"It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages," said philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The texts in this collection depict happy and unhappy marriages—and those that fall somewhere in between.
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Marriage
Tags History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Western, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 1949
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Relationships: Marriage, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Historical Fiction, Post-War Era, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Psychological Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, American Literature, Travel Literature, Classic Fiction
An American writer and composer who lived in Morocco for most of his life, Paul Bowles was a peripheral member of the post-World War II counter-cultural group of writers known as the Beat generation. The Sheltering Sky (1949), his first novel, is his best-known work, although he wrote other novels, numerous short stories, and works of nonfiction, most notably travel narratives. He also translated several works by Moroccan writers. The Sheltering Sky was adapted into... Read The Sheltering Sky Summary
Publication year 1977
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Gothic Literature, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Religion / Spirituality, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction
IntroductionThe Shining is a 1977 horror novel by American author Stephen King. It tells the story of Jack, Wendy, and Danny Torrance during an isolated winter in which Jack becomes the caretaker of Colorado’s Overlook Hotel. It deals with themes of parenthood, isolation, addiction, and the bonds of family.The Shining was Stephen King’s third novel and his first hardback bestseller. It was adapted into a 1980 film directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson... Read The Shining Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication year 1936
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature, Education, Education, History: U.S.
“The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” is a short story by American author Ernest Hemingway that was first published in Cosmopolitan in 1936. It explores themes of power and dominance, courage and cowardice, and the nature of masculinity. The story details a hunting party and love triangle in which a husband, a wife, and their hired huntsman struggle for dominance and power over one another. This guide references the collection The Snows of Kilimanjaro... Read The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Flora/plants, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Historical Fiction, Science / Nature, Age of Enlightenment, Realistic Fiction, History: World
IntroductionThe Signature of All Things is an adult historical novel by American author Elizabeth Gilbert. It was published by Penguin Random House in 2013, and Gilbert had already established herself on the New York Times bestseller list with her two memoirs, Eat, Pray, Love (2006) and Committed (2010), after garnering critical acclaim for her earlier fiction, biographies, and magazine journalism.The Signature of All Things spans the life of the fictional Alma Whittaker, a keenly curious... Read The Signature of All Things Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison is a psychological thriller about a failing marriage. Published in 2013, the novel is Harrison’s first entry into the genre, though she had previously published an erotic novel and a non-fiction book on the female orgasm in the 1970s. Harrison passed away from cancer weeks before the novel’s publication. The novel has been compared to Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl in terms of both its content—the depiction of... Read The Silent Wife Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Disability, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
J.K. Rowling has published seven novels in the Cormoran Strike mystery series under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, beginning in 2013 with The Cuckoo’s Calling. The Silkworm was released in 2014 as the second installment of the series. The novel received praise for its intricate plotting and satirical take on the publishing industry, though it also drew criticism for its controversial portrayals of gender and graphic imagery. Set in the London literary world, The Silkworm satirizes... Read The Silkworm Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Historical Fiction, Relationships, Poverty, Class, Indian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Romance, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Middle Eastern Literature, Romance
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Immigration
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Jennifer E. Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (2012) is one of nine books that she has written for young adults to date. In an interview with Buzz Magazine, Smith said, “I’m kind of obsessed with moments in time that act as hinges, days where there’s a really clear split between before and after—where yesterday, your life was one way, and tomorrow it will be entirely different” (“Author Interview: Jennifer E. Smith.”... Read The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Summary
Publication year 1972
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Classic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 1883
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags African American Literature, Gender / Feminism, History: World, Historical Fiction, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1894
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Gender
Tags Classic Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Gender / Feminism, Drama / Tragedy, Education, Education, American Literature, History: World
Vogue magazine first published American author Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” in 1894. It was published under the alternate title “The Dream of an Hour.” Some contemporary readers consider the story an early example of flash fiction, a term used for very short prose narratives. The story exemplifies psychological fiction, in which the action of the plot concerns the emotions and thoughts of the protagonist. One of Chopin’s best-known and most popular works... Read The Story of an Hour Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Realistic Fiction, Indian Literature, History: Asian, Gender / Feminism, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction