A lot of her novels explore themes of community and belonging. Characters are often part of a specific community, like in a coastal town in some of her books, and the dynamics within that community play a big role in the story.
Since I don't know the works of Janice Young, it's hard to determine the exact themes. But some popular themes across many novels are family relationships, identity search, and moral dilemmas. Maybe her novels also touch on these or other unique themes.
One common theme is self - discovery. Young LGBT characters often have to figure out their sexual orientation or gender identity, like in 'Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe'. Another theme is acceptance, both self - acceptance and acceptance from family and friends. In 'Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda', Simon struggles with coming out to his family and friends. Also, love and relationships are important themes. Whether it's first love like in 'Leah on the Offbeat' or the complex relationships in 'I'll Give You the Sun', these novels explore different forms of love within the LGBT context.
History is a common theme. For example, in her works about Cuba, she explores the country's complex history of independence and the different cultures that have influenced it.
One common theme is the exploration of unfulfilled dreams. In a 'dying young novel', the protagonist may have big dreams that they know they won't be able to achieve because of their condition. It also often delves into the theme of family. How the family copes with the knowledge of the young person dying, and the relationships within the family are often explored. For example, there could be a mending of broken relationships or a strengthening of existing bonds.
Identity is a common theme. Young LGBT characters are often on a journey to figure out who they are in terms of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Another theme is acceptance, both self - acceptance and acceptance from family and friends. Love is also a big theme, whether it's first love or the search for a romantic partner.
Another theme is the exploration of human psychology. James often delves deep into the minds of his characters, showing their desires, insecurities, and moral dilemmas. In 'The Portrait of a Lady', for instance, we see Isabel Archer's internal struggle as she makes decisions about her life, love, and independence. This exploration of the inner self is a key aspect of many James novels.
Jealousy is a big theme too. These novels usually deal with how characters handle jealousy within a polyamorous setup. They might explore different ways of managing those feelings, like through open communication or self - reflection. For instance, in some novels, a character might learn to accept their partner's other relationships by realizing that their own relationship is still special and unique.
One common theme is family. In many of her novels, family relationships, whether they are between spouses, parents and children, or siblings, are central. For example, in 'The Sunday Wife', the relationship between the main character and her husband's family plays a crucial role in the story.
I'm not sure about the exact themes in Sol Yurick's novels as he's not a very mainstream author. But perhaps he might explore themes related to human nature, like the struggle between good and evil, or the complexity of relationships.
Mystery is a common theme. His stories usually have some sort of enigma that the characters need to solve.