This classic Russian novel explores the intense and passionate first love of a 16-year-old boy named Vladimir. While staying at his family's country estate, he becomes infatuated with a 21-year-old princess named Zinaida. Despite her engagement to another man, Vladimir's youthful ardor and naivety lead him to believe he can win her love. The story is a poignant examination of unrequited love, youthful idealism, and the painful transition into adulthood.

The novella depicts the journey of a young boy named Yegorushka who is traveling across the vast, desolate steppe of Russia to enroll in a distant school. Accompanied by his uncle and a group of traders, Yegorushka experiences the harsh realities of the nomadic life, the beauty and terror of nature, and the diverse array of people who inhabit the steppe. Throughout the journey, the boy is exposed to a series of encounters and events that contribute to his coming-of-age, as he grapples with feelings of loneliness, fear, and wonder in the face of the immense and unforgiving landscape.

The book is a classic coming-of-age story that delves into the inner world of a young boy as he experiences the joys, sorrows, and confusions of his early years. Through the protagonist's eyes, readers explore the complexities of family life, the challenges of growing up, and the profound impact of personal relationships on one's development. The narrative captures the innocence of childhood and the gradual loss of that innocence as the boy confronts the realities of the world around him, painting a poignant and introspective portrait of the transition from childhood to adolescence in 19th-century Russia.

The novel is a sweeping historical saga that follows four generations of a Korean family from the early 20th century to the 1980s, beginning in Japanese-occupied Korea and moving to Japan. It explores the family's struggles and triumphs against the backdrop of cultural and social discrimination. The game of Pachinko, a popular Japanese arcade game, serves as a metaphor for the randomness and challenges of life that the characters face, particularly in the context of their immigrant status and the enduring quest for identity, acceptance, and success in a foreign land. Through the family's experiences, the narrative delves into themes of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty, painting a vivid portrait of an often invisible segment of Japanese society.

"Dragon Pearl" is a science fiction novel that follows the story of Min, a young fox spirit who dreams of leaving her impoverished planet and joining the Space Forces like her older brother Jun. When Jun is accused of deserting his post to search for the mythical Dragon Pearl, Min sets out to clear his name and find the pearl herself. Along the way, she discovers secrets about her family and the universe that threaten to unravel everything she knows. With the help of new friends and her shape-shifting abilities, Min embarks on a thrilling adventure filled with danger and discovery.