Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Have you ever read a book that just moved you to tears or leaves you feeling so emotionally exhausted you swear you were right there with the character of the book experiencing everything with them? These are books I like to say should come with warning labels. I love them, but try to space them out because they are so emotionally draining. So if you've ever experienced this with a book please let us know. I love it when an author can invoke emotions in me with just their words. Again if you can only think of one or more than 10 please feel free to list them all.

I will add more later, but these are what I can think of off the top of my head.

1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - I actually rated this book a 2 (which is so wrong of me), but I was so emotionally touched by the violence against women I had to seek out some "happy" books to free myself of the memories.

2)Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Emotionally draning eh? The book Sarah's Key was pretty draining for me. Very sad but such a nice read!

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Joyzi how was The Book Thief?

Lauren wrote: "Joyzi how was The Book Thief?"

It was an amazing book, one of the best book I've read in my life, I cried horribly at the end. It's the story of the holocaust but mostly the characters were german, the writing is unique and breath taking.

I saw it at the bookstore the other day. I am very bummed out that I didn't get it now!

Lauren wrote: "I saw it at the bookstore the other day. I am very bummed out that I didn't get it now!"

Watch this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ch0ZU... I really love this trailer, it's the reason I've read the book.

Wow that was a great video... Definatly reading that asap!!

just finished it last night and yeah it definitely fits the category.

I have it in my possession.... I am so busy. I have a pile of like 20 books I need to read

left me exhausted and drained. I had to read several lighter books after that one.

Just Listen, The Truth about Forever, and The Kite Runner.

The Diary of Anne Frank, The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas, Tapestry by Karen Ranney. These two: Swan Song and A Boy's Life by Robert McCammon (sp) made me bawl due to major scenes.

It's the reason I prefer reading books written in a first person female tone. It makes it easier for me to identify.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
Go Ask Alice
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Chronicles of Narnia
Little Women

Just to name a few.

Elise & Heather, I didn't read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, but my daughter did. She told me what it was about and it was enough to effect me.

Sans, You said Barely a Lady by Eileen Dreyer was draining, but did you love it?

I did. It was an amazing book. I'll warn you that the hero is a bit of an a**-hat at times, but that just makes the resolution so much better. Want me to mail it to you? Good news, the second in this series is due out in March I believe (I've already pre-ordered it, of course).

One that I haven't seen mentioned yet is My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares. It really reminded me of The Time Traveler's Wife. I loved reading both of them.

Lisa, they even made a movie of The Boy and the ending had me sobbing, along with my friend..

Thanks Rachel. I may need to look into My Name is Memory. I loved The Time Traveler's Wife.

Heather, Was the movie as good, better, or worse than the book? Judging by your reaction I'm assuming it was at least as good as the book.

1.) Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
2.) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
3.) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
4.) Burned by Ellen Hopkins
5.) Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
6.) For One more day by Mitch Albom
7.) The Five people You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
8.) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
9.) Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
10.)Night by Elie Wiesel

Great list, Bri. I have to agree with you on Dear John, I hated the ending so much and I bawling my eyes out. I still need to read Thirteen Reasons Why and I might have to give Ellen Hopkins a try.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak was very moving, as was Cut by Patrica McCormick

Lisa, the book was very good. The author had Bruno use the 'grown-up' words like a child so often I had to remember what he was talking about and then it left even more of a sadness. By that, Bruno really has no understanding of what his Father does and it shows his innocent nature. The movie didn't touch upon that too much as it would have too hard. Also, both ended the same way but the movie was a lot more dramatic..

My Sister's Keeper
Bridge to Terabithia
My Girl
Until the Celebration by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

to name a few. I don't like emotionally moving books so I tend to avoid them.

niquae wrote: "My Sister's Keeper
Bridge to Terabithia
My Girl
Until the Celebration by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

to name a few. I don't like emotionally moving books so I tend to avoid them."

I tend to avoid them too.

Here is what I can think of off the top of my head. I know there is more though.

So, so many books that have broken my heart.
1. is the best book I have ever read. No joke. I just finished it and don't think I'll be able to read for a while.
2. made me bawl, too.
3. - I couldn't speak for a good half hour after reading this. My throat was clogged up.
4. / - they didn't hurt as much as some of these other ones because I'm still hoping a happy ending will pop up but they hit me so hard.
5. - spoke to me in so many words.
6. (indie)
7.

There are more (I own KITE RUNNER but haven't read it yet) and yet my mind is still so wrapped up in Jellicoe Road that I can't think anymore.

Alyssa, I loveMelina Marchetta's books. She has such a way of writing you feel emotionally wrapped up in the books.

Rachel, what is A Child Called It about? The cover caught my eye..

A Child Called It is about the author, Dave, and the child abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his mother. I read it when I was 12. My dad was abusive towards my mother and I always wished things to be different. Even though I was never abused, I could relate some what to Dave. Just because I wasn't a victim physically as my mother was, it still affected me in other ways, emotionally and mentally. I cried through the whole thing and still tear up when I think about it. The first book that ever gave me such strong emotion. This book also gave me the courage when I was old enough to remove my mother and my sister from the situation...if Dave could survive and be a decent, honest, loving person, I knew we could too!

Wow! I will see if the library has it and if not, check and see if they can order it..

Heather, here's the book synopsis:
This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games--games that left him nearly dead. He had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; and no longer a boy, but an "it."

Dave's bed was an old army cot in the basement, and his clothes were torn and raunchy. When his mother allowed him the luxury of food, it was nothing more than spoiled scraps that even the dogs refused to eat. The outside world knew nothing of his living nightmare. He had nothing or no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive--dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son.

It is essentially a book about a boy who was mentally and physically abused by his mother. The mother disowned 'it' and 'it' lived in their basement, thriving off dreams of love and hope. It is an amazing story.

Amanda, where in CA is it based on? And please, please tell me his bitch of a so called mother is dead or in hell?!

is awesome.
was incredibly emotional. It's a book I read, cried my eyes out, thought about for weeks, read it again cried again and thought some more. Reading the synopsis makes you think it's about dead, but it is really about living life with all you've got.
I have The Book Thief on hold at the library and haven't read it yet, but was pretty emotional at the end for me.
, and are all stories about moral issues that are very emotional.
was a book I thought about afterwards for a while.

His goodreads author profile says Daly City, CA. Here is his website. He also has written other books, including self helps for teens. Amazing man, if I say so myself. http://www.davepelzer.com/

And yes. Wikipedia says she is dead...in 1992.

Wow, he lives near by. I hope she suffered and is still suffering.

I am trying to get through The Book Theif. Please tell me it gets better.

Amanda wrote: "I am trying to get through The Book Theif. Please tell me it gets better."

If you read 1/4 and don't like it, then no.

My very educated father (72) who knows WWII inside out didn't like it at all.
My quite simple friend postman who read very few books in his long life (56) was close to tears.

I loved the book. It was very emotional and touching one. What does it say about me?
:shrug:
:)

P.S. No. I don't watch soap operas.

Amanda, I couldn't read Book Thief either. I didn't find it moving, just boring. Then again, I've been having a lot of problems with YA books. Either way, it's like a lot of "classics" or popular fiction: not for everyone.

I read The Book Thief, but I cannot say that I liked it. I did not "suffer" through it like I have with other books, I just felt bored.

Damn, I don't know if I want to read it anymore.

I picked up from the library today, which is supposed to be another emotional book. I'll get through pg 50 of The Book Thief and if it doesn't suit me, I'll start the next in line.

Amanda, I just read that book a day or two ago. The ending was epic, I cried my eyes out.

At least try it out, Sashana. You never know. You may love it. I agree with Arthur though. If you get a 1/4 of the way through it and still aren't feeling it, pains me to say, but move on.