Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin Why the Book Still Matters Today Published in 1956, Giovanni’s Room remains one of the most courageous novels of the 20th century. At a time when homosexuality was criminalized, condemned, and silenced, Baldwin wrote a tender yet devastating story about love between two men. Today, the novel still speaks powerfully … Read more
22 Books Banned in 2026 Why Utah Removed Them From Public School Libraries In January 2026 the state of Utah expanded its statewide school book ban list to a total of twenty two titles. These books are no longer allowed in any public school library across the state. The decision was not made by a … Read more
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison About the Author Ralph Ellison was an American novelist, essayist, and literary critic whose work examined identity, race, and individuality in modern America. Deeply influenced by jazz, folklore, and existential philosophy, Ellison rejected simplistic portrayals of Black life, insisting on complexity and humanity. Invisible Man (1952), his only novel, won … Read more
Black Boy by Richard Wright About the Author Richard Wright was an American novelist, essayist, and social critic whose writing confronted racism, poverty, and violence in 20th-century America. Born in the segregated South, Wright drew heavily from his own life experiences to expose the psychological and social damage inflicted by systemic oppression. Black Boy (1945), … Read more
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque About the Author Erich Maria Remarque was a German novelist and World War I veteran whose writing drew directly from his experiences as a soldier. Deeply affected by the brutality and psychological trauma of war, Remarque rejected nationalism and romanticized heroism. All Quiet on the … Read more
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway About the Author Ernest Hemingway was an American novelist, journalist, and Nobel Prize–winning writer known for his minimalist prose and exploration of masculinity, loss, and disillusionment. A veteran of World War I, Hemingway’s writing was deeply shaped by trauma, exile, and emotional restraint. The Sun Also Rises (1926), … Read more
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne About the Author Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short-story writer known for his deep psychological insight and exploration of moral complexity. Writing in the 19th century, Hawthorne often examined themes of sin, guilt, punishment, and hypocrisy within Puritan society. The Scarlet Letter (1850) stands as his most … Read more
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain About the Author Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was an American novelist, humorist, and social critic whose writing captured the spirit and contradictions of 19th-century America. Known for his sharp wit and moral insight, Twain used humor to expose hypocrisy, racism, and social injustice. The Adventures … Read more
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey About the Author Ken Kesey was an American novelist and countercultural figure best known for his exploration of authority, individuality, and resistance. Influenced by his experiences working in a psychiatric hospital and participating in government-funded experiments involving psychoactive drugs, Kesey developed a deep skepticism toward institutional … Read more
Political Dissent and Anti Authoritarian Themes in Literature Literature has often been the voice of resistance. When governments demand silence, writers respond with stories. Political dissent in books means questioning power, exposing lies, and defending freedom of thought. Anti authoritarian literature shows how absolute control damages truth, identity, and humanity. Because these ideas threaten authority, … Read more