Books that Feature the Theme of Masculinity

This thematic Collection centers books that explore the concepts of manhood and masculinity. Through novels, plays, and literary genres, a diverse chorus of authors examines various interpretations of masculine identity and the masculine experience through coming-of-age stories, war narratives, and fantasy realms.

1922

by Stephen King

Publication year 2010

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Masculinity, Place, Good & Evil

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

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2666

by Roberto Bolano

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Memory, Nostalgia, Regret, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Race, Sexual Identity, Midlife, The Past, Family, Immigration, War, Art, Good & Evil, Literature, Truth & Lies

Tags Latin American Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Trauma & Abuse

2666 (2004) is a novel by Chilean author Roberto Bolaño, published one year after Bolaño's death. Centering around a reclusive German author and his role in investigating the ongoing unsolved murders in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, Mexico, 2666 jumps in location, narrative style, location, and characters over its five sections. The novel is widely acclaimed and was adapted into stage plays three times. The New York Times Book Review ranked 2666 as the... Read 2666 Summary

Across the River and into the Trees

by Ernest Hemingway

Publication year 1950

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Death, War

Tags Military & War, American Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Literary Fiction

Across the River and into the Trees is a 1950 novel by Ernest Hemingway. The story follows Colonel Richard Cantwell, a decorated American military officer, as he confronts his mortality in the Italian city of Venice. Across the River and into the Trees was a bestseller but received a negative critical reception, particularly in comparison to Hemingway’s earlier works. It explores themes of The Impact of War on Identity, Masculinity and Authority Under the Pressure... Read Across the River and into the Trees Summary

A Flicker in the Dark

by Stacy Willingham

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Regret, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Memory, Love, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Safety & Danger, Order & Chaos, Childhood & Youth, Death, The Past, Midlife

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction

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A Game of Thrones

by George R. R. Martin

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Politics & Government, Loyalty & Betrayal, Love, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Femininity, Grief, Wins & Losses, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Justice, Social Class, War, Economics, Siblings, Mothers, Fathers, Marriage, Family, Daughters & Sons, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Disability, Gender Identity, Birth, Childhood & Youth, Death, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Social Class, Politics & Government, Religion & Spirituality, Trauma & Abuse, Grief & Death

A Game of Thrones is a 1996 epic fantasy novel by George R. R. Martin and is the first in his long-running A Song of Ice and Fire series. The novel introduces the audience to the fictional world of Westeros, where characters become embroiled in a complicated web of plots, conspiracies, and betrayals as they pursue power. A Game of Thrones won numerous awards on publication and was adapted for television in 2011. This guide... Read A Game of Thrones Summary

A Kestrel For A Knave

by Barry Hines

Publication year 1968

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Hope, Masculinity, Coming of Age, Animals, Siblings, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Economics, Education, Justice

Tags Classic Fiction, Animals, British Literature, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature

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Alas, Babylon

by Pat Frank

Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Community, Order & Chaos

Tags Science Fiction, American Literature, Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Military & War, Relationships, US History, Cold War, Fantasy

Alas, Babylon is a 1959 novel by Pat Frank. Written during the Cold War, it is one of the earliest post-apocalyptic novels to deal with the potential consequences of nuclear war. It examines themes of nationalism, natural selection, deterrent force, and resilience and contains elements of dystopian literature.Plot SummaryAs the novel begins, Mark Bragg sends a telegram to his brother, Randy. The telegram includes the words, “Alas, Babylon,” their code for the onset of a... Read Alas, Babylon Summary

A Little Life

by Hanya Yanagihara

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Masculinity, Disability

Tags Coming of Age, Dramatic Literature, Relationships, LGBTQ+, Trauma & Abuse, Depression & Suicide, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness

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A Man In Full

by Tom Wolfe

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Race, Social Class, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags American Literature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Southern Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy

A Man in Full, published in 1998, is the critically acclaimed second novel of journalist and author Tom Wolfe. Regarded as an example of the Great American Novel, the book captures American life at the end of the 20th century in its tragicomic complexity. Wolfe situates the novel largely in Atlanta and traces the fortunes of failing real-estate tycoon Charlie Croker, still caught in the ways of the Old South. When the daughter of Charlie’s... Read A Man In Full Summary

Among the Bros

by Max Marshall

Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Masculinity, Race, Community, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed

Tags Crime & Law, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Journalism, Sociology, World History

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And Then There Were None

by Agatha Christie

Publication year 1939

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Fate, Safety & Danger, Memory, The Past, Guilt, Conflict, Justice, Fear, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Femininity, Truth & Lies, Appearance & Reality, Apathy, Colonialism

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

Published in 1939, And Then There Were None is a mystery novel by Agatha Christie, best-selling novelist of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. With over 100 million copies sold, And Then There Were None is the world’s best-selling crime novel as well as one of the best-selling books of all time. It has had more adaptations than any other work by Agatha Christie, including television programs, films, radio broadcasts, and most... Read And Then There Were None Summary

A Painted House

by John Grisham

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Revenge, Masculinity, Social Class

Tags Horror & Suspense, World History, Dramatic Literature, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction

A Painted House, a novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham, tells the story of seven-year-old Luke Chandler coming of age in Black Oak, Arkansas, in 1952. The novel focuses on a fateful autumn in which one of the workers on Luke’s family’s cotton farm murders a local man. Luke, as one of the only witnesses to the murder, must navigate the tensions that arise as his loyalty to his family is... Read A Painted House Summary

A Photo Finish

by Elsie Silver

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Animals, Place, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Romance, New Adult

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A River in Darkness

by Masaji Ishikawa, Transl. Martin Brown, Transl. Risa Kobayashi

Publication year 2000

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Regret, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Mental Health, Race, Childhood & Youth, Fathers, Social Class, Colonialism, Immigration, Politics & Government, Safety & Danger

Tags World History, Japanese Literature, Biography, Asian History, Politics & Government, Inspirational

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As Brave As You

by Jason Reynolds

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Guilt, Siblings, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Race & Racism, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Animals, Anthropology, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

As Brave as You is a middle grade novel written by American author Jason Reynolds and published in 2016. It won several awards, including the Kirkus Award, the NCAAP Image award for children’s literature, and the Schneider Family Book Award, which recognizes superior depictions of disability in children’s literature. It was also chosen as a Coretta Scott King Honor book, awarded to African-American writers and illustrators for excellence in conveying the African-American experience in children’s... Read As Brave As You Summary

As Bright As Heaven

by Susan Meissner

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Family, Grief, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Regret, Nostalgia, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Death, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II

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