Trust & Doubt

Believing in people, institutions, or the spiritual world requires an act of trust. What happens when that trust is shaken, either by our own wavering commitments or an act of betrayal? Can trust ever be regained once it is lost? These are some of the ideas explored in this thematic collection.

Many Lives, Many Masters

by Brian Weiss

Publication year 1988

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Memory, Science & Technology, Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Philosophy, Psychology, Biography, Self-Improvement

Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives is a new-age, self-help memoir written by American psychiatrist Dr. Brian L. Weiss. Originally published on July 15, 1988, by Touchstone, the book covers a portion of Weiss’s career in which he conducts therapy sessions with Catherine, a patient with symptoms of fear and anxiety. After putting Catherine under trance with hypnotic... Read Many Lives, Many Masters Summary

Masters of Death

by Olivie Blake

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, Death, Future, Teamwork, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Horror & Suspense, LGBTQ+, Science Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

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Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

by Lori Gottlieb

Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Trust & Doubt

Tags Psychology, Self-Improvement, Psychology, Biography, Mental Illness

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed (2019) is a nonfiction book by American writer and psychotherapist, Lori Gottlieb. A combination of memoir and popular science, it brings together Gottlieb’s personal life experience and her therapeutic work to illuminate the role therapy can play in everyone’s lives. The work has become a New York Times bestseller and Time magazine Must-Read Book of the Year. It was shortlisted for... Read Maybe You Should Talk to Someone Summary

M. Butterfly

by David Henry Hwang

Publication year 1988

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Love, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Marriage, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Beauty, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Drama

Originally published in 1988, M. Butterfly is a postmodern play by Chinese-American dramatist David Henry Hwang, who also wrote Yellow Face and Bondage. Hwang drew from two sources to compose his text: the 1904 opera Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini and the historical espionage scandal involving French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Chinese opera singer Shi Pei Pu. The play became Hwang’s best-known work and subsequently received the Tony Award for Best Play in the year... Read M. Butterfly Summary

Metal Slinger

by Rachel Schneider

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Family, Social Class, Nation, Politics & Government, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, New Adult, Action & Adventure

... Read Metal Slinger Summary

Midnight Without a Moon

by Linda Williams Jackson

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Gratitude, Hate & Anger, Hope, Shame & Pride, Race, Beauty, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Race & Racism, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, Children`s Literature, World History, Arts & Culture

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Mind Games

by Nora Roberts

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Love, Revenge, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Family, Self Discovery, Fame, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

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

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Moon Over Manifest

by Clare Vanderpool

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Regret, Nostalgia, Memory, Shame & Pride, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, The Past, Death, Appearance & Reality, Place, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Family, Friendship, Community, Social Class, Economics, Immigration, Education, War, Politics & Government, Nation, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, World History

Moon Over Manifest is a 2010 novel by author Claire Vanderpool. It relates the story of 12-year-old Abilene Tucker, a drifting girl in search of her father, a home, and a sense of belonging. When the novel starts, her father, Gideon Tucker, has just sent Abilene to the Kansas town of Manifest, claiming that he can’t take her to Iowa, where he is allegedly taking a railroad job. It is 1936, and the Great Depression... Read Moon Over Manifest Summary

Murderland

by Caroline Fraser

Publication year 2025

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Hate & Anger, Memory, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Childhood & Youth, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Environment, Place, Family, Social Class, Community, Education, Nation, Politics & Government, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags True Crime, Biography

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Murder on the Orient Express

by Agatha Christie

Publication year 1934

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Appearance & Reality, Death, Globalization, Justice, Truth & Lies, Good & Evil, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

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

Murder on the Orient Express, first published in 1934, is a mystery by Agatha Christie featuring one of her most famous characters, the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. A locked-room mystery, the novel unfolds in a train, the Orient Express, which has become stranded in a snowstorm. Poirot happens to be on the train when a man named Mr. Ratchett is murdered. Poirot is called upon to solve the case, and the book follows his investigation... Read Murder on the Orient Express Summary

Murder Road

by Simone St. James

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Love, Revenge, Gender Identity, The Past, Self Discovery, Justice, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

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My Name Is Not Easy

by Debby Dahl Edwardson

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Education, Perseverance, Indigenous Identity, Family, Siblings, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Justice, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Historical Fiction

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My Oxford Year

by Julia Whelan

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Love, Literature, Fear, Grief, Hope, Memory, Regret, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Appearance & Reality, Fathers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, Trust & Doubt

Tags Romance, British Literature

... Read My Oxford Year Summary

Neverwhere

by Neil Gaiman

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Action & Adventure

Written by celebrated British fantasy author Neil Gaiman and published in 1997, Neverwhere was originally created as a BBC television series that aired in 1996 and was also written by Gaiman. However, because the practical limitations of the production process necessitated many changes to the original story, Gaiman created the novel to correct and improve upon the series and more fully encapsulate his vision. The novel follows the London-based misadventures of Richard Mayhew, who comes... Read Neverwhere Summary