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.

You

by Caroline Kepnes

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Appearance & Reality, Love

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

You is a 2014 thriller novel written by New York Times bestselling author Caroline Kepnes. The story is narrated by Joe Goldberg, a bookstore employee who develops an obsession with an aspiring writer named Beck. The title, You, alludes to the narrator’s obsession; the entire narrative is addressed to Beck in the second person. The novel and its sequels were adapted into a television series of the same name. This guide uses the 2014 Atria... Read You Summary

Young

by Anne Sexton

Publication year 1962

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Family, Religion & Spirituality, Conflict

Tags Lyric Poem, Confessional, Science & Nature

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You've Reached Sam

by Dustin Thao

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Love, Hope, Memory, Nostalgia, Revenge, Loneliness, Regret, Death, Coming of Age, The Past, Friendship, Appearance & Reality, Music, Trust & Doubt, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Romance, Magical Realism, Dramatic Literature, Grief & Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Religion & Spirituality

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Zero Days

by Ruth Ware

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gratitude, Appearance & Reality, Science & Technology

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Modern Classic Fiction

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Zodiac Academy

by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Siblings, Fate, Loyalty & Betrayal, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

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