the amber spyglass is a highly book
the amber spyglass is a highly book
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
I teach and I would have to through in the classic Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows!
Laowai wrote:The Mayor of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy. Is this even Hardy at his worst? I've heard Jude the Obscure is fairly unbearable. Anyone read them both?
Tess of the D'Ubervilles by Hardy is one of the most depressing books I've ever read. Loved it. Can anyone explain to me what makes tragedies so gripping?
There's a Canadian author from New Brunswick - David Adams Richards - who writes some horrendously depressing, but page-turning, novels. Each book is like a Shakespearean tragedy. He's may faourite contemporary author at the moment.
Yeah, I believe 'The Coming of Winter' is one my brother mentioned reading.
I like the guy who teaches and wants to "through" in Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows. Hopefully he teaches Math.
Personally I think people are confusing depressing books with those that make you feel emotional. Not necessarily the same thing. A depressing book is something like The Stone Angel, where you actually wish you would drop dead rather than have to read it.
Bridge to Terabithia still makes me tear up a little but I think it's definitely worth reading, even for kids - it's an excellent book and it's not healthy to "Disneyify" everything (even though people try to today).
I also agree with whoever said The Stranger, existentialism is pretty depressing.
Anything in the NYT is depressing b/c its a liberal rag with no journalistic integrity and its supposed to be the best paper in the country. I'd rather read the 'trash' Post for quarter - at least they have good sports coverage.
hardy is a god wrote:
The most depressing thing I've read was the NYT best sellers list every week, because Americans only read trash books.
About a month after my so (my first child) wa born, my sister had me read
Suzanne'a Diary for Nicholas by Patterson. In the end the you finbd out the young child dies!! I had tars streaming down my face, but I couldn't help it. I imagined my own son in that position. I am still pissed at my sister.
The Bible, so much killing for nothing.
Death of a Salesman has got to be the most depressing play I have read; is there a sadder family in American lit. than the Loman family.
In prose, the last two chapters of A Farewell to Arms.
Sophie's Choice, for a similar reason. Great novel, though.
Bridge to Terebithia
My Sister's Keeper -- Jodi Piccoult
A Time to Kill
Laowai wrote:
2nd grade blues wrote:I cried so damn hard when I read Where the Red Fern Grows but I was 7 so maybe that's why.
Maybe so. At some point in your 20s, you suddenly realize you've outlived every single dog that was alive when you were born. After that, this sort of story just can't hit you as hard.
Well I was 10 the last time I read it.
I'm quite close to my dog now though, so if I read it again, I'd assume it would still be sad.
'Nostromo' by Joseph Conrad. Conrad took pessimism to a level unmatched in modern literature.
Kafka is pretty tough
Worst I ever felt after a book was Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Conrad is an all-around cheery guy, a great time at parties really. I just finished reading The Heart of Darkness, then watching Apocalypse Now again. While I don't find Conrad's outlook on human nature quite as depressing as post-apocalyptic stuff like On the Beach, it still ranks up there with some of the most depressing (and racist) books I've read.
“All Quiet on the Western Front.” It messed me up for like a week when I read it Junior year in high school.
“Screwtape letters” by C.S. Lewis makes you think that you are going straight to hell, really good book though.
Confederacy of Dunces was depressing, but had a few laugh out loud moments.
The Beans of Egypt Maine on the other hand was flat out depressing.
I got maybe halfway through "Grapes of Wrath" and was too depressed to finish it. I can only assume things ended poorly for the family.
Emma Coburn to miss Olympic Trials after breaking ankle in Suzhou
Jakob on Oly 1500- “Walk in the park if I don’t get injured or sick”
VALBY has graduated (w/ honors) from Florida, will she go to grad school??
Congrats to Kyle Merber - Merber has left Citius for position w/ Michael Johnson's track league
2024 College Track & Field Open Coaching Positions Discussion