chatgpt’s free literature curriculum ✦ anika superstar

Disclaimer: All content generated with ChatGPT is clearly marked below the line. 🙂

Introduction

I’m back with another AI-created curriculum. This time, we’re learning how to read.

Why are we doing this? I feel like good readers become good writers, and I want to be a good writer. I’ve been grappling with the concept of legacy this year, and at present, what I leave behind is:

The memories we made along the way
This blog (until someone renews the hosting/domain)
Seven angsty, sometimes funny, sometimes whiny handwritten journals
A handwritten cookbook of my best recipes (granted that I have been cooking for only four years)
My “American Slothic” painting and other drafted works
My crocheted temperature blanket
A couple features at a couple different companies

These are fine for now, but I feel I am meant to create more. A stand-up comedy special. A Caldecott-awarded picture book. A literary novel. These are my aspirations, and they’re all related to writing. Writing is one of my many deferred passions, and I want to actively work on it in 2025. So, in order to work up to these grand goals, I want to continue honing my reading skills by reading and understanding what makes great literature, well, great.

I think this video on why we read from Crash Course also provides a good introduction to the curriculum.

I’ll continue to update this post (reorder books as needed, provide guidance) as I progress through it. I’m hoping that I live through the end of Year 8, so by the end of 2032, I should be literate. Maybe memento mori will motivate me to work through the curriculum faster?

I would like to mix these dense novels in with my other 2025 reading goals (Onyx Storm hehehe) so I’m thinking that I’ll start each month with my literature book and continue afterwards with my fun/contemporary books.

Here’s an interesting video I watched today about the glorification of bookishness:

This eight-year literature curriculum totally veers towards Rory Gilmore bookish territory, and I didn’t previously consider that there’s privilege in reading. I’m grateful to have the time to read and write.

These are the books I’ve already read from this list:

Pride and Prejudice
Candide
Romeo and Juliet
Macbeth
Les Misérables
The Great Gatsby
Siddhartha
The Color Purple
To Kill A Mockingbird
Things Fall Apart
Half of a Yellow Sun
Celestial Bodies

I plan to reread them with the curriculum except for Les Miserables and Half of a Yellow Sun. Les Miserables because I know the plot forwards and backwards and trudged through the unabridged version in 2014 for the only time in my life, and Half of a Yellow Sun because I still remember the plot pretty well, though I may feel like revisiting by Year 6. I may also skip Celestial Bodies because I thought it was #justokay, but maybe I’ll change my mind by Year 8.

Without further ado, here is the curriculum:

ChatGPT’s Free Literature Curriculum

Year 1: Early World Literature

1. The Epic of Gilgamesh (Mesopotamia)

Reading: The Epic of Gilgamesh (Translated by Andrew George)
Resource: Crash Course
Commentary: As one of the earliest surviving works of literature, this epic introduces themes of heroism, friendship, and the quest for immortality. It provides foundational context for understanding early storytelling and mythology.

2. The Odyssey by Homer (Greece)

Reading: The Odyssey (Translated by Emily Wilson)
Resource: The Odyssey Course, Crash Course
Commentary: The Odyssey complements The Iliad by focusing on the themes of adventure and the hero’s journey. It highlights the struggles of Odysseus as he seeks to return home, enriching our understanding of Greek storytelling.

3. The Bhagavad Gita (India)

Reading: The Bhagavad Gita (Translated by Eknath Easwaran)
Resource: Bhagavad Gita Online Study
Commentary: This ancient text is a cornerstone of Hindu philosophy and spirituality, exploring themes of duty, righteousness, and devotion. It offers profound insights into moral and ethical decision-making and provides cultural and spiritual context for understanding Indian literature.

4. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (Japan)

Reading: The Tale of Genji (Translated by Royall Tyler)
Resource: EdX Course
Commentary: Often considered the world’s first novel, this work offers a deep exploration of courtly life and the complexities of human emotions in Heian-era Japan. It’s essential for understanding early Japanese literature and the evolution of the novel form.

5. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (Italy)

Reading: The Divine Comedy (Translated by John Ciardi)
Resource: Yale Course
Commentary: This seminal work maps the journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, reflecting medieval Christian values and beliefs. It’s a crucial text for exploring themes of morality, redemption, and the afterlife.

6. The Aeneid by Virgil (Rome)

Reading: The Aeneid (Translated by Robert Fagles)
Resource: Virgil’s Aeneid Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: This epic serves as a bridge from Greek to Roman literature, exploring themes of duty, fate, and the founding of Rome. It provides context for understanding Roman values and their epic tradition.

7. The Ramayana by Valmiki (India)

Reading: The Ramayana (Translated by Arshia Sattar)
Resource: LitCharts
Commentary: This epic narrative explores themes of duty, honor, and dharma through the adventures of Prince Rama. It provides foundational context for understanding Indian epics and their influence on literature and culture.

8. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (England)

Reading: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Resource: The Canterbury Tales Course on The Great Courses
Commentary: Chaucer’s collection of stories offers a vivid portrayal of medieval English society and its diverse social classes. It’s essential for studying the social and cultural dynamics of the time.

9. Beowulf (Anonymous, Anglo-Saxon)

Reading: Beowulf (Translated by Seamus Heaney)
Resource: Beowulf Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: This epic poem introduces themes of heroism, loyalty, and the supernatural in early medieval literature. It provides foundational context for understanding medieval Anglo-Saxon culture and literary traditions.

10. The Mahabharata (India)

Reading: The Mahabharata (Translated by John D. Smith)
Resource: Mahabharata Study Guide by LitCharts/SparkNotes
Commentary: This monumental epic encompasses a wide range of themes including duty, righteousness, and the complexities of human relationships. It is crucial for understanding the cultural and philosophical foundations of Indian literature.

11. The Book of the Dead (Egypt)

Reading: The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Translated by E. A. Wallis Budge)
Resource: The Egyptian Book of the Dead Guide on Britannica
Commentary: This ancient Egyptian text provides insights into beliefs about the afterlife and the rituals associated with death. It’s valuable for understanding the spiritual and cultural practices of ancient Egypt.

12. The Iliad by Homer (Greece)

Reading: The Iliad (Translated by Robert Fagles)
Resource: The Iliad Course by Yale Open Courses
Commentary: This epic explores the nature of heroism, glory, and human suffering during the Trojan War. It’s essential for understanding Greek epic traditions and the impact of war on human lives.

**13. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (Greece)**

Resource: Oedipus Rex (Penguin Classics) – Includes introduction and notes on the text. Crash Course
Commentary: Sophocles’ tragedy is foundational for understanding Greek drama and the concepts of fate, prophecy, and tragic flaw. It’s essential for exploring ancient Greek literature and its impact on Western dramatic traditions.

**14. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (England)**

Resource: Frankenstein (Penguin Classics) – Features critical essays and annotations. Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Shelley’s novel explores themes of creation, responsibility, and the dangers of scientific ambition. It’s a seminal text in Gothic literature and early science fiction, examining the ethical implications of scientific progress.

**15. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (England)**

Resource: Pride and Prejudice (Oxford World’s Classics) – Includes critical introduction and notes. Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Austen’s novel offers a satirical examination of marriage, class, and societal expectations in 19th-century England. It’s key for understanding the development of the novel form and social commentary in early literature.

**16. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (USA)**

Resource: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Penguin Classics) – Includes critical essays and historical context. Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Twain’s novel addresses themes of racism, freedom, and moral growth through the journey of its young protagonist. It’s crucial for understanding American literature and its exploration of social issues.

Year 2: Early Modern Literature

1. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (Spain)

Reading: Don Quixote (Translated by Edith Grossman)
Resource: Don Quixote Course on Coursera
Commentary: Cervantes’ novel introduces the concept of the unreliable narrator and explores themes of reality versus illusion. It’s foundational for understanding the evolution of the novel and literary realism.

2. Hamlet by William Shakespeare (England)

Reading: Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Resource: Lecture by Harvard University, Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Shakespeare’s tragedy delves into themes of madness, revenge, and the complexity of human emotion. It’s a cornerstone for studying Elizabethan drama and the evolution of character-driven storytelling.

3. Paradise Lost by John Milton (England)

Reading: Paradise Lost by John Milton
Resource: Paradise Lost by Dr. John Rogers on Open Yale Courses
Commentary: Milton’s epic poem explores themes of temptation, fall, and redemption. It’s significant for understanding the epic tradition and the religious and philosophical concerns of the 17th century.

4. Candide by Voltaire (France)

Reading: Candide by Voltaire (Translated by Peter Constantine)
Resource: Voltaire’s Candide Study Guide, Crash Course
Commentary: This satirical novella critiques optimism and societal institutions. It’s key for understanding Enlightenment thought and the use of satire to challenge philosophical and social norms.

5. Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Germany)

Reading: Faust (Translated by Walter Arndt)
Resource: Goethe’s Faust by The Great Courses
Commentary: Goethe’s dramatic work explores themes of ambition, redemption, and the quest for knowledge. It’s a seminal text in Western literature that addresses the tension between individual desires and moral responsibility.

6. The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli (Italy)

Reading: The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
Resource: The Prince Study Guide by SparkNotes
Commentary: This political treatise provides insights into Renaissance political theory and the nature of power. It’s valuable for understanding the political context of the Renaissance and Machiavelli’s influence on political thought.

7. Othello by William Shakespeare (England)

Reading: Othello by William Shakespeare
Resource: Othello Study Guide by LitCharts
Commentary: This tragedy addresses themes of jealousy, race, and trust, offering a critical examination of human emotions and societal prejudices.

8. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (Ireland)

Reading: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Resource: Gulliver’s Travels Course on The Great Courses
Commentary: Swift’s satire offers a critical examination of human nature and society through fantastical voyages. It’s an essential text for understanding the development of satire and social critique in literature.

9. The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Germany)

Reading: The Sorrows of Young Werther (Translated by David Constantine)
Resource: Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: This novel, a key work of the Sturm und Drang movement, delves into themes of unrequited love and existential despair. It’s important for understanding the emotional intensity and individualism of Romantic literature.

10. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (England)

Reading: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Resource: Robinson Crusoe Study Guide by GradeSaver
Commentary: Defoe’s novel explores themes of isolation, survival, and self-sufficiency. It’s a foundational text for the development of the English novel and offers insights into early colonial and capitalist ideologies.

11. Tartuffe by Molière (France)

Reading: Tartuffe by Molière
Resource: Tartuffe Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: This play is a sharp satire of religious hypocrisy and deception. It provides a critical perspective on societal norms and the role of religion in early modern France, highlighting Molière’s contribution to comedy and social critique.

12. The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio (Italy)

Reading: The Decameron (Translated by G. H. McWilliam)
Resource: The Decameron Course by The Great Courses
Commentary: Boccaccio’s work provides a snapshot of 14th-century Italian society and its values, using a frame narrative to explore themes of love, fortune, and human folly.

13. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (England)

Resource: The Norton Shakespeare: Essential Plays / The Sonnets – Provides comprehensive annotations and critical essays on Shakespeare’s work. Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy explores themes of love, fate, and family conflict. It’s a foundational text for understanding early modern English literature and the dramatic portrayal of personal and societal struggles.

14. Emily Dickinson: Poems (USA)

Resource: The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson – Offers a comprehensive collection of Dickinson’s poetry with critical notes and annotations. Crash Course
Commentary: Dickinson’s poetry delves into themes of nature, death, and immortality with a unique and innovative style. Her work is central to American literature, showcasing the use of unconventional punctuation and form.

**15. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (USA)**

Resource: The Yellow Wallpaper (Dover Thrift Editions) – Includes introduction and critical notes. Crash Course
Commentary: Gilman’s short story explores themes of mental illness and gender roles through the narrator’s deteriorating psychological state. It’s significant for understanding feminist literature and early psychological fiction.

**16. Macbeth by William Shakespeare (England)**

Resource: Macbeth (Arden Shakespeare: Third Series) – Includes comprehensive annotations and critical essays. Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Shakespeare’s tragedy examines themes of ambition, power, and guilt through the story of Macbeth’s rise and fall. It’s fundamental for studying early modern English drama and its exploration of psychological and moral conflicts.

**17. Shakespeare’s Sonnets by William Shakespeare (England)**

Resource: The Sonnets (Penguin Classics) – Includes critical introduction and annotations. Crash Course
Commentary: Shakespeare’s sonnets explore themes of love, time, and beauty with intricate language and structure. They are essential for understanding early modern poetry and Shakespeare’s exploration of personal and universal themes.

Year 3: 19th Century World Literature

1. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Russia)

Reading: Crime and Punishment (Translated by Oliver Ready)
Resource: Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment on Open Yale Courses
Commentary: Dostoevsky’s novel examines moral dilemmas, guilt, and redemption through the psychological journey of its protagonist. It’s essential for understanding existential themes and the development of psychological realism in literature.

2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (England)

Reading: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Resource: Wuthering Heights Study Guide on GradeSaver
Commentary: Brontë’s novel delves into themes of passion, revenge, and the supernatural. It offers a complex portrait of human relationships and the darker aspects of the Romantic imagination.

3. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (USA)

Reading: Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
Resource: Moby-Dick Course by HarvardX
Commentary: Melville’s epic novel explores themes of obsession, fate, and the human condition through the story of Captain Ahab’s quest for revenge. It’s a cornerstone of American literature that combines adventure with profound philosophical inquiry.

4. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (France)

Reading: Madame Bovary (Translated by Lydia Davis)
Resource: Madame Bovary Course on Coursera
Commentary: Flaubert’s novel offers a critique of bourgeois society and explores themes of dissatisfaction and escapism. It’s crucial for understanding realism and its focus on the internal struggles of its characters.

5. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Russia)

Reading: War and Peace (Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky)
Resource: Tolstoy’s War and Peace on Open Yale Courses
Commentary: This epic novel weaves together personal and historical narratives to explore themes of war, peace, and human experience. It’s a significant work for understanding the scope and depth of historical fiction.

6. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (England)

Reading: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Resource: Jane Eyre Study Guide on SparkNotes, Crash Course
Commentary: Jane Eyre explores themes of class, gender, and personal integrity. It’s important for studying the development of the novel and the representation of strong, complex female protagonists.

7. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Russia)

Reading: The Brothers Karamazov (Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky)
Resource: The Brothers Karamazov Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Dostoevsky’s final novel explores profound philosophical and theological questions through the conflicts of the Karamazov family. It’s essential for understanding the intersection of morality, faith, and existentialism in literature.

8. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (England)

Reading: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Resource: Great Expectations Study Guide on GradeSaver
Commentary: Dickens’ novel explores themes of social class, ambition, and personal growth through the life of Pip. It’s important for studying Victorian literature and Dickens’ critique of social inequities.

9. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (Russia)

Reading: Anna Karenina (Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky)
Resource: Anna Karenina Course by The Great Courses
Commentary: Tolstoy’s novel examines themes of love, society, and personal conflict through the tragic story of Anna Karenina. It provides a rich exploration of social norms and personal choices in 19th-century Russia.

10. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (France)

Reading: Les Misérables (Translated by Julie Rose)
Resource: Les Misérables Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: Hugo’s novel delves into themes of justice, redemption, and societal change through the experiences of its diverse characters. It’s a pivotal work for understanding 19th-century French literature and social critique.

11. Middlemarch by George Eliot (England)

Reading: Middlemarch by George Eliot
Resource: Middlemarch Course on Open Yale Courses
Commentary: Eliot’s novel offers a detailed portrait of provincial life and explores themes of social reform, gender, and individual aspiration. It’s essential for understanding Victorian literature and its critique of societal norms.

12. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Ireland)

Reading: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Resource: The Picture of Dorian Gray Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Wilde’s novel examines themes of aestheticism, moral corruption, and the pursuit of eternal youth. It’s significant for studying the relationship between art and morality in late 19th-century literature.

Year 4: Early 20th Century World Literature

1. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (Austria-Hungary)

Reading: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Resource: Kafka’s Metamorphosis Course on Coursera
Commentary: Kafka’s novella explores themes of alienation and identity through the story of Gregor Samsa’s transformation into an insect. It’s a foundational text for understanding existentialism and modernist literature.

2. Ulysses by James Joyce (Ireland)

Reading: Ulysses by James Joyce
Resource: Ulysses Reading Guide by The Modern Library
Commentary: Joyce’s groundbreaking work is known for its stream-of-consciousness technique and exploration of modernist themes. It’s essential for understanding the experimentation and fragmentation characteristic of Modernist literature.

3. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (England)

Reading: Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Resource: Mrs. Dalloway Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: Woolf’s novel employs stream-of-consciousness to explore themes of time, identity, and mental health. It’s significant for understanding Modernist narrative techniques and the inner lives of characters.

4. The Trial by Franz Kafka (Austria-Hungary)

Reading: The Trial by Franz Kafka
Resource: Kafka’s The Trial Course on Coursera
Commentary: Kafka’s novel explores themes of alienation, bureaucracy, and existential anxiety. It’s crucial for understanding Modernist literature’s preoccupation with the individual’s struggle against impersonal systems.

5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (USA)

Reading: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Resource: The Great Gatsby Study Guide on LitCharts, Crash Course #4, Crash Course #5
Commentary: This novel offers a critical examination of the American Dream and explores themes of wealth, class, and disillusionment. It’s crucial for studying Modernist literature and its critique of contemporary society.

6. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (USA)

Reading: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
Resource: The Sound and the Fury Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: This novel’s experimental narrative structure and exploration of Southern life make it a key text for understanding Modernist literature and its techniques of fragmented storytelling.

7. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce (Ireland)

Reading: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Resource: Lecture Series on Joyce by HarvardX
Commentary: Joyce’s semi-autobiographical novel uses stream-of-consciousness to explore the development of artistic and personal identity. It’s key for understanding modernist narrative techniques and Joyce’s influence on contemporary literature.

8. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (England)

Reading: To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Resource: To the Lighthouse Study Guide on GradeSaver, Crash Course
Commentary: Woolf’s novel continues her exploration of stream-of-consciousness and thematic concerns of time, memory, and the passage of life. It complements Mrs. Dalloway by offering another perspective on Modernist experimentation.

9. The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann (Germany)

Reading: The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann (Translated by John E. Woods)
Resource: The Magic Mountain Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: Mann’s novel engages with themes of illness, time, and philosophical debate within a sanatorium setting. It’s important for studying the intellectual and cultural concerns of early 20th-century Europe.

10. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse (Germany)

Reading: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse (Translated by Hilda Rosner)
Resource: Siddhartha Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Hesse’s novel explores themes of self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment through the journey of its protagonist. It’s significant for understanding modern existential and philosophical literature.

11. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (USA)

Reading: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Resource: The Sun Also Rises Course on Coursera
Commentary: Hemingway’s novel captures the disillusionment of the Lost Generation and explores themes of identity and cultural displacement. It’s important for understanding Modernist approaches to character and narrative.

12. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia)

Reading: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Resource: One Hundred Years of Solitude Study Guide on LitCharts, Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: This landmark work of magical realism delves into themes of time, memory, and solitude. It offers insight into Latin American literature and the blending of the mythical with the real.

Year 5: Late 20th Century World Literature

1. Beloved by Toni Morrison (USA)

Reading: Beloved by Toni Morrison
Resource: Toni Morrison’s Beloved on SparkNotes, Crash Course
Commentary: Morrison’s novel addresses the legacy of slavery and the haunting presence of the past. It’s essential for understanding postmodernist themes and the representation of African American experiences.

2. Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie (India/UK)

Reading: Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
Resource: Midnight’s Children Lecture by Harvard University
Commentary: Rushdie’s novel combines magical realism with historical and political commentary, examining the impact of India’s independence. It’s essential for understanding postcolonial literature and the interplay between personal and political history.

3. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Russia)

Reading: The Master and Margarita (Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky)
Resource: The Master and Margarita Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Bulgakov’s novel blends satire, fantasy, and political commentary to explore themes of good and evil, love, and artistic freedom. It provides a unique perspective on Soviet Russia and the power of the imagination.

4. Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih (Sudan)

Reading: Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih
Resource: Critical Essay on Season of Migration to the North
Commentary: This novel explores themes of identity, colonialism, and cultural conflict through the experiences of a Sudanese man returning from Europe. It’s crucial for understanding postcolonial narratives and the complexities of migration.

5. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (India)

Reading: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Resource: The God of Small Things Study Guide on GradeSaver
Commentary: Roy’s novel explores the impact of caste and social norms on individual lives. It’s important for examining contemporary Indian literature and the intersections of personal and political narratives.

6. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien (USA)

Reading: The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Resource: The Things They Carried Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: O’Brien’s collection of interconnected stories provides a powerful exploration of the Vietnam War’s impact on soldiers. It’s important for understanding contemporary war literature and the blending of fact and fiction.

7. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (Canada)

Reading: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Resource: The Handmaid’s Tale Study Guide on SparkNotes, Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Atwood’s dystopian novel addresses themes of totalitarianism, gender oppression, and personal autonomy. It’s significant for exploring contemporary feminist literature and speculative fiction.

8. The Color Purple by Alice Walker (USA)

Reading: The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Resource: The Color Purple Study Guide on GradeSaver
Commentary: Walker’s novel explores themes of racism, sexism, and empowerment through the letters of its protagonist. It’s crucial for understanding African American literature and the exploration of gender and race.

9. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia)

Reading: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
Resource: Love in the Time of Cholera Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: García Márquez’s novel examines themes of love and aging through a story spanning decades. It’s essential for studying magical realism and the portrayal of romance and resilience.

10. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera (Czech Republic)

Reading: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
Resource: The Unbearable Lightness of Being Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: Kundera’s novel explores existential themes of freedom, identity, and the nature of human existence. It’s important for understanding contemporary philosophical fiction and the impact of political and personal choices.

11. A Bend in the River by V.S. Naipaul (Trinidad and Tobago)

Reading: A Bend in the River by V.S. Naipaul
Resource: A Bend in the River Study Guide on GradeSaver
Commentary: Naipaul’s novel addresses themes of postcolonial identity and societal change in an unnamed African country. It’s significant for exploring postcolonial literature and the impact of historical and political forces on personal lives.

12. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (USA)

Reading: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Resource: Invisible Man Study Guide on LitCharts, Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Ellison’s novel examines racial identity and invisibility through the experiences of its unnamed protagonist. It’s crucial for understanding African American literature and the exploration of race and selfhood.

**13. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (USA)**

Resource: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Perennial Modern Classics) – Includes critical essays and historical context. Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Lee’s novel addresses themes of racial injustice and moral growth through the perspective of a young girl in the American South. It’s key for exploring social issues and the development of modern American literature.

**14. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria)**

Resource: Things Fall Apart (Anchor Books) – Includes critical essays and historical context. Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Achebe’s novel explores the effects of colonialism on traditional Igbo society through the story of its protagonist. It’s essential for understanding postcolonial literature and African cultural narratives.

**15. Sula by Toni Morrison (USA)**

Resource: Sula (Vintage International) – Includes critical essays and annotations. Crash Course
Commentary: Morrison’s novel examines themes of friendship, identity, and community through the lives of two childhood friends. It’s significant for understanding African American literature and the exploration of personal and societal conflicts.

**16. 1984 by George Orwell (UK)**

Resource: 1984 (Signet Classics) – Includes critical essays and historical context. Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Orwell’s dystopian novel explores themes of surveillance, totalitarianism, and individual freedom. It’s crucial for understanding modern political literature and the critique of authoritarian regimes.

**17. Lord of the Flies by William Golding (UK)**

Resource: Lord of the Flies (Penguin Classics) – Includes critical essays and notes. Crash Course
Commentary: Golding’s novel examines themes of civilization versus savagery through the experiences of boys stranded on an uninhabited island. It’s important for exploring human nature and the breakdown of societal norms.

Year 6: Contemporary World Literature

**1. 2666 by Roberto Bolaño (Chile)**

Reading: 2666 by Roberto Bolaño (Translated by Natasha Wimmer)
Resource: 2666 Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Bolaño’s expansive novel weaves multiple narratives to explore violence, art, and the quest for meaning. It offers a contemporary perspective on global issues and literary experimentation.

**2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (USA)**

Reading: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Resource: The Road Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic novel examines themes of survival, fatherhood, and morality. It provides a stark vision of the future and contributes to postmodernist explorations of dystopian narratives.

**3. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz (Dominican Republic/USA)**

Reading: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Resource: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: This novel combines magical realism with historical and cultural commentary. It offers insight into postcolonial perspectives and the use of genre blending in contemporary literature.

**4. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Japan/UK)**

Reading: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Resource: Never Let Me Go Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: Ishiguro’s novel explores themes of memory, humanity, and ethical dilemmas through a dystopian lens. It’s essential for understanding postmodernist approaches to science fiction and existential questions.

**5. White Teeth by Zadie Smith (UK)**

Reading: White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Resource: White Teeth Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: This novel explores themes of identity, multiculturalism, and family history. It’s important for understanding postcolonial and multicultural perspectives within the framework of postmodernism.

**6. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (Australia/India)**

Reading: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Resource: Shantaram Book Summary on BookRags
Commentary: Roberts’ novel, based on his own life, explores themes of crime, redemption, and the search for meaning within the chaotic backdrop of Mumbai. It’s important for understanding contemporary narratives of personal transformation and cultural immersion.

**7. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan/USA)**

Reading: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Resource: The Kite Runner Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Hosseini’s novel deals with themes of guilt, redemption, and the complex dynamics of friendship and family against the backdrop of Afghan history. It’s significant for exploring postcolonial and diasporic literature.

**8. Atonement by Ian McEwan (UK)**

Reading: Atonement by Ian McEwan
Resource: Atonement Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: McEwan’s novel explores themes of memory, guilt, and the consequences of a single act of misjudgment. It’s crucial for understanding contemporary literature’s engagement with the concepts of responsibility and narrative reliability.

**9. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)**

Reading: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Resource: Half of a Yellow Sun Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Adichie’s novel explores the impact of the Nigerian Civil War through the lives of its characters. It’s essential for understanding contemporary African literature and the intersection of personal and historical narratives.

**10. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Spain)**

Reading: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Resource: The Shadow of the Wind Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Zafón’s novel blends mystery, historical fiction, and romance to explore themes of memory and literature. It’s significant for its rich storytelling and contribution to contemporary Spanish literature.

**11. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga (India)**

Reading: The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Resource: The White Tiger Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: Adiga’s novel critiques social stratification and corruption in modern India through the story of a chauffeur who rises against the odds. It’s crucial for understanding contemporary Indian literature and class dynamics.

**12. The Vegetarian by Han Kang (South Korea)**

Reading: The Vegetarian by Han Kang (Translated by Deborah Smith)
Resource: The Vegetarian Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Han’s novel explores themes of autonomy, societal expectations, and personal transformation through the story of a woman who decides to give up meat. It’s important for understanding contemporary Korean literature and its exploration of individuality and societal norms.

**13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (USA)**

Resource: The Catcher in the Rye – A Novel by J.D. Salinger – A classic edition with introductory material and context for the text. Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Salinger’s novel explores themes of teenage alienation, identity, and the challenges of growing up through the perspective of its protagonist, Holden Caulfield. It’s significant for understanding modern American literature and the depiction of adolescent experience.

**14. Sylvia Plath: Poems (USA)**

Resource: Ariel: The Restored Edition (HarperCollins) – Includes the restored version of Plath’s poetry with critical notes. Crash Course
Commentary: Plath’s poetry delves into themes of identity, mental illness, and personal struggle with a powerful and confessional voice. It’s central to understanding mid-20th-century American poetry and feminist literary perspectives.

**15. Langston Hughes: Selected Poems (USA)**

Resource: The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes (Vintage Classics) – Includes critical essays and annotations. Crash Course
Commentary: Hughes’s poetry captures the African American experience with themes of racial identity, social justice, and cultural pride. It’s essential for exploring Harlem Renaissance literature and its impact on American poetry.

**16. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (USA)**

Resource: Their Eyes Were Watching God (Harper Perennial Modern Classics) – Includes critical essays and historical context. Crash Course
Commentary: Hurston’s novel explores themes of self-discovery, gender, and independence through the life of its protagonist. It’s crucial for understanding African American literature and the portrayal of female empowerment.

**17. The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (USA)**

Resource: The Parable of the Sower (Seven Stories Press) – Includes critical essays and annotations. Crash Course
Commentary: Butler’s dystopian novel explores themes of survival, social change, and individual resilience in a collapsing society. It’s crucial for understanding contemporary science fiction and speculative narratives.

Year 7: Experimental and Postmodern Literature

**1. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (USA)**

Reading: Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
Resource: Infinite Jest Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Wallace’s novel delves into themes of addiction, entertainment, and the search for meaning in a hyper-mediated world. It’s essential for understanding postmodernist literature and its critique of contemporary culture.

**2. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (USA)**

Reading: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Resource: House of Leaves Analysis on The Guardian
Commentary: This experimental novel uses unconventional formatting to create a multi-layered narrative about a mysterious house. It’s important for studying postmodernist experimentation in both narrative and presentation.

**3. Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov (Russia/USA)**

Reading: Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
Resource: Pale Fire Analysis on The Paris Review
Commentary: Nabokov’s novel presents a complex narrative through a fictional poem and its commentary, exploring themes of obsession and the nature of artistic creation. It’s key for studying metafiction and the intricacies of narrative structure.

**4. If on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino (Italy)**

Reading: If on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino
Resource: Calvino’s If on a winter’s night a traveler on LitCharts
Commentary: Calvino’s novel plays with narrative conventions and explores the nature of reading and storytelling. It’s significant for understanding postmodernist experimentation and the interaction between reader and text.

**5. Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon (USA)**

Reading: Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
Resource: Gravity’s Rainbow Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Pynchon’s dense, multi-layered novel offers a critique of technology and paranoia. It’s key for understanding postmodernist experimentation and the blending of history with speculative fiction.

**6. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (USA)**

Reading: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Resource: Slaughterhouse-Five Study Guide on SparkNotes, Crash Course, Crash Course
Commentary: Vonnegut’s novel uses time travel and non-linear narrative to explore trauma and free will. It’s crucial for studying postmodernist approaches to narrative and the representation of historical events.

**7. Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs (USA)**

Reading: Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
Resource: Naked Lunch Analysis on The New Yorker
Commentary: Burroughs’ novel, known for its unconventional structure and content, examines themes of control, addiction, and societal breakdown. It’s crucial for understanding the avant-garde and experimental literature of the 20th century.

**8. The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon (USA)**

Reading: The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
Resource: The Crying of Lot 49 Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Pynchon’s novel delves into themes of conspiracy and communication. It complements Gravity’s Rainbow by further exploring postmodernist concerns with information and meaning.

**9. The Passion According to G.H. by Clarice Lispector (Brazil)**

Reading: The Passion According to G.H. by Clarice Lispector
Resource: The Passion According to G.H. Analysis on The Paris Review
Commentary: Lispector’s novel explores themes of self-discovery and existential crisis through the experiences of a woman confronting the unknown. It’s important for understanding Brazilian literature and its focus on internal consciousness.

**10. The Master of Go by Yasunari Kawabata (Japan)**

Reading: The Master of Go by Yasunari Kawabata
Resource: The Master of Go Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: Kawabata’s novel reflects on the philosophical and cultural dimensions of the traditional Japanese game of Go. It’s significant for understanding Japanese literature and the interplay between tradition and modernity.

**11. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy (USA)**

Reading: Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
Resource: Blood Meridian Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: McCarthy’s novel, known for its intense and brutal depiction of violence, explores themes of fate and morality in the American West. It’s crucial for understanding contemporary American literature and its exploration of historical violence.

**12. The Recognitions by William Gaddis (USA)**

Reading: The Recognitions by William Gaddis
Resource: The Recognitions Analysis on The New Yorker
Commentary: Gaddis’s novel critiques the nature of art and authenticity through a complex narrative about forgery and artistic integrity. It’s significant for studying postmodernist literature and its exploration of artifice and meaning.

Year 8: Contemporary Global Voices

**1. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (Pakistan)**

Reading: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Resource: Exit West Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Hamid’s novel uses magical realism to explore themes of migration, displacement, and hope. It provides a contemporary look at global conflicts and the personal experiences of refugees, blending speculative elements with urgent social issues.

**2. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)**

Reading: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Resource: Americanah Study Guide on SparkNotes
Commentary: Adichie’s novel examines themes of race, identity, and the immigrant experience through the lives of a Nigerian couple navigating life in America and Britain. It’s crucial for understanding contemporary discussions of race and identity in a global context.

**3. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Vietnam/USA)**

Reading: The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Resource: The Sympathizer Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Nguyen’s novel, presented as a memoir of a double agent during and after the Vietnam War, explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the effects of war. It’s significant for its innovative narrative structure and its exploration of postcolonial and refugee experiences.

**4. The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy (India)**

Reading: The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy
Resource: The Ministry of Utmost Happiness Analysis on The Guardian
Commentary: Roy’s novel weaves together diverse narratives to explore themes of love, conflict, and political unrest in contemporary India. It’s essential for understanding the complexities of modern Indian society and the interplay between personal and political struggles.

**5. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (USA)**

Reading: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Resource: A Little Life Analysis on The Guardian
Commentary: Yanagihara’s novel delves into themes of trauma, friendship, and the search for redemption through the lives of four friends. It’s a powerful exploration of suffering and resilience, offering a profound look at the impact of past trauma on personal identity.

**6. My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk (Turkey)**

Reading: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk (Translated by Erdağ Göknar)
Resource: My Name Is Red Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Pamuk’s novel blends historical fiction with philosophical and artistic discussions, exploring themes of identity, art, and religion during the Ottoman Empire. It’s important for understanding the intersection of cultural heritage and artistic expression.

**7. The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste (Ethiopia)**

Reading: The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste
Resource: The Shadow King Review on The New York Times
Commentary: Mengiste’s novel provides a historical and feminist perspective on the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, exploring themes of war, resistance, and identity through the experiences of its characters. It’s crucial for understanding African historical narratives and gender dynamics.

**8. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (Ghana/USA)**

Reading: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Resource: Homegoing Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Gyasi’s novel traces the impact of slavery on multiple generations of a Ghanaian family, exploring themes of heritage, identity, and the African diaspora. It’s significant for understanding the long-term effects of historical injustices on personal and collective identities.

**9. Disoriental by Négar Djavadi (Iran/France)**

Reading: Disoriental by Négar Djavadi (Translated by Tina Kover)
Resource: Disoriental Analysis on The Paris Review
Commentary: Djavadi’s novel examines themes of displacement, identity, and cultural heritage through the experiences of an Iranian woman living in France. It’s essential for exploring the complexities of migration and the negotiation of cultural identity.

**10. The Overstory by Richard Powers (USA)**

Reading: The Overstory by Richard Powers
Resource: The Overstory Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Powers’ novel interweaves the lives of various characters with the natural world, exploring themes of environmentalism and interconnectedness. It’s crucial for understanding contemporary ecological concerns and the narrative potential of nature as a character.

**11. Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi (Oman)**

Reading: Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi (Translated by Marilyn Booth)
Resource: Celestial Bodies Analysis on The Guardian
Commentary: Alharthi’s novel offers a multi-generational narrative exploring themes of gender, tradition, and modernity in Oman. It provides insights into Omani culture and the evolving roles of women in a changing society.

**12. The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (Japan)**

Reading: The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (Translated by Stephen Snyder)
Resource: The Memory Police Study Guide on LitCharts
Commentary: Ogawa’s novel uses dystopian fiction to explore themes of memory, loss, and the impact of authoritarianism on personal identity. It’s important for understanding contemporary Japanese literature and its engagement with themes of control and resistance.