Fathers

Italian novelist Umberto Eco wrote, "I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us." This study guide collection gathers texts that explore what it means to be a father and what profound lessons their presence—or absence—teaches us.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

by Mitch Albom

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Religion & Spirituality, Aging, Fate, Friendship, Forgiveness, Memory, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Family, Hate & Anger, Love, War, Grief, Marriage, Fathers, Nostalgia, Hope, Mothers

Tags Inspirational, Magical Realism, Religion & Spirituality, Grief & Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a novel by best-selling writer Mitch Albom. Published in 2003, it sold more than 10 million copies and appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. In 2004, the story was adapted into a made-for-television movie starring Jon Voight. In 2018, Albom penned a follow-up called The Next Person You Meet in Heaven. The novel follows the story of Eddie, a man who believes his life was... Read The Five People You Meet In Heaven Summary

The Golden Bowl

by Henry James

Publication year 1904

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Loyalty & Betrayal, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Love, Shame & Pride, Midlife, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Fathers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, American Literature, US History, World History

The Golden Bowl is a 1904 novel by Henry James. The novel explores the intricacies of marriage and affairs in the early 19th century through the affair of Amerigo and Charlotte, who were once in love but too poor to marry. Amerigo instead marries Maggie, and Charlotte marries Maggie’s father, a wealthy American museum curator. While Amerigo is at first happy with his new wife, the time she spends with her father creates an opportunity... Read The Golden Bowl Summary

The Grandest Game

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Memory, Revenge, Death, The Past, Fathers, Siblings, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Fate, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Horror & Suspense

... Read The Grandest Game Summary

The Green Glass Sea

by Ellen Klages

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship, Conflict, Grief, Loneliness, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Self Discovery, Community, War, Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Children`s Literature, Military & War, Realistic Fiction, World History

The Green Glass Sea is the 2006 children’s historical fiction and debut novel by American author Ellen Klages. Set in New Mexico in 1943, the story tells of 11-year-old Dewey Kerrigan, an outcast mechanical engineering prodigy who arrives to live with her father in the mysterious town of Los Alamos, New Mexico (also called the Hill). Dewey slowly learns that her father and several other scientists are working on a top-secret project called the “gadget.”... Read The Green Glass Sea Summary

The Hidden Oracle

by Rick Riordan

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Fathers, Forgiveness

Tags Mythology, Fantasy, Children`s Literature, LGBTQ+, Action & Adventure

The Hidden Oracle (2016) is the first installment in Rick Riordan’s The Trials of Apollo, a five-book fantasy series for young readers. Inspired by Greek and Roman mythology and history, the books follow the fallen god Apollo on a quest to rescue the five Oracles from a group of foes. The Trials of Apollo series takes place in the same universe as Riordan’s popular Percy Jackson oeuvre. Praised for its humor, The Hidden Oracle earned... Read The Hidden Oracle Summary

The History of Love

by Nicole Krauss

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Community, Literature, Family, Fathers

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Jewish Literature, Love & Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction

The History of Love (2005) is a novel by American writer Nicole Krauss. The book, Krauss’s second novel, was awarded the 2008 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing and was a finalist for the 2006 Orange Prize for Fiction. It is a novel about the intersection of love, loneliness, language, and literature, as three characters are connected by a mysterious book called The History of Love. The novel plays with postmodern techniques like fragmentation and... Read The History of Love Summary

The Hummingbird's Daughter

by Luis Alberto Urrea

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Indigenous Identity, Family, Fathers, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Latin American Literature

Written by Luis Alberto Urrea in 2005, The Hummingbird’s Daughter is a fictional account of the life of Teresa Urrea, a woman whose mystical powers and religious fervor earned her the reputation of a living saint in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Luis Alberto Urrea is a distant cousin of Teresa and grew up hearing about her. He eventually researched her life through his family connections and the communities that she helped. The novel... Read The Hummingbird's Daughter Summary

The Imaginary Invalid

by Moliere

Publication year 1673

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Love, Family, Fathers

Tags Comedy & Satire, Classic Fiction, French Literature

Le Malade Imaginaire, typically translated as The Imaginary Invalid, opened in Paris in 1673 and was the final play written by the famous French satirist Molière. Molière wrote frequently about doctors, and six of his comedies deal significantly with medical practitioners. The trope of the doctor who is as greedy and as pompous as he is inept—often speaking a jumble of Latin and Greek to prove his intelligence—is a stock character of commedia dell’arte, the... Read The Imaginary Invalid Summary

The Kite Fighters

by Linda Sue Park

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Shame & Pride, Joy, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Siblings, Childhood & Youth, Appearance & Reality, Nation, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Loyalty & Betrayal, Religion & Spirituality, Order & Chaos

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Korean Literature, Agriculture

... Read The Kite Fighters Summary

The Last Song

by Nicholas Sparks

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Regret, Coming of Age, Death, Appearance & Reality, Family, Fathers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Music, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Dramatic Literature, Coming of Age

The Last Song (2009) is a contemporary coming-of-age romance novel by American author Nicholas Sparks, a celebrated writer of best-selling works such as The Notebook and A Walk to Remember that are often set in coastal North Carolina. Sparks developed the novel’s story alongside the screenplay for its 2010 film adaptation. The plot centers on a rebellious teenage girl forced to spend the summer with her estranged father, leading her to reconnect with her passion... Read The Last Song Summary

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

by Laurence Sterne

Publication year 1759

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Literature, Fathers, Family, Birth

Tags Classic Fiction, Satirical Literature, Humor, British Literature, Age of Enlightenment, World History

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is a nine-volume novel published between 1759 and 1767 by English novelist Laurence Sterne. The novel is considered by many scholars as an early forerunner of postmodern literature due to its metafictional commentary on its own narrative. Contemporary critics did not view the novel favorably, though its humor and sentimentalism helped it find an audience. The novel has been adapted for radio and opera and as a... Read The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman Summary