Guilt

In Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, a character remarks, "If he has a conscience he will suffer for his mistake; that will be punishment—as well as the prison." In other words, guilt is its own form of imprisonment, from which someone may never be released. In this collection explore titles that probe the questions and implications raised by the idea of guilt.

Nash Falls

by David Baldacci

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Love, Memory, Revenge, Death, Family, Fathers, Self Discovery, Economics, Globalization, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction

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Needful Things

by Stephen King

Publication year 1991

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Community, Power & Greed, Conflict, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Addiction & Substance Abuse

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Never Flinch

by Stephen King

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Hate & Anger, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Fathers, Siblings, Community, Fame, Good & Evil, Justice, Religion & Spirituality

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

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New from Here

by Kelly Yang

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Shame & Pride, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Place, Equality, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Science & Technology, Safety & Danger, Race, Mothers, Siblings, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Friendship, Marriage, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Social Class, Community, Nation, Regret

Tags Race & Racism, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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Nine Perfect Strangers

by Liane Moriarty

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies, Loyalty & Betrayal, Grief, Forgiveness, Guilt, Love, Family, Community, Fear

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction

Nine Perfect Strangers is a 2018 novel by Liane Moriarty. Set in Sydney, Australia, the novel follows a group of strangers who gather at a wellness retreat to receive treatment from a mysterious health guru. The novel was adapted for a 2021 television series starring Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, and Michael Shannon.Other works by this author include Apples Never Fall, What Alice Forgot, and Here One Moment.This guide uses an eBook copy of the text... Read Nine Perfect Strangers Summary

No Exit

by Jean-Paul Sartre

Publication year 1944

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Community, Good & Evil, Apathy, Guilt

Tags Existentialism, Drama, French Literature, Philosophy, Symbolic Narrative, Relationships, Education, Education, Dramatic Literature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

No Exit (1944) is a play by French philosopher, writer, and critic Jean-Paul Sartre. Sartre was drafted into the French army during World War II and spent nearly a year as a German prisoner of war. He then wrote and debuted No Exit in Paris while the city was still under German occupation and control. No Exit is comprised of one act which takes place in a single room in the afterlife, which the characters... Read No Exit Summary

No Longer Human

by Osamu Dazai

Publication year 1948

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Mental Health, Guilt, Love

Tags Japanese Literature, Depression & Suicide, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Asian Literature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

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No Promises In The Wind

by Irene Hunt

Publication year 1970

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Forgiveness, Death, Friendship, Community, Economics, Social Class, Safety & Danger, Childhood & Youth, Shame & Pride, Hope, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Love, Grief, Perseverance, Conflict, Gratitude, Family, Masculinity, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Great Depression, Coming of Age, Food, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, World History, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction

No Promises in the Wind is a young-adult historical novel that takes place at the height of the Great Depression. The first-person narrative tells the coming-of-age story of a 15-year-old boy who leaves home with his younger brother because their family doesn’t have enough to eat. Josh and Joey Grondowski use their musical talents to survive on their own as they travel through a country of angry and impoverished people. First published in 1970, the... Read No Promises In The Wind Summary

Not Nothing

by Gayle Forman

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Memory, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Friendship, Community

Tags Coming of Age, Children`s Literature

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November 9

by Colleen Hoover

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Love, Family, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

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Oathbringer

by Brandon Sanderson

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Mental Health, Appearance & Reality, Teamwork, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Narrative Poem

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Oedipus at Colonus

by Sophocles

Publication year 401

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Grief, Guilt, Regret, Aging, Death, Future, The Past, Daughters & Sons, Community, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Classical Period, Tragedy, Mythology, Ancient Greece

Oedipus at Colonus is an ancient Athenian tragedy composed by Sophocles in (it is widely believed) the last year of his life, approximately 406 BC. His grandson, who was named Sophocles after him, first produced the play in 401 BC at the Festival of Dionysus, also known as the Great Dionysia. Along with Oedipus Rex and Antigone, it is one of three surviving tragedies by Sophocles, known as the Theban plays, that retell episodes from... Read Oedipus at Colonus Summary

Oil and Marble

by Stephanie Storey

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Conflict, Fear, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Sexual Identity, Death, Appearance & Reality, Place, Family, Fathers, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Fate, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Historical Fiction, Arts & Culture, Renaissance

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Olivetti

by Allie Millington

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Forgiveness, Guilt, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Literature

Tags Children`s Literature

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