Japanese literature

The Waiting Years

“A woman’s life is nothing but waiting—waiting for happiness, waiting for love, waiting for the end.” Chapter 1: The Arrival of Tomo The novel opens with Tomo, the […]

Russian literature

Uncle Vanya

“We shall find peace. We shall hear angels. We shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds.” Act 1 The play opens at the rural estate of Professor Serebryakov, […]

English literature

The Slap

“A man doesn’t have to be a saint to know right from wrong.” Chapter 1: The Barbecue At a suburban barbecue in Melbourne, a heated argument erupts when […]