I'm not sure what's more comical: that I received an email from an online bookstore I've used labeled "20 Books on Shattered Childhoods" or that I opened said email so enthusiastically. Enjoy!


http://www.abebooks.com/books/oliver-twi...

It's a deal, Jen!

Wow! I'm going to have to add End of the Affair as well. Sounds heart-wrenching, but I usually really dig those.

Jenn - as for Eggers, I had a really hard time with Heartbreaking Work as well. I haven't had the nerve to get back on the horse yet, so if you give it a try, let me know what you think.

I was thinking of giving Eggers another shot. I've heard good things about What is the What. I didn't like Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. I thought it used too many gimmicks and I couldn't connect with the writing. But I should get back on the horse, as they say.

Another for this category: What Is the What. Similar to A Long Way Gone Memoirs of a Boy Soldierin the description of the Lost Boys this book is absolutely outstanding. Eggers has an amazing ability to hear the truth in experiences outside of his personal realm. Now I want to read everythingEggers Dave has written.

Re Kate's question: Capgras syndrome is a psychological phenomena wherein the afflicted person suddenly has no knowledge, feeling, memory, recognition, of a previously close individual. In the Echo Maker it is about a brother (after an auto accident) and sister. Atmospheric Disturbances docmuents the story of a man and his wife. I am not sure that these would be considered B & D, unless you imagine yourself in a character's role...then for sure.

Betsy wrote: "I am known in my bookgroup as the one who always picks the depressing books. As I was responding in discussion on "The Road", I thought I should do a "have you read" with my favorite sad and gloom..."

A few more "beach" reads:

Bio-engineering and its discontents.

Bleak and depressing from the standpoint of someone who loves a good steak--but also funny.

A few members of the group have this book on the overrated shelf. When it originally came out I put off reading because it sounds depressing. Enjoyed it more than I expected.

Again, the title says it all. But this book has important things to say about how the social stigma attached to rape has kept victims from speaking out. A dear friend is a survivor and she recommends this book as well.

Lynn wrote: "Kate wrote: "I read lots of psych stuff, it seems -- some not so much litera..." The referrence to psych stuff made me think of these two books:

[bookcover:Atmospheric Disturbances A Novel|24..."

Hi, Lynn

What's capgras syndrome? I have Atmospheric Disturbances on to-read because I read a good book review, but I don't remember the premise at all.

Cherylann wrote: "Kate, my recently graduated 8th graders, as part of summer reading/H.S. requirement have to read Three Little Words. I thought it was an odd choice because it's not an uplifting/happy topic (and r..."

A few years ago I took a course in children's lit, and the instructor noted that to win a Newbery award, the protagonist has to have one or both parents absent, sick, or dead. Charlotte's Web is a great book, but I think it would fall into this category.

Kate wrote: "I read lots of psych stuff, it seems -- some not so much litera..." The referrence to psych stuff made me think of these two books:

, andThe Echo Maker A Novel

Neither was a blockbusster "I loved this book" but both caused lots of discussion because I keep referring to them in multiple conversations. They both address cases of capgras syndrom with Powers doing a more believeable tale; but, with Galchen perhaps more provacative. If you haven't already read them, you might find them interesting.

Kate, my recently graduated 8th graders, as part of summer reading/H.S. requirement have to read Three Little Words. I thought it was an odd choice because it's not an uplifting/happy topic (and research shows that adolescent boys don't like to read books with a female protagonist). Nothing like depressing the crap out of the kids before they even enter school. :)

I'm an Anita Shreve fan and have not read Eden Close. It's now on my tbr list.

You can add

to the list as well.

A book of obituaries??????? How fabulous! Must read.

Betsy wrote: "I am known in my bookgroup as the one who always picks the depressing books. As I was responding in discussion on "The Road", I thought I should do a "have you read" with my favorite sad and gloom..."

Love this topic. Edith Wharton is a favorite author. None of hers end well that I recall. I also loved House of Sand and Fog, but haven't gotten around to reading Dubus' new book yet.

Some of my faves in this category:

The title gives it away a bit.

Humbert Humbert's self-delusion about his Lolita offends those who mistakenly think that Nabakov was trying to make pedophilia sympathetic. I don't read the book this way at all.

The main character truly defines resiliency.

A book of obituaries. But like Last Lecture, truly uplifting. Highly recommend.

The Road

I FORGOT ONE:
Me & Emma

Wow . . . I'm "the one", too . . . "This is a Katie book" is always code for "I thought it was depressing" among the readers I know. I read lots of psych stuff, it seems -- some not so much literature but none the less meaningful to me. I'll add a few just in case they have some appeal.

I just noticed several billboards in town with Randy Pausch's picture on it; and it said something to the effect that, "It takes a book about death to teach us how to live." Ironic and sort of depressing.

Betsy wrote: "Ok, End of the Affair is going on the list.

Nancy, I loved Samurai's Garden to! I'd forgotten about that one (we read for book group and I didn't even pick it!).

Cherylann - I thought The Last L..."

Betsy, while the lecture of the Last Lecture and how Randy Pausch came up with his belief system was uplifting, it was depressing knowing that he gave the lecture for his kids - it was his instruction book to life for them because he knew he wouldn't be there to watch them grow up. That aspect of the book broke my heart.

Ok, End of the Affair is going on the list.

Nancy, I loved Samurai's Garden to! I'd forgotten about that one (we read for book group and I didn't even pick it!).

Cherylann - I thought The Last Lecture was supposed to be uplifting. I mean, I know he dies and everything, but I thought "the message" was supposed to be (I am at a loss for words) not depressing?

Not sure I can read Beautiful Boy. I've grown sort of tired of people using the memoir as a cathartic vehicle. I know that doesn't make sense given my love of the depressing, but I guess I admire the creativity of making it up for fiction, and I lose patience with people "whining" about their real lives. I know that's not really fair and is overly critical - I think I've just read too many of that genre.

Chesil Beach is on the list too. I loved Atonement - that was pretty bleak too!

Hi Betsy
I'm the one in my book group to. Even my book group sometimes wonders if I could ever recommend anything cheery. Not very often I'd have to admit though I loved Angry Housewives eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik. That's somewhat cheery. Of course, bleak and depressing is a matter of perspective. I would prefer to think of the books I read as compelling, moving, thought provoking and illuminating. A couple of my favorite thought provokers are Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng about one woman's fight to survive during Mao's reign. The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama raises the question "what is true beauty?" in this story about leprosy. So keep reading those "bleak, depressing" books and let me know if you come across any good ones.

I now have girl crushes on all three of you!!!! YOu won't be disppointed!

Jenn, I just added The End of the Affair to my TBR shelf, too. Sounds like a great read.

Jenn, I just added The End of the Affair to my TBR shelf, too. The reviews on this are stellar. Thanks for the recommendation.

Jenn, I've added it. I think I read it after high school, but my memory's not so good with all the details. I've never watched the movie.

One of my longtime favorite depressing novels is The End of the Affair. The movie doesn't do it justice. My stomach was in knots the whole time I read it. Every word is perfect!

I would add Beautiful Boy by David Sheff to this list. The memoir is a frightening look at how many lives meth addiction ruins.

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan also should be on the list. Reading the novel was like watching a train wreck. I didn't want to keep reading, but somehow I couldn't stop.

I finished this on the train commuting to school last summer. Big mistake as I sat there sobbing. (If you haven't seen the actual lecture, that's worth the viewing too.)

Betsy, The Sparrow has been one of my absolute favorites for years. Like you, I have found it has stayed with me. I love your list, I've read (and enjoyed)them all except Fountainhead, which is on my TBR list. Great topic, too!

Oh yes, you must read Owen Meany. It's probably a stretch to put it into the sad and gloomy category since it is laugh out loud funny in many parts. I've met a couple people that couldn't get through it, but more often if immediately becomes an instant favorite. When John Irving is good, he is great. Don't care for all of his though.

I've added The Well... to my TBR - it sounds right up my alley!

Betsy, great topic!

I've only read one on your list and that's A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. I loved this book. It's horrifying the atrocities these children suffer, while the majority of U.S. citizens live comfortable lives. It made me feel guilty, yet appreciative of the many things I take for granted.

I'm putting A Prayer For Owen Meany on my TBR list. For some reason I thought I owned that book, but maybe I was dreaming.

A book I read and liked this year for my book club, which falls into this category is


The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips

There was a bit of a murder mystery which got the story rolling, but it was mainly about the mundane life in a coal mining town and the experiences of the impoverished. It was a character driven story.

I am known in my bookgroup as the one who always picks the depressing books. As I was responding in discussion on "The Road", I thought I should do a "have you read" with my favorite sad and gloomy books.

My bookgroup said this was totally depressing, but I found humor and hope in this story about 4 characters living in Indira Ghandi's India.

I laughed, I cryed, it became a part of me. What more is there to say.

There is little mirth here, but Edith Wharton always captures the mean underbelly of high society so expertly, especially in this book.

How to stay true to yourself when lured in every way to sell your soul, spirit and creativity to "The Man".

Nobody gets what they want here, but it is masterfully done.

They called it The Great Depression for a reason and no history book can capture the era better than Steinbeck.

How we Americans can sit in our complacent worlds and allow things like this to happen in our universe if beyond me.

This book has stayed with me since I read it when it first came out. How do you reach out to others without influencing and/or interrupting the masterplan? Oh yeah, and it's also about faith (which is another theme that I like to read about because I have a really hard time understanding it).

That should keep you depressed and gloomy for a good long time. But they are all really great books!