Truth & Lies

Whether exploring the consequences of concealing the truth or excavating the mysterious nature of truth itself, the titles in this collection discuss the intersections among honesty, factualness, legitimacy, deception, falsehood, and lies.

We Can Remember It for You Wholesale

by Philip K. Dick

Publication year 1966

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Space, Masculinity

Tags Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Psychology, Technology, Philosophy, American Literature, Cold War, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

We Can Remember It for You Wholesale is a short story by renowned sci-fi author Philip K. Dick, first published in April 1966 in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. The story is about a man named Douglas Quail, who visits a medical facility which promises to implant fake memories about visiting Mars in his head. The story has twice been adapted into film, though both movie adaptations change the title to Total Recall... Read We Can Remember It for You Wholesale Summary

We Did OK, Kid

by Anthony Hopkins

Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Loneliness, Memory, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Midlife, The Past, Place, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Marriage, Mothers, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Fame, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Memoir & Autobiography, Arts & Culture, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Relationships

... Read We Did OK, Kid Summary

We Don't Talk About Carol

by Kristen L. Berry

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Memory, Race, The Past, Family, Truth & Lies

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

We Don’t Talk About Carol (2025) is the debut domestic thriller by Kristen L. Berry. The novel follows 38-year-old Sydney Singleton, a former crime reporter who discovers a long-buried family secret while cleaning out her recently deceased grandmother’s house in Raleigh, North Carolina. After learning that she had an aunt, Carol, who disappeared in 1965 around the same time as five other local Black girls, Sydney begins an investigation that forces her to confront her... Read We Don't Talk About Carol Summary

Welcome to Dead House

by R. L. Stine

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Appearance & Reality, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

... Read Welcome to Dead House Summary

Wellness

by Nathan Hill

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Loneliness, Love, Midlife, Nature Versus Nurture, Marriage, Social Class, Art, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies, Family

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

... Read Wellness Summary

We Used to Live Here

by Marcus Kliewer

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Memory, Mental Health, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Objects & Materials, Place, Self Discovery, Fate, Good & Evil, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, LGBTQ+, Religion & Spirituality, Horror & Suspense

... Read We Used to Live Here Summary

We Were Liars

by E. Lockhart

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Truth & Lies

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

We Were Liars is a 2014 young-adult novel by E. Lockhart, a pen name of writer Emily Jenkins. The book tells the story of Cady (short for Cadence), who is nearly 18, as she recounts the story of her life. She is a member of the wealthy New England Sinclair family whose patriarch and matriarch, Harris and Tipper, still dominate the family as the story begins. The Sinclair family is so wealthy that it owns... Read We Were Liars Summary

What Comes After

by JoAnne Tompkins

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Coming of Age, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Nature Versus Nurture, Family, Friendship, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

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

... Read What Comes After Summary

Where the Library Hides

by Isabel Ibañez

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Future, The Past, Place, Family, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Economics, Globalization, Politics & Government, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History

... Read Where the Library Hides Summary

Whidbey

by T Kira Madden

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Revenge, The Past, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Literary Fiction, LGBTQ+, Gender & Feminism, Mystery & Crime Fiction

T Kira Madden’s psychological thriller, Whidbey (2024), is the debut novel from the author of the memoir Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls (2019). The novel follows Birdie Chang, a young woman who flees to the remote Whidbey Island in Washington to escape threats from her childhood sexual abuser, Calvin Boyer. This coincides with the publication of a sensationalized best-selling memoir by another of his survivors, Linzie King, creating a public spectacle that renews... Read Whidbey Summary