In Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, a character remarks, "If he has a conscience he will suffer for his mistake; that will be punishment—as well as the prison." In other words, guilt is its own form of imprisonment, from which someone may never be released. In this collection explore titles that probe the questions and implications raised by the idea of guilt.
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Health / Medicine, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 1975
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, African Literature, Social Justice, Education, Finance / Money / Wealth, History: Middle Eastern, Love / Sexuality, Politics / Government, Incarceration, Crime / Legal, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Classic Fiction
Woman at Point Zero, also titled Firdaus, is a 1975 novella by Nawal El Saadawi based on the true account of a woman named Firdaus who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1974. Saadawi was a prolific Egyptian feminist and physician, and she worked with Egyptian women who experienced various mental conditions that Saadawi saw largely as resulting from living in a patriarchal society. She had the privilege of meeting Firdaus on... Read Woman at Point Zero Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Class, Disability, Depression / Suicide, Leadership/Organization/Management, Military / War, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Politics / Government
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a horror fiction novel by Max Brooks published in 2006. The book was a critical and commercial success, generally receiving positive reviews and spending several weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. It has sold millions of copies around the world and was subsequently turned into a successful movie starring Brad Pitt, released in 2013, and a highly rated video game, released in... Read World War Z Summary
Publication year 1996
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying, Animals, Relationships, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Jerry Spinelli’s 1997 Wringer is a middle-grade novel intended for a young adult (YA) audience.This study guide uses the 1997 HarperCollins edition.Plot SummaryPalmer LaRue is young boy living in the small town of Waymer, the home of Family Fest. Family Fest is a week of fun, games, and fried food, but the event culminates with the mass shooting of 5,000 pigeons. Shooters pay to kill the birds and the money pays for the town’s park... Read Wringer Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Holocaust, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Romance, Magical Realism, Drama / Tragedy, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Zoo City is a 2010 fantasy/science fiction novel by Lauren Beukes; it won the 2011 Arthur C. Clarke Award. In an alternate version of Johannesburg, South Africa, people who have committed serious crimes find themselves attached to animal familiars that grant them magical abilities—and mark their criminality for all to see. First-person narrator Zinzi December is accompanied by a Sloth. She uses her shavi (magical power) to locate lost things. Zinzi’s narration alternates with textual... Read Zoo City Summary