Yeah, another “best/worst/favorite” type of thread. Sorry. The thread about “sucks to your assmar” got me thinking about depressing books. Not necessarily good or bad books, but just depressing. Three that come to mind are:
“Ethan Frome”
“Lord Of The Flies”
“Of Mice And Men”
I think Ethan Frome is by far the winner here. How they can make highschool kids read this in school (like I did) is mind boggling. Excellent, excellent book, but it just does not let up. What do you all think?
And what is the name of that short story where the little girl on Venus gets locked in a closet during the one hour per seven years that the sun is shining? That’s not a real pick-me-up.
“I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”
Another vote for Where the Red Fern Grows and Old Yeller. “Hey, kids, your loving pet is going to save your life some day and DIE.”
Diary of Anne Frank.
Bless the Beasts and Children. Does anyone understand this book?
I don’t understand why teachers think seventh graders need to read hideously depressing books. These were ALL during my seventh-grade year, from two different teachers.
– Sylence
“The problem with reality is the lack of background music.” – Anon
I don’t remember the author, but a while back on the AOL board we were discussing a similar topic (possibly “scariest book” so apologies if it’s already been mentioned on another thread here) and someone mentioned a book called, I think, “The Brave” about a man so desperate for money for his family he agrees to be killed in a snuff film. Was anyone else compelled to read this after it was suggested on the other board? I went and found it at the library and was sooooooooo bummed out after reading it, you have no idea.
Note on why teacher choose depressing books: There are three great issues that literature explores–sex, god, and death. You can only talk about one of these in a public school, guys!
My vote would have to be for Nevil Shute’s On the Beach. Although I don’t think it has quite the same impact anymore, what w/ the end of the cold war and all. Wharton’s House of Mirth was also pretty bad, although very well done.
I’m presently reading a Newbury Award Winning book called “Walk Two Moons” to my students. I have a difficult class this year and reading this book must be part of my perverse desire to depress them.
this book has it all…13year old girl whose mother has left and is “not coming back”…her mother was grieving because she lost a baby…meanwhile, the girl on a cross country trip with her ailing grandparents…Let me just say that this book, while very well written, has a lot of death in it.
Gail
“Any major dude with half a heart surely will tell you, my friend–
Any minor world that breaks apart falls together again…”
-Steely Dan