Japanese literature

After the Quake

“The earth shook for precisely seventeen seconds. Exactly seventeen seconds—no more, no less.” UFO in Kushiro Komura’s wife leaves him after the Kobe earthquake, claiming he is “empty.” […]

French literature

99 Francs

“Advertising is the most beautiful lie in the world.” Chapter 1: The Advertising Machine The protagonist, Octave Parango, introduces himself as a cynical advertising executive in Paris. He […]

American literature

Because of Winn-Dixie

“You can’t always judge people by the things they done. You got to judge them by what they are doing now.” — Opal in Because of Winn-Dixie Chapter […]

English literature

The Amber Spyglass

“You cannot change what you are, only what you do.” Part One: The Enchanted Sleeper Lyra Silvertongue and Will Parry, now in possession of the subtle knife, travel […]

English literature

White Teeth

“What is past is prologue.” — William Shakespeare (Epigraph in White Teeth) Part One: Archie 1974, 1945 The novel opens with Archie Jones, a middle-aged Englishman, attempting suicide […]