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  • Love Stories That Have Stood the Test of Time

Love Stories That Have Stood the Test of Time

By Likewise and ThriftBooks | Mar 05, 2025Explore the love stories that transcend generations, captivating readers with their enduring themes of romance and passion. Whether you’re revisiting these classics or discovering them for the first time, each narrative enhances our understanding of love’s complexities. Don’t miss the chance to add these timeless reads to your collection.

The Price of Salt

The Price of Salt
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A chance encounter between two lonely women leads to a passionate romance in this lesbian cult classic. Therese, a struggling young sales clerk, and Carol, a homemaker in the midst of a bitter divorce, abandon their oppressive daily routines for the freedom of the open road where their love can blossom. But their newly discovered bliss is shattered when Carol is forced to choose between her child and her lover. The book is also the basis of the acclaimed 2015 film Carol, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.

Discover more about The Price of Salt here.

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Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights
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Emily Brontë's only novel debuted to mixed reviews in 1847, a year before her death at the age of thirty. In the tumultuous relationship of Cathy and Heathcliff, and the wild, bleak Yorkshire Moors as its setting, this classic novel creates a world of its own, conceived with a disregard for convention, an instinct for poetry, and for the dark depths of human psychology.

Explore more about Wuthering Heights here.

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Madame Bovary

Madame Bovary
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This exquisite novel tells the tragic story of Emma Bovary, one of modern literature's most compelling heroines. Unhappily married to a devoted yet monotonous provincial doctor, Emma revolts against her dull existence by pursuing dreams of love and ecstasy. However, her pursuit of passion leads only to ruin, making Gustave Flaubert's work a brilliant psychological portrait of the human mind in search of transcendence. Acclaimed as a masterpiece upon its 1857 publication, Flaubert's work reveals the darker truths of desire.

Find out more about Madame Bovary here.

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Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet
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The tragic play penned by William Shakespeare early in his career tells the tale of two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. This play has remained one of Shakespeare's most popular works, with adaptations spanning stage, film, musical, and opera. Featuring themes of youthful passion and tragedy, it encapsulates the eternal anecdotes of love and loss, capturing the imaginations of audiences for centuries.

Delve deeper into Romeo and Juliet here.

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Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice
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The Annotated Pride and Prejudice represents the first fully annotated edition of Jane Austen's beloved classic, presenting the complete text alongside comprehensive annotations. This edition breathes new life into Austen's themes, enhancing readers' understanding of issues such as social class, gender roles, and Elizabethan etiquette. With thousands of annotations, illustrations, and critical insights into the characters and themes, this edition invites readers to enjoy Austen's intricate psychological interplay.

Discover Pride and Prejudice here.

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Rebecca

Rebecca
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Daphne du Maurier's classic Gothic suspense novel has won acclaim and adaptations, including a recent film starring Lily James and Armie Hammer. The novel opens dramatically as the protagonist dreams she is returning to Manderley, only to confront the shadow of her husband's deceased first wife. The atmosphere of mystery surrounding Rebecca's legacy and its effect on the new Mrs. de Winter creates a haunting narrative that has captivated readers. Du Maurier captures not just the terror of an unseen menace but also the struggles of self-identity and belonging.

Learn more about Rebecca here.

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  • Articles
  • The Best Dystopian Novels Set Outside of America

The Best Dystopian Novels Set Outside of America

Published by Likewise | May 13, 2025 Explore the fascinating and harrowing world of dystopian fiction with our curated list of the best novels that transport readers beyond American borders.

I Who Have Never Known Men

I Who Have Never Known Men Cover
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SISTERHOOD. SECRETS. SURVIVAL. This haunting post-apocalyptic novel explores the lives of thirty-nine women kept in isolation underground. These women have no memory of how they ended up in this cage, and the story deeply examines themes of identity and resilience. Their only hope for escape lies in a young girl—an outcast among them—who possesses memories and the key to their future in a world above ground, lost to devastation.

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Moon of the Crusted Snow

Moon of the Crusted Snow Cover
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Set within a northern Anishinaabe community, this gripping narrative unfolds as winter descends, enveloping the community in darkness and confusion. With food supplies dwindling and chaos simmering, the arrival of outsiders seeking refuge marks a turning point. Young community members must confront their traditions and determine how to navigate their survival amid a collapsing society's shadows.

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We

We Cover
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This seminal work from Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin is a foundational text in dystopian literature. Set in a totalitarian state where individualism is obliterated, the protagonist discovers the dark undercurrents of a society built on harmony and conformity. Its prescient themes have influenced major writers like Orwell and Huxley, underscoring the dangers of a collectivist regime.

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Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go Cover
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In this poignant exploration of love, memory, and the essence of humanity, Kazuo Ishiguro presents Hailsham, an idyllic boarding school where students face a dark reality unbeknownst to them. As Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy navigate their lives at school and beyond, the truth of their existence soon unravels in a way that forces readers to question the moral boundaries of science and humanity.

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The Petting Zoos

The Petting Zoos Cover
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A thought-provoking exploration of human connection in a post-pandemic world, "The Petting Zoos" delves into the psychological aftermath of isolation. As the need for human touch grows unbearable, underground petting zoos emerge, challenging societal norms around safety and intimacy. This novel pushes the boundaries of erotic love stories to confront the anxieties of contemporary life.

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Nineteen Eighty-four

Nineteen Eighty-four Cover
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George Orwell's chilling vision of a totalitarian society remains a timeless classic. Set in grim Oceania, the protagonist Winston Smith navigates a world where Big Brother surveils every move. Orwell's incisive examination of the psychological manipulation and loss of individuality speaks volumes and invites readers to engage critically with the concept of freedom and authority.

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On the Beach

On the Beach Cover
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An evocative tale by Nevil Shute, "On the Beach" captures the despair and resignation of survivors in a world facing nuclear annihilation. As they confront their impending doom, this poignant story portrays the fragility of life and the human condition, blending themes of love, loss, and hope in the face of overwhelming despair.

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Fatherland

Fatherland Cover
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In this gripping alternative history thriller, Robert Harris imagines a world where the Nazis won World War II. Following detective Xavier March, the investigation of a murder leads him deep into a conspiracy that threatens the very foundation of the regime. This unsettling reimagining of history compels readers to consider the consequences of unchecked power and corruption.

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The Windup Girl

The Windup Girl Cover
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Set in a future where calorie companies dominate the world, Paolo Bacigalupi's "The Windup Girl" features a genetically engineered being amidst the societal decay wrought by bio-engineered plagues. The stark narrative interweaves themes of exploitation and survival, presenting a vivid depiction of the world's consequences in the wake of environmental neglect and corporate greed.

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Brave New World

Brave New World Cover
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Aldous Huxley's classic "Brave New World" anticipates a future dominated by consumerism and genetic engineering. With people conditioned to accept the roles assigned to them, this dystopia lays bare the dangers of sacrificing individuality for societal stability. Through the character of John the Savage, Huxley reveals the depths of human experience and emotion in the face of a mechanized existence.

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In Conclusion

These dystopian novels set outside of America challenge readers to ponder the implications of societal structures and the human experiences that arise in extreme circumstances. Each work not only captivates with compelling narratives but also serves as a powerful reflection on the nuances of humanity, power, and survival. We invite you to explore these incredible stories and immerse yourself in their thought-provoking worlds.

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