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.

Thicker than Water

by Kerry Washington

Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Hope, Love, Memory, Shame & Pride, Race, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, The Past, Family, Fathers, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Art, Fame, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Biography, Arts & Culture

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This Could Be Us

by Kennedy Ryan

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Loneliness, Love, Gender Identity, Race, Midlife, Food, Daughters & Sons, Marriage, Trust & Doubt, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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This Is Why We Lied

by Karin Slaughter

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Guilt, Love, Regret, Revenge, Death, The Past, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction

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This Strange Eventful History

by Claire Messud

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Loneliness, Memory, Nostalgia, Indigenous Identity, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Place, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Marriage, Mothers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Globalization, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Justice, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Military & War, World History, French Literature, Historical Fiction

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Those Empty Eyes

by Charlie Donlea

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Guilt, Memory, Revenge, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Trauma & Abuse

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Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay

by Elena Ferrante

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Fame, Literature, Trust & Doubt, Power & Greed, Nostalgia, Memory, Hate & Anger, Love, Perseverance, Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, Italian Literature, Gender & Feminism, Relationships, Women`s Studies, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (2014) is the third book in pseudonymous Italian author Elena Ferrante’s world-acclaimed adult fiction series The Neapolitan Novels. The four-novel series chronicles the friendship between first-person narrator Elena Greco and Raffaella “Lila” Cerullo from childhood to old age in an impoverished neighborhood in Naples, Italy. Translated by Ann Goldstein, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay documents the beginning of middle age, wherein the two women grapple with... Read Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay Summary

Three Little Words

by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Publication year 2008

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Mothers, Trust & Doubt, Family, Community

Tags Parenting, Trauma & Abuse, Biography

An international bestseller, Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s 2008 memoir, Three Little Words, provides a moving account of her early life in the foster care system. Ashley is born to a teenage mother, Lorraine, who is not well placed to look after her. After her mother’s new partner, Dusty, moves in, things soon deteriorate. When the family moves to Florida, Lorraine and Dusty are both arrested, and Ashley is placed in foster care along with her younger brother... Read Three Little Words Summary

Throne of Glass

by Sarah J. Maas

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Coming of Age, Politics & Government

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Coming of Age, Romance, Love & Sexuality, Trauma & Abuse, Politics & Government, American Literature

Throne of Glass is the first novel in the eight-book young adult (YA) fantasy series of the same name by author Sarah J. Maas. First published in 2012, the novel is loosely based on the Cinderella story. Throne of Glass was critically well-received. In 2016, Disney purchased the rights to a television adaptation. In addition to the Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas is the author of a second High Fantasy series, A Court... Read Throne of Glass Summary

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

by Friedrich Nietzsche

Publication year 1883

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Fate, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Power & Greed, Good & Evil, Truth & Lies, Guilt, Fear, Perseverance, Conflict, Hope

Tags Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, World History, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None is a work of fiction written by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Published between 1883 and 1885, the allegorical novel also known as Thus Spake Zarathustra is a collection of speeches by a character named Zarathustra to the villagers of The Motley Cow. Nietzsche uses many literary devices such as personification, allegory, and allusion. The philosophical points referenced in Thus Spoke Zarathustra include the death of... Read Thus Spoke Zarathustra Summary

Tight

by Torrey Maldonado

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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Touch Blue

by Cynthia Lord

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Hope, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Adoption

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Trust Exercise

by Susan Choi

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Siblings

Tags Korean Literature, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Trust Exercise (2019), a literary fiction novel by Susan Choi, centers on two high school students who fall in love. As the plot develops, it becomes obvious that the relationship is not at all that it seems. Although Trust Exercise received mixed reviews from readers, critics praise the novel for challenging preconceived ideas of what a novel should be. It won the 2019 National Book Award for fiction. Choi is a best-selling, award-winning novelist who typically writes literary... Read Trust Exercise Summary