Tag Archives: night

Top 10 Books Dealing with Tough Subjects

Posted on by

21

This week, The Broke and Bookish decided to take a more sombre note for their weekly lists. We’ve all read more than our fair share of sad books, but here are my top 10 books that deal with subjects of death, disease, civil rights, etc. (in no particular order):

10) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. We all know his books to be tender, sad tales, but this was my first and only book I’ve read by him. Cancer is the scariest six-letter word out there, that can make even the strongest person wither. Add to that the connection between Hazel and Augustus, and you’ve got yourself a story that’s too difficult to bear.

9) The Help by Kathryn Stockett. What African Americans had to endure in the past, and what some of them are still enduring today, is painful. They weren’t even treated as humans, and had little to no rights. Racism takes centre stage in this novel, which made me cry. The movie was done well too.

8) Bridge to Terebethia by Katherine Paterson. My grade six teacher made us read this for class and I don’t remember ever being scarred by book that young. It was terrifying and for the longest time I thought everyone I loved was going to die.

7) Night by Elie Wiesel. Horrific. Jaw-dropping. True. Wiesel takes you back through his memories of the Holocaust as a young boy. No matter who you are, you cannot but be affected by this memoir.

6) Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. Almost all of Dessen’s novels revolve around some form of issue, but this one takes the cake. Sexual assualt, bullying and eating disorders all rolled up into one beautifully-spoken story.

5) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Another gripping Holocaust story. As you know, I love WWII stories, and although this is fiction, it’s one of the best stories based on that time. It will make you cry.

4) Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. You all know how much I treasure this book. And although the romance aspect had a strong play there, I also loved this book because of the controversial topic it covered. Death is never easy, particularly assisted suicide. BAWL.

3) Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. Okay, I realize this is a children’s story that was probably read to you before bed. But take a moment and think about what this book is truly about: a young pig is taken from the only family he knows into an unknown place. He makes a couple of good friends (especially Charlotte the spider), finds a life for himself there, and then Charlotte dies. Dealing with death at a young age, even the death of a spider, is heartbreaking.

2) The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. Sparks is good for those Hollywood-style, romantic, make-you-cry-your-heart-out books. The Last Song was the first and only book I’ve read of his, but it struck a cord with me. Any death is hard to bear, but losing your father…I don’t even want to think about that.

1) Forever by Judy Blume. It’s not your typical love story, which is why I like it. It was my first introduction to sex in grade 11, and boy did I get a bucketload of information. Loss of virginity, teenage pregnancy, realistic relationships (because hey, not everyone has a happy ending with their girl/guy). Pretty groundbreaking for the time it was published.

Top 10 Most Vivid Worlds/Settings in Books

Posted on by

4

TopTenTuesday1

I haven’t done this in a while, and I thought that today’s Top Ten topic (created by the ever fabulous The Broke and the Bookish) would be a very good one to get back on the train again! The setting of a novel is what makes it or breaks it for me — if I’m not captivated within the first chapter or two, it’s hard to get me totally invested in the novel. I love when the author (or the narrator) takes me away to a place that I can only dream about, to a place where I would love to visit. I’ve read many books in my life, but here are my Top 10 Favourite Worlds/Settings in Books:

10) Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I’ve been obsessed with this little orphan girl (and no, I’m not talking about Annie) since before I can remember. I think it was Anne’s rich imagination and language that really drew me into her world, and that made Prince Edward Island one of my top places to visit. From the Lake of Shining Waters to the White Way of Delight, Anne has such a way of making her surroundings come alive and place you right there next to her.

9) Night by Elie Wiesel

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, this is one of the most terrifying novels I’ve ever read — and that’s because it’s all true. It’s hard to recall a moment in time that was as scary as the Holocaust, and Elie Wiesel’s account of what happened to him and others in the concentration camps really plays with your mind. You see things you don’t want to see, hear screams you don’t want to hear, and smell the decay and destruction of lives that you don’t want to smell.

8) The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

I’m a big fan of fantasy novels, and this series is one of my favourites. I love the mix of modern day New York City with the twist of Old World (and Underworld!) charm. The characters are fantastic, but what I love most is the setting. It’s like I’m there with Clary on her adventures and can feel the anticipation and fear with each breath at every climax. Love it!

7) The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Pretty much every person acquainted with literature knows about The Hunger Games, and for good reason! It’s an amazing novel written in a dystopian country called Panem. With every single new scene, Katniss takes the reader on an unforgettable (and often times nerve-wracking) journey — from District 12 to the Arena, and everywhere in between. It’s hard to think of much else once you finish the novels and it’s most difficult to return to reality after being immersed in a world so unlike (and yet so eerily parallel) our own.

6) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

For many of the same reasons as why I both love and hate Night, The Book Thief also is set in World War II. But instead of it being set in the concentration camps, The Book Thief follows Leisl in Nazi Germany, around her town and within her unique relationships with her family and friends. By the time I read half the novel, I was so engrossed with her tragic surroundings and events. And when the final climax happened that put an end to the novel, I couldn’t breathe for the longest time. Her world was gone, and with that, my world too.

5) Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Who doesn’t love the sweeping landscapes, the cool waters of Mermaid Lagoon, the swashbuckling pirate ship of Captain Hook and the heated Indian tribe of the infamous Neverland? There is so much to relish in and enjoy as one heads to the second star on the right and straight on till morning, and J.M. Barrie couldn’t have created a more captivating world.

4) A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

This is one of my all time favourite books ever. I’m in love with Victorian and Steampunk settings, and this is the best. But the reason it’s a cut above the rest is because it doesn’t only take place in the 1800s — it also takes place in a great and terrible place called the Realms (ha, pun totally intended).

3) The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Much like Neverland, Narnia is another amazing world set apart from our reality. With beautiful waters and grand hills, lovely castles and mysterious woods, C.S. Lewis’ fantasy world is amazing — and hey, the talking animals don’t hurt either!

2) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Middle Earth is one of the most famous literary worlds out there. Even though the books aren’t necessarily the most exciting, it’s the setting that I will remember forever. The Shire, Rivendell, Lothlorien, Helm’s Deep, Fangorn Forest, Dead Marshes and Mina Tirith… all the many haunting, beautiful and grand places of Middle Earth make the trilogy so worth the read.

1) Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Thank you J.K. Rowling. Thank you. I’ve pretty much lived in the magical world of Harry Potter since its inception, and my heart and soul will always remain there. Hogwarts is my home. Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are my playgrounds. The Burrow is my vacation home. A beautiful quote by Rowling herself says it best: “The stories we love best do live in us forever. So, whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

Top 5 Novels That Bring Out The Sap In Me

Posted on by

6

Admit it: We all love to tear up. Or cry. Or just outright sob hysterically.

To be honest, it doesn’t take much for my eyes to get misty — whether it’s a budding romance, a death, an accident, an illness or just a perfect ending, I will cry. So pretty much half of the books on my bookshelves bring me to tears.

But here are the top five novels that bring out the ultimate sap in me:

5.  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This book is heartbreaking. The ending had me crying fully for 30 minutes, and I had to go back to work with my eyes red and puffy. Warning: If you plan on reading this, make sure you finish it when you’re alone.

4.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This has got to be one of my favourite novels in the world. Just being immersed into a Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte world makes me smile, and this novel had me tearing up by the end from happiness. It’s one of the sweetest love stories I’ve read and always leaves me yearning for a Darcy of my own.

3.  The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

To be fair, this is the only Nicholas Sparks novel I’ve read, but it killed me. My friend gave it to me from his mom’s collection, knowing I’d fall in love with it, and that I did. It was a terribly sad novel and was beautifully written. I won’t spoil the ending, but let me just say I couldn’t help but cry for a long time afterwards. I’m not a big fan of Miley Cyrus, but I didn’t mind the movie version of it, either.

2.  Night by Elie Wiesel

This book was very difficult to go through. Each chapter brought on a new tragedy and it was hard to believe that this was a true story. But alas, it was. I cried a lot during it which gave me some awkward looks in class, where we were reading it. The Holocaust is one of my favourite subjects to read about, and this book was the best.

1.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Hands down, this novel produced the most tears. My eyes were working out hardcore from the first chapter on. And it got progressively worse as the pages continued — from Hedwig and Dobby’s deaths to the demises of Snape, Lupin, Tonks, Colin Creevey, and Fred (SOB). Not to mention that after growing up with these characters, the deaths of those I loved made it even harder.

What are your top 5 tear-inducing novels?

Challenge: Day 26

Posted on by

0

                 

I have always been fascinated by stories from World War II’s Holocaust. I read The Diary of a Young Girl in elementary school and Night in high school, and was absolutely entranced by both novels. They are heartbreaking and really made me think hard about what all those people had to go through during such a horrific time period. No one will ever forget the Holocaust, but reading stories such as these really helps put everything into perspective and humanizes the tragedy. All stories need a face (my years studying journalism have taught me that much) and both Anne Frank and Elie Weisel take us through their lives during WWII in such a way that it is impossible to ignore their suffering.

What is your favourite non-fiction book?

Challenge: Day 9

Posted on by

2

This one is the same as yesterday. Not only did Night terrify me, but it also made me sick at times. The memories Wiesel talks about, the horrific scenes he witnessed, is enough to make anyone nauseous. I remember at one part I had to stop reading (when the women were sent to the gas chambers, and the screams he heard) because I couldn’t bear to continue. The fact that he made it out alive is a sheer miracle.

Challenge: Day 8

Posted on by

0

When I read Night in Grade 12, I was absolutely terrified. It is the one book that makes me cringe, cry, and altogether freak out because of its sheer honesty. It was like living in a nightmare — Elie’s nightmare. The images his words conjured up gave me the chills and I didn’t want to get to the ending, because how could the ending be good? The Holocaust was a terrible moment in our history, and having a first-hand account of it was just plain scary.