Readings of excerpts from and critical analysis of Hemingway's A farewell to arms, a novel about the tenuous nature of love in time of war told through the story of Lieutenant Henry, an American, and Catherine Barkley, a British nurse, who meet during World War I.

Readings of excerpts from and critical analysis of Willa Cather's novel about the spirited daughter of a Bohemian immigrant family planning to farm on the untamed land of nineteenth century Nebraska.

Readings of excerpts from and critical analysis of Hammett's The Maltese falcon, a novel about greed, lust, and betrayal and the story of San Francisco detective Sam Spade and a case involving treasure housed in a falcon-shaped sculpture.