Ernest Gaines "A Lesson Before Dying"

"A Lesson Before Dying"is an deeply touching and moving story
and it very much deserves the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction that it received in 1993. It is set in the south in the 1950’s. Three men are killed. Jefferson, a young black, is an innocent witness, he is convicted of murder and is sentenced to death. Grant, the town's black school teacher, is asked to visit Jefferson in jail, to help him to be ready to die with dignity.Grant learns the true meaning of friendship and what it means to be a man.They both learn from each other some important life lessons.
This book touched me deeply and actually moved me to tears.
Ann.

William Wharton "Birdy"

Birdy” is a story of childhood friendship, family, war, love, obsession and madness. The novel tells of the lifelong friendship of two boys, Al and Birdy. From a young age, Birdy is obsessed with birds and with the flights. Both boys went to war and Birdy, who comes back from Vietnam started think that he is a bird, an animal that has obsessed him since childhood. Birdy is confined to a military hospital, where he spends his time sitting naked in his room, not acknowleding anyone. Birdy actually becomes birdlike, refusing to act as a human, moving and acting like a parakeet. His best friend Al , also a wounded Vietnam soldier, visits Birdy every day, he is expected to bring Birdy back to his normal state of mind.
A stunning novel...
Lena.

Edith Wharton "The Age of Innocence"

Edith Wharton won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for "The Age of Innocence" and once you start reading, you can see why. The love story was beautifully written, and the descriptions of New York’s high society were funny and witty. Newland Archer is about to marry May Welland when her cousin, Ellen Olenska returns from Europe. Ellen is mysterious, independent- all the things that Newland is looking for. He falls in love with Ellen, but still marries May. As he finds himself more and more intrigued by Ellen, he must finally choose between his duty and his heart....
Olga.

Joseph Roth "The Radetzky March"

"The Radetzky March" is Joseph Roth's brilliant tale of the declining years of the Austro-Hungarian and the Hapsburg Empire as told through the fortunes and misfortunes of three generations of the Trotta family. This touching drama of parents and children, the state and it's citizens, men and their deeds. The eldest Trotta was a Slovenian lieutenant who, as fate would have it, saved the young, soon-to-be Emperoror Franz Josef on the battlefield. This is a novel about the eternal cycle of the rise and fall of human affairs and empires.
"The Radetzky March" is generally considered to be masterpiece. Joseph Roth has written a beautiful, complex novel with humour and tragic irony.
Ann.

F.Scott Fitzgerald "This Side of Paradise"

"This side of paradise" is Scott Fitzgerald's first novel, written when the author was twenty-four, brought him immediate popular success on its publication in 1920. It tells the story of Amory Blaine, story of his life, but more than that it is the story of his search for love of others and finds only himself. In the first part of "This Side of Paradise" we see young man going to Princeton, full of himself, living a college life, falling in and out of love.
What really made this book important is the second part, after college and after Blaine had done military service during World War I in France.
"This side of paradise" is also autobiographical novel.
Lili.

Kate Chopin "The Awakening"

Writing in the late 1800s, Kate Chopin describes a young woman's dissatisfaction with her roles as wife and mother. Edna is the main character, and she becomes unhappy with her life. However she finds her life boring and wants to be more independent. She is not in love with her husband, though he is a very respectable man. After taking a trip to a resort for a summer, she falls in love with the handsome Robert, who falls in love with her.
"The Awakening" is a defining work of feminism. It features the awakening of Edna to find her true self.
"The Awakening" is a beautifully written brilliant story.
Olga.

F.Scott Fitzgerald "The Great Gatsby"

"The Great Gatsby" is a great american novel and one of the best books of the twentieth century. I think the biggest surprise about The Great Gatsby was what a pleasure to read it! Fitzgerald’s writing is absolutely poetic, his plot and his characters are always interesting and the book is almost never boring. It is a portrait of America between the two World Wars, a nation searching for meaning and trying to achieve the American Dream. "The Great Gatsby" takes place during the 1920's. This is a period of women rights, gangsters, new technologies, especially radio and cars. In some ways it is a love story and it also shows the dynamics of the class system.
Ann.

Andrea Barrett "Ship Fever"

Loved reading these short stories, some set in the late 20th century, some set in the late 18th. This collection is excellent, all about scientists, many historical stories. Andrea Barrett is one of the best, most intelligent, and most sincere contemporary writers of realist fiction.
"Ship Fever" is my favorite story about the Irish immigrants emigrating to Canada during the potato famine.
Barrett has a beautiful style of writing.
Tanya.

Peter Matthiessen "The Snow Leopard"

Matthiessen decided to travel through Nepal with his friend to study Himalayan blue sheep and to try to get a glimpse of the mysterious and rare snow leopard. The author never does find the snow leopard but his journey in the Himalaya helps him to begin to find himself and discover the meaning of life. This book works on several levels, as a spiritual text, travelogue, and naturalist text.
What I liked best was Matthiessen's writing style, it’s as poetry in a prose. His language and imagery are extraordinary. This is a book not to be missed.
Lili.

Laura Hillenbrand "Seabiscuit"

I loved this book! Seabiscuit is one of the best horse books I could ever read and an excellent example of how interesting non-fiction can be.
Hillenbrand is a wonderful storyteller with a graceful style, she writes the story with a funny, unique tone.
Seabiscuit is about one of the most famous American racehorses, who ran during the 1930's. He was a symbol of hope for many. In addition, Hillenbrand tells the amazing stories of his jockey,trainer, and owner.
I would recommend this for anyone who has ever been interested in horses or racing, anyone who enjoys reading about American history.
Tanya.