The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical novel by Sylvia Plath. It follows the protagonist, Esther Greenwood, a successful young woman who becomes mentally ill. Esther’s mental breakdown is depicted with vivid, metaphor-laden prose, as she descends into a state of complete despair, eventually leading to suicide attempts and psychiatric treatment.
Surrender is a psychological thriller novel by Ray Loriga that takes the readers in a dystopian future where an unnamed man and his wife live in total isolation. When a stranger from the City arrives, they’re forced to surrender themselves to the City, where their memories are erased, and they’re given new identities.
East of Eden is a novel by John Steinbeck, published in 1952, which retells the biblical story of Cain and Abel through generations of the Trask and Hamilton families in Salinas Valley, California. The novel explores themes of love, good versus evil, and the struggle for acceptance and identity, drawing a parallel with the fall from grace and redemption.
Doppelganger is a unique tale of intrigue and suspense, based on the theme of identity theft. The story follows a man who discovers that someone who looks like him is living his life, but better. As he delves deeper into this mystery, he must confront the terrifying reality of losing his identity and the desperate fight to reclaim it.
Crying in H Mart is a memoir by Michelle Zauner, the lead singer of the band Japanese Breakfast. Zauner’s memoir navigates her experience growing up half-Korean in Oregon, her relationship with her mother, and her journey to forge her identity and culture after her mother’s early death from cancer.
Inheritance by Dani Shapiro is a memoir of the author’s quest for identity after a DNA test reveals an unexpected truth about her paternity. Pulsating with raw emotional intensity, the book explores themes of genealogy, identity, and the deep complexities of family relationships. It serves as a profound reflection on the complicated nature of inheritance.
A heartfelt journey through a transgender teen’s process of self-discovery and acceptance.
A candid memoir of Lisa Brennan-Jobs, navigating her complicated relationship with her father, Steve Jobs.
Elaine Welteroth’s journey of self-empowerment, breaking barriers and self-acceptance.