Unreliable narrator books
The Great Gatsby
What is The Great Gatsby about?
In the glittering world of 1920s Long Island, Jay Gatsby throws lavish parties hoping to win back the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. It is the epitome of the American Dream, with vibrant New York turning into the city of success. Nick Carraway, a newcomer to Gatsby’s world of wealth and excess, tells us the story behind all of the grand parties and, more importantly, Gatsby himself.
The Catcher in the Rye
What is The Catcher in the Rye about?
All lonely and rebellious young people can identify with the spirit of "The Catcher in the Rye." Holden Caulfield tells the story of his seventeen years as a high school dropout who travels through New York City while he destroys everything that seems dishonest or meaningless. Everyone views him as either an annoying, privileged kid or a lonely, honest character.
Fight Club
What is Fight Club about?
"What is the first rule of fight club?" Chuck Palahniuk's "Fight Club" is a modern classic known for its fierce and unapologetic style. The book examines the inner turmoil of a man who, in defiance of contemporary society, establishes an underground combat club. Palahniuk challenges masculinity, consumerism, and the quest for happiness through his dark humor and incisive analysis.
The Secret History
What is The Secret History about?
"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt is a dark and captivating novel about a group of elite college students studying classics at a prestigious university in Vermont. They become tight-knit after realizing all of them are fascinated by ancient Greek culture. On top of that, they receove support from their charismatic professor. As their obsession with the past intensifies, they try our forbidden rituals, indulge in dangerous desires, and ultimately commit a terrible act that will haunt them forever.
Yellowface
What is Yellowface about?
A satirical novel, "Yellowface" explores the issues of plagiarism, cultural appropriation, and obsession with becoming famous. June Hayward, an unsuccessful writer, is jealous of her friend from the past and colleague Athena Liu, beloved by critics and fans. After Athena’s sudden death, June steals her unpublished manuscript about Chinese labor workers. Will she be able to make it in the literary world with a work she didn’t create?
Life of Pi
What is Life of Pi about?
"Life of Pi" has an intriguing premise: a boy and a tiger get stuck on a boat in the Pacific Ocean. Pi, his family, and the animals from their zoo were sailing to Canada in a search of a new life, but the shipwreck leaves Pi to survive alone. It is a story of not giving up, of finding meaning and hope, and of the incredible strength of human soul.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation
What is My Year of Rest and Relaxation about?
What would it feel like to take a pill and sleep an entire year? No problems, no anger, no constantly exhausting life. "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" by Ottessa Moshfegh depicts a woman who does exactly this. What you will see here is personal struggles, isolation, self-destruction, and reinventions.
Slaughterhouse-Five
What is Slaughterhouse-Five about?
"Slaughterhouse-Five" isn’t just a war novel, but a masterpiece that takes you from the bombing of Dresden to distant alien planets. Billy Pilgrim, the protagonist, “unsticks” in time, offering a fragmented but brilliant look at trauma, fate, and human survival. Vonnegut’s dark humor makes even the heaviest moments strangely entertaining.
The Girl on the Train
What is The Girl on the Train about?
"The Girl on the Train" is a popular psychological thriller told by three unreliable female narrators. Rachel takes the same commuter train daily, obsessively watching a seemingly perfect couple from her window. But one day, the wife disappears. But Rachel is struggling with alcohol addiction and a painful divorce, so can she handle this mystery?
Never Let Me Go
What is Never Let Me Go about?
Kathy and her friends Ruth and Tommy are students of a seemingly nice boarding school called Hailsham that hides a dark mystery. You’ll explore their world through Kathy’s perspective, diving deep into her experiences and choices. Partly a coming-of-age story and science fiction, it poignantly explores the themes of conformity and free will.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
What is The Perks of Being a Wallflower about?
Stephen Chbosky shows his young character Charlie through the letters the boy is writing to a "Dear Friend." Charlie's story deals with coming of age, encountering love and friendships, and learning more about oneself. This books has already become a cult classics in young adult fiction, so if this genre is something you want to explore —this is a great choice!
Rebecca
What is Rebecca about?
When a shy young woman marries the wealthy Maxim de Winter, she thinks she’s found her happily ever after. But life at Manderley, Maxim’s opulent estate, is haunted by the memory of his first wife, Rebecca. The servants whisper her name, her belongings everywhere, and secrets about her life and death start to uncover. As the new Mrs. de Winter tries to fit into Rebecca’s shadow, she discovers the truth is far darker than she imagined.
The Yellow Wallpaper
What is The Yellow Wallpaper about?
In 1892, when feminism was not yet a widely popular movement and women wrote books, typically about love, "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman was published. It tells the story of a woman suffering from depression, whom her husband places in a secluded room with yellow wallpaper. As she descends further into madness, the protagonist begins to see a woman trapped in the wallpaper pattern, who becomes her embodiment. This novella was a breakthrough in literature for women and the discussion of women's mental health.
Wuthering Heights
What is Wuthering Heights about?
Despite "Wuthering Heights" fame, this is Emily Brontë's only novel. At the center of the plot is the complicated dynamic of a relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, an orphan adopted by Catherine's father. The readers can explore the themes of love, class, and revenge — surrounded by wild and isolated Yorkshire moors.
The Turn of the Screw
What is The Turn of the Screw about?
If you are a horror fan who enjoys books written from the perspective of an unreliable narrator, then "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James will be a great choice for you. One day, a governess begins to realize that the children she watches have been possessed by evil spirits. But is it true? What is "The Turn of the Screw" really about, a horror ghost story or a psychological thriller?
Alias Grace
What is Alias Grace about?
Based on a true 19th-century Canadian murder case, "Alias Grace" tells the story of Grace Marks, a domestic servant convicted of killing her employer and his housekeeper. Historical facts are intertwined here with fiction, guilt goes hand in hand with societal forces, and psychology works as a detective.
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time
What is The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time about?
Christopher is a really smart kid, but he sees the world a little differently than most people. He has autism, which makes it hard for him to understand social cues and deal with unexpected things. When his neighbor's dog gets murdered, Christopher decides to become a detective and solve the mystery. Along the way, he faces his fears, learns to cope with his autism, and discovers some surprising things about himself and the world around him.
Verity
What is Verity about?
If you love gripping psychological thrillers with unexpected twists and turns, then "Verity" by Colleen Hoover is a solid choice. It's a story about a passionate writer whose curiosity and ambition take her to unexpected and dangerous places. This woman investigates something in order to finish her novel but, in the process, uncovers disturbing truths that threaten her sanity.
The Sanatorium
What is The Sanatorium about?
Sarah Pearse takes the readers on a gripping journey to the Swiss Alps, where the main character, Elin, joins her brother’s engagement celebration. Trapped in the minimalist resort due to a blizzard, Elin has to uncover the dark secrets of this place. This page-turner is a perfect read for a gloomy winter day or a night-time reading session.
Foucault’s Pendulum
What is Foucault’s Pendulum about?
A group of bored intellectuals creates a conspiracy theory as a joke, but what happens when the joke becomes terrifyingly real? In Umberto Eco's "Foucault’s Pendulum", three editors at a Milan publishing house, Casaubon, Belbo, and Diotallevi, became tired of books on the occult and pseudoscience. For fun, they invent “The Plan,” an elaborate, absurd conspiracy theory. They treat it as a mental exercise, but suddemly their fake "Plan" starts aligning a little too perfectly with hidden truths, or so it seems.
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