More Emotions

Since I just sobbed my eyes out saying good-bye to my sister and her children, I thought I would post about books that MOVED me. Not books that I enjoyed, or even loved. But books that actually wringed emotion out of me in a more intense way.

First book to make me cry award: Jo's Boys. I remember reading one of the final scenes and crying--I was maybe 10. And it was the first time a book made me actually cry.

Most wrenching cry award: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I was pregnant with Oldest Son--about 9 months along and HUGE and I was in bed with pillows all around me and a box of tissues, just sobbing my way through the scene with the twins. If you've read the book, you know what I mean. Considering how huge I was (Oldest Son was nearly 10 pounds), perhaps I thought I was HAVING twins.

First book that made me ANGRY award: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I won't even go off on the tangent of how this feels way too real to me right now, given the state of our government. I read this book the year of its first release. I was in my early 20s, and I was angry. I would read it and my heart would pound. A book pulled that emotion from me, pure and simple. I was enraged. I was haunted when it was over.

First book that made me long for something award: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This book made me long for a secret garden of my very own, for a place that was mine. I was maybe 12 when I read it. I have re-read a couple of times since.

First book to scare the crap out of me award: Night Shift by Stephen King. I didn't realize a BOOK could make it impossible to sleep and have me afraid to check under the bed. I was young . . . and I was terrified. I remember even the ticking of my watching creeped me out in the middle of the night. And I couldn't put it down!

First book to make me look like a raving lunatic in public award: Anything by him. Every time I read David Sedaris, I laugh out loud, belly laughs, tears rolling down my face. I look positively nuts. He is hilarious. I particularly like the story of his father's alarm at his sister Amy's fat suit. You have to read the book. ANY of his books.

So there's a short list. Please, share yours in any category.