Can we ever fully trust our senses, or are they too unreliable to perceive the world as it is? In this collection, we gather texts that explore the idea of appearance versus reality, from classics such as Aristotle's On the Soul to contemporary bestsellers like Jia Tolentino's Trick Mirror.
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Indigenous, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Colonialism, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Romance, Drama / Tragedy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
The Last Song (2009) is a contemporary coming-of-age romance novel by American author Nicholas Sparks, a celebrated writer of best-selling works such as The Notebook and A Walk to Remember that are often set in coastal North Carolina. Sparks developed the novel’s story alongside the screenplay for its 2010 film adaptation. The plot centers on a rebellious teenage girl forced to spend the summer with her estranged father, leading her to reconnect with her passion... Read The Last Song Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 1968
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Fame
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Philosophy, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Sociology
Publication year 1987
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Philosophy
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Internet Culture / Social Media, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2009
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place
Tags History: World, Action / Adventure, Travel Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: The Americas, Race / Racism, WWI / World War I, Anthropology, Anthropology, Science / Nature, Biography
David Grann’s The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon (2009) tells the story of Percy Harrison Fawcett’s ill-fated expedition into the Brazilian jungle. After nearly two decades spent exploring the region and gathering evidence, Fawcett concluded that a sophisticated ancient civilization, a city he called Z, lay hidden deep in the Amazonian wilderness. In 1925, while searching for Z, Fawcett disappeared along with his son Jack and Jack’s friend... Read The Lost City of Z Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, French Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Language, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Fantasy, Animals, Action / Adventure, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Disability, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 1965
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, British Literature, Fantasy, Post Modernism
The Magus (1965) by John Fowles is a metafictional psychological thriller that blends a twisty, mysterious plot with existentialist philosophy and Postmodernist narrative play. Set on a beautiful, remote Greek island, the novel follows Nicholas Urfe, a disaffected British schoolteacher who becomes entangled in a surreal psychosexual game orchestrated by the enigmatic Conchis. Nick’s descent into Conchis’s world leaves him grappling with The Quest for an Authentic Self Amid Illusions, Narrative Instability as Metaphor for... Read The Magus Summary
Publication year 1930
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Immigration
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Roaring Twenties, Great Depression
Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (1930) is a detective novel that was first serialized in the magazine Black Mask. As Hammett’s third novel, The Maltese Falcon includes the introduction of Sam Spade as the protagonist, a departure from the nameless Continental Op who narrated his previous stories. Spade’s hard exterior, cool detachment, and reliance on his own moral code would become staples of the hardboiled genre, and The Maltese Falcon has since been named one... Read The Maltese Falcon Summary
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction
Publication year 1977
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, American Literature
Publication year 2019
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Incarceration, Self Help, Inspirational, Social Justice, Biography
Publication year 1999
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Self Help, Religion / Spirituality, Relationships, Philosophy, Psychology, Love / Sexuality, Philosophy, Inspirational, Psychology
Publication year 1596
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Classic Fiction, Play: Tragedy, Elizabethan Era, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy
The Merchant of Venice is a play by English playwright William Shakespeare. It is one of Shakespeare’s many comedies, which include As You Like It, Twelfth Night, and The Taming of the Shrew. Written in the 1590s, it concerns a Jewish moneylender in Venice named Shylock who is determined to extract a pound of flesh from a merchant who failed to pay a debt on time. As the narrative unfolds, it considers themes like The... Read The Merchant of Venice Summary