Literary Fiction

Empire Falls by Richard Russo is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores the life of Miles Roby, a man tied to a declining blue-collar town and its complex web of relationships.

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster explores the complex relationships and racial tensions between British colonialists and Indian citizens during the Indian independence movement, highlighting themes of friendship, cultural clash, and justice.

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates is a poignant, unflinching exploration of a suburban couple's struggle with conformity, dissatisfaction, and personal failure in 1950s America.

Tropic of Cancer details Henry Miller's gritty and raw experiences in 1930s Paris, delving deep into themes of poverty, sexuality, and artistic struggle.

Babel by R. F. Kuang is a historical fantasy novel that explores colonialism, translation, and revolution through the story of Robin Swift, a Chinese boy studying at Oxford's magical Royal Institute of Translation.

Second Class Citizen is a powerful narrative of Adah, a Nigerian woman who battles gender oppression and racial prejudice while navigating life in the UK, ultimately striving for independence and a better future for her children.

Geraldine Brooks' 'Horse' is a riveting novel intertwining the histories of an enslaved groom, an iconic racehorse, and an evocative piece of art, exploring themes of race, obsession, and American history.

In 'Disgrace,' J.M. Coetzee explores the downfall of David Lurie, a disgraced professor grappling with personal and societal issues in post-apartheid South Africa.

Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger is a collection of profound and witty short stories that explore the complexities of human nature and relationships, introducing the fictional Glass family and other compelling characters.

The Trial by Franz Kafka is a gripping and unsettling novel about an innocent man who is arrested and interrogated for an unexplained crime, illuminating the nightmarish bureaucracy and existential dread of modern society.

A wounded Confederate soldier journeys home across a war-torn South to reunite with his beloved, exploring themes of love, survival, and redemption.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante chronicles the intense, lifelong friendship between two women, Lila and Elena, from a poor neighborhood in Naples, starting in the 1950s.

Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis is a provocative satire that explores the hypocrisy of a charismatic preacher who indulges in vice while preaching morality, reflecting the grotesque vulgarity of 1920s American religious culture.

Everyman by Philip Roth delves into the introspective journey of an ordinary man grappling with aging, illness, and the inevitability of death.

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright is a poignant tale of survival and redemption set against the backdrop of Cambodia's largest garbage dump, following a mother's fight to save her son and the transformative power of literature.

A gripping novel by Nobel laureate José Saramago portraying the collapse of society during an epidemic of 'white blindness' and the struggle for survival amid chaos and moral decay.

Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya is a poignant tale of Rukmani, a child bride, who valiantly faces the challenges of poverty and societal change in rural India while striving to protect her family.

'The Namesake' by Jhumpa Lahiri explores the complexities of identity, cultural duality, and the immigrant experience through the life of Gogol Ganguli, caught between his Indian heritage and American upbringing.

Harry Haller, a reclusive intellectual, battles his inner duality of man versus wolf, finding transformation through surreal experiences and mystical guides in Hermann Hesse's 'Steppenwolf'.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett explores family dynamics, youthful and married love, and the past lives of parents through the lens of a mother recounting her past romance to her daughters.