Appearance Versus Reality

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.

Through The Looking Glass

by Lewis Carroll

Publication year 1871

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Childhood & Youth, Appearance & Reality

Tags Classic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Victorian Period

Through the Looking-Glass is the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a classic novel by Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking-Glass, written six years later, features the same topsy-turvy portal world known as Wonderland; the sequel is often included in a dual compendium with the first book. In this tale, Alice steps through a mirror into a surreal world where she encounters peculiar characters, navigates curious landscapes, and tries to make sense of nonsensical events. The... Read Through The Looking Glass Summary

Today

by Billy Collins

Publication year 2000

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Beauty, Order & Chaos, Hope, Love, Perseverance, Appearance & Reality

Tags Lyric Poem, Science & Nature

... Read Today Summary

Touching the Void

by Joe Simpson

Publication year 1988

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Death, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Food, Place, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Fate, Safety & Danger

Tags Action & Adventure, Travel Literature, Sports, Science & Nature, Biography

Touching the Void is a 1988 memoir by British author Joe Simpson. The book recounts the disastrous, near-fatal attempt of Simpson and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, to ascend the West Face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. The book details Simpson’s harrowing ordeal, in which he broke his leg and fell into a crevasse, and how he survived against seemingly insurmountable odds.Simpson’s narrative highlights the resilience of the human spirit and explores the... Read Touching the Void Summary

Trick Mirror

by Jia Tolentino

Publication year 2019

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Community, Femininity, Appearance & Reality

Tags Gender & Feminism, Women`s Studies, Modern Classic Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Arts & Culture, Politics & Government

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Triptych

by Karin Slaughter

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hate & Anger, Disability, Death, Appearance & Reality, Family, Social Class, Economics, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

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Turtle in Paradise

by Jennifer L. Holm

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Fear, Apathy, Memory, Regret, Childhood & Youth, Environment, Plants, Food, Community, Economics, Appearance & Reality, Social Class, Literature, Art, Music, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Friendship, Grandparents, Mothers

Tags Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Great Depression, Animals, Realistic Fiction, World History

Turtle in Paradise is a 2010 historical fiction children’s novel by Jennifer L. Holm. Set in the Florida Keys during the Great Depression, the novel follows an 11-year-old girl’s struggles and successes as she visits her aunt and cousins in the town where her mother grew up. The novel won the Golden Kite Award and is a Newbery Honor Book as well as a Junior Library Guild selection. Other works by this author include The... Read Turtle in Paradise Summary

Twisted Hate

by Ana Huang

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Loyalty & Betrayal, Beauty, Self Discovery, Friendship, Family, Appearance & Reality, Hate & Anger

Tags Romance, Love & Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Health

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V.

by Thomas Pynchon

Publication year 1963

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Order & Chaos, Apathy, Loneliness, Memory, Nostalgia, Disability, The Past, Future, Appearance & Reality, Objects & Materials, Fathers, Colonialism, War, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags American Literature, Historical Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Satirical Literature, Addiction & Substance Abuse, European History, US History, Military & War, Crime & Law, Postmodernism, Post-War Era

... Read V. Summary

Vathek

by William Beckford

Publication year 1786

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Appearance & Reality, Power & Greed, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Gothic Literature, Classic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, British Literature, World History

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Way of the Peaceful Warrior

by Dan Millman

Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Appearance & Reality, Joy

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Inspirational, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Self-Improvement, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy

Originally published in 1980, Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book that Changes Lives, is a semiautobiographical novel by American author and lecturer Dan Millman. The book is Millman’s first novel and part of the Peaceful Warrior Saga, a series of four novels about personal development and spirituality. The text is based on the author’s early life as a college student in California, with a narrative that blends reality with fiction. The storyline follows a... Read Way of the Peaceful Warrior Summary

Welcome to Dead House

by R. L. Stine

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Appearance & Reality, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

... Read Welcome to Dead House Summary

We Used to Live Here

by Marcus Kliewer

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Memory, Mental Health, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Objects & Materials, Place, Self Discovery, Fate, Good & Evil, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, LGBTQ+, Religion & Spirituality, Horror & Suspense

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What Comes After

by JoAnne Tompkins

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Coming of Age, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Nature Versus Nurture, Family, Friendship, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction

... Read What Comes After Summary