Mothers

With classics like J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and contemporary hits like Min Jin Lee's Pachinko, this collection gathers texts that grapple with the complex and archetypal role of the mother.

The Haunting Of Hill House

by Shirley Jackson

Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Guilt, Family, Safety & Danger

Tags Horror & Suspense, Religion & Spirituality, Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Gothic Literature, Classic Fiction

Published in 1959, The Haunting of Hill House, a Gothic novel by Shirley Jackson, was a 1960 finalist for the National Book Award. The protagonist is Eleanor Vance, a young woman with a troubled past who, along with two other guests, is invited to spend three months in a haunted house to take part in research gathered by Dr. John Montague. Like other Gothic novels, The Haunting of Hill House takes place in an old... Read The Haunting Of Hill House Summary

The Heretic's Daughter

by Kathleen Kent

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Death, Future, The Past, Food, Family, Mothers, Colonialism, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, US History

The Heretic’s Daughter (2008) is the debut novel of author Kathleen Kent. Upon publication, it immediately made the New York Times bestseller list. Kent followed this title with two other best-selling historical fiction works: The Traitor’s Wife (2010) and The Outcasts (2013). She also wrote a crime fiction trilogy that was nominated for an Edgar Award. A resident of Texas, Kent was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters in 2020 for her contribution to... Read The Heretic's Daughter Summary

The Housemaid

by Freida McFadden

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Guilt, Fear, Revenge, Mothers, Family, Marriage, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read The Housemaid Summary

The Housemaid's Wedding

by Freida McFadden

Publication year 2024

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Gratitude, Hope, Love, Memory, Revenge, Femininity, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Death, Appearance & Reality, Marriage, Mothers, Immigration, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Love & Sexuality, Romance

... Read The Housemaid's Wedding Summary

The House of Eve

by Sadeqa Johnson

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Safety & Danger, Power & Greed, Education, Mothers, Marriage, Social Class, Sexual Identity, Race, Femininity, Shame & Pride, Regret, Love

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Race & Racism, World History

... Read The House of Eve Summary

The Hungry Woman

by Cherríe Moraga

Publication year 2001

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Revenge, Gender Identity, Indigenous Identity, Language, Mental Health, Race, Sexual Identity, Death, Mothers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Drama, LGBTQ+, Gender & Feminism, Science Fiction

... Read The Hungry Woman Summary

The Husband's Secret

by Liane Moriarty

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Marriage, Mothers

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Liane Moriarty’s novel The Husband’s Secret was published in 2013. It is classified as a thriller, though it could also be classified as women’s fiction because of its focus on women’s life experiences and relationships. Moriarty is perhaps best known for her novels Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers, both of which have been adapted for television. Moriarty's other well-known works include The Chaperone (2012), Truly Madly Guilty (2016), and Apples Never Fall (2021)... Read The Husband's Secret Summary

The Inmate

by Freida McFadden

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Memory, Trust & Doubt, Mothers

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Love & Sexuality, Romance

... Read The Inmate Summary

The Jumbies

by Tracey Baptiste

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Mothers, Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Horror & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Afro-Caribbean Literature, Children`s Literature

... Read The Jumbies Summary

The Lamb

by Lucy Rose

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Conflict, Fear, Guilt, Femininity, Appearance & Reality, Good & Evil, Safety & Danger

Tags Horror & Suspense, Gothic Literature, LGBTQ+

... Read The Lamb Summary