Forgiveness

"To err is human, to forgive divine," wrote poet Alexander Pope, suggesting that to forgive is sacred but also difficult—even impossible—for us mortals. This study guide collection gathers together texts with themes on the merits and challenges of forgiveness.

Strange Buildings

by Uketsu, Transl. Jim Rion

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Regret, Shame & Pride, Disability, Death, The Past, Place, Family, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense

Published in Japan in 2023, Strange Buildings is a mystery horror novel by the pseudonymous author and YouTuber Uketsu. It’s the sequel to his best-selling novel Strange Houses, which was adapted into a major motion picture in Japan. The story follows a writer who, after the success of his previous book, receives submissions from readers about unsettling buildings with bizarre architectural features. He selects 11 unrelated cases to investigate with his friend Kurihara, an architectural... Read Strange Buildings Summary

Strangers

by Belle Burden

Publication year 2026

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Marriage, Family, Conflict, Forgiveness, Grief, Loneliness, Memory, Nostalgia, Regret, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Midlife, Animals, Place, Self Discovery, Social Class, Power & Greed

Tags Memoir & Autobiography, Relationships

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Stripped Down

by Bunnie Xo

Publication year 2026

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Marriage, Forgiveness, Guilt, Love, Memory, Shame & Pride, Sexual Identity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Nature Versus Nurture, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Self Discovery, Economics, Fame, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Memoir & Autobiography, Trauma & Abuse

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Summer in the City

by Alex Aster

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Death, Fathers, Mothers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Equality, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt

Tags Romance

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Sunburn

by Chloe Michelle Howarth

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, LGBTQ+

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Sycamore Row

by John Grisham

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Race, Family, Community, Guilt

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Crime & Law, Race & Racism

Sycamore Row (2013) by John Grisham is the sequel to his debut novel and best-selling legal thriller, A Time to Kill (1989). Grisham, a practicing lawyer prior to his career as a novelist, popularized the legal thriller with his prolific work in the genre, frequently highlighting social justice and legal ethics issues. Though marketed as a legal thriller, Grisham himself makes a clear distinction between his legal thrillers and his Ford County novels—aka the Jake... Read Sycamore Row Summary

Tell Me Lies

by Carola Lovering

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Love, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Mothers, Self Discovery, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Romance, Coming of Age

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Tell Me Softly

by Mercedes Ron

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Guilt, Family

Tags Romance

Tell Me Softly (2020), originally self-published in 2020, is a young adult romance novel by Argentinian author Mercedes Ron. It is the first installment in the Tell Me trilogy, which also includes Tell Me in Secret and Tell Me with Kisses. The story follows high school senior Kamila “Kami” Hamilton, whose carefully controlled life in the small town of Carsville is upended when her childhood best friends, brothers Taylor and Thiago Di Bianco, return after... Read Tell Me Softly Summary

Tell the Wolves I'm Home

by Carol Rifka Brunt

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Friendship, Conflict, Forgiveness, Family, Siblings, Art, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, LGBTQ+

Tell the Wolves I’m Home is the 2012 debut novel of author Carol Rifka Brunt. In it, 14-year-old narrator June Elbus wrestles with her grief over the death of her uncle Finn Weiss, who died of AIDS. Set in 1987 New York at the height of the AIDS crisis, the novel confronts the stigmas surrounding the disease through June’s parents and sister, who blame Finn’s long-term partner, Toby Aldshaw, for transmitting AIDS to Finn. As... Read Tell the Wolves I'm Home Summary

That's Not What Happened

by Kody Keplinger

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Guilt, Grief, Self Discovery, Religion & Spirituality, Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Regret, Coming of Age, Death, Education, Politics & Government, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, LGBTQ+

... Read That's Not What Happened Summary

The All of It

by Jeannette Haien

Publication year 1986

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Language, Mental Health, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Aging, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Environment, Plants, Place, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Marriage, Siblings, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Economics, Education, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Irish Literature, Literary Fiction

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The Amen Corner

by James Baldwin

Publication year 1954

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Race, Family, Forgiveness, Love, Regret

Tags Drama, African American Literature, Race & Racism, World History, Dramatic Literature, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

The Amen Corner (1954) is the first play by American author, orator, and civil rights activist James Baldwin. The play critiques Christian religion as a means of reinforcing oppression and poverty, specifically in Black communities. It also covers the rift between men and women in religious settings by examining the fall of its protagonist, a Black preacher named Margaret. Hollywood actress Juanita Moore, who was friends with Marlon Brando, asked Brando to loan $75 for... Read The Amen Corner Summary

The Art of Fielding

by Chad Harbach

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hope, Love, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Midlife, Death, Place, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Sports, Relationships, Psychological Fiction

Published in 2011, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach is a work of literary fiction depicting the interwoven journeys of characters at Westish, a fictional small liberal arts college in Wisconsin. Henry Skrimshander is a talented baseball shortstop whose future is jeopardized by an errant throw. His development intersects with that of his teammate Schwartz; his roommate, Owen; college president Guert; and Pella, Guert’s daughter and a newly enrolled student of Westish. The novel... Read The Art of Fielding Summary

The Art of Happiness

by Dalai Lama, Howard C. Cutler

Publication year 1998

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Joy, Loneliness, Regret, Mental Health, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Asian History

In 1998, the 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) and psychiatrist Howard C. Cutler released The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living. Combining spiritual teachings and clinical framing, the book has become an example of where popular psychology, applied ethics, and secular spirituality converge. The book targets a broad audience seeking practical ways to decrease suffering, enhance interpersonal connections, and develop a more stable, compassionate mindset—regardless of whether they have a religious affiliation.A collaborative project... Read The Art of Happiness Summary

The Ballad Of Reading Gaol

by Oscar Wilde

Publication year 1896

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Justice, Teamwork, Death, Shame & Pride, Regret, Forgiveness

Tags Narrative Poem, Incarceration, Grief & Death, European History, LGBTQ+, Religion & Spirituality, British Literature, Victorian Period, Horror & Suspense, Victorian Era, World History, Irish Literature, Classic Fiction

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