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Original poster

You know that heart-achingly wonderful, bittersweet feeling you get when you finish an incredible book? I want more of that in my life.

135 replies

SpaghettiBologneighs · 21/03/2013 21:56

That feeling you're left with when you've been utterly immersed in another life or another universe. I've just finished a wonderful series. Not high literature by any stretch, but beautifully written with characters who lived and breathed and moved me. I finished with my eyes full of tears and I feel bereft, but in a good way :).

I want more of that in my life. What books have left others feeling this way?

OP posts:
GetOeuf · 25/03/2013 18:28

I remember the heartbroken joy when I said goodbye to Darrell in Malory Towers when I was about 8. Similarly the end of Veronica at the Wells when she gets with Sebastian. I was a bit of a twat of a child, admittedly.

As an adult it has been very rare to be so emotionally invested in a novel, but have felt it most at the end of Amber Spyglass (just the thought of Lyra and Will sitting on that bench), Charlotte Grey (those poor children in Drancy), Bring Up the Bodies (the brilliance of the plot for the 4 players downfall and just the beauty of how it was written) and Silas Marner (Eppie's golden curls and the love they had for each other).

BookFairy · 25/03/2013 18:19

valiumredhead Yes! I finished We Need To Talk About Kevin quite late at night and the next day I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Poledra · 25/03/2013 16:54

The Summer of my German Soldier - yes yes yes! Along with FORMIDABLE, I always remember the bit about the difference between aptitude and ability - strange the things that stick in your head.

The Tawny Man series was brilliant too. And The L-shaped Room. Does anyone remember My Darling Villain, by Lynne Reid Banks? I so wanted to be Kate.

valiumredhead · 25/03/2013 16:43

I felt bereft when I finished We Need to talk about Kevin, I thought I'd never read again!

WormCanner · 23/03/2013 17:42

Yes, I think some people were disappointed that The Wind Through The Keyhole didn't really feature Roland & the ka-tet. I didn't mind that, because I was soon drawn in by the central story which was almost like an old-fashioned fairy tale. I loved it.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 23/03/2013 14:58

I was disappointed because I thought it was a waste of time. It was just a silly little padded out thing and added nothing to my love of Roland and his Ka tet. Style over substance and King should be ashamed of himself for it imo.

Agree that, 'Brideshead Revisited' is lovely - but the ending isn't as haunting as, that of, 'A Handful Of Dust' for me.

Stropzilla · 23/03/2013 12:01

The Stand had that effect on me! I worried about the characters even when not reading. Get the uncut version. Also Only Forward byMMichael Marshall Smith.

BiscuitMillionaire · 23/03/2013 11:53

Stand-out book for me was The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - astonishingly original and gripping. Just brilliant.

WormCanner · 23/03/2013 11:47

RemusLupin Why were you disappointed? Was it because you were expecting something different from what it was?

perplexedpirate · 22/03/2013 21:44

Brideshead Revisited. That last conversation between Charles and Julia is like a punch to the heart.
Every time.

hairyqueenofscots · 22/03/2013 21:32

have just started 'the long song' andrea levy, and i can't put it down, anybody else read it?

FriedSprout · 22/03/2013 21:31

You might like to give Patrick Rothfuss's book Name of the Wind a try.
Dh and I rarely both fall for the same book, but this one just blew us away.

HumphreyCobbler · 22/03/2013 21:23

Wasn't she referring to a Mary Renault book there? The Mask of Apollo I think it was.

I love it when that happens. Someone in one of my favourite books talking about another of my favourite books.

montage · 22/03/2013 21:06

Antonia Forest described Nicola as being "in the afterglow of a good read" in one of her books. I loved that term and I think of it whenever it happens now.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 22/03/2013 21:01

I was horribly disappointed with, 'The Wind Through The Keyhole.'

WormCanner · 22/03/2013 21:00

Can I just say that Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower 4) can stand by itself as a fabulous read.

And the same goes for The Wind Through The Keyhole, an enchanting story. You don't need to have read any Dark Tower to enjoy it, although your enjoyment will be fuller if you have.

Original poster
SpaghettiBologneighs · 22/03/2013 18:27

Ooh, yes (hijack away!). Awful and perfect and lovely and heartbreaking is exactly what I'm after.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 22/03/2013 16:39

:)

Sorry for the hijack Spaghetti but it should now be clear that you should read The Dark Tower series. :)

HumphreyCobbler · 22/03/2013 16:35

I owe it all to you Grin

I would never have got round to it otherwise

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 22/03/2013 16:32

Sounds like it's going to be bad mother time this evening - DVD and pizza then an early bath and bedtime then!

Enjoy...

HumphreyCobbler · 22/03/2013 16:25

The dc are wailing around my feet and I am waiting till they are in bed Grin

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 22/03/2013 16:22

Exunctly.

And I think you'll really love number 4. It's my least favourite but there are reasons for that which I will explain later to you, once you've read it - actually it is v good. But how on earth can you be on here, when you know it's waiting for you? :)

HumphreyCobbler · 22/03/2013 16:20

I have loved it so far. It is so vivid in my mind, exactly what this thread is about

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 22/03/2013 16:18

You'll love it!

HumphreyCobbler · 22/03/2013 16:17