They may not all have a happy ending, but the passion their pages contain is enough to keep you captivated.

BOOKS
It took Toni Morrison years to write her debut novel—which was initially a flop. Here are some other things you might not know about 'The Bluest Eye.'
'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,' may technically be middle-aged now—the frequently banned pre-teen tale by Judy Blume turned 50 in 2020—but its lessons are for the ages.
Who wouldn’t want a teacher like Ms. Frizzle? Take a ride down memory lane with these 12 facts about ‘The Magic School Bus.’
Readers have swooned over Jamie Fraser’s love for his time-traveling wife Claire since 1991.
And Mickey Mouse could be next.
Acclaimed novelist J.D. Salinger once gave an interview for a high school newspaper, and also drank his own pee, but probably not at the same time.
Albert Camus’s 1942 masterpiece 'The Stranger' has sold more than 6 million copies, but caused trouble for translators.
From 'The Candy House' by Jennifer Egan to 'Tracy Flick Can’t Win' by Tom Perrotta, discover the best books of 2022 according to Mental Floss.
In literary history, there is an undeniable thread of novels that make substantial use of real people and situations, often through a veil of changed names.
While there are many beautiful libraries in the world, there are also a number of more unique ones—from creative architectural wonders to libraries that aren’t housed within buildings at all.
Colleen Hoover and Emily Henry fans are out in full force in New York.
Such was the success of 'A Christmas Carol' that the four festive stories Dickens published after it—some overlooked classics, others critical flops and missteps—have since largely become eclipsed by their better-known predecessor.
Get snowed in with the best books to read in winter, including “Snowblind” by Ragnar Jónasson, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” and other great reads.
For a limited time, you can save 90 percent on products from the Mental Floss Store Vault with this promo code.
‘The Wizard of Oz’ is one of the most famous films of all time—but it differs quite a bit from the novel on which it was based. From the color of the coveted slippers to a one-eyed Wicked Witch, here are 10 key differences.
Everyone from Lana Del Rey to BTS to The Cure has slipped literary references into their songs.
There's the one place you should never pull on a book—and some things you should never put in them.
These sci-fi tales have gone beyond predicting technological advancements to directly inspiring scientific progress, from robotics to rocketry and everything in between.
The story behind the publication of ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ is almost as dramatic as the novel itself.
'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' author Thomas Hardy is best known for his novels of rural realism, but he started out as an architect.
Music plays a big role in his books, but the references are not always as obvious as they may appear.
The National Book Award in Fiction has recognized the best the world of literature has to offer—and we've rounded up some standouts.
A number of Millennials’ favorite YA book series are still going or about to enjoy a reboot; here are five familiar titles to look out for.