princess in the Palace of Snakes follows two cousins from birth until their wedding day. The sudden death of their fathers on a reckless hunt for rubies sends Anju and Sudha's mothers into premature ... (Wikipedia)
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