Books that have stayed with you.

[FrostyChocolateMilkshake]

Currently reading a book called Unravelling Oliver and I already know it will stay with me; the writing is fantastic but the subject matter is surrounding domestic violence. A powerful read so far.

Another book was The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum. Based on the murder of Sylvia Likens in the 1960s (don't Google if you are easily upset).

So AIBU to ask, what is a book that has stayed with you and why?

Any recommendations (I enjoy controversial books in particular) would be greatly appreciated too.

OMG! Lace- passed round the school bus as we just turned teenagers simultaneously sniggered & shuddered at the Dirty Stuff contained therein! Any one else have schoolgirl smut-swapping gangs?!

The hand that both held mine by Maggie O Farrell and life after life Kate Atkinson. Both heartbreaking

Also loved the northern lights trilogy but have really struggled with the film and tv adaptations

Alright, I'd just like to say: H P Lovecraft-mountains of madness, & J G Ballard-can't choose. All of em.
And to the pp said Touching The Void-Yes yes yes, real mountains of madness. True story.
I'm really going now. Sorry to go on. You've all brought joy of memories & hope of good stuff as yet un-read to my evening. Thank you. ❤

@Youreatragedystartingtohappen

'Flowers in the attic', I hadn't read the blurb before I read it and I remember being really disturbed by it.

Recently 'My dark Vanessa' by Kate Elizabeth Russell. An amazing book but one that really delves into a coercive relationship which made for some uncomfortable reading. And 'My absolutely darling' by Gabriel Tallent. I wish I hadn't read that last one

I've read both of those and I think I'd blocked darling out of my head ... 'kibble' and the finale has just come flooding back

From my childhood:
When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
The face on the milk carton by Caroline B Cooney
A summer to die by Lois Lowery
The children who lived in a barn by Eleanor Graham.

As an adult:
600 hours of Edward by Craig Lancaster
Edward adrift by Craig Lancaster
Not without my daughter by Betty Mahmoody.

All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr. Loved that book!!

The Enchanted Wood and The Magic Faraway Tree. At 37 when I read these books as a child I lived in their magical places reading them over and over

with the same enthusiasm for years. Something I'll never have again with the availability of entertainment to hand so that is why they stay with me.

Jilly Cooper Riders - As an naive child that spent all weekend reading and found it difficult to make friends I'll never forget the summer when I was 12 and my aunt left a copy of Riders in her room which I innocently read. I didn't understand the reference to blow jobs for another free years but remember the confusion when reading it which is hilarious to me now 😂

Wild Saragasso Sea - Jean Rhys. After reading Austin and the Brontes extensively the version of this character told from this point of view blew my mind. It opened my mind to the challenge women face when dealing with a handsome, successful and wealthy man which bridges both past and present day.

@clearlyanelephant

The Enchanted Wood and The Magic Faraway Tree. At 37 when I read these books as a child I lived in their magical places reading them over and over with the same enthusiasm for years. Something I'll never have again with the availability of entertainment to hand so that is why they stay with me.

Jilly Cooper Riders - As an naive child that spent all weekend reading and found it difficult to make friends I'll never forget the summer when I was 12 and my aunt left a copy of Riders in her room which I innocently read. I didn't understand the reference to blow jobs for another free years but remember the confusion when reading it which is hilarious to me now 😂

Wild Saragasso Sea - Jean Rhys. After reading Austin and the Brontes extensively the version of this character told from this point of view blew my mind. It opened my mind to the challenge women face when dealing with a handsome, successful and wealthy man which bridges both past and present day.

I felt the same away about Enid Blyton's Secret Island. Those books started my love of reading.

This thread has helped me add quite a few books to my must read list.

Following I really need to start reading again

The Killing Fields

"Corrie" a shortened version of the autobiography of Corrie ten Boom who was in a concentration camp because of hiding Jews in occupied Holland.
It was about the size of a ladybird book and somehow been filed with them, so I rather horrified dm when I came asking questions.

To Kill a Mockingbird. Read it for GCSE. Absolutely fantastic.

And a slightly frivolous one:
The White Riders by Monica Edwards.
The reason why this book changed my life is a bit silly. It belonged to dm-she'd been given it by her uncle when she had measles. I picked it up after my GCSEs and enjoyed it and asked if there were any more by the author. I ended up writing to a second hand book seller who sent me a list of titles. So after that I spent a lot of time in second hand bookshops looking for them.
From that I started collecting a number of authors. So it's cost me a lot of time, and money over the years.

Lolita - the language is so melodic and the story is so disturbing

Man's Search For Meaning - another Holocaust one

@JoyIsCounterfeit

OMG! Lace- passed round the school bus as we just turned teenagers simultaneously sniggered & shuddered at the Dirty Stuff contained therein! Any one else have schoolgirl smut-swapping gangs?!

I'll see your Lace and raise you a Hollywood Wives. It's what fourth year history lessons were made for.

Whatever Love Means by David Baddiel. Sneaky and shocking twist.

Also, I doubt anyone else here has read this, but bizarrely, The Season of Passage by Christopher Pike is one I still think about even though I'm pretty sure it's objectively not a great book.

Wonderful thread, reading through now but wanted to add mine (before I get too sidetracked ordering all of yours...) I tend to track down and reread those that stay with me

Black Harvest by Ann Pilling. Family go on holiday to Ireland and tap into the past of the potato famine. Children’s horror, but I still reread it. Never forgotten the feelings it evoked.

Stephen King, The Stand. Over wordy, jumps between narrators and definitely needed a reread when I was a little older but the portrayal of a world and human behaviour post-viral apocalypse has always stayed with me.

Stephen King, Insomnia. The description of the soul-wearying curse of insomnia and how it seeps into every aspect of your life was exactly what I was experiencing, put so clearly it made me want to weep. Bloody good story too!

Dan Simmons, The Terror. Fictional account of Franklin’s expedition for the North-West passage. Well researched with excellent detail. Vilified certain characters unfortunately, and ending is debatable, but kept me gripped and inspired lifelong interest in arctic exploration. Longing for a decent full audiobook!

Stephen King (as Richard Bachman) The Long Walk. On multiple rereads it’s got holes, but grips me enough to forget them every time. Still remember the first time I read it, many years ago.

Robert C O’Brian (sp?) The Silver Crown.

The Bewitching of Alison Albright (sp?)

The Girl in the Blue Velvet Dress.

I barely remembered the last three, just the names and the effect they had on me. Found the first two recently and they did not disappoint!

Still hunting for the third, also a book where some children were going on a visit but got snowed in in a strange (?) house, and made turnip or swede soup... and Ghost Ship to Ganymede (sp?)

Sorry, that was long

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit I'll second your vote for Marilynne Robinson's Gilead. Its sequel Home is good too, but Gilead is such an unusually beautiful book, with a crystal-clear authorial voice - quietly but devastatingly moving. It has stayed with me in a good way, unlike We need to talk about Kevin, which has stayed with me in a not-good way

@tactum

Burial Rites - Hannah Kent An incredible read. Set in 19th century Iceland about a woman sentenced to death. Sounds grim, and my goodness it is. But it is also about the power of hope and the friendships of women. Incredible. Please everyone read it!

Second this!

On the Beach by Neville Shute

The Robot books by Isaac Asimov

Another vote for The Siege - made me feel cold on a hot summer in the Adirondacks and want to hoard pasta.
Lolita - has influenced how I view the subject ever since (but I'd caution you only to read if you are in a good place).
The Hatchet Novels by Gary Paulsen, I read them to my son and really lived through the experience. And do find myself musing on the nutritional value of venison etc.
From childhood Masha and The Youngest Lady in Waiting by Mara Kay, and the Little House on the Prairie books, took me to another time and place, the first two set of a fascination with Russia.

FenEel I also read children of the dust in the 80's and that book stayed with me for years - I downloaded it on my kindle about 6 months ago and re read it. It took me right back to that time! The 3rd part which didnt always make sense to me became much clearer the 2nd time around

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo Lodge (an absolute must read IMO)

Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy; I was quite young when I read it but I have never forgotten it.
Also Helen Forrester's Twopence To Cross The Mersey. Another book I read when I was young, recommended to me by my Nanna. The era was vividly described as were the harsh life & early responsibilities of the author.

Oh and of course Harry Potter and the deathly hallows. I cried for HOURS after the snape revelation

I've just started Tess! I don't know the story.