Chandra juxtaposes American pop culture and the timeless, eternal roots of India in this magical saga. Weaving imagery of ancient Hindu gods with the stark sights of modern life, the narrative tells the story of Abhay, a college student who returns home to Bombay on vacation from his study abroad in the U. S., and whose attempt to kill a monkey rev...more

A desperate young man plans the perfect crime -- the murder of a despicable pawnbroker, an old women no one loves and no one will mourn. Is it not just, he reasons, for a man of genius to commit such a crime, to transgress moral law -- if it will ultimately benefit humanity? So begins one of the greatest novels ever written: a powerful psychologica...more

In this touching and atmospheric novel set among the fishermen of Newfoundland, Proulx tells the story of Quoyle. From all outward appearances, Quoyle has gone through his first 36 years on earth as a big schlump of a loser. He's not attractive, he's not brilliant or witty or talented, and he's not the kind of person who typically assumes the centr...more