Set during the turmoil of World War II, the novel follows the intersecting lives of a blind French girl and a German boy. The girl, living in occupied France, seeks solace in the world of books and the imagination, while the boy, a member of Hitler Youth, is a radio operator for the German forces. Their paths cross in the walled city of Saint-Malo, with the narrative exploring themes of survival, morality, and the human spirit.

"The American" is a novel about a wealthy, self-made American businessman who travels to Europe to find a wife. Despite his wealth and good nature, he struggles to navigate the complex and often hypocritical aristocratic society. His pursuit of a beautiful, young countess is met with resistance from her family due to his lack of noble lineage. The story showcases the clash between the New World's merit-based society and the Old World's class-based society.

This novel is a vivid portrayal of the tumultuous and passionate life of a renowned post-impressionist painter. It delves deeply into his struggles with poverty, mental illness, and a largely unappreciated genius during his lifetime. The narrative is rich with the artist's fervent desire to capture the essence of life and beauty through his revolutionary art, despite facing rejection and misunderstanding from those around him. Through a blend of factual research and imaginative interpretation, the book brings to life the painter's intense relationships, his bouts of fervor and despair, and his relentless pursuit of artistic innovation and expression, offering readers a compelling insight into the soul of a man who transformed pain and tragedy into some of the world's most beloved works of art.

"The Great Believers" by Rebecca Makkai is a powerful novel that tells the story of two interconnected groups of people: a group of gay men in 1980s Chicago during the height of the AIDS epidemic, and a woman in 2015 who is searching for her estranged daughter in Paris. The novel explores themes of love, loss, friendship, and the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis. Makkai's writing is both heartbreaking and hopeful, and she skillfully weaves together the two timelines to create a poignant and unforgettable story.

In "The Dream Years," a novel blending historical fiction with elements of fantasy, a young poet in 1920s Paris discovers a surreal ability to travel through time. As the Roaring Twenties swirl around him, he becomes entangled with a group of avant-garde artists and intellectuals, including historical figures from the Dada and Surrealist movements. The narrative takes a turn when he falls in love with a woman from the politically tumultuous 1960s, leading to a poignant exploration of the intersection between art, love, and the impact of social upheaval across different eras. The novel delves into the complexities of attempting to alter history while questioning the role of destiny and the power of creative expression.

The novel is a fictional account of a Vietnamese cook who works for Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas in 1920s Paris. The protagonist, Binh, narrates his experiences of being an outsider in both his homeland and abroad, while exploring themes of identity, love, and the bitter taste of displacement. The story cleverly intertwines historical events and figures with the personal journey of Binh, creating a rich tapestry of cultural and emotional exploration.

In this thrilling adventure, an ex-Justice Department operative stumbles upon a dangerous historical puzzle involving the Knights Templar. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he finds himself at the center of a deadly conflict between those who wish to protect the Templar's ancient secrets and those who seek to expose them. The quest leads him across Europe, racing against time and pursued by a shadowy cabal, as he tries to unravel centuries-old clues that could shake the foundations of Christianity and alter the world's power structure if revealed.

The book is a fictional autobiography of a biracial man living in post-Reconstruction America. The protagonist, who is born to a white father and black mother, initially embraces his black heritage and becomes a successful ragtime musician. However, after witnessing a brutal racial attack, he decides to pass as white to avoid racial prejudice. Despite his financial success and comfortable life in white society, he struggles with his decision to deny his African-American heritage.