Saddest book you have read?
Discussion
After the war, there were a number of books on the pogrom. I had a Jewish girlfriend and I read up on what happened. I was crying at home - I was around 18 - when my dad found me. He said something along the lines of the only thing we, the universal we, could do is ensure such things never occurred again.
That went well.
There was one book by a Jewish lass who survived a concentration camp by means explained in the book. She, like my girlfriend, had red hair; fairly unusual but not that remarkable. I obviously did what anyone would have done and imagined my girlfriend as the book's writer. Stayed with me for years. Now, some 55 years later, when I read the thread title, she and the book sprang to mind. The woman in the book was on a bus in post-war Germany when the conductor asked her, 'How did you not get taken to the camps?'
By that time the Germans knew what had been done in their names, but, it seems, some agreed.
That went well.
There was one book by a Jewish lass who survived a concentration camp by means explained in the book. She, like my girlfriend, had red hair; fairly unusual but not that remarkable. I obviously did what anyone would have done and imagined my girlfriend as the book's writer. Stayed with me for years. Now, some 55 years later, when I read the thread title, she and the book sprang to mind. The woman in the book was on a bus in post-war Germany when the conductor asked her, 'How did you not get taken to the camps?'
By that time the Germans knew what had been done in their names, but, it seems, some agreed.
Another book I found rather sad just came to me this afternoon. Possibly because I caught up with an old friend I haven’t seen in 30 years and she told me she was recovering from cancer.
And Then We came to the End by Joshua Ferris.
It’s about a Chicago advertising agency imploding after the dot com boom and people gradually being fired except a manager who dies of breast cancer.
The book is written from the point of view of every one in the agency, including the building as I recall but could be wrong about that, rather than just one person.
And Then We came to the End by Joshua Ferris.
It’s about a Chicago advertising agency imploding after the dot com boom and people gradually being fired except a manager who dies of breast cancer.
The book is written from the point of view of every one in the agency, including the building as I recall but could be wrong about that, rather than just one person.
Janluke said:
A Fine Balance-Rohinton Mistry
Set in India from the 70s a story of 4 people dealing with the cruelty and corruption of India. "A Fine Balance" between hope and despair.
While fiction it's historically accurate. I became quite angry with the author(silly I know) for what he put his charges through
I read it about 20 years ago. It is a very good novel, but, yes, the subject matter is harrowing.Set in India from the 70s a story of 4 people dealing with the cruelty and corruption of India. "A Fine Balance" between hope and despair.
While fiction it's historically accurate. I became quite angry with the author(silly I know) for what he put his charges through
I read other books by the same author, but they were not as memorable.
SS427 Camaro said:
On The Beach, had to read it @ school, utterly depressing…….
After many attempts over the last few years, I finally read this, over Christmas, overlooking a beach in Seychelles, and it almost broke me. I couldn’t read it again in the same way as Grave of the Fireflies, Schindler’s List and Sophie’s Choice are films I couldn’t watch again. Brilliant but harrowing.dontlookdown said:
JapanRed said:
perdu said:
In fiction the saddest, most desolate book ever.
"On The Beach" Nevil Shute.
I know I will never read that book again although some of his others are inspirational such as "Trustee From The Toolroom".
I’ve ordered this book from Amazon. Had never heard of it until you mentioned it but the synopsis reads brilliantly. "On The Beach" Nevil Shute.
I know I will never read that book again although some of his others are inspirational such as "Trustee From The Toolroom".
Edited by dontlookdown on Tuesday 7th September 07:51
Easy Meat
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/29367054
The full (one presumes) background to the Rotherham grooming gangs. It is difficult to believe - to put it mildly - that this goes on in 21st century Britain from a number of perspectives. It also occurs in other countries too.
Young girls from troubled homes are left to their own devices.
A wide range of authorities have some "strange" agendas for dealing with the issue – or not.
And the worse bit – one strongly suspects its happening in a number of locations in the UK, probably as one is reading this.
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/29367054
The full (one presumes) background to the Rotherham grooming gangs. It is difficult to believe - to put it mildly - that this goes on in 21st century Britain from a number of perspectives. It also occurs in other countries too.
Young girls from troubled homes are left to their own devices.
A wide range of authorities have some "strange" agendas for dealing with the issue – or not.
And the worse bit – one strongly suspects its happening in a number of locations in the UK, probably as one is reading this.
Haven't seen these mentioned yet, my first reaction was 1984.
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro (also wrote 'Remains of the Day' which is mentioned earlier). They never had a chance anyway, and what little time they did have was stolen from them. Also a fantastic film.
A Song of Stone - Iain Banks
Some of this is the stuff of nightmares. You know when you wake up and think 'gosh, I didn't know I was capable of imagining such horror'? I think it's as much the combination of the beautifully style it's written in and the utter emtiness of all the characters that has stayed with me.
I'd also say 'The Quarry'; reflecting, as it does, the authors own illness and impending death.
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro (also wrote 'Remains of the Day' which is mentioned earlier). They never had a chance anyway, and what little time they did have was stolen from them. Also a fantastic film.
A Song of Stone - Iain Banks
Some of this is the stuff of nightmares. You know when you wake up and think 'gosh, I didn't know I was capable of imagining such horror'? I think it's as much the combination of the beautifully style it's written in and the utter emtiness of all the characters that has stayed with me.
I'd also say 'The Quarry'; reflecting, as it does, the authors own illness and impending death.
TheChampers said:
SS427 Camaro said:
On The Beach, had to read it @ school, utterly depressing…….
After many attempts over the last few years, I finally read this, over Christmas, overlooking a beach in Seychelles, and it almost broke me. I couldn’t read it again in the same way as Grave of the Fireflies, Schindler’s List and Sophie’s Choice are films I couldn’t watch again. Brilliant but harrowing.It was the only book of his that I’ve struggled with having acquired this as a joblot 10 or so years ago.
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