“A woman’s diary is a mirror of her heart.” Chapter 1 The novel opens with the husband, a middle-aged professor, secretly reading his wife Ikuko’s diary. He becomes […]
Japanese literature
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
“Human life is as fragile as the morning dew, yet the Golden Pavilion stands eternal.” Chapter 1: Introduction to Mizoguchi The novel opens with Mizoguchi, a young stutterer, […]
German literature
The Black Obelisk
“The dead are always wrong. They should have stayed alive.” Chapter 1: Post-War Germany Ludwig Bodmer, a young veteran of World War I, works at a monument company […]
French literature
The Roots of Heaven
“There are no men who are not, in some way, responsible for the fate of other men.” Part One The novel opens in French Equatorial Africa, where Morel, […]
French literature
A Certain Smile
“There are certain smiles that are worth more than all the happiness in the world.” Part One Dominique, a young Parisian law student, is in a comfortable but […]
French literature
The Fall
“May I, monsieur, offer my services without running the risk of intruding?” Chapter 1: The Confession Begins Jean-Baptiste Clamence, a former Parisian lawyer, sits in a dimly lit […]
American literature
Giovanni’s Room
“I am—or I was—one of those people who pride themselves on their willpower, on their ability to make a decision and stick to it.” Part One The novel […]