It’s time for Top 5 Wednesdays, a weekly meme created by gingerreadslainey and hosted by Sam @ThoughtsOnTomes. If you want to know more or join as well, just go to the Goodreads group by clicking here. This week we are talking about books with “hard” topics, which could be anything from sexual assault, mental or some other kind of illness to really anything you can think about. There are so many books that would be great examples to talk about here, so let’s see which devastating stories I can find.
- Nineteen Minutes by Jodie Picoult
This book is about the aftermath of a school shooting from various perspectives. I remember reading this one quite clearly and it was more than a little scary to see it broken down into components where you actually get the shooter … - The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
I guess most of you know the movie and know that it’s about mental health. I thought it was a good book. - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Murder and rape! All from the eyes of the victim! That book ruined my feels. - The Bang-Bang Club by Greg Marinovich and João Silva
This is the real account of photo-journalists and their dilemma between capturing war regions and intervering in events. - How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
Okay, this one I have talked about before, but I remain of the opinion that it dealt brilliantly with a really difficult topic. I am not sure I could handle a World War III and the books raises some interesting questions about all the things we wouldn’t be prepared for.
What are some books with difficult topics you can think of? Have you read any from my list?
I didn’t read any of these books, but I saw the Silver Linings movie… it was okay I guess? It was enjoyable, but I didn’t fell in love with it. The first book about a shooting reminds me of one I read, called, Hate List, by, Jennifer Brown, I think? I’m not sure haha my memory is terrible. But it was kind of an heavy read.
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It wasn’t mindblowingly good, but I liked the movie.
And the other books are all really good, but I would probably recommend How I Live Now most. It’s a really interesting story and there is no dialogue, which weirded me out big time, but it worked.
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No dialogue? Wow, that’s weird, I don’t think I’ve ever read fiction with no dialogue..
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I guess there is dialogue, but not in a quote like usual. It’s more like an inner monologue sometimes.
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Ohh okay, that’s unusual!
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It is, but after a little getting used to it, I think it worked really well.
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The only one I read was The Lovely Bones. I do have another Alice Sebold book on my list check it out: https://darnellouis.wordpress.com/2016/04/13/top-5-wednesday-books-with-hard-topics/
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Oh my goodness I really liked a Silver Linings Playbook. After I read it I went and saw the movie, and was horribly disappointed, because it changed so many critical elements in the book!
And then Lovely Bones is a painfully good read of course! Haven’t read the others. I don’t do well with real-life hard topics – I get too emotional!
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The movie and the book are quite different. I watched it first and then read the book and was really shocked at how much they had changed too.
Real-life emotional topics are super difficult, but I am not good with all the deaths and cliffhangers in fantasy novels either hahaha
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Oh, The Lovely Bones. I always forget about that book. Maybe on purpose. I actually listened to it on audio back in the day so I wouldn’t have to read it. Tough one, for sure! Great list.
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Oh yes! None of those were really easy reads for me, although I think I struggled with The Bang-Bang Club the most. It had pictures in it as well and some of them weren’t pretty.
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Ugh. I don’t think I could handle that!
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It was pretty tough.
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I read How I live Now when I was in my early teens – it is definitely a book with a hard topic!!!
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Thanks for agreeing on that! Have you ever watched the movie? It is VERY different, but visually quite beautifully done in my opinion.
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I haven’t, but it is definitely on my list to watch, though!!
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I think I preferred The Lovely Bones as a film than a book, which is rare.
I also loved The Silver Linings Playbook movie, but haven’t read the book yet.
Great list!
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I liked the book better than the movie, but I can’t remember 100%. It’s been a while …
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How I Live Now is at the top of my TBR. The whole premise is really interesting and I like to read other people’s perspective of a World War III situation.
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I thought it was super interesting, though the writing style took some definite getting used to.
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Oh, what’s the writing style like?
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Well for one, there is no dialogue. It’s more in an inner monologue-y style. To tell you any details though would be difficult, it’s been a while since I’ve read it.
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A lot of the books I read tend to deal with hard topics. Hard topics also tend to be in the stories I write. I even wrote a novel that at times freaked me out because of the subject matter, Laura Horn. I wonder what people will say when that book gets out.
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I think books with hard topics have to be something you are in the mood for though. I often find myself wandering towards the more lighthearted and less realistic ones, which can a lot of emotion nonetheless.
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Strange, I often have to be in the mood if I want to have something lighthearted. Either that, or it has to be something really funny that I like.
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Hmm, how many books do you read per month? Because at the rate I am going, I would be in a book hangover half the time and therefore not able to read as much.
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A couple a month, not including manga.
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Well, I am now on my 5th and 6th book of the month.
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Damn! Where do you find the time? I’m so busy writing/editing/publishing, I have to really carve out reading time.
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A one hour commute to work will give you enough time to read.
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Ah. That’ll do it.
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I read How I Live Now and Lovely Bones and I really liked both of them. I love when authors tackle difficult issues 🙂
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I agree, to me it makes the books more precious if they manage to really hit you with their topic. However, I also have to be in the right mood for them. 😀 Thanks for stopping by!
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*goes off to google How I Live Now* My T5W.
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I’ve been meaning to read Nineteen Minutes. It sounds haunting.
I love the Lovely Bones, despite’s it’s sad sad sad theme. 🙂
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It is a little disturbing, but in a good way. I really enjoyed that one.
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that is true. I do, too! 😀
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Ooh I really enjoyed Silver Linings too. Though to be honest I think I preferred the movie a bit better. Just because it lacked all the boring football scenes. And Jennifer and Bradley are so good together! I really want to read the Lovely Bones, I need to move it up my TBR. I’ve heard great things. Love this topic and your answers 🙂
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I get what you mean about Silver Linings! Jennifer and Bradley are like the dream team! Thanks for stopping by! 😀
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I haven’t read any of these but I do like books that deal with “hard” topics really well. I am definitely intrigued by Nineteen Minutes and The Lovely Bones though, so I guess I will add them to my endless TBR :0
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They are both great, so I would definitely recommend them.
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[…] Book With “Hard” Topics […]
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