Fanous Books

                                   "Don Quixote"  "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes , first published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, is widely regarded as one of the foundational works of modern Western literature and the first modern novel. This seminal work is celebrated for its satirical edge and deep, enduring humor, which skewers the chivalric traditions and class structures of Cervantes' time. The novel recounts the adventures of Alonso Quixano, an older gentleman from the region of La Mancha in central Spain. Obsessed with the chivalric romances he has read, he loses his sanity and decides to become a knight-errant, renaming himself Don Quixote. He dons an old suit of armor, declares a simple farm girl, Aldonza Lorenzo, to be his noble lady under the name Dulcinea del Toboso, and sets out on his old horse, Rocinante, to right wrongs and defend the helpless. Don Quixote...

                    "The Brothers Karamazov"  "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1880, is the final novel by the Russian author and is considered one of the pinnacle achievements in world literature. This sprawling, expansive novel delves deeply into questions concerning God, free will, and morality, engaging with profound philosophical and theological debates through the lives of its complex characters. The narrative centers on the tumultuous lives of the Karamazov family: the father, Fyodor Pavlovich, and his three sons, Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha. Each son represents different aspects of philosophical thought and spiritual belief. Dmitri, the eldest, struggles with his passions and desires, often finding himself torn between the sensual life and a more spiritual path. Ivan, the middle son, is an intellectual and a skeptic, famous for his poem "The Grand Inquisitor," which questions the jus...

                                "Invisible Man" "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison , published in 1952, is a seminal work in American literature that explores the complex social and identity issues facing African-Americans in the early to mid-20th century. This novel, which won the National Book Award in 1953, uses a blend of realism, surrealism, and existentialism to delve into the personal and societal struggles of its protagonist, known only as the Invisible Man, who describes himself as invisible because people refuse to see him. The story is told from the first-person perspective of the Invisible Man, who narrates his journey from the South to Harlem in New York City, and his experiences along the way which shape his understanding of race and individuality. The novel begins with him living in a basement full of light bulbs in Harlem, reflecting on his life and the events that led him to his...

                                        "Beloved"  "Beloved" by Toni Morrison , first published in 1987, is a profound and haunting novel that delves into the brutal legacy of slavery in the United States. This Pulitzer Prize-winning work is often considered Morrison's masterpiece and stands as a monumental achievement in American literature, examining the psychological and cultural impact of slavery on African Americans during and after the Civil War. The story is set in 1873 and revolves around Sethe, a former slave who has fled to Cincinnati, Ohio, where she lives with her daughter Denver and her mother-in-law Baby Suggs in a house known as 124. The house is haunted by a malevolent spirit believed to be the ghost of Sethe's dead daughter, known only as Beloved. The novel begins when Paul D, another former slave from the Sweet Home plantation where Sethe was ens...

                         "The Lord of the Rings"  "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien , published in three volumes between 1954 and 1955, is one of the most famous and influential works of fantasy literature in the 20th century. It is often credited with reviving interest in the fantasy genre and setting the standard for its modern form. The narrative is a continuation of Tolkien's earlier work, "The Hobbit," and is set in the fictional world of Middle-earth. The story centers on the quest to destroy the One Ring, which was forged by the dark lord Sauron to control other rings of power and dominate Middle-earth. The ring has the ability to corrupt its bearers, and Sauron seeks it to regain his full power after being defeated in an earlier age. The protagonist, Frodo Baggins, a hobbit from the Shire, inherits the ring from his cousin Bilbo and is charged with the daunting task of destroying it by castin...

                         "The Catcher in the Rye"  "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger , first published in 1951, is a defining work of 20th-century American literature, particularly renowned for its portrayal of teenage angst and alienation. The novel is narrated by Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old who has just been expelled from prep school and is grappling with the complexities of adulthood and his own turbulent emotions. As the story unfolds, Holden describes a series of events over a few days after leaving his school, Pencey Prep, before he is expected to go home for Christmas break. Filled with disdain for the "phoniness" of the adult world, Holden searches for authenticity and truth but finds himself increasingly disillusioned. His journey takes him back to his hometown, New York City, where he tries to connect with a series of people, each interaction ending in disappointment. Holden's narr...