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.

The Reason for God

by Timothy J. Keller

Publication year 2008

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Good & Evil, Community

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Christian, Philosophy, Philosophy

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism is a 2008 book by Timothy Keller that seeks to provide a rational defense of the Christian faith. As such, it is a book on religion and society that falls within the subgenre of Christian apologetics. Keller (1950-2023) was the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and is the author of many notable works of popular Christian theology, with a particular focus... Read The Reason for God Summary

The Reckoning

by John Grisham

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Guilt, Grief, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, War, Social Class, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Race, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Femininity, Masculinity, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Marriage, Mothers, Siblings, Death, Coming of Age, The Past, Nation

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Crime & Law, Race & Racism, Military & War, World History

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The Recognition of Sakuntala

by Kalidasa

Publication year 400

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Love, Marriage, Community, Fate, Trust & Doubt

Tags Classic Fiction, Drama, Romance, Indian Literature, Asian Literature, Dramatic Literature

AbhijnanaSakuntala or The Recognition of Sakuntala is a Sanskrit play written by the playwright Kalidasa in the fifth century CE. The play follows the love story between forest-dwelling Sakuntala and the valorous king Dusyanta. When Dusyanta stumbles into a grove while on a hunt for deer, he meets the beautiful Sakuntala. Sakuntala and Dusyanta fall in love, marry in secret, and conceive a child. Called away for court business, Dusyanta promises to send for Sakuntala... Read The Recognition of Sakuntala Summary

There Is No Place for Us

by Brian Goldstone

Publication year 2025

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Race, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Globalization, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Sociology, Politics & Government, Political Science, Journalism, Poverty, Urban Studies

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The Ride of Her Life

by Elizabeth Letts

Publication year 2021

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Gratitude, Hope, Aging, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Plants, Place, Friendship, Community, Nation, Beauty, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Self Discovery

Tags Animals, World History, Travel Literature, Action & Adventure, Biography

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The Road to Mecca

by Athol Fugard

Publication year 1985

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt

Tags Education, Education, African American Literature, Science & Nature, Dramatic Literature, Classic Fiction

The Road to Mecca is a play by South African playwright Athol Fugard. It was first performed in 1984, won a New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award in 1988, and was adapted into a film in 1991. Based on the real-life story of Helen Martins, a South African woman whose home, “The Owl House,” is still open to the public, Fugard’s play explores themes of freedom versus oppression, trust, and the conflict between the self... Read The Road to Mecca Summary

The Robber Bride

by Margaret Atwood

Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Women`s Studies, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Robber Bride by Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood was originally published in the United States in 1993. It tells the story of three women who suffer betrayal at the hands of a fourth woman, Zenia. The novel was inspired by The Robber Bridegroom, a 19th century German fairy tale which Atwood updates to 1990s Toronto. It combines Atwood’s notable sense of humor with her attention to contemporary political issues such as feminism and environmentalism. The... Read The Robber Bride Summary

The Rose Code

by Kate Quinn

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Femininity, Teamwork, Friendship, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Gender & Feminism, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Military & War, World History, Romance

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The Sanatorium

by Sarah Pearse

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Mental Health, Trust & Doubt

Tags Psychological Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Mental Illness, Trauma & Abuse, Relationships, British Literature, Gothic Literature

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The Searcher

by Tana French

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Justice, Trust & Doubt, Gender Identity, Fathers

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Western, Modern Classic Fiction, Irish Literature

... Read The Searcher Summary

The Season of Styx Malone

by Kekla Magoon

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Trust & Doubt, Family

Tags Action & Adventure, African American Literature, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

The Season of Styx Malone (2018) is a contemporary realistic middle grade novel written by Kekla Magoon. Caleb Franklin, 10, seeks a summer of unique adventures to prove he is the opposite of ordinary, despite his father’s insistence that Caleb and his brother Bobby Gene never stray beyond the town limits. Then Caleb meets Styx Malone, a cool, daring 16-year-old boy in the foster care system who shows the Franklin brothers a quick way to... Read The Season of Styx Malone Summary

These Summer Storms

by Sarah MacLean

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Grief, Hate & Anger, Love, Death, The Past, Place, Family, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Social Class, Fame, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance

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The Shoemaker's Wife

by Adriana Trigiani

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Family, Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Place, Marriage, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Economics, Immigration, Politics & Government, War, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance

... Read The Shoemaker's Wife Summary