ISB Library - Read & Listen

Classic 15+

1984 (1949) by George Orwell is set in a totalitarian society where every aspect of life is controlled by the all-seeing Party and its leader, Big Brother. Winston Smith, a low-ranking government employee, secretly questions the regime and longs for freedom in a world where independent thought is considered a crime. As Winston searches for truth and human connection, he is drawn into a dangerous struggle against a system built on fear, surveillance, and manipulation. Chilling, thought-provoking, and remarkably relevant, 1984 explores themes of power, censorship, propaganda, truth, privacy, and the importance of individual freedom. It remains one of the most influential novels of the twentieth century.

George Orwell (1903–1950) was an English novelist, essayist, and journalist whose writing continues to shape discussions about politics, freedom, and human rights. Best known for 1984 and Animal Farm, Orwell drew on his experiences as a journalist and his opposition to authoritarianism to create powerful works that challenge readers to think critically about power and society. His influence is so profound that terms such as "Big Brother," "thoughtcrime," and "Orwellian" have become part of everyday language. 1984 remains a cornerstone of modern literature and is widely studied in schools and universities around the world.

Classic 15+

AudioBook & Hardcopy

The Metamorphosis (1915) by Franz Kafka

Gregor Samsa awakens one morning to discover he has transformed into a gigantic insect. As he struggles to adapt to his shocking new reality, his family, once dependent on him, gradually turns from concern to fear and rejection. Through Gregor's tragic journey, Kafka explores timeless themes of identity, isolation, duty, and what it truly means to be human. Both unsettling and deeply moving, The Metamorphosis is one of the most influential works of modern literature, challenging readers to reflect on society, family, and the experience of being an outsider.

Franz Kafka (1883–1924) was a German-speaking writer born in Prague, now the capital of the Czech Republic. Although only a small portion of his work was published during his lifetime, he is now regarded as one of the most important literary figures of the twentieth century. His stories often explore themes of alienation, bureaucracy, identity, and the search for meaning in a confusing world. Kafka's unique style has been so influential that the term "Kafkaesque" is now used to describe situations that are surreal, oppressive, or bewilderingly illogical. His works, including The Metamorphosis and The Trial, continue to inspire readers, writers, and filmmakers around the world.

Classic 15+

AudioBook & Hardcopy

The Great Gatsby (1925) by F. Scott Fitzgerald is set during the glamorous Roaring Twenties and follows Nick Carraway as he becomes fascinated by his mysterious millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby's lavish parties and extraordinary wealth conceal a lifelong obsession with rekindling a lost love. As dreams collide with reality, the novel reveals the illusions behind wealth, status, and the pursuit of happiness. Beautifully written and rich in symbolism, The Great Gatsby explores themes of ambition, love, identity, social class, and the American Dream. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century and a cornerstone of American literature.

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) was an American novelist and short story writer whose works captured the excitement, glamour, and disillusionment of the Jazz Age. Although he achieved early success, Fitzgerald's reputation grew significantly after his death, and he is now considered one of America's greatest literary voices. His elegant prose, memorable characters, and exploration of wealth, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness continue to resonate with readers around the world. The Great Gatsby remains his masterpiece and is one of the most widely studied novels in high schools and universities.

Classic 15+

AudioBook & Hardcopy

To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper Lee is told through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in the American South during the 1930s. When Scout's father, Atticus Finch, defends a Black man falsely accused of a crime, Scout and her brother Jem witness prejudice, injustice, and extraordinary acts of courage within their community. Combining warmth, humor, and profound moral insight, the novel explores themes of justice, empathy, integrity, and the importance of standing up for what is right. Widely regarded as one of the greatest American novels ever written, To Kill a Mockingbird continues to inspire readers around the world with its timeless message about compassion and human dignity.

Harper Lee (1926–2016) was an American author whose debut novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, became an international literary classic and earned the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. Although she published only two novels, Lee's work has had an extraordinary influence on literature, education, and discussions of justice and equality. Through the unforgettable character of Atticus Finch, she challenged readers to confront prejudice with empathy, courage, and moral conviction. To Kill a Mockingbird remains one of the most widely read and studied novels in schools and is celebrated as one of the defining works of twentieth-century literature.

Classic 16+

AudioBook & Hardcopy

Crime and Punishment (1866) by Fyodor Dostoevsky follows Rodion Raskolnikov, a brilliant but impoverished former student living in St. Petersburg, who commits a terrible crime believing he can justify it through reason. As guilt, fear, and paranoia begin to consume him, Raskolnikov is forced to confront the consequences of his actions and the true meaning of justice, compassion, and redemption. Rich in psychological insight and philosophical debate, the novel explores themes of morality, conscience, free will, suffering, and the search for meaning. Widely regarded as one of the greatest novels ever written, Crime and Punishment remains a masterpiece of world literature and an essential read for advanced students.

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821–1881) was a Russian novelist, philosopher, and one of the most influential writers in literary history. His novels explore the complexities of human nature, morality, faith, freedom, and the psychological struggles that define the human experience. After surviving imprisonment and years of exile in Siberia, Dostoevsky drew upon his own hardships to create deeply compassionate and intellectually challenging works. Alongside Crime and Punishment, his masterpieces include The Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, and Notes from Underground. His profound exploration of the human mind continues to inspire readers, philosophers, psychologists, and writers around the world.

Classic 15+

AudioBook & Hardcopy

The Great Gatsby

Franz Kafka (1883–1924) was a German-speaking writer born in Prague, now the capital of the Czech Republic. Although only a small portion of his work was published during his lifetime, he is now regarded as one of the most important literary figures of the twentieth century. His stories often explore themes of alienation, bureaucracy, identity, and the search for meaning in a confusing world. Kafka's unique style has been so influential that the term "Kafkaesque" is now used to describe situations that are surreal, oppressive, or bewilderingly illogical. His works, including The Metamorphosis and The Trial, continue to inspire readers, writers, and filmmakers around the world.

Classic 15+

AudioBook & Hardcopy

Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Brontë follows the remarkable journey of Jane Eyre, an orphan who overcomes a lonely childhood, harsh treatment, and poverty to become a governess at the mysterious Thornfield Hall. There she falls in love with the enigmatic Mr. Rochester, only to discover a dark secret that tests her courage, independence, and moral convictions. Blending romance, mystery, and Gothic suspense, the novel explores themes of identity, resilience, equality, love, social justice, and the search for belonging. Widely regarded as one of the greatest novels in English literature, Jane Eyre continues to captivate readers with its unforgettable heroine and timeless message about integrity and self-respect.

Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855) was an English novelist and poet whose work transformed nineteenth-century literature through its psychological depth and powerful female protagonists. Writing under the pen name Currer Bell, Brontë challenged many of the social expectations of her time by creating heroines who valued independence, education, and moral courage. Jane Eyre, her most celebrated novel, has inspired countless adaptations and remains one of the most widely read and studied classics in the world. Brontë's enduring legacy lies in her ability to combine emotional intensity, social commentary, and unforgettable storytelling into works that continue to resonate with readers across generations.

Classic 15+

AudioBook

The Great Gatsby

Franz Kafka (1883–1924) was a German-speaking writer born in Prague, now the capital of the Czech Republic. Although only a small portion of his work was published during his lifetime, he is now regarded as one of the most important literary figures of the twentieth century. His stories often explore themes of alienation, bureaucracy, identity, and the search for meaning in a confusing world. Kafka's unique style has been so influential that the term "Kafkaesque" is now used to describe situations that are surreal, oppressive, or bewilderingly illogical. His works, including The Metamorphosis and The Trial, continue to inspire readers, writers, and filmmakers around the world.

Classic 15+

AudioBook

One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) by Gabriel García Márquez chronicles the extraordinary history of the Buendía family across seven generations in the mythical town of Macondo. Blending the everyday with the magical, the novel follows the family's triumphs, tragedies, passions, and mistakes as history repeats itself in unexpected ways. Filled with unforgettable characters and dreamlike events, this landmark work explores themes of love, loneliness, memory, power, fate, and the passage of time. Rich in symbolism and imagination, One Hundred Years of Solitude is widely regarded as one of the greatest novels ever written and a defining masterpiece of magical realism.

Gabriel García Márquez (1927–2014) was a Colombian novelist, journalist, and Nobel Prize-winning author whose storytelling transformed world literature. Best known for pioneering the literary style known as magical realism, García Márquez combined history, myth, and everyday life to create unforgettable narratives that celebrate the richness of Latin American culture. Awarded the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature, he is the author of acclaimed works including Love in the Time of Cholera, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, and One Hundred Years of Solitude. His novels continue to inspire readers around the world with their imagination, humanity, and profound exploration of memory, family, and history.

Classic 15+

AudioBook

The Great Gatsby

Franz Kafka (1883–1924) was a German-speaking writer born in Prague, now the capital of the Czech Republic. Although only a small portion of his work was published during his lifetime, he is now regarded as one of the most important literary figures of the twentieth century. His stories often explore themes of alienation, bureaucracy, identity, and the search for meaning in a confusing world. Kafka's unique style has been so influential that the term "Kafkaesque" is now used to describe situations that are surreal, oppressive, or bewilderingly illogical. His works, including The Metamorphosis and The Trial, continue to inspire readers, writers, and filmmakers around the world.

Classic 15+

AudioBook

The Great Gatsby

Franz Kafka (1883–1924) was a German-speaking writer born in Prague, now the capital of the Czech Republic. Although only a small portion of his work was published during his lifetime, he is now regarded as one of the most important literary figures of the twentieth century. His stories often explore themes of alienation, bureaucracy, identity, and the search for meaning in a confusing world. Kafka's unique style has been so influential that the term "Kafkaesque" is now used to describe situations that are surreal, oppressive, or bewilderingly illogical. His works, including The Metamorphosis and The Trial, continue to inspire readers, writers, and filmmakers around the world.

Classic 16+

AudioBook

Never Let Me Go (2005) by Kazuo Ishiguro follows Kathy H., who looks back on her childhood at the seemingly idyllic Hailsham boarding school. As Kathy and her friends Ruth and Tommy grow older, they gradually uncover the unsettling truth about their lives and the purpose for which they were created. Told with quiet elegance and emotional depth, the novel explores themes of identity, memory, friendship, love, mortality, and what it truly means to be human. Both haunting and profoundly moving, Never Let Me Go is widely regarded as one of the defining literary novels of the twenty-first century.

Kazuo Ishiguro is a Nobel Prize-winning British novelist celebrated for his subtle, beautifully crafted stories that explore memory, identity, loss, and the passage of time. Born in Nagasaki, Japan, and raised in England, Ishiguro is the author of several internationally acclaimed novels, including The Remains of the Day, Klara and the Sun, and Never Let Me Go. Awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature, he is recognised as one of the world's greatest contemporary writers. Never Let Me Go has become a modern literary classic, admired for its emotional power, philosophical depth, and unforgettable exploration of humanity.

Classic 16+

AudioBook

Beloved (1987) by Toni Morrison tells the powerful story of Sethe, a woman who escaped slavery only to find that the past refuses to let her go. Living in post-Civil War Ohio, Sethe is haunted—both literally and emotionally—by the memories of the unimaginable choices she made to protect her children. When a mysterious young woman named Beloved arrives, long-buried secrets begin to surface. Richly layered and deeply moving, the novel explores themes of slavery, trauma, memory, identity, motherhood, freedom, and the enduring power of love. Widely regarded as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century, Beloved challenges readers to confront the legacy of history while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit.

Toni Morrison (1931–2019) was an American novelist, editor, and professor whose work transformed contemporary literature. Celebrated for her lyrical prose and profound exploration of race, history, identity, and memory, Morrison became the first African American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Her novels, including Beloved, Song of Solomon, and The Bluest Eye, are considered modern classics and are studied around the world for their literary brilliance and emotional depth. Through her unforgettable storytelling, Morrison gave voice to overlooked histories and remains one of the most influential writers of the modern era.

Classic 16+

AudioBook

Homegoing (2016) by Yaa Gyasi follows the descendants of two half-sisters born in eighteenth-century Ghana whose lives take dramatically different paths. Effia is married to a British slave trader and remains in West Africa, while Esi is captured and sold into slavery in America. Spanning more than three hundred years and multiple generations, the novel traces the lasting impact of slavery, colonialism, racism, and family separation on both sides of the Atlantic. Powerful, beautifully written, and deeply moving, Homegoing explores themes of identity, memory, resilience, belonging, and the enduring connections between past and present. It has become one of the defining literary novels of the twenty-first century.

Yaa Gyasi is a Ghanaian American novelist whose work is celebrated for its emotional depth, historical insight, and elegant prose. Born in Ghana and raised in the United States, Gyasi draws on both personal heritage and extensive historical research to tell stories that illuminate the complexities of identity, migration, and family. Her acclaimed debut novel, Homegoing, received numerous literary awards and established her as one of the most important contemporary voices in world literature. Through unforgettable characters and sweeping narratives, Gyasi invites readers to reflect on history's enduring influence and the resilience of the human spirit.