Central Kansas Library System

Unlock the more straightforward side of 1984 with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of 1984 by George Orwell, a dystopian novel which presents an uncomfortably realistic portrayal of the future, a future where the government controls everything and residents are kept under constant surveillance. In a society where dissidence is brutally punished and history is altered to suit the State, Winston...

Unlock the more straightforward side of The Alchemist with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a charming philosophical novel which tells the story of Santiago, a young shepherd who decides to leave his native Andalusia after he has a dream about treasure that lies buried at the foot of the Pyramids. His journey through the desert leads to encounters with...

This engaging summary presents an analysis of Animal Farm by George Orwell, a tale about an animal revolution on a farm and its consequences. While the premise may appear simple at first, a closer reading of the text reveals that Orwell's book is actually a stinging satire of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the government which then came to power. Due to the political context at the time the book was written, Orwell had great difficulty finding...

Unlock the more straightforward side of Anna Karenina with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy is one of his most famous novels and a masterpiece of Russian literature. It tells the story of a young woman of noble birth in 19th century Russia, and her tragic adulterous love. More than a love story, this work is a portrait of the Russia of the author's time and...

Unlock the more straightforward side of 'Art' with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of 'Art' by Yasmina Reza, her most successful play that has won two Molière Awards and a Tony Award, as well as receiving several other nominations. It tells the story of three friends, one of whom purchases an expensive piece of art which prompts divided opinions within the group and becomes a source of...

Unlock the more straightforward side of Bel Ami with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant, a realist novel depicting the bourgeois society of the nineteenth century. It tells the story of Georges Duroy and his quest to achieve social status using his charm and intelligence and with the help of wealthy mistresses. De Maupassant was a disillusioned writer, and his...

Unlock the more straightforward side of Candide: or, Optimism with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of Candide: or, Optimism by Voltaire, a satirical and philosophical work. It tells the tragi-comic story of Candide, a naïve young man, and the many hardships he experiences during his travels around the world. The work has been considered one of the most influential books ever written, and...

Unlock the more straightforward side of The Catcher in the Rye with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!

This engaging summary presents an analysis of The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, one of the most popular young adult novels of all time. It is written from the perspective of Holden Caulfield, a rebellious teenager who suffers from depression and finds social conventions oppressive. After...

Unlock the more straightforward side of The Diary of a Young Girl with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, which was written while Anne was confined to a series of hidden rooms in a warehouse in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Along with her mother, father, older sister Margot and four other Jews, Anne spent two years in the "Secret Annexe" before being...

In this clear and detailed reading guide, we've done all the hard work for you! The Elegance of the Hedgehog is a witty and satirical reflection on culture and appearances. Throughout the friendship between a gifted 12-year old and a concierge who is more than what she lets on, Muriel Barbery denounces the pretentions of the French bourgeoisie and their tendency to rely only on appearances. Find out all you need to know about The Elegance of the...