Bushido: The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe Bushido: The Soul of Japan written by Inazo Nitobe was one of the first books on samurai ethics that was originally written in English for a Western audience, and has been subsequently translated into many other languages (also Japanese). Nitobe found in Bushido, the Way of the Warrior, the sources of the virtues most admired by his people: rectitude, courage, benevolence, politeness, sincerity, honor, loyalty and self-control, and he uses his deep knowledge of Western culture to draw comparisons with Medieval Chivalry, Philosophy, and Christianity. Updated

Anne's House of Dreams by Lucy Maud Montgomery Anne’s House of Dreams is the fifth book in the Anne of Green Gables series, which features the culmination of an epic love story. The installment chronicles the lives of Anne and Gilbert as they experience life as a newlywed couple and build the foundation of their future together. A tale uniting the much-loved characters also brings a farewell to Anne Shirley and officially welcomes Anne Blythe. The novel begins with the preparations for the wedding between Anne and her one true love Gilbert Blythe, who is finally a qualified doctor. The highly anticipated wedding is held in the Green Gables orchard, and among the guests are Marilla and childhood friend Diana. After the wedding, the couple moves to Four Winds Harbor where Gilbert will take over his uncle’s medical practice. There they settle into their new home by the shore which Anne refers to as their “house of dreams”. The new surroundings bring a colorful new array of characters including Captain Jim, Miss Cornelia Bryant, and the piteous neighbor Leslie. Unfortunately, the honeymoon stage comes to an end, as their marriage must endure its first hardships. The limelight is partially taken off Anne and instead is focused on the tragic life of Leslie. The Blythe’s find themselves in a clash of emotions and ethics, given their emotional attachment and different approaches to various issues. Montgomery’s fifth installment changes its perception of Anne adding a new tone of sadness to the series which differs from that of the previous books. Portrayed as more mature, Anne still tries to maintain her passionate and dreamy nature. Sorrow, tragedy, trouble in marriage, and moral duty are just some of the themes explored throughout its pages. Anne’s House of Dreams signifies the new chapter in the life of Anne as she takes on the role of wife, neighbor, friend and mother. Updated

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Set in 19th century Russia, The Brothers Karamazov (Russian: Братья Карамазовы) is the last novel written by the illustrious author Fyodor Dostoyevsky who died a few months before the book's publication. The deeply philosophical and passionate novel tells the story of Fyodor Karamazov, an immoral debauch whose sole aim in life is the acquisition of wealth. Twice married, he has three sons whose welfare and upbringing, he cares nothing about. At the beginning of the story, Dimitri Karamazov, the eldest son who is now a twenty-eight year old war veteran, returns to his home town to claim the inheritance left to him by his dead mother. Fyodor is none too pleased to see him as he hates to part with money. The middle brother Ivan, a cold and unemotional man, is called in to settle the dispute but he fails. The youngest son, Alyosha, a gentle and learned soul is training to be a monk in a nearby monastery. He suggests that they consult the famous monastic elder Zosima who could work out a satisfactory solution. The plot winds through an amazing labyrinth of twists and turns, with the characters of the three brothers becoming more and more apparent to the readers. As different aspects of a human being, the three are completely different, yet bound by the irrevocable ties of common ancestry. The true hero of the story is the gentle Alyosha, whose spiritual journey and wonderfully humane qualities of kindness and compassion remain with the reader for ever. As one of the most compelling and fascinating explorations of the human heart, The Brothers Karamazov remains one of the world's greatest literary creations. A novel of great length (it is divided into twelve volumes) and breadth, its sheer scale and scope captures the imagination of readers. The book has had an enduring influence on writers all over the world. It was admired and loved by renowned intellectuals like Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Sartre, Camus, James Joyce, Franz Kafka and a host of others. Pope Benedict XVI referred to it in his 2007 encyclical. It has been extensively adapted for stage, screen, TV and translated into many world languages. Dostoyevsky was one of literature's greatest observers of the human mind. His writings were shaped by his own experiences of political activism, imprisonment, questioning of faith and finding spiritual enlightenment towards the end of his life. The novel is as relevant today as when it was published in 1880 and though it is deeply complex, it was also strangely prophetic as it foretold the events that would take place under the Soviet Regime. Updated