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.

Celia, A Slave

by Melton Alonza McLaurin

Publication year 1991

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Appearance & Reality

Tags Crime & Law, Race & Racism, Trauma & Abuse, US History, Education, Education, World History, Biography

Celia, A Slave is Melton A. McLaurin’s book-length analysis of the trial and execution of Celia, a slave in Callaway County, Missouri who kills her master and burns his body in her fireplace.  McLaurin, a historian, argues that Celia’s case offers us important insights into how together, gender and racial oppression render enslaved women completely powerless to protect themselves from sexual exploitation, and how the moral ambiguity caused by slavery is often reconciled in the... Read Celia, A Slave Summary

Chances Are . . .

by Richard Russo

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Memory, Regret, Masculinity, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Family, Friendship, Social Class, Music, Truth & Lies

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

... Read Chances Are . . . Summary

Chapterhouse: Dune

by Frank Herbert

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Hope, Memory, Regret, Revenge, Femininity, Race, Sexual Identity, Death, Future, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy

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Charles

by Shirley Jackson

Publication year 1948

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Truth & Lies, Appearance & Reality, Family

Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature, Humor, Post-War Era, Parenting, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction

American author Shirley Jackson’s short story “Charles” (1948) was first published in Mademoiselle, then in Jackson’s 1949 collection as well as in her 1953 novel Life Among the Savages. Though “Charles” is not in the horror genre, Jackson is a renowned horror writer and has influenced modern writers like Neil Gaiman and Stephen King. The story does, however, have an element of mystery—another genre for which the author is famous. This study guide cites the... Read Charles Summary

City of Bones

by Cassandra Clare

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Revenge, Appearance & Reality

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Romance, Action & Adventure, Social Class, Love & Sexuality, LGBTQ+, Gender & Feminism, Grief & Death

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2007) is the first in the Mortal Instruments series of young adult urban fantasy novels, followed by City of Ashes. The book follows a seemingly ordinary 15-year-old girl as she learns she is descended from an ancient race of demon hunters. City of Bones is a New York Times bestseller and inspired several media adaptations, including a graphic novel of the same name (3rd World... Read City of Bones Summary

City of the Beasts

by Isabel Allende

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Appearance & Reality

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Isabel Allende’s novel City of the Beasts tells the story of Alex Cold, a fifteen-year-old boy from California who accompanies his journalist grandmother on a life-altering journey through the Amazon. Allende is also known for the novels The House of the Spirits (1982), Of Love and Shadows (1984), and A Long Petal of the Sea (2019).The narrative opens with Alex at home in California, angry and frightened over the illness of his mother, who is undergoing cancer... Read City of the Beasts Summary

City Spies

by James Ponti

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude, Joy, Loneliness, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Justice, Art, Good & Evil, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Science & Technology, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Teamwork, Family, Climate, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Self Discovery, Community, Wins & Losses, Friendship, Place, Order & Chaos

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

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Clown in a Cornfield

by Adam Cesare

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Nostalgia, Revenge, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Fathers, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

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

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Cold Comfort Farm

by Stella Gibbons

Publication year 1932

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Appearance & Reality, The Past, Love, Memory

Tags Humor, Classic Fiction, Satirical Literature, British Literature, World History, Historical Fiction

Cold Comfort Farm (September 1932) is the first book by British author Stella Gibbons. Upon publication, it became an instant success. The comic novel is a parody of rural romances that were popular in Britain at the time. The story was adapted for two BBC television shows in 1968 and 1981. It was also made into a film starring Kate Beckinsale in 1995. Cold Comfort Farm is classified under the category of Classic Humor Fiction... Read Cold Comfort Farm Summary

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

by Haruki Murakami

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Memory, Appearance & Reality, Music, The Past, Coming of Age, Mental Health

Tags Coming of Age, Japanese Literature, Realistic Fiction, Grief & Death, Trauma & Abuse, Love & Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Magical Realism

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is a 2014 novel by renowned Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. The novel tells the story of a man who attempts to overcome past emotional suffering to make his present life more rewarding. Through Tsukuru’s point of view, we see the ripple effects of rejection and the necessity of sometimes confronting the past to make sense of who we are in the present. After a group of friends... Read Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage Summary

Comfort & Joy

by Kristin Hannah

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Grief, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Femininity, Childhood & Youth, Midlife, Death, Future, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Mothers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Romance, Special Occasions

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Coraline

by Neil Gaiman

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Safety & Danger, Childhood & Youth, Family, Gratitude, Loneliness, Perseverance, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses, Appearance & Reality

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

Neil Gaiman’s Coraline is a 2002 middle-grade horror novel that follows the titular character through a strange world of wonder and fear. Coraline must use her wit, her bravery, and the help of her allies to survive and escape the strange world. As the story unfolds, it examines What It Means to Be Brave, The Drawbacks of Always Getting What You Want, and The Importance of Having Allies. Coraline is a New York Times bestseller... Read Coraline Summary

Counterfeit

by Kirstin Chen

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Race, Justice, Appearance & Reality

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

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Counterparts

by James Joyce

Publication year 1914

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Hate & Anger, Appearance & Reality, Masculinity, Colonialism, Shame & Pride, Fathers, Politics & Government

Tags Education, Education, World History, Irish Literature, Arts & Culture, Classic Fiction

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Crash

by Jerry Spinelli

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Teamwork, Siblings, Daughters & Sons, Family, Shame & Pride, Power & Greed, Equality, Appearance & Reality, Truth & Lies, Fathers, Death, Wins & Losses, Perseverance, Conflict, Guilt, Gratitude, Grandparents, Self Discovery

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Sports, Bullying, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Crash Summary