I’ve asked this before*, but it’s been a few years and I have new readers/commenters now. So let’s revisit this post.
Here, here, and here, if you’re curious.
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. 🙂
Allyson Johnson
I think it was Anna Sewell’s “Black Beauty.” I lost it when Ginger died. Or perhaps “Little Women” when Beth died.
HCNewton
Both seem likely candidates 🙂
Peat
Depends how you mean destroyed.
If you mean just left sad and down in a hyperbolic way, then Brian Jacques’ Martin the Warrior or Rosemary Sutcliff’s Knight’s Fee way back when I was a wee lad.
If you mean left me in a depressive funk wondering what the point is, then Seth Dickinson’s The Traitor Baru Cormorant stands triumphant in a category of one.
And if you mean just crying and letting it all out… Guy Gavriel Kay’s All The Seas Of The World.
HCNewton
Good, thorough answer.
Not sure to take those as recommendations or warnings, to be honest. 🙂
Murder by Death
The Bambi and Old Yeller movies destroyed me at an early age (like drag from the theater hysterical). From that point on, I became militant about avoiding books and movies that would make me cry – although The Lorax sneaked through. That story didn’t devastate me, but it depressed me. As an adult though, the last book I remember that left me crying the fat tears was Steve Kluger’s The Last Days of Summer.
HCNewton
Kluger book looks promising. I don’t know that I would’ve thought about The Lorax in this context, but that makes perfect sense.
Murder by Death
The Kluger book was a 5 star read for me and I recommend it to all baseball fans.
HCNewton
Oh, man…moving it up the list.