Fate

We can call it destiny; we can call it providence; we can even call it the will of the gods. Whatever words we use, the idea that the events in our lives are beyond our control is powerful — which explains why so many authors, past and present, have used the ever-relevant idea of fate to communicate rich lessons about humanity.

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Future, Fate

Tags British Literature, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

White Teeth is an award-winning novel by Zadie Smith, published in 2000. The novel, which was developed into a four-part miniseries for British audiences in 2002, follows two men from different backgrounds who meet and become friends during World War II.Plot SummaryWhite Teeth opens on New Year’s Day, 1975, with the attempted suicide of a middle-aged Englishman named Archie Jones. Following his failed marriage, and in despairing of his generally mundane existence, Archie flipped a... Read White Teeth Summary

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Justice, Family, Social Class, Fate, Equality, Gender Identity

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Classic Fiction

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995) by Gregory Maguire reimagines the central antagonist of the iconic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was published in 1900 by author L. Frank Baum and became central to American popular culture through the 1939 film adaptation starring Judy Garland. Allusions to the original story recur throughout film, television, and novels. Decades later, expressions like “we’re not in Kansas anymore” or... Read Wicked Summary

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Guilt, Hope, Joy, Love, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Nature Versus Nurture, Place, Friendship, Teamwork, Community, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale & Folklore

Publication year 1975

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Justice, Equality, Perseverance, Guilt, Self Discovery, Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Politics & Government, Education, Safety & Danger, Fate, Power & Greed

Tags Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, African Literature, Social Justice, Education, Finance, Middle Eastern History, Love & Sexuality, Politics & Government, Incarceration, Crime & Law, Women`s Studies, Education, Classic Fiction

Woman at Point Zero, also titled Firdaus, is a 1975 novella by Nawal El Saadawi based on the true account of a woman named Firdaus who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1974. Saadawi was a prolific Egyptian feminist and physician, and she worked with Egyptian women who experienced various mental conditions that Saadawi saw largely as resulting from living in a patriarchal society. She had the privilege of meeting Firdaus on... Read Woman at Point Zero Summary

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Fate

Tags Classic Fiction, Tragedy, Ancient Greece, Religion & Spirituality, Dramatic Literature, Classical Period, Fantasy

Women of Trachis is a classical Greek tragedy composed by Sophocles (circa 496-406 BCE). The play’s precise dating is unknown, but it is believed to have been produced sometime during the 440s, among Sophocles’ earliest surviving plays, and to have been performed at the City Festival of Dionysus, held in March in Athens. The play itself subverts traditional heroic themes, notably the homecoming hero, the unknowability of the gods, and the importance of pity.Sophocles is... Read Women of Trachis Summary

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fate

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction

Wool, a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel, is Hugh Howey’s first book. Originally self-published in 2011 as an e-book, Simon & Schuster later licensed it. The e-book features illustrations by Jimmy Broxton and Darwyn Cooke. Wool is the first book in Howey's Silo series, followed by Shift (2013) and Dust (2013).Wool takes place in the world of the silo, a 144-floor underground community of humans, hundreds of years after an unknown event has caused the air... Read Wool Summary

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Climate, Self Discovery, Social Class, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Fate, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction

Words of Radiance is the second novel in the high fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive, by Brandon Sanderson. It is the sequel to The Way of Kings and is followed by Oathbringer, Rhythm of War, and Wind and Truth. It was originally published on March 4, 2014, by Tor. It enjoyed critical success on its publication, winning the 2015 David Gemmel Legend Award for best novel. Brandon Sanderson is a popular fantasy and high fantasy... Read Words of Radiance Summary

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Fate, Love

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, World History

Written in 2014 and published by Delacorte Press, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood is the eighth book in the Outlander saga by author Diana Gabaldon. The series follows Claire Fraser, a time-traveling World War II nurse who married Jamie Fraser, an 18th-century Highlander and insurrectionist against the British crown. The Fraser family occupies multiple timelines in the series, which celebrates family and romantic love. The novel spans colonial America to the Highlands of Scotland... Read Written in My Own Heart's Blood Summary

Publication year 2024

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude, Grief, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Memory, Mental Health, Aging, Death, Animals, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Grandparents, Community, War, Fame, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

Publication year 1747

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Fate, Good & Evil, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Philosophy, Life-Inspired Fiction, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1966

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Religion & Spirituality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Conflict, Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Jewish Literature, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Religion & Spirituality, Animals, Special Occasions, Relationships, Science & Nature, Children`s Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

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