The Past

In George Orwell's 1984 a character says, "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." The past may be behind us, but its events—and how we remember them—have a profound effect on the present. In this collection explore texts that examine the complications and complexities of the past.

The Mad Wife

by Meagan Church

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Guilt, Loneliness, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Midlife, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Family, Marriage, Mothers, Community, Equality, Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Domestic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Horror & Suspense

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The Magician's Assistant

by Ann Patchett

Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Grief, Regret, Sexual Identity, Death, The Past, Place, Family

Tags Magical Realism, LGBTQ+

Written by acclaimed American author Ann Patchett, The Magician’s Assistant is a piece of contemporary literature that explores life after grief, the nature of love, and the power of family dynamics. Told in two parts, one set in Los Angeles and the other in small-town Nebraska, the novel emphasizes the importance of setting and environment in the development of identity.The author of nine novels and the recipient of numerous awards, Ann Patchett is an outspoken... Read The Magician's Assistant Summary

The Maltese Falcon

by Dashiell Hammett

Publication year 1930

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Apathy, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Love, Memory, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Death, The Past, Beauty, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Order & Chaos, Art, Good & Evil, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Appearance & Reality, Politics & Government, Social Class, Community, Immigration

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Roaring Twenties, Great Depression

Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (1930) is a detective novel that was first serialized in the magazine Black Mask. As Hammett’s third novel, The Maltese Falcon includes the introduction of Sam Spade as the protagonist, a departure from the nameless Continental Op who narrated his previous stories. Spade’s hard exterior, cool detachment, and reliance on his own moral code would become staples of the hardboiled genre, and The Maltese Falcon has since been named one... Read The Maltese Falcon Summary

The Man Made of Smoke

by Alex North

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Conflict, Fear, Guilt, Loneliness, Memory, Revenge, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Place, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction

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The Marvelous Land of Oz

by L. Frank Baum

Publication year 1904

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Hope, Love, Femininity, Gender Identity, Language, Masculinity, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Plants, Nature Versus Nurture, Objects & Materials, Place, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure

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The Masterpiece

by Fiona Davis

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Femininity, Gender Identity, The Past, Place, Self Discovery, Community, Beauty, Equality, Fame

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Gender & Feminism

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The Midnight Feast

by Lucy Foley

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Guilt, Revenge, The Past, Animals, Plants, Place, Friendship, Social Class, Justice, Religion & Spirituality

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

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The Mindf*ck Series

by S. T. Abby

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Grief, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Femininity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Family, Siblings, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Revenge

Tags Horror & Suspense, Romance

S. T. Abby’s The Mindf*ck Series (2016) is a dark romance and psychological thriller that gained viral popularity on TikTok. Originally self-published, the series became a cornerstone of the dark romance subgenre and a key example of the “female rage” trope, which celebrates female antiheroes who seek violent retribution. The story follows Lana Myers, a survivor of a brutal gang rape who was left for dead 10 years prior. Now living under a new identity... Read The Mindf*ck Series Summary

The Ministry of Time

by Kaliane Bradley

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Love, Regret, Race, Future, The Past, Climate, Environment, Social Class, Community, Economics, Globalization, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags World History, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction

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The Mountain Between Us

by Charles Martin

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Love, Memory, Death, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Food, Place, Family, Marriage, Self Discovery, Beauty, Fate, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Christian, Romance, Action & Adventure, Survival Fiction

The Mountain Between Us (2010) is a survival romance novel by Charles Martin. It tells the story of Ben Payne, a surgeon who becomes trapped in the remote Utah wilderness with writer Ashley Knox. The novel interweaves Ben’s personal history with his growing feelings for Ashley as they rely on each other for survival, and their love begins to pose a potential complication in the lives to which they hope to return. Through their journey... Read The Mountain Between Us Summary