Books on the Nightstand discussion
"Emotionally devastating" novels?
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Diana
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Apr 02, 2015 08:59PM
The Kite Runner !
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How to Kill a Rockstar is emotionally devastating throughout and I won't say anymore, lest I spoil it.
Sorta Like a Rock Star gutted me, too!
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Oh, also - The Absolutist by John Boyne. That one stuck with me for a long time.
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I cannot remember the name of the author, but in my teens in the 90s I read a YA book called Skin Deep (there are thousands called that) about a beautiful romance that blows up in the end. The male love interest turns out to be a negro albino and when she finds out he confronts her with her own racism. Even though she had loved him so much it ended brutally. It was a heart in your throat kind of book that had a warning to be old enough in the opening pages.
One I've taught a few times that's pretty powerful is Cry, the Beloved Country. I don't want to throw in any spoilers but it's very touching how Paton illustrates the theme of forgiveness.
Valerie wrote: "Oh, also - The Absolutist by John Boyne. That one stuck with me for a long time."Yes, yes, yes. And while I loved this book, I think I gave one star to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
A Fine Balance has been mentioned by others. It was actually too much for me, and I like "emotionally devastating" and dark. It kind of tipped over into torture porn for me.Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières is my favorite emotionally devastating novel. It's incredible. And of course The Book Thief.
Oh Shannon, I forgot about 'WNTTAK' - I thought it was a devastating read! I picked up a couple of other Shriver novels and although very good, nothing like that one!Shannon wrote: "This is a great discussion thread, and I agree that several of the books mentioned here left me emotionally exhausted (a quality I quite like in a book, honestly). As mentioned above, [book:The T..."
Just finished A Little Life after Ann's recommendation on the podcast. What an amazing and disturbing book. I carried the characters with me even when I wasn't reading the book. Jude's experiences opened up raw places in myself I didn't know existed. This book was incredibly difficult to read but beautiful and tragic.
I have to add ‘My Absolute Darling’ to this thread. Egads I don’t know how I managed to get through its 400+ pp. Did you? What did you think?
Kelli wrote: "
The emotional devastation builds as the story progresses."
YES!!! Genova's Inside the OBriens did it for me too. Even worse emotionally than this one, but it is a great book.
The Nightingale, The Women in the Castle and especially Between Shades of Gray absolutely wrecked me. I read them all within a two month period too, so I was a walking zombie after the third one, but all were SO GOOD.
Lori wrote: "A Little Life."Yes. So much this.
I was in a book hangover for a good six months after finishing A Little Life.
They Cage the Animals at Night by Jennings Michael Burch this one stills stays with me..There are just some books that u remember for life
Linda wrote: "
Lily and the Octopus"Linda - that one was devastating but oh so lovely.
Have you ever read any Pam Houston? Her book Sight Hound was another one I just sobbed through but am glad I read.
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Lily and the Octopus"Linda - that one was devastating but oh so lovely.
Have you ever read any Pam Houston? Her book [book:..."
I'll have to look that one up, Katherine. Thanks.
Too many parts in "Norina Luciano"An English novel by Noha Alaa El-Din
so touching!
“Portraits of a Marriage” Sándor Marai and “Return of the Native” Thomas Hardy
"Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, "The Snow Goose" by Paul Gallico and "Going" by Sumner Locke Elliot. Also by Sumner Locke Elliot "Fairyland."
Books on the Nightstand
Books mentioned in this topic
Lily and the Octopus (other topics)Sight Hound (other topics)
Lily and the Octopus (other topics)
Lily and the Octopus (other topics)
Still Alice (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Louis de Bernières (other topics)Rafael Yglesias (other topics)
