207 Results with the "Literary Fiction" genre


    • The Little Wretch Cover
      by LovelyMay The Little Wretch begins with Mrs. Hilary Musgrave sternly condemning young Johnny Tompkins, labeling him with disdain for his past indiscretions. To her, Johnny represents wasted potential and a dangerous flirtation with crime, especially after he embezzled nearly a thousand pounds. The fact that he wasn’t prosecuted, thanks to Hilary Musgrave’s influence, unsettles her more than she lets on. Mr. Carter, however, adopts his usual inquisitive charm, prodding gently at Mrs. Musgrave’s harsh…
    • The House Opposite Cover
      by LovelyMay The House Opposite begins with a spirited recounting of a young man's misadventure—Algy Groom’s ill-fated Paris escapade. Meant to immerse himself in the French language, Algy instead found himself parted from a tidy sum, one hundred pounds entrusted by his father. What could have been a cautionary tale becomes, in the narrator’s telling, the launchpad for a richer conversation about youthful transgressions, the slipperiness of good intentions, and how mischief often disguises itself as experience.…
    • The Gay Old Dog [1917] Cover
      by LovelyMay The Gay Old Dog opens with Jo Hertz, a middle-aged bachelor, navigating the lively streets of Chicago as troops prepare to march off to war. The festive chaos of the city contrasts sharply with Jo's internal stillness—a quiet longing that has been buried beneath years of indulgence and denial. While others look to the future with hope or fear, Jo stands suspended in the past, contemplating the pieces of life he never got to live. It is this emotional disconnect, set against a backdrop of patriotic…
    • That’s Marriage [1917] Cover
      by LovelyMay That's Marriage begins in an ordinary kitchen, with a cold cup of coffee and a remark that surprises them both. Terry’s half-laugh, half-sob response to Orville’s observation isn’t just about the coffee—it’s about something that’s been quietly missing between them. That he noticed at all seems unbelievable to her. After all, marriage has a way of dulling the edges, of turning attentiveness into routine, and love into assumption. But in that moment, something breaks open. A simple gesture…
    • Strange, But True Cover
      by LovelyMay Strange, But True begins in the unlikely setting of a quiet luncheon between the narrator and his usually exuberant cousin, George. The change in George's demeanor is immediate—gone is the boyish humor, replaced by a kind of tragic introspection that puzzles the narrator. As they take a walk through the Oxford Park, George confesses to being hopelessly in love, though his declaration carries more despair than joy. He likens the condition to being trapped in “Hades,” yet he admits he would not trade…
    • Stage Two: Pushing — Turk 3 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a dramatic confrontation during a media event for the White Power Movement. A Black woman approaches Brittany Bauer, a prominent figure in the movement, and claims Brittany is half-Black. This revelation shocks Turk, Brittany's husband, who has built his identity around white supremacy. The accusation is confirmed when Francis, Brittany's father and a leader in the movement, admits that Brittany's mother was Black. Turk grapples with the realization that his wife and deceased son…
    • Stage Two: Pushing — Turk 2 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Turk Bauer attempting to comfort his wife, Brit, during a tense moment in the courtroom. He reminds her to focus on their shared dream of visiting Vienna, a calming technique they used during the birth of their son, Davis. However, the context is now tragically different—they are grappling with the loss of their child. The prosecutor, Odette Lawton, interrupts, criticizing Brit's emotional outburst in court as a risky move. Brit reacts defiantly, asserting her genuine grief, and…
    • Stage Two: Pushing — Turk 1 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Turk, a grieving father, reflecting on his emotional state as he prepares for a court appearance related to his son's death. He compares his hollowed-out feeling to a Native American canoe being burned and scraped raw, emphasizing his exhaustion and emptiness. Despite anticipating this day with vengeful energy, he now feels unexpectedly drained, as if arriving at a deserted battlefield. His wife, Brit, appears dressed conservatively as advised by the prosecutor, while Turk defiantly…
    • Stage Two: Pushing — Ruth 5 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter captures Ruth's profound emotional journey following a favorable courtroom verdict. She reflects on freedom as a fragile yet powerful force, likening it to a daffodil's neck after winter—a symbol of hope and possibility. Despite the physical sameness of her surroundings, Ruth feels everything has changed internally. As she exits the courtroom, her lawyer, Kennedy, handles the media swarm, prioritizing Ruth's need to reunite with her son. The narrative underscores the abrupt shift from…
    • Stage Two: Pushing — Ruth 4 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter depicts a pivotal courtroom scene where Kennedy McQuarrie, Ruth Jefferson's attorney, confronts the racial undertones of the case head-on. After months of avoiding the topic, Kennedy boldly addresses the jury about systemic racism, forcing them to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Ruth, moved by Kennedy's words, reflects on how her life has been shaped by these very issues, yet recognizes that the message carries more weight coming from Kennedy, a white woman. The moment is charged with…
    Note