8 More Books to Read When Life's Too Good!
Still feeling a little too chipper? No need to worry, I have 8 more books that'll ruin your day and turn that smile into a grimace of agony. If you missed the last go around click here to see the first batch of mood ruiners.
Please be aware that nearly all of these books contain some sort of trigger which will be revealed in my review. Clicking on the book covers will bring you to my review either here or at Goodreads.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy: This is one of the bleakest books I have ever read. It's devastating in its spare prose and the father/son relationship gets you in the heart. I cannot recommend the audiobook highly enough.
Going Under by S. Walden: This is a book about making mistakes that cannot be fixed. It's filled to brim with angst and suffering and grief and guilt. Sound good to you? Give it a go. I gave it 5 stars because it made me feel all kinds of uncomfortable emotions.
Daddy Love by Joyce Carol Oates: As much as you might will it so, you will never be able to unread this one. It's about child abduction and its aftermath and is absolutely devastating.
The Sex Slave Murders: A true tale of mass murder committed by two selfish and disgusting people. Read at your own peril.
Cruddy by Lynda Barry: An over-the-top, almost surreal, fictional account of one child's effed up upbringing.
Meat by Joseph D'Lacey: This book will make you treasure your life while you still have it! It will also make you think hard about our food chain and, quite possibly, haunt you forever.
Survivor by J.F. Gonzalez: If I could unread any book it would be this one. There is still one image seared into my brain that I can picture every time I stumble across a review of this book. Do yourself a favor and never, ever read this cruel book.
Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West by Howard Sounes: Holy hell, this book. It is a true story about Fred and Rose, two average looking folks who meet, fall in love, have children and begin raping and murdering innocents. It is HORRIFYING.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: You can blame this book for the existence of this list. This one will most definitely adjust your happy-go-lucky attitude and throw you straight into a pit of despair. It's over 700 pages too so there's lots of time to straighten you right out!
Enjoy!
Please be aware that nearly all of these books contain some sort of trigger which will be revealed in my review. Clicking on the book covers will bring you to my review either here or at Goodreads.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy: This is one of the bleakest books I have ever read. It's devastating in its spare prose and the father/son relationship gets you in the heart. I cannot recommend the audiobook highly enough.
Going Under by S. Walden: This is a book about making mistakes that cannot be fixed. It's filled to brim with angst and suffering and grief and guilt. Sound good to you? Give it a go. I gave it 5 stars because it made me feel all kinds of uncomfortable emotions.
Daddy Love by Joyce Carol Oates: As much as you might will it so, you will never be able to unread this one. It's about child abduction and its aftermath and is absolutely devastating.
The Sex Slave Murders: A true tale of mass murder committed by two selfish and disgusting people. Read at your own peril.
Cruddy by Lynda Barry: An over-the-top, almost surreal, fictional account of one child's effed up upbringing.
Meat by Joseph D'Lacey: This book will make you treasure your life while you still have it! It will also make you think hard about our food chain and, quite possibly, haunt you forever.
Survivor by J.F. Gonzalez: If I could unread any book it would be this one. There is still one image seared into my brain that I can picture every time I stumble across a review of this book. Do yourself a favor and never, ever read this cruel book.
Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West by Howard Sounes: Holy hell, this book. It is a true story about Fred and Rose, two average looking folks who meet, fall in love, have children and begin raping and murdering innocents. It is HORRIFYING.
The inspiration for this post goes entirely to:
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: You can blame this book for the existence of this list. This one will most definitely adjust your happy-go-lucky attitude and throw you straight into a pit of despair. It's over 700 pages too so there's lots of time to straighten you right out!
Enjoy!
I thought Survivor was a great book! Brutal and shocking yes but so well written! Meat was a decent read. I could smell that books days after reading it! Ugh!
ReplyDeletelol on Meat but I completely know what you mean.
DeleteWhat an interesting topic - gotta admit, I love the way you think. I've not read any of these but will more than likely be adding some to the TBR.
ReplyDeleteThey're good to save up for those moments when you're feeling too perky.
DeleteI love your idea here and there are a few I want to add to my pile. Some of these have covers that always get me too!
ReplyDeleteI hope you find something there that you find interesting.
DeleteThe Road is one I've wanted to read, and I've heard it's bleak. One of these days...
ReplyDeleteIt is truly bleak. I've heard it's difficult to read in paper because of the sparse way its told but I didn't have any problems with the audio.
DeleteThe only book on your list that I have read is The Road. I am not sure that I liked it but I couldn't put it down if that makes any sense at all.
ReplyDeleteIt makes complete sense to me :) I had to keep going to see how it all worked out.
Delete"If I could unread any book" RIGHT? I read that one in an airport. I had to get up and find me some water. I'm curious what you see every time you come across this book. For me it's right in the prologue (eyeball!)
ReplyDeleteIt's the baby. Ugh, I will never get that scene out of my brain.
DeleteMeat sounds like something my husband would read lol I used to read really dark books but now I'm all about the happy but I'm sure I'll go back at some point.
ReplyDeleteFor What It's Worth
I balance these out by reading fluffier stuff. A steady diet of these might ruin me!
Deletehahaha! " ruin your day and turn that smile into a grimace of agony" LOVE it Laurie! So glad to find another dark soul like mine. I NEED to get to the Road ASAP. I loved that movie!
ReplyDeleteAlways glad to meet another dark soul :) There aren't enough of us in booklandia! If you do audibooks, I highly recommend reading The Road that way.
Delete