I'm horrid at summaries, so I'm just editing the ones from Amazon.com to make them shorter...
A Separate Peace- John Knowles
- Sharing a room at Devon in the summer prior to World War II, Gene and Phineas form a complex bond of friendship that draws out both the best and worst characteristics of each boy and leads ultimately to violence, a confession, and the betrayal of trust.
Children of Men- PD James
- Near the end of the 20th century, for reasons beyond the grasp of modern science, human sperm count went to zero. The last birth occurred in 1995, and in the space of a generation humanity has lost its future. Divorced, middle-aged Oxford history professor Theo Faron plods through an ordered, bleak existence. But a chance involvement with a group of dissidents moves him onto unexpected paths, leading him, in the novel's compelling second half, toward risk, commitment and the joys and anguish of love.
Phantom- Susan Kay
- A re-telling of Gaston Leroux's book "The Phantom of the Opera", this version begins with the birth of the horribly disfigured Erik and continues into the years following his doomed romance with Christine, ending in an unexpected and triumphant redemption. The narrative encompasses Erik's disastrous formative years with his mother, his caged existence among a gypsy tribe and a period of relative happiness in Rome, where he perfects his skills as an architect and builder. He goes to Persia, where he masters his talent for torture and murder and, finally, he is involved in the construction of the Paris Opera House--and the creation of his labyrinthine world beneath that structure.
Because of Romek- David Faber
- A memoir of a Holocaust survivor, but it's not done up like Elie Wiesel's "Night" (which is also good). It's gritty, real, horrifying, and touching at the same time. I had the chance to hear him speak about his experiences in multiple concentration camps, and that man drove me to tears many times.
Death Be Not Proud- John Gunther
- Johnny Gunther was only seventeen years old when he died of a brain tumor. During the months of his illness, everyone near him was unforgettably impressed by his level-headed courage, his wit and quiet friendliness, and, above all, his unfaltering patience through times of despair. This deeply moving book is a father's memoir of a brave, intelligent, and spirited boy.
