“I was just reading it for some extra credit during our unit on WWI in high school.
It left me in tears and completely changed my outlook on war.”
A great book can make you feel a wide range ofemotionsin only a few hundred pages.
Recently, IaskedtheBuzzFeed Communitywhich books had the biggest emotional impact on them.
Here are 19 of their top responses:
1.
“Sweetgrass Basketby Marlene Carvell.
“I finally bought my own copy.
Cried harder than I remember when reading it before.”
peachytaurus
Get your copyhere!
“Sharp Objectsby Gillian Flynn.
Her writing is so vibrant that I pictured everything happening in my head as I read the book.
“I had never really had that bang out of impact from reading a book before.
It definitely made me want more.
I enjoyedGone GirlandDark Places, butSharp Objectsreigns supreme.”
bovineeyes
3.
“The Outsidersby S.E.
Something about it really just kind of gut-punched me.
It was the first book that made me cry.”
“Its just so well-written and interesting.
I recommend it to everyone who hasnt already read it!”
elissad3
4.
“All the Bright Placesby Jennifer Niven.
“Finch is probably my favorite character of all time, in any book.
And the way Niven portrays him?
I love Finch, I love Violet, and I love their story.
(Even though it makes me cry.)”
wendyhaddon
5.
“Song of Achillesby Madeline Miller.
It was the only book Ive read that truly made me sob.”
hannahcipollina
6.
“All Quiet on the Western Frontby Erich Maria Remarque.
I was just reading it for some extra credit during our unit on WWI in high school.
It left me in tears and completely changed my outlook on war.”
hailcthulhu
7.
“The No-Showby Beth O’Leary.
It’s essentially arom-com, but the big plot twist in it knocked me down.
I remember reading and bawling.
I actually had to stop for a while to compose myself.”
It’s so amazing.”
melinaarangel
8.
“One Hundred Years of Solitudeby Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Its the only book that ever made me cry for ten minutes straight after a character died.”
“I literally had to move to a different room because I couldnt handle it.
hof
9.
“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulaneby Kate DiCamillo.
I decided to wait and read the chapters to the students so we both had a first read.
“The kids went wild over it, and Im really glad we got to experience that together.”
tmc1234
10.
“Tuck Everlastingby Natalie Babbitt.
It made me laugh and cry, and have multiple existential crises.”
“Never did I think such a tiny book could pack such a powerful story.”
andrewfirriolo
11.
“I readAnd the Band Played Onby Randy Shilts at 18.
You meet the children of IV drug users who never get to leave the hospital in their short lives.
It takes something often portrayed like an after-school special and makes it very real in all its ugliness.
omgitsaclaire
12.
“The Speed of Darkby Elizabeth Moon is probably the most life-changing book Ive ever read.
“Six months and an evaluation later, I had an official diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome.”
toothlessfeline
13.
“The Lions of Little Rockby Kristin Levine.
“This book is criminally underrated.
Instead, the ending is hopeful.
Marlee is hopeful for change.
All in all, RUN, dont walk to buy this book.”
supersinger14
14.
That book was a real eye-opener for a teenager in the late 80s.”
“Unsouledby Will Wight.
chaoticemmes
16.
“Margaret Atwood’sThe Handmaid’s Tale.
It was assigned either junior or senior year (so 1990ish for me).
filmteach
17.
I was looking for something to read, and it was on a bookshelf.
I had no idea what I was getting into.
It was like a punch in the gut.”
“I’ve tried reading it again over the years but never manage to finish it.
I still think it’s agood book.
torbielillies
18.
“Slaughterhouse-Fiveby Kurt Vonnegut made a big impact on me before I really ever connected to it emotionally.
“Thats the gut punch for me every time, and I love the book for it.”
siobhans4c1ab44c7
Note: Some responses have been edited for length/clarity.
