For the better or for the worst, which book actually affected you. I’ll start, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Such an amazing book, well written and suprised me.
[SPOILERS]
The blurb on the back stated that each Lisbon sister k1lled themselves one by one. What I was expecting was throughout every 3 or so chapters, a Lisbon sister would kill themselves. But actually, 85% of the book, was only 1 Lisbon sister dead and the other 4 alive until the end when they all k1lled themselves. If I was told that the large majority of the book was just about the Lisbon girls life through the eyes of teenage boys and then eventually in the end they all k1ll themselves, I would probably be less interested in the book. But this book was hard to put down, it was so well written with amazing vocabulary and it spent the right amount of time explaining things (instead of using 12 pages to describe a staircase or only 3 sentences to describe a plot etc). It kept me interested and also with it being on a slightly alarming topic (suicide), it gave the book an eerie feeling which filled me with a strange comfort.
Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese was definitely a very emotionally powerful book. A general fiction book that deals with complicated family relationships and consequences of Canadian colonialism on families. The main character, Franklin, is a teenager living with an adoptive father. He gets news that his estranged biological father is dying and wants to see him one last time. Highly recommend it.
In Cold Blood.
It’s hard not to feel sorry for everyone involved. The family that was murdered senselessly. The criminals, one who had a personality altering head injury and the other a childhood of abuse. It’s such an incredible book and literary achievement.
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy.
I read it 50 years ago. No spoilers, except that it’s emotionally gut-wrencing, and unforgettable.
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Such a beautiful friendship between Owen and Johnny, and Owen is such a unique, compelling and tragic character completely realized. Add in a memorable supporting cast like Johnny’s mother and grandmother, and you have an unforgettable story.
Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime sneaks up on you because you’re laughing and laughing and laughing and boom you’re crying.
The Kite Runner
Do They Hear You When You Cry by Fauziya Kassindja. It was angry for her tears, I had to put the book down and walk away for a minute.
Slaughterhouse 5 resonated with me on a “someone else gets it” level, especially with things falling out of order and happening all at once, the passively resigned motto of “so it goes”, the avoiding the point for as long as possible until you can’t anymore.
The vimes disc world series is a comfort go-to, though I don’t know that was the intended emotion.
The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. The vocabulary was hard to follow at times, but you’re right there with the characters in every emotional beat. It also captured the “dragon rider” concept in a way that most high fantasy just fails to do for me.
House of Leaves
“Dark Water” by Hanna Kent
Thanks for making this post.
The Remains of the Day-Ishiguro
Klara and the Sun for me, but now I think I need to read more of his work
Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb was the first piece of media to ever make me cry. Her characters are so realistic you can’t help but become emotionally attached
Many. The first book I remember playing all my emotions was Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. It made me cry, laugh, made me angry, and made me horny.
I’d forgotten that book existed! I read it when I was far too young from my mother’s bookshelf, but I do recall enjoying it and learning a lot 😁
My sisters keeper by Jodi Picoult, I got really invested and the ending was devastating, I cried.
I ugly cried for an hour at the end of that one. It was my first Picoult, and I knew not of her twist endings. It hit me hard.