Bookends of Brilliance

"The rest is silence."  From Hamlet , by William Shakespeare . Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, centered on Prince Hamlet's quest for revenge against his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father to seize the throne. Shakespeare, widely regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in history, masterfully explores themes of mortality, madness, and betrayal in this iconic play. This...

"Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun." The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams . "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is a comedic science fiction series by Douglas Adams, following the intergalactic adventures of an unwitting human, Arthur Dent, and his alien friend, Ford Prefect....

"Yukiko's diarrhoea persisted through the twenty-sixth, and was a problem on the train to Tokyo." The Makioka Sisters, by Junichiro Tanizaki . "The Makioka Sisters" written by Junichiro Tanizaki, is a poignant novel that explores the lives and relationships of four sisters from an aristocratic Japanese family during the 1930s and early 1940s. The story delves into themes of tradition, modernity, a...

"In the spirit of the dead, the living, and the unborn, empty your ears of all impurities, o listener, that you may hear my story." "Wizard of the Crow" by  Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o , is a satirical novel set in the fictional African country of Aburĩria, exploring themes of power, corruption, and resistance through a blend of magical realism and political commentary. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a renowned Kenyan...

"There was some open space between what he knew and what he tried to believe, but nothing could be done about it, and if you can't fix it, you've got to stand it." Brokeback Mountain, by Annie Proulx . "Brokeback Mountain" a poignant novella by Annie Proulx, explores the complex and tragic relationship between two cowboys in the American West, highlighting themes of love, longing, and societal con...

"We should begin with the house, the house that made me." Yaa Gyasi , "Homegoing". Yaa Gyasi's "Homegoing" is a powerful debut novel that traces the parallel paths of two half-sisters and their descendants, spanning over three hundred years from the Gold Coast of Africa to the plantations of the American South and the Civil War. The novel intricately explores themes of slavery, colonialism, and th...

"As I left China farther and farther behind, I looked out of the window and saw a great universe beyond the plane's silver wing. I took one more glance over my past life, then turned to the future. I was eager to embrace the world." Wild Swans, by Jung Chang . Jung Chang is a Chinese-British author best known for her groundbreaking memoir "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China" which chronicles the...

"I say that Nhamo's grandmother was a witch because the people of the village said so. And she was."  "Nervous Conditions“, by Tsitsi Dangarembga . Tsitsi Dangarembga's debut novel, "Nervous Conditions" (1988), holds the distinction of being the first novel published in English by a Black woman from Zimbabwe. In 2018, the BBC recognized it as one of the top 100 books that have shaped the world. Bo...

"He is coming, and I am here." The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger . "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger is a captivating novel that intertwines romance and science fiction, exploring the love story between Clare, an artist, and Henry, a librarian who involuntarily travels through time. The narrative delves into the complexities of their relationship as they navigate the c...

"We didn't call it Lagos then. The name was Eko, a name that must have belonged to our ancestors, those who lived here before the Portuguese came." From " Swallow ", by Sefi Atta . Sefi Atta, the acclaimed Nigerian author, presents a compelling narrative in "Swallow," a novel that explores the lives of women navigating socio-economic challenges in post-colonial Nigeria. Through vivid characterizat...

"This is not a full circle. It's Life carrying on. It's the next breath we all take. It's the choice we make to get on with it." Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight : An African Childhood, by Alexandra Fuller . This poignant memoir captures her rugged and turbulent upbringing in war torn Africa during the 1970s and 1980s. Fuller's narrative is rich with evocative descriptions of the African landsca...

"Things started to fall apart at home when my brother, Jaja, did not go to communion and Papa flung his heavy missal across the room and broke the figurines on the étagère." From "Purple Hibiscus", by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie . "Purple Hibiscus" is a profound and poignant novel by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, which explores themes of family, freedom, and oppression through the eyes of...

"The white man whose power you know too well has ordered this meeting to stop." "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe ends with this poignant line. This is a seminal work of African literature that explores the tragic fall of the protagonist, Okonkwo, and the impact of colonialism on traditional Igbo society. Through its vivid portrayal of pre-colonial life and the disruptive forces of European col...

"They called him Ma Ma Gombe, Ma Ma Water, out of respect and not mockery, because they were too wise to mock him."  From ""The Palm-Wine Drinkard", by Amos Tutuola . "The Palm-Wine Drinkard" is a novel by Nigerian author Amos Tutuola, originally published in 1952. Blending Yoruba folktales with surreal storytelling, it follows the adventurous journey of a man in search of his dead palm-wine tapst...

"For a while longer they lie still. Then he whispers, 'Be good,' and then he whispers, 'Forgive me'". From "Disgrace", by J.M. Coetzee. "Disgrace" by John Maxwell Coetzee is a poignant exploration of post-apartheid South Africa, delving into themes of power, redemption, and societal change. Coetzee, a Nobel laureate, is renowned for his stark, thought-provoking prose that illuminates the complexit...

"The news that our district was to be visited by a celebrated actor had spread throughout the mountain area of Phoenix of the Sky." " Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress ", by Dai Sijie . Dai Sijie, a Chinese-born filmmaker and author, wrote Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, a semi-autobiographical novel inspired by his own experiences during China's Cultural Revolution. The story exp...

"We shall never cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."  From " Four Quartets ", by T.S. Eliot . "Four Quartets", by T.S. Eliot, is a set of four poems that explore the cyclical nature of time, spiritual exploration, and the interconnectedness of human existence. Through richly layered imagery and philosophi...

"It was a quiet morning, the town covered over with darkness and at ease in bed." Love in the Time of Cholera , by Gabriel García Márquez . Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez is a poignant tale that explores the enduring nature of love through the lives of Fermina Daza and Florentino Ariza. Set in a Caribbean town, it intertwines themes of passion, fidelity, and aging over half...

"It's goodbye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies." From " On the Road ", by Jack Kerouac . Jack Kerouac's On the Road is a defining work of the Beat Generation, chronicling the cross-country adventures of the protagonist Sal Paradise and his friend Dean Moriarty. The novel explores themes of freedom, rebellion, and the search for meaning in post-war America. Bookends...

"All day, the colors had been those of dusk, mist moving like a water creature across the great flanks of mountains possessed of ocean shadows and depths." The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai . Kiran Desai is an Indian author best known for her novel The Inheritance of Loss, which won the Man Booker Prize in 2006. She is recognized for her rich storytelling that explores themes of globalizatio...

"On the heels of their arranged wedding, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli settle together in Cambridge, Massachusetts." "The Namesake", by Jhumpa Lahiri . Jhumpa Lahiri's debut novel "The Namesake" explores the themes of identity, cultural assimilation, and the immigrant experience, vividly portraying the life of a Bengali family in America. While "The Namesake" itself did not win a Pulitzer Prize, Jhump...

"The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep." Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, by Robert Frost . Robert Frost was an American poet renowned for his vivid depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His poetry often explores complex social and philosophical themes through settings...

"Before my wife turned vegetarian, I thought of her as completely unremarkable in every way.“ From "The Vegetarian", by Han Kang . "The Vegetarian" by Han Kang is a profound and haunting novel that delves into the psyche of a woman who renounces meat, which sets off a disturbing transformation within her family and society. Han Kang, an acclaimed South Korean author, skillfully explores themes of...

"Cash isn't the only thing I take from my father's study when I leave home." Kafka on the Shore , by Haruki Murakami . "Kafka on the Shore" is a mesmerizing and surreal novel by Haruki Murakami that intertwines the peculiar narratives of a teenage boy who runs away from home and an aging man who can converse with cats. Through a blend of metaphysical and poignant themes, Murakami explores complex...

"I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wide as the valley of Panjsher on my lips. I ran." The Kite Runner , by Khaled Hosseini . "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini is a profound narrative of friendship and redemption, set against the tumultuous backdrop of Afghanistan from the fall of the monarchy through the rise of the Taliban. It explores the intricate bonds of guilt and rede...