Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Author: John Steinbeck 

Published: 1939
Novel.

The story begins with Tom Joad being paroled from McAlester prison for homicide. On his return to his home, near Sallisaw, Oklahoma, Tom meets former preacher Jim Casy, whom he remembers from his childhood, and the two travel together. When they arrive at Tom's childhood farm home, they find it deserted. Disconcerted and confused, Tom and Casy meet their old neighbor, Muley Graves, who tells him the family has gone to stay at Uncle John Joad's home nearby. Graves tells them that the banks have evicted all the farmers, but he refuses to leave.

The next morning, Tom and Casy go to Uncle John's.

Tom finds his family loading their remaining possessions into a Hudson Motor Car Company saloon converted to a truck; with their crops destroyed by the Dust Bowl, the family has defaulted on their bank loans, and their farm has been repossessed. 

The Joads have no option but to seek work in California, putting everything they have into making the journey. Although leaving would violate his parole, Tom decides it is worth the risk, and invites Casy to join him and his family.  

Reaching California, they find the state oversupplied with labor, so wages are low, and workers are taken advantage of. 

In response to the exploitation, Casy becomes a labor organizer and tries to recruit for a labor union. The remaining Joads work as strikebreakers in a peach orchard, where Casy is involved in a strike that eventually turns violent; when Tom witnesses Casy's fatal beating, he kills the attacker and flees as a fugitive. 

Characters:
Tom Joad
Ma Joad
Pa Joad
Uncle John Joad
Jim Casy
Al Joad
Rose of Sharon Joad Rivers
Connie Rivers
Noah Joad
Grampa Joad
Granma Joad
Ruthie Joad
Muley Graves

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Author: Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Published: 1860
Novel.

The poverty-stricken Raskolnikov, a talented student, devises a theory about extraordinary men being above the law, since in their brilliance they think "new thoughts" and so contribute to society. He then sets out to prove his theory by murdering a vile, cynical old pawnbroker and her sister. The act brings Raskolnikov into contact with his own buried conscience and with Sonia and Porfiry. 

Characters: 
Raskolnikov
Sonia
Porfiry
Sofya Semyonovna
Avdotya Romanovna

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

Author: Evelyn Waugh

Published: 1945
Novel.

In 1923. Charles Ryder, and undergraduate studying history at college, is befriended by Lord Sebastian Flyte, the younger son of Lord Marchamain and an undergraduate at Christ Church. Sebastian introduces Charles to his eccentric and aesthetic friends. Sebastian also takes him to his family's palatial mansion, Brideshead Castle, in Wiltshire, where Charles later meets the rest of Sebastian's family, including his sister, Julia. 

During the summer holiday, Charles returns home to London, where he lives with his widowed father, Edward Ryder. 

Charles is called back to Brideshead after Sebastian incurs a minor injury, and Sebastian and Charles spend the remainder of the holiday together. 

Sebastian, a troubled young man, descends into alcoholism, drifting away from the family over a two-year period. He flees to Morocco, where his drinking ruins his health. He eventually finds some solace as an under-porter and object of a charity at a Catholic monastery in Tunisia. 

Characters:
Charles Ryder
Edward Ryder
Lord Marchmain
Sebastian Flyte
Anthony Blance. 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Author: Douglas Adams

Published: 1979
Novel

The various versions of the book follow a same basic plot, but Douglas Adams rewrote the story for each new adaptation. Throughout all versions, the series follows the adventures of Arthur Dent.

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor. 

Together, the dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox-the-two-headed, three-armed ex hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brillian, and chronically depressed robot.

Characters:
Arthur Dent
Marvin
Veet Voojagig
Ford Prefect
Zaphod Beeblebrox
Trillian

May - Book of the Month

Nefertiti's Heart by A. W. Exley

Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

1861. Cara has a simple mission in London - finalize her father's estate and sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when a killer stalks the nobility, searching for an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.

Nathaniel Trent, known as the villainous viscount, is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on both Cara and the priceless artifacts. His icy exterior and fiery touch stirs Cara's demons, or could he lay them to rest?

Self-preservation fuels Cara's search for the gem known as Nefertiti's Heart.

In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she sacrifices her own heart and life.




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William Shakespeare: Comedy

All's Well That Ends Well

Published: 1623

Play.

Young Count Bertram bids farewell to his mother, the Countess and Helena, as he leaves for the court of Paris at the French King's order. Bertram's father has recently died and Bertram is to be the King's ward and attendant. Helena, a young minor noblewoman and ward of the Countess, whose father has also died, laments her unrequitable love for Bertram, and losing him to Paris, which weighs on her though it seems to others that she mourns her father. 

Parolles, a cowardly military man and parasite on Bertram, trades wits with Helena, as they liken amorous love and the loss of virginity to military endeavors. Helena nearly admits her love of Bertram to Parolles before he leaves for Paris with Bertram and Lafew. Alone again, Helena convinces herself to strive for Bertram despite the odds, mentioning the King's illness alongside her decision. 

In Paris, the King and noble lords discuss the Tuscan wars. Bertram, Parolles and Larfew arrive, and the King praises Bertram's father as more truly honorable, humble and egalitarian than the lords of his day or Bertram's. He welcomes Bertram as he would his own son. 

In Rousillon, the Clown asks permission to marry which he and the Countess debate. The Steward explains the Countess that he has overhead Helena lamenting her love for Bertram despite their social difference. The Countess, seeing Helena as her own daughter, coaxes a confession out of her. Helena admits her love, but reserves her previously realized ambition. They agree that she should travel to Paris to attempt to cure the King.

In Paris, the King advises the Lords leaving for war, urging them to seek honor with amorous terms and warning them of the Italian women in warlike terms. Bertram, to young to go to war and in Paris to serve the King, is encouraged by Parolles and the Lords to steal away to the Tuscan war. He swears to the Lords that he will, but after they leave he admits to Parolles his intention to stay at the King's side. Lafew asks the King to speak with Helena who offers to cure his fatal disease with her father's most potent and safeguarded recipe. The King acknowledges her late father's renown as a doctor, but refuses to entertain false hope. 

Lafew tries to speak of the powers of heaven in a world of scientists, but Parolles interrupts him at every turn, trying to one-up him and claim Lafw

As You Like It

The Comedy of Errors

Cymbeline

Love's Labours Lost

Merry Wives of Windsor

Merchant of Venice

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Published: 1605

Play. 

Demetrius and Lysander both want Hermia but she only has eyes for Lysander. Bad news is, Hermia's father wants Demetrius for a son-in-law. On the outside is Helena, whose unreturned love burns hot for Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander plan to flee from the city under cover of darkness but are pursued by an enraged Demetrius. 

In the forest, unbeknownst of the mortals, Oberon and Titania are having a spat over a servant boy. 

Much Ado About Nothing

Published: 1612

Play.

Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, has recently defeated his half-brother, the bastard Don John, in a military engagement. Apparently reconciled, they returned to the capital, Messina, as guests of the Governor, Leonato. There Count Claudio, a young nobleman serving in Don Pedro's army falls in love with Hero, Leonato's daughter, whom Don Pedro woos on his behalf. 

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

Taming of the Shrew

Published: 1590

Play. 

The tale of two men, the hopeful Lucentio and the worldly Petruchio, and the two sisters they meet in Padua. 

Lucentio falls in love with Bianca, the apparently ideal younger daughter of the wealthy Baptista Minola. But before they can marry Bianca's formidable elder sister, Katherine, must be wed. Petruchio, interested only in the huge dowry, arranges to marry Katherine against her will. 

Tempest

Published:

Play.

Prospero, a magician on an enchanted island, punished his enemies, brings happiness to his daughter, and comes to terms with human use of supernatural power. 

Troilus and Cressida

Twelfth Night

Published: 1602

Play. 

Set in a topsy-turvy world like a holiday revel, this comedy devises a romantic plot around separated twins, misplaced passions, and mistaken identity. 

Gentlemen of Verona

Published: 1623

Play

Valentine is preparing to leave Verona for Milan so as to broaden his horizons. He begs his best friend, Proteus, to come with him, but he is in love with Julia, and refuses to leave. Disappointed, Valentine bids Proteus farewell and goes on alone. 

Meanwhile, Julia is discussing Proteus with her maid, Lucetta, who tells Julia that she thinks Proteus is fond of her. Julia, acts coyly, embarrassed to admit that she likes him. Lucetta then produces a letter; she will not say who gave it to her, but teases Julia that it was Valentine's servant, Speed, who brought if from Proteus. 

Julia, still unwilling to reveal her love, tears up the letter angrily. She sends Lucetta away, but then, realizing her own rashness, picks up the fragments of the letter and kisses them, trying to piece them back together. 

Proteus' father has decided he should travel to Milan and join Valentine, ordering that Proteus must leave the next day, prompting a tearful farewell with Julia, to whom he swears eternal love. The two exchange rings and vows and Proteus promises to return as soon as he can. 

In Milan, Proteus finds Valentine in love with the Duke's daughter, Silvia. Despite Julia, Proteus falls instantly in love with Silvia and vows to win her. Unaware of Proteus' feelings, Valentine tells him the Duke wants Silvia to marry the foppish but walthy Thurio, against her wishes. Because the Duke suspects that Silvia and Valentine are in love, he locks her in a tower, to which he keeps the only key; however; Valentine tells Proteus that he plans to free her by means of a corded ladder, and together they will elope. Proteus immediately informs the Duke, to captures and banishes Valentine. 

In Verona, Julia decides to join her lover in Milan. She convinces Lucetta to dress her in boy's clothes and help her fix her hair so she will not be harmed on the journey. Once in Milan, Julia discovers Proteus' love for Silvia, watching him attempt to serenade her. She contrives to become Sebastian, his page boy, until she can decide upon a course of action. Proteus sends her to Silvia with a gift of the same ring that Julia gave to him but Julia learns that Silvia scorns Proteus' affections and is disgusted that he would forget about his love back home. Silvia mourns the loss of Valentine, who Proteus has told her is rumored to be dead. Silvia decided to flee the city. 

Winter's Tale

Published: 1623

Play

The play begins with the appearance of two: Leontes, King of Sicilia, and Polixenes, the King of Bohemia. Polixenes is visiting the kingdom of Sicilia, and is enjoying catching up with his old friend. However, after nine months, Polixenes yearns to return to his own kingdom to tend to affairs and see his son. 

Leontes desperately attempts to get Polixenes to stay longer, but is unsuccessful. Leontes then decides to send his wife, Queen Hermione, to try to convice Polixenes. Hermione agrees and with three short speeches is successful. Leontes is puzzled as to how Hermione convinced Polixenes so easily, and Leontes suddenly goes insane and suspects that his pregnant wife has been having an affair with Polixenes and that the child is a bastard. Leontes orders Camilo, a Sicilian Lord, to poison Polixenes. Camilo instead warns him and they both flee to Bohemia. 

Furious at their escape, Leontes now publicly accuses his wife of infidelity, and declares that the child she is bearing must be illegitimate. He throws her in prison, over the protests of his nobles, and sends two of his lords, Cleomenes and Dion, to the Oracle at Delphi for what he is sure will be confirmation of his suspicions. Meanwhile; the queen gives birth to a girl, and her loyal friend Paulina takes the baby to the king, hoping that the sight of the child will soften his heart. He grown angrier, however, and orders Paulina's husband, Lord Antigonus, to take the child and abandon it in a desolate place. 

Cleomenes and Dion return from Delphi with word from the Oracle and find Hermione publicly and humiliatingly put of a trial before the king. She asserts her innocence, and asks for the word of the Oracle to be read before the court. The Oracle states that Hermione and Polixenes are innocent, Camillo and honest man, and that Leontes will have no heir until his lost daughter is found. 

Leontes shuns the news, refusing to believe it as the truth. As this news is revealed, word comes that Leonete's son Mamillius, has died of a wasting sickness brought on by the accusations against his mother. Hermione falls in a swoon, and is carried away by Paulina, who subsequently reports the queen's death to her husband. Leontes vows to spend the rest of his days atoning for the loss of his son and his queen. 

Antigonus abandons the baby on the coast of Bohemia, reporting that Hermione appeared to him in a dream and bade him name the girl Perdita. He leaves a fardel by the baby containing gold and other trinkets which suggest that the baby is of noble blood. A violent storm suddenly appears, wrecking the ship on which Antigonus arrived. He wishes to take pity on the child, but is chased away.

In Sicilia, Leontes is still in mourning. Cleomenes and Dion plead with him to end his time of repentance because the kingdom needs an heir. Paulina convinces the kind to continue his penance until she alone finds him a wife. Florizel and Perdita arrive, effusively greeted by Leontes. Florizel pretends to be on a diplomatic mission from his father, but is cover in blown when Polixenes and Camillo arrive in Sicilia. 

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Author: Leo Tolstoy

Published: 1869
Novel.

The novel begins in July 1805 in Saint Petersburg, at a soirée given by Anna Pavlovna Scherer, the maid of honour and confidante to dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. Pierre is the illegitimate son of a wealthy count, who is dying after a series of strokes; educated abroad at his father's expense following his mother's death, Pierre is kindhearted but socially awkward, and finds it difficult to integrate into Saint Petersburg society. 

The Roscov family is in Moscow; Count Ilya Andreyevich Rostov and Countess Natalya Rostova are an affectionate couple but forever worried about their disordered finances. They have four children.

Thirteen-year-old Natasha believes herself in love with Boris Drubestskoy, a young man who is about to join the army. 

Twenty-year-old Nikolai pledges his love to Sonya, his fifteen-year-old cousin, an orphan who has been brought up by the Rostovs. 

Vera, the eldest, is cold and haughty but has good prospective marriage in a Russian-German officer, Adolf Karlovich Berg. 

Petya, the youngest, is impetus and eager to join the army. 

Characters: 

Count Pyotr Kirillovich (Pierre) Bezukhov
Prince Andrei Nikolayevich Bolkonsky
Princess Maria Nikolayevna Bolkonskaya
Count Ilya Andreyevich Rostov
Countless Natalya Rostova
Countless Natalya Ilyinichna (Natasha) Rostova
Count Nikolai Ilyich (Nikolenka) Rostov
Sofia Alexandrovna (Sonya) Rostova
Countess Vera Ilyinichna Rostova
Pyotr Ilyich (Petra) Rostov
Prince Vasily Sergeyevich Kuragin
Princess Elena Vasilyevna Kuragina
Prince Anatole Vasilyevich Kuragin