A Book that Makes Me Sad

Some books, alas, make readers teary. Anne of Green Gables had a great riff on this; the red-headed orphan's saddest story was called "My Graves."

But in the real world some fiction is so gritty and realistic, or so poignant that it brings me to the point of Mush when I read it. After the last page of A Thousand Splendid Suns, for example, I had to go and hug my four-year old daughter. HAD TO. By the way, it was two in the morning, since the book was so good I couldn't stop reading. Couldn't stop sniffling, either. Mush Factor - 3 out of 5. 

Another was The Road. This dystopian chiller is beautifully written. It was a compelling read - I had to find out what happened. The last few paragraphs are the most lyrical, and they are also the saddest. I have never seen the movie, and I don't know if I want to - the book was bad enough. Mush Factor - 4 out of 5.

But the saddest book I've read yet was The God of Small Things, which earns a perfect 5 out of 5 Mush Factor points. What happens is so bad, for so many people, and yet again - the language and descriptions are really lovely and lyrical, and I could not put it down.

So I suppose the last is my true choice for a book that makes me sad. I call the three books above "The greatest books I'll never read again."

As for my Indie choice, I'd have to pick Losing Beauty. What happens is certainly sad, although again it has that compelling factor that drove me to my Kindle in the wee hours to read "only a few more pages." And the writing is lovely - and there is a bit more hope in this one than in the others. 

If you enjoy a good, sniffly read, I'd certainly recommend any of the above. But if you want at  thehint of possible happiness, I'd offer the last.

Losing Beauty by Johanna Garth

I've wanted to read this book for over a year now. Losing Beauty was on my Summer Reading List along with some other books, and I finally found time to get to it. And it was certainly worth the wait.


Persey is a girl who inspires confidences. When people look into her eyes they find themselves telling her everything - EVERYTHING - about themselves. This attracts several boys, primarily Aaron, who wants to put aside his high-school jock image and protect her.


Persey and Aaron get married and move to the city. There she meets Daniel Hartnett, who has a talent of his own. He knows the truth about people before they say a word to him, to the point that he can make any woman fall in love with him.


Of course, when Daniel meets Persey he finds that she is a complete surprise. He, like the others, falls in love with her.


This plot in the hands of a lesser writer could fall apart. What makes the book stand is the characters. Persey is beautiful, but she is also real. I liked her. She is honest and lacks confidence, and this makes her story all the more compelling.

Johanna Garth

And it is the same with the men she meets. Aaron is not a cardboard cutout high school athlete; Garth breathes life into him as well so he becomes a living, breathing person that I cared about.


As handsome and attractive as Daniel is, he is also human. The relationship between him and the married Persey is handled very delicately.


But the biggest tour de force is Haden, who is actually the lord of the underworld. He is ruthless, and he inhabits several different human bodies - and yet I even cared about what happened to him. Again, this tie-in with mythology could be hokey or forced with a lesser writer, but Garth handles it really well.


The thing is, Garth has discovered the secret of compelling writing. As I read Losing Beauty, I wanted to find out what what would happen next. I kept at the book one night until two AM, and I like my sleep.


I highly recommend this book for a great beach read.

Summer Reading, check in

I posted earlier about the pile of books by my bed, and this is an update:


I finished Book 1 of the Hunger Games. It was a very compelling read, even though I'm not usually a fan of books written in the present tense. Still, I will go on and read books 2 and 3.


I'm halfway through Gideon the Cutpurse. I got stalled on this one. The action is constant and I like the characters. However, Gideon himself is a bit TOO likable. I've mentioned ad nauseum that I love a flawed character, and I suppose I have a hard time believing that an 18th century thief would act in such a nice, gentlemanly manner. Still, I'll continue to work away at the book, since there are some nice images and concepts. 


The Search for Wond-La has been one of my favorite reads. Diterlizzi created a fascinating world, although he does rip off a certain famous movie at the end. (I won't mention which one, since it would be a huge spoiler.) Still, the illustrations are breath taking, I love the characters, and the action is nonstop. Be warned - there is some disturbing violence.


I couldn't help peeking into Losing Beauty. That peek drew me in and I'd read four chapters before I knew it. Still, I promised myself I'd finish Gideon before I was allowed to read Losing Beauty.


Next up: The Last Guardian by Joan Hazel
The Land of Nod, book 2 by Gary Hoover
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Sykosa by Justin Ordonez
The Veronica Roth novels - Divergent and Insurgent

Frivolous Wednesday: In the Mall

I've been working on several edits (including one of my own book) as well as writing the fourth book in my series. Plus I'm reading Quicksilver, a heavy book by Neal Stephenson. So, today I'm going with frivolous stuff. I'm going to pretend I'm shopping with you all, my readers, IN THE MALL. Let's go and buy all the stuff our collective conscience (or my husband) would tell us not to in real life:


1. Shoes: I like these suckers. 

Hello Kitty + Doc Martens = AMAZING

2. This book: Frivolous! Girly! SO buying it.

3. Top: Probably would never, ever wear it, but maybe I can hang it up as art.

4. Ditto with these pajamas:

I just wouldn't stand there like that when I get my pair.

5. Getting thirsty? Time for a big old smoothie. With extra caffeine and whipped cream.

6. I'm having a bag of candy on the side, because virtual stuff has no calories. Yay, virtual stuff!

They don't carry these at my mall, but I want them. Do I know what they taste like? No. No, I don't.

7. Maybe I'll pick up a toy for my kid while I'm at it:

What do these do??? Nothing? SWEET

8. And this dress:

9. And another book.

10. One last thing. What should it be? Clothes? More shoes? Yes, I think more shoes. File these in the "never wear but could use as art" category.

Louboutin, darling.

Hurray! That was fun. Kiss, kiss!