Family

Leo Tolstoy famously begins the novel Anna Karenina with the sentence: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." In this thematic collection, we have gathered noteworthy texts that navigate the joyous and sorrowful emotional terrain of the family unit.

The Winter Of Our Discontent

by John Steinbeck

Publication year 1961

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, The Past, Race, Family

Tags Classic Fiction, Finance, American Literature, World History

The Winter of Our Discontent is the final novel of American author John Steinbeck (1902-1968). Published in 1961, the themes reflect Steinbeck’s concern with the degradation of American culture and morality. In some ways, the novel departs from Steinbeck’s more iconic novels, which include East of Eden (1952), The Grapes of Wrath (1939), and Of Mice and Men (1937). Steinbeck takes the novel’s title from a line in William Shakespeare’s play Richard III (1597).The critical... Read The Winter Of Our Discontent Summary

The Winter Room

by Gary Paulsen

Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Love, Memory, Language, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Animals, Place, Daughters & Sons, Family, Siblings, Immigration

Tags Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Historical Nonfiction

The Winter Room is a 1989 young adult novel by American author Gary Paulsen. The story follows 11-year-old Eldon, who lives on a northern Minnesota farm with his family. The narrative explores Eldon’s relationship with his older brother, Wayne, and their connection to their great-uncle David. The boys grow up working on the farm all year and listening to Uncle David’s stories during the winter. The novel received the Newbery Medal Honor in 1989. Gary Paulsen... Read The Winter Room Summary

The Winter's Tale

by William Shakespeare

Publication year 1623

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Religion & Spirituality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Social Class, Family, Regret, Guilt, Revenge

Tags Classic Fiction, Tragedy, Comedy & Satire, Romance, Education, Education, World History, Dramatic Literature

The Winter’s Tale is a late romance play in five acts by William Shakespeare. Originally published in the First Folio of 1623 but debuted onstage circa 1611, the play follows a man’s reckless jealousy as it destroys his family and his own conscience. Shakespeare’s play is based on the romance Pandosto: The Triumph of Time by the Elizabethan author Robert Greene published in 1588, with Shakespeare taking a more lighthearted approach to Greene’s story toward... Read The Winter's Tale Summary

The Wishing Game

by Meg Shaffer

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Daughters & Sons, Mothers, Fathers, Literature, Art, Perseverance, Hope, Love, Safety & Danger

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Magical Realism, Mystery & Crime Fiction

... Read The Wishing Game Summary

The Witch Collector

by Charissa Weaks

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hope, Love, Memory, Revenge, Disability, Language, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Place, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy

... Read The Witch Collector Summary

The Witch Elm

by Tana French

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Safety & Danger, Justice, Good & Evil, Self Discovery, Family, Nature Versus Nurture, Disability, Memory, Hate & Anger, Fear

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

The Witch Elm (2018) is a psychological crime thriller by best-selling American Irish author Tana French. The story follows Toby Hennessy, who unearths harmful family secrets while salvaging his identity after a traumatic assault. A standalone novel separate from French’s award-winning Dublin Murder Squad series, The Witch Elm appeared on NPR’s list of best books from 2018 and the New York Times’s notable books of 2018. Other works by this author include The Trespasser (2016)... Read The Witch Elm Summary

The Witches

by Roald Dahl

Publication year 1983

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Family

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Humor, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction

The Witches (1983) is a children’s novel by Roald Dahl. As with his other well-known stories for young readers—Matilda (1988), James and the Giant Peach (1961), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964), and The BFG (1982)—the book has elements of fantasy and addresses themes like identity, family, and good versus evil. There are film adaptations of several of Dahl’s books, and there are two movie versions of The Witches—one from 1990 and another from 2020... Read The Witches Summary

The Woman in Suite 11

by Ruth Ware

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Memory, Mental Health, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

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

... Read The Woman in Suite 11 Summary

The Woman Warrior

by Maxine Hong Kingston

Publication year 1976

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Gender Identity, Family

Tags Asian Literature, Chinese Literature, Women`s Studies, Education, Education, Gender & Feminism, Classic Fiction, Biography

The Woman Warrior (1976) is an experimental memoir by Chinese-American author Maxine Hong Kingston. The book weaves together stories of Kingston’s childhood in California and her mother’s youth in rural China with folklore, legend, and myth, defying easy genre classification.The book is divided into five parts. In the first, “No-Name Woman,” Kingston imagines different life stories for an aunt she never met—a woman who drowned herself and her baby after being expelled from her village... Read The Woman Warrior Summary

The Women

by Kristin Hannah

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Death, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, Military & War, World History, Romance

... Read The Women Summary

The Wonder

by Emma Donoghue

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Family, Colonialism

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, World History, Irish Literature

... Read The Wonder Summary

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

by L. Frank Baum

Publication year 1900

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Friendship, Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery

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

Published in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a beloved children’s classic by L. Frank Baum. It was adapted in 1939 into an iconic film starring Judy Garland. L. Frank Baum went on to write 13 further books set in the Land of Oz. This guide refers to the 2008 Puffin Books edition of The Wizard of Oz.Plot SummaryDorothy is a young girl living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on a farm... Read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Summary

The Woods

by Harlan Coben

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Love, Memory, Future, The Past, Family, Social Class, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense

... Read The Woods Summary

The World According To Garp

by John Irving

Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Family, Marriage, Equality

Tags Relationships, Dramatic Literature, American Literature, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The World According to Garp, John Irving’s fourth novel, was first published in 1978 and continues to enjoy a wide circulation. The novel features elements drawn from Irving’s life and is a literary satire of gender dynamics in the wake of second-wave feminism. Irving himself claims that it’s a protest novel. The main subject areas include parenthood, death, feminism, manhood and masculinity, marriage and family structures, the influence of literature in a reader’s life, and... Read The World According To Garp Summary