Heart Wrenching/Disturbing Books?

[danlo]

Like War in Heaven--The Broken God (by Zindell) is really unsettling in a number of ways and something that happens at the end is truly unspeakable (already spoiled too much)

[duchess of malfi]

Not to mention the horrible and shocking events towards the end of Zindell's Lord of Lies...first time I've thrown a book across the room since I read the Red Wedding scene in Martin's A Storm of Swords)...

[Roland of Gilead]

Heart-wrenchers for me:

Flowers for Algernon (first read in 1970, still the finest short story I've ever read, and makes me cry everytiime)

The Scholar's Tale in Dan Simmons' Hyperion (if you have a child, you can't read this without tears)

The Lions of Al-Rassan - Guy Gavriel Kay (absolutely haunting ending, I made the mistake of finishing around 11:00, did not sleep at all that night)

Frodo and Sam in Mordor, when Frodo can no longer recall the Shire - you simply aren't "getting" the Lord of the Rings, if that scene doesn't move you.

[Chrysalis]

There is a whole series of books following the childhood of Dave Pelzer, the book you mentioned is the first and perhaps the most disturbing, but if you read the others, you see the results and the effects of that trauma on Dave as he grows up without having a stable family to fall back on.

I picked up that book in an airport once whlie I was traveling and I was crying on the plane it was so sad. Taht is one of the worst books I've ever read, not in style, but just depressing and sad, really gets you going. Cheers though, it is something worth reading, everyone should read it to get a better understanding of what an abused child goes through, must be crazy and difficult as hell.

Yes I have the other couple of books in the series at work He has actually also done a couple of self help guides too now if I am not mistaken. I had planned to read the next one-but after the first just couldn't bring myself to. I have been told about what happens though.
What surprised me was how he apparently felt as an adult towards his mother and past events.
I read it just after it first came out-in one sitting. I think the style it was written in made it even more sad. It was hard to believe he actually got treated like that by his own mother. It is definatly something I would recommend to others for the insight-although it isn't the type of book for everyone.

[DarkReflection]

I agree with Brinn, Into Thin Air was a great read, and really pretty upsetting, because its factual, the story is told by a guy who was on the mountain and in the same climbing expedition as those that died. Yeah, rough. Another great Krakauer story is Into The Wild. I suggest that one as well. Have you read it yet Brinn. If you liked Thin Air, I think you'd enjoy this one as well.

Wuthering Heights is pretty heavy at some points as well, Heathcliff, what can I say, that guy got the short end of the stick for sure.

Later guys

[FizbansTalking_Hat]

Into the wild is one of my most favorite stories, sad ending, but sometimes stupid things happen in life. It's an interesting tale, like reading a really long and interesting magazine article. If you have any love for survival stories and camping and the outdoors and just getting out there, its a good story to pick up on your way to the lake or outdoors, really gets you in the mood, though it is a bit freaky at times. Cheers.