The Jungle looks at the meatpacking industry in the United States during the early 20th century. The novel depicts an immigrant family’s struggles as they try to make a success of their lives in America while depending on the industry for their employment. Four months after Sinclair wrote the book in 1906, the United States […]

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is one of the most harrowing books I’ve ever read. As the title suggests, the book looks at a day in the life of a prisoner in a Russian gulag in Siberia. The book was written by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who experienced the gulag himself when he was […]

A Clockwork Orange follows the life of Alex, a fifteen-year-old who enjoys random acts of violence, which including breaking and entry, assault and rape. As the novel progresses, Alex’s luck runs out and he is caught by the authorities. After a fight with another cellmate, Alex is selected for a special treatment to rid him […]

Crime and Punishment is one of the best novels I have ever read. Written by Dostoyevsky, it’s a whirlwind of a book that probes deep into the human soul. The book follows the story of Raskolnikov, a former student turned pawnbroker who commits a terrible act one day. From then on Dostoyevsky weaves a stunning […]

The Beach is one of my favourite novels and is much better than the film version of the book. The book is narrated in the first person by Richard, a British backpacker who is travelling in Thailand. During his travels, he discovers a map which leads to a beach where a group of fellow travellers […]

Animal Farm is an allegorical novel about a group of farm animals who overthrow their human farmer and set up a farm to serve in the interest of the animals who inhabit it. The novel was written by George Orwell as a cautionary tale against Stalinism. The plot of the book mimics the Russian Revolution […]

Nineteen Eighty-Four is one of the most profound and important novels ever written. Even if you’ve never read the book, you will have heard of it. Written by the brilliant George Orwell, the cultural impact of the book is reflected in the number of phrases from it that have entered the public discourse. Terms such […]

Jurassic Park is one of the most famous films ever made. Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster was a groundbreaking film when it was released. But, what is lesser-known is that the film was based on a novel by Michael Crichton. For anyone that has been living under a rock for the past twenty years, Jurassic Park is […]

This Alone in Berlin summary looks at a fantastic novel of small scale resistance in the city of Berlin during the Nazis rule. The novel is based on real events and is a fascinating story, which provides a grim overview of life under the oppressive regime. What I liked about the book was how several […]