Religion & Spirituality

In this collection we've gathered fiction and nonfiction texts that address humanity's age-old search for meaning and purpose within a higher power.

Miracles

by C. S. Lewis

Publication year 1947

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Appearance & Reality, Space, Art, Beauty, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Christian, Philosophy

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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Family

Tags Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Jacob Portman believes he is ordinary and is fascinated with his extraordinary grandfather, Abraham Portman, during his childhood years. Grandpa Portman introduces Jacob to interesting stories about monsters and unusual pictures of peculiar children. As a child, Abraham escaped Nazi Germany to Wales, where he lived in a house with other children under the guidance of Headmistress Peregrine.The older Jacob becomes, however, the more disbelief he has toward his grandfather’s stories. Similarly, Jacob’s family thinks... Read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Summary

Monkey Beach

by Eden Robinson

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Memory, Community

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Diversity, Religion & Spirituality, Grief & Death, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy

Canadian author Eden Robinson’s novel Monkey Beach (2000) is set in the village of Kitamaat in British Columbia, Canada. Kitamaat is the primary community of the Haisla nation, one of the Indigenous Canadian groups known as the First Nations. Monkey Beach tells the story of teenager Lisa Hill, whose brother Jimmy has mysteriously disappeared. In the aftermath of his disappearance, Lisa reflects on memories of her youth. The novel combines elements of mystery and the... Read Monkey Beach Summary

Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran

by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt

Publication year 2001

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Friendship, Coming of Age, Forgiveness, Race, Fathers

Tags French Literature, Grief & Death, Coming of Age, Relationships, Realistic Fiction, Parenting, Love & Sexuality, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy

First published as a play in 2001, the novella Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran is part of Franco-Belgian author Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s Cycle of the Invisible series consisting of unrelated stories on the themes of human connection, the transition from childhood to adulthood, and spirituality. Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran has been performed on the stage and was adapted for the screen in 2003. This study guide refers to Marjolijn... Read Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran Summary

Moses, Man of the Mountain

by Zora Neale Hurston

Publication year 1939

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Hope, Place, Family, Social Class, Colonialism, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Education, Education, African American Literature, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Moses, Man of the Mountain is an allegorical novel by African-American author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. The novel reimagines the life of Moses and the biblical narrative of the Exodus from Egypt with several important changes, including the use of African American dialect, slang, and folklore. Throughout the novel, Hurston draws allegorical parallels between the enslavement of the Hebrew people in Egypt and the enslavement of people of African descent in the United States... Read Moses, Man of the Mountain Summary

Motorcycles and Sweetgrass

by Drew Hayden Taylor

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Animals, Appearance & Reality, The Past, Place, Family, Colonialism, Community, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Humor, Magical Realism, Symbolic Narrative, Fantasy, Realistic Fiction, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Social Justice, Race & Racism, Religion & Spirituality, Trauma & Abuse, Education, Education

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Murder in Amsterdam

by Ian Buruma

Publication year 2006

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Crime & Law, Sociology, Education, Education, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History, European History, Iraq War, Politics & Government, Religion & Spirituality

Murder in Amsterdam: Liberal Europe, Islam, and the Limits of Tolerance is a 2006 nonfiction book written by Dutch professor and social scientist Ian Buruma. The book investigates both the murder of Theo van Gogh, a prominent Dutch filmmaker, social critic, and opponent of political Islam in Europe. Additionally, it explores feelings of historical guilt, liberal mores, and the changing social fabric that has created tension between the native Dutch and the large, mostly Muslim... Read Murder in Amsterdam Summary

Murder in the Cathedral

by T. S. Eliot

Publication year 1935

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Death, Politics & Government, Fate, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Drama, Historical Drama, Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Religion & Spirituality, Christian, World History, Dramatic Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

Murder in the Cathedral is a verse drama by T.S. Eliot that portrays the final days of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was assassinated and martyred in 1170. Written in 1935 for the Canterbury Festival, the play explores themes of faith, power, martyrdom, and the conflict between church and state. Many stage performances of the play have been produced, and Murder in the Cathedral has also been adapted for television, film, and opera... Read Murder in the Cathedral Summary

Murder Road

by Simone St. James

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Love, Revenge, Gender Identity, The Past, Self Discovery, Justice, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

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My Promised Land

by Ari Shavit

Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Middle Eastern History, Jewish Literature, World History, Travel Literature, Politics & Government, Religion & Spirituality

My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel is a 2013 work of historical nonfiction by Israeli author and journalist Ari Shavit. It was a New York Times Bestseller in 2013. Shavit’s book explains the history of Zionism in Palestine: its triumphs and tragedies, the creation of the Israeli state, Palestinian and Middle Eastern conflicts, and assessments of both Israeli and Jewish futures. Shavit combines Zionist history with first-hand reflections on pivotal moments. He... Read My Promised Land Summary

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes

by Edith Hamilton

Publication year 1942

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Literature, Justice, Art

Tags Mythology, Classical Period, Education, Education, World History, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Originally published in 1942, Mythology is primarily a compendium of Greek and Roman myths, with a brief final section on Norse mythology, written by American educator and classicist Edith Hamilton. Hamilton engages with the myths as both a storyteller and a literary critic. She organizes and retells the myths narrated in ancient sources, and she assesses those ancient sources as works of literature. Her approach is grounded in the assumptions that Greek and Roman civilizations... Read Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes Summary

Nathan the Wise

by Gotthold Lessing

Publication year 1779

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Family, Power & Greed

Tags Historical Drama, Religion & Spirituality, Relationships, Elizabethan Era, Dramatic Literature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

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Nettle & Bone

by T. Kingfisher

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Religion & Spirituality

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New Moon

by Stephenie Meyer

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Death, Loyalty & Betrayal, Loneliness

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

New Moon, a young-adult fantasy romance by Stephenie Meyer, continues the adventure begun in the bestselling novel Twilight about a teenage girl, Bella Swan, who falls in love with vampire Edward Cullen. When Edward leaves her, she struggles with grief and begins spending time with a boy, Jacob Black, who is a vampire-hating werewolf. Published in 2006, New Moon became a number-one New York Times bestseller and received plaudits for its character development and exploration... Read New Moon Summary

Night

by William Blake

Publication year 1789

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Nature Versus Nurture, Religion & Spirituality, Appearance & Reality, Animals

Tags Romanticism, Religion & Spirituality, World History, Arts & Culture

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Night Flying Woman

by Ignatia Broker

Publication year 1983

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Colonialism, Religion & Spirituality, Community, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Family, Shame & Pride, Hope

Tags Women`s Studies, Education, Education, US History, Coming of Age, Religion & Spirituality, American Literature, Anthropology, Anthropology, World History, Arts & Culture

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