I hate these kind of days — I try to get something up at least 6 days a week. But some days a combination of my job, parenting, husbanding and need for sleep — IOW, the stuff that happens when I’m not reading or blogging — has to take precedence. Today’s such a day.
I did accomplish some things today for the blog, but it’s all behind the scenes stuff and/or things I can’t post quite yet.
Anyway. . .
This was asked a couple of weeks ago on some Facebook group I belong to and I thought the answers were interesting enough, I’d ask you:
If you can remember, what was the first book that destroyed you?
For me, it was either: Where the Red Fern Grows (which I read most of several times, and all of a couple of times); The High King by Lloyd Alexander between the deaths and goodbyes, I still can’t do it dry-eyed; or Bridge to Terabithia — I can’t tell you anything about the plot (there were 2 kids, 1 girl and 1 boy, right?), the characters or anything, and I read it 2-4 times — all I can remember is emotional devastation.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Share the emotional scars we all know you have. 🙂
HakimRamalla (@HacimMb)
I was chatting with a friend last night and he mentioned Dickens, who I generally despised as it was assigned reading when I was in school. While I wasn’t devastated, I was truly transported to the Great Expectations world of Victorian England and the whole experience left me wanting a shower. I hated that book.
Dorthy L. Sayers’ Wimsey and Vane books pulled the strings a bit with the lovesick Wimsey, I identified with him at the time… I’ll have to think on this further.
HCNewton
Of all the possible responses I thought I might get, Dickens and Sayers never occurred to me. Actually, as Adams wrote: “The mere thought hadn’t even begun to speculate about the merest possibility of crossing my mind.” Love it!
Dessa
Not sure if this is quite what you mean – but this made me think of the first time I read Lord of the Rings, and I got to the point where Frodo gets bitten by the spider. I was so angry with Tolkien for killing off the main character that I threw the book across the room. (I finally picked it up two weeks later, grudgingly, to see how Sam carried on the quest… and learned that Frodo wasn’t actually a goner… worst.)
HCNewton
oh wow . . . I can see myself doing that (and then hating myself later, when I picked it back up)
74522horn
Only two books come to mind: “The Hunchback Of Notre Dame” – such a sad, pathetic story, told so vividly. The other was “Silas Marner” – a very powerful story of grace.
HCNewton
Cool books. Thanks.