In many ways, who we are is shaped by what we remember, yet our recollections aren't always a reliable account of the past. This collection gathers texts that explore the ideas, theories, and challenges conjured by memory.
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Rodman Philbrick’s The Last Book in the Universe, originally published in 2000, is a young adult novel geared toward children ages 8 to 12. It depicts a dystopian future where “normals” (genetically-unaltered humans) live in the Urb, a place of filth and unrest, while “proovs” (genetically improved people) live in Eden, a place of joy and happiness. This has been the status quo ever since the Big Shake, the environmental disaster that marked the region’s... Read The Last Book In The Universe Summary
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, African American Literature, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (November 2010) is a novel by award-winning author Walter Mosley. Mosley has enjoyed a distinguished literary career, penning over forty books in the genres of mystery, science fiction, and political nonfiction. He is the first Black recipient of a National Book Foundation Medal in the category of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Mosley’s father was African American, and his mother was Jewish with Russian ancestry. Mosley identifies strongly with... Read The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Society: War
Tags Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, British Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Relationships, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Modernism, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 1968
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Fame
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1993
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Immigration, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 1990
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Birth, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Relationships, Survival Fiction, Education, Education
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 1958
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, Italian Literature, Classic Fiction
The Leopard, a historical novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, originally published in Italian in 1958, chronicles the decline of the Sicilian nobility during the 19th century, the period marking the unification of Italy. The novel follows the life of Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina, as he navigates through political upheaval and the fading glory of his class amidst the rise of a new social order. The Leopard was adapted into a film in... Read The Leopard Summary
Publication year 1995
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Mental Illness, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Southern Literature, Biography
The Liars’ Club is a memoir by Mary Karr and was first published in 1995. It won the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for nonfiction and was a New York Times bestseller.The subject of the memoir is Karr’s turbulent childhood. Karr and her older sister Lecia grew up in Leechfield, Texas and lived briefly in Colorado. Their father was a World War II veteran who worked at an oil refinery and came from a modest Texan background... Read The Liars' Club Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags History: U.S., Crime / Legal, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World
Susan Orlean, longtime staff writer at The New Yorker and best-selling author of The Orchid Thief, returned to narrative nonfiction with The Library Book (2018). Through the story of the Los Angeles Central Library, Orlean provides a history of libraries, examining what we stand to lose as the world’s base of knowledge transitions into the digital realm. Orlean received a Goodreads Choice Awards nomination for Best Nonfiction and a place on Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine... Read The Library Book Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Language, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction
The Lies of Locke Lamora, written by Scott Lynch and published in 2006, is the first entry in the Gentleman Bastards series. These novels mix caper stories and fantasy stories and include adventure, violence, dark humor, and intimate friendships. The Lies of Locke Lamora is an international best seller and was nominated for multiple awards. The other entries in the series are Red Seas Under Red Skies, The Republic of Thieves, and The Thorn of... Read The Lies of Locke Lamora Summary
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Play: Drama, Animals, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Gender / Feminism, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 1993
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Language, Life/Time: The Future
Tags American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor, Relationships
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven is a collection of 24 loosely connected short stories by writer Sherman Alexie; all are set on or near the Spokane Reservation in Washington state. As a Salish descendant (his mother was of Spokane heritage and his father of Coeur d’Alene) and celebrated author, Alexie has become a mouthpiece for Northwestern American Indigenous tribes. Two stories cut from the original 1993 publication have been reinserted in the... Read The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Disability, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction