# 43: Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence 
Before discussing the novel itself, I am compelled to discuss my favorite details from Wharton’s personal life. Some of these details include the fact that Wharton’s first published book, unlike the rest of her work that made her famous, was a book on home decorating. Ever heard of the phrase “Keeping up with the Joneses?” Wharton was born Edith Newbold Jones and her family was the “Joneses.”
Wharton’s background, coupled with  her tremendous talent of prose, has yielded the many works that are impeccably composed. Arguably, the novels achieve more when taken in the context of preserving the social history of her time. Besides narrating about the love triangle between Newland Archer, May Welland, and Countess Ellen Olenska, The Age of Innocence  gives us a glimpse into the rules and codes of conduct, the exclusivity of which would have prevented many of Wharton’s contemporaries from gaining entrance. As such, The Age of Innocence goes beyond its role of narrating about the lives its protagonists, and serves as chronicler of history. 
#42: Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha
The short description of this novel would be “It’s about enlightenment” and that description would be quite apt in many ways. Siddhartha, the son of a successful Brahmin, is expected to continue in his father’s footsteps, but decides to pursue his own path towards enlightenment when he realizes that his father has nothing else to teach him. When a wandering group of Samanas passes through town, Siddhartha decides to join the group, along with his friend Govinda, against his father’s wishes. What follows is a long journey through life’s various positions and stations; Siddhartha goes from leading an incredibly lavish lifestyle to giving away all of his possessions and belongings. The various experiences that Siddhartha goes through finally get him to the place of enlightenment that he so sought from the beginning, driving across the final point that there is really no one way to achieve enlightenment. 
Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay
I took a break from reading off of my 1001 reading list to see what all the rage regarding the Hunger Games was about. I will admit right away that I am not ideally suited for reading a Young Adult series. The only other YA series I have ever read besides this one is the Harry Potter series, and I have some very unpopular thoughts about that. 
I have to say that I did quite enjoy this series. It had the things that I predicted it would have: cliched expression about the older generation’s inability to “fix” things in an obviously wrong world,  unbelievable abilities of teenagers and young kids to accomplish the unattainable, cliffhangers (some good and some quite bad), etc. But I think the biggest compliment that I can give to this series is that I finished the whole thing in a week. While meeting many other obligations. It is quite captivating and has moments that force you to keep reading to find out what happens in the next part, the next chapter, the next book. I was also quite captivated by the author’s ability to deliver social commentary regarding our general obsession with a form of “reality television.” What can be deemed as a life or death event for some, becomes mere entertainment for other and the novels are quite successful at blurring these lines. 
In short, if you have a weekend or two to spare, do pick these up.
# 18: Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
Even though this is not one of Austen’s famous works, I believe that this is Austen at her best. This is a gothic/mock-gothic novel. Austen knows the gothic genre quite well, and she manipulates the conventions in a way that makes the reader aware that she is mocking the style by practicing it. The novel is very entertaining and funny at times, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.