The Brothers Karamazov is a powerful exploration of faith, free will, and the complexity of the human soul. It tells the story of the Karamazov family, led by the corrupt and hedonistic Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov and his three very different sons:

• Dmitri (Mitya) – the passionate, impulsive eldest son, driven by intense emotions.

• Ivan – the intellectual, skeptical middle son, who struggles with questions of faith and morality.

• Alyosha – the youngest, a deeply spiritual and kind novice monk, embodying faith and compassion.

The novel’s central conflict arises when Fyodor is murdered, and Dmitri is accused of the crime. However, the real killer is Smerdyakov, Fyodor’s illegitimate son, who is influenced by Ivan’s cynical philosophy, believing that without God, all actions are permissible.

The story includes the famous "Grand Inquisitor" chapter, where Ivan presents a haunting parable about the conflict between freedom and authority, challenging the foundations of Christian faith.

In the end, Dmitri is wrongly convicted, and Ivan descends into madness, while Alyosha finds hope in human connection and spiritual growth. The novel concludes on a note of redemption, reflecting Dostoevsky’s belief in the transformative power of faith and love.

Don Quixote is a satirical and deeply philosophical novel that follows Alonso Quixano, a man who becomes so obsessed with books about knights and chivalry that he loses touch with reality. Reinventing himself as Don Quixote, a self-proclaimed knight-errant, he sets out on a quest to revive chivalry and do noble deeds in a world that no longer believes in such ideals.

Accompanied by his loyal squire, Sancho Panza, Don Quixote embarks on a series of often absurd and comedic adventures—most famously, mistaking windmills for giants. His delusions lead him into conflict with the mundane reality around him, and while others mock him, the story ultimately reveals his deep humanity and unwavering idealism.

The novel explores themes of idealism vs. realism, madness vs. sanity, and the power of literature and imagination. Through its humor and pathos, Cervantes critiques the society of his time and reflects on the eternal human struggle between dreams and reality.

In the end, Don Quixote regains his sanity but dies soon after, leaving readers with a bittersweet reminder of the beauty—and cost—of believing in something greater than oneself.

One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the epic, multi-generational story of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo. Founded by José Arcadio Buendía, the town is initially an isolated utopia but slowly becomes entangled in war, politics, industrialization, and decay.

The Buendía family repeats patterns of solitude, obsession, and tragedy, with each generation experiencing love, loss, and the consequences of their ancestors' actions. Characters often bear the same names, symbolizing the cyclical nature of time and fate.

Magical events—such as ghosts, ascensions to heaven, and plagues—are presented as natural, illustrating the novel’s signature magical realism. Over time, Macondo becomes a symbol of Latin America’s history, mirroring its civil wars, foreign exploitation, and cultural amnesia.

The final descendant, Aureliano, deciphers a cryptic manuscript that reveals the family's destiny was predetermined. As he finishes reading it, Macondo is wiped from existence, ending the family's cursed lineage and a century of solitude.

The novel is both a family saga and a reflection on memory, identity, history, and the inescapable cycles of human life.

The Catcher in the Rye follows Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old boy who has been expelled from Pencey Prep, a prestigious boarding school. Instead of returning home, Holden wanders through New York City, encountering a series of people who highlight his deep sense of alienation and dissatisfaction with the world.

Throughout his journey, Holden grapples with feelings of loneliness and a desire to protect childhood innocence. He resents the "phony" nature of adults and dreams of being "the catcher in the rye," someone who saves children from falling into the corruption of adulthood. However, his encounters—including a failed date, an awkward meeting with an old teacher, and a visit to his beloved younger sister, Phoebe—reveal his deep inner turmoil and resistance to change.

The novel culminates in a poignant scene where Holden watches Phoebe ride a carousel, symbolizing the inevitability of growing up. This moment suggests a shift in Holden’s perspective—an acceptance that life continues, and one cannot stop change.

Through its raw and introspective narration, The Catcher in the Rye explores themes of alienation, the fear of adulthood, and the search for identity, making it a defining work of modern American literature.

War and Peace is an epic historical novel that follows the lives of Russian aristocrats during the Napoleonic Wars (1805–1812). It explores the impact of war on individuals and society, blending personal drama with grand historical events.

The novel revolves around three main characters:

• Pierre Bezukhov, a socially awkward but kind-hearted nobleman who searches for meaning in life.
• Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, an ambitious officer who becomes disillusioned with war and glory.
• Natasha Rostova, a vibrant young woman who matures through love, heartbreak, and personal loss.

As Napoleon’s army invades Russia, the characters experience love, tragedy, and self-discovery. Andrei is fatally wounded in battle, while Pierre, after being captured by the French, finds personal enlightenment. Natasha and Pierre ultimately find happiness together, symbolizing personal and spiritual growth.

Tolstoy challenges the idea that history is shaped by great leaders, instead portraying it as the result of countless small actions. The novel explores themes of fate, free will, love, and the search for meaning, making it one of the most profound works in world literature.

Moby-Dick is an epic novel that follows Ishmael, a sailor who joins the whaling ship Pequod, captained by the vengeful Ahab. Ahab is obsessed with hunting down Moby Dick, the great white whale that once maimed him. As the ship sails across the vast oceans, the crew experiences the dangers of the sea, the complexities of whaling, and Ahab’s growing madness.

Despite warnings and omens, Ahab’s obsession consumes him, leading the Pequod into a final, disastrous confrontation with Moby Dick. The whale destroys the ship, killing Ahab and most of the crew, leaving only Ishmael to survive and tell the tale.

The novel explores themes of obsession, fate, nature’s power, and man’s struggle against the unknown. Rich with symbolism and philosophical depth, Moby-Dick remains one of the most significant works in American literature.

Brave New World is a dystopian novel set in a technologically advanced society where stability and happiness are achieved through genetic engineering, psychological conditioning, and the suppression of individuality. The World State prioritizes conformity and pleasure, with citizens divided into rigid castes. Soma, a drug that eliminates discomfort, ensures compliance, while emotional depth, creativity, and traditional human connections are sacrificed for societal stability.

The story follows Bernard Marx, an alienated Alpha, and John, "the Savage," who is brought to the World State from the Savage Reservation. John’s values, influenced by Shakespeare and natural human experiences, clash with the hedonistic and controlled society. While Bernard seeks social acceptance, John becomes a symbol of resistance. His ultimate rejection of the World State's ideals leads to despair and tragedy, highlighting the cost of sacrificing individuality for societal stability.

The novel explores themes such as the dangers of technological control, the loss of free will, and the emptiness of hedonism, serving as a timeless warning about the potential costs of prioritizing convenience over humanity.

"1984" by George Orwell, published in 1949, is a dystopian novel set in a future where totalitarianism reigns supreme. The story follows Winston Smith, a worker at the Ministry of Truth in the superstate of Oceania, ruled by the Party and its leader, Big Brother. The Party exercises total control over every aspect of life, employing surveillance, propaganda, and brutal repression to maintain power. Winston begins a forbidden love affair with Julia and dreams of rebellion, but they are betrayed and captured by the Thought Police. Under torture, Winston's resistance is crushed, and he ultimately succumbs to the Party's oppressive rule. The novel explores themes of totalitarianism, surveillance, truth and reality manipulation, language and thought control, and the struggle between individuality and collectivism.