Top Ten Books That Broke Your Heart A Little

1. Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger Because the ending is just heartbreaking. When she can't reach him before he disappears... I was distraught. It really is the saddest thing. What's worse is that you don't expect them to meet, but it still seems so cruel when it actually happens.
2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery The ending of this threw me into a slump for weeks afterwards since the pure sadness that took over stopped me from enjoying anything. It's an amazing book, it really is, but I hate that that had to be ending. And it was foreshadowed (I realised on second read) which bothered me more.
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins Most people probably know why this is heart breaking, because everything seems so disjointed at the end. I can't put my finger on it, but it just felt like all the joy and everything that was good in the book's world was lost and I just couldn't believe it ended so- to me- hopelessly.
4. The High Lord by Trudi Canavan The ending of this is kind of bitter sweet. Looking back, it made perfect sense and I can't fault it, but it was still so sad. To think that he who one is led to dislike becomes he who is loved and then once again his fate is turned on its head. I'm trying not to give it away, but I think you get the idea.
5. Enchanter's Endgame by David Eddings Not because of the love: because it was the end of the series I loved most! I found out there was a sequel series, plus two prequels, later on; but it killed me at the time to know that I had no more to read of that series. The others were good (especially the prequels) but never like reading those 5 books the first time.
6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Less heartbreaking, more bitter sweet, was how I found the ending and the book in general. There is some heartbreak in the hopelessness of the case, but it is there and it is poignant.
7. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson Mainly because we find out a lot more about Lisbeth and truly start to understand her situation. This is augmented by the next book (The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest) but realisng how terrible her life is just exemplifies the pity you already feel for her. But pity isn't the right word; since she is more than competent and above pity. Compassion, perhaps. Also, what happens in the end broke my heart in terms of how much had been done for such a small, empty even, gain.
8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern How things had to turn out with the Circus, and also the slow coming to this eventuality, just makes you ache with sorrow. It isn't particularly bad in some ways, but how much they gave up moves me into an area I can't express with words. 
9. The Road by Cormac McCarthy They go so far in this novel, and the father remains hopeful no matter what befalls them. He is rock in the story and is amazing though we basically know nothing about him. The ending, then, is all the more tragic because it symbolises so much more than a loss of a person, but the loss of hope and driving force in an otherwise empty and broken world.
10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë As most people probably know, this boils down to a book of unrequited love and the things it can do to different people. Despite all the evil things done and the amount of times I wanted to scream out in anger, one is constantly emphatic with Heathcliff. Anyone can understand his motives, so we question whether we might do the same should such a fate befall us. This book, in some ways, is something that just keeps breaking your heart in several places.

Top Ten Books You'd Hand To Someone Who Says They Don't Like To Read

 

1. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery Because I loved this book and I think most people could like this. It is straightforward fiction though, which some people dislike, and some of the ideas in the book are weird and a tad confusing. This is a bit like Jumping into the deep end, even though the water's warm.
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett Since I could draw them in using the great movie adaptation and then try to get them to read the book too! I actually did this with one of my friends who has never before read an entire book by choice. YAY!
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morenstern I think the person would have tobe someone who liked fantasy films/games but I do think this could be enjoyed by a lot of people. However, I admit that a handful of people might find it boring to read.
4. The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling Do I need to explain? Huge, well-loved films but everyone thinks the books are better.
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Again, I could convince them to read using the trailer for the movie and even possibly use the movie after it is out. Then they will just get the craving to read the books and then happiness ensues.
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth Another book that is really well-loved in the blogosphere so I think it reaches out to and connects with a lot of people. This is definitely something most to all would like.
7. I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore Despite the infamous controversy over this book, it is a good book. It's action packed and extremely film like with its imagery and how one imagines the entire book. If I know someone who like Urban Fantasy films, I try to point them in this book's direction.
8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Seriously, they are some of the wittiest, most amazing books I have read. Everything said in the books makes perfect sense when you think logically, but it's all so unreal and bizarre. The person would have to be someone who liked the whimsical and can take things with a pinch of salt, but they are great. 
9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson Very much an thriller/mystery/adventure/crime and it can appeal to anyone with even a little curiosity. There are some bits that are unpleasant to read, but the author is being honest- if brutally so. And, as a blogger reminded me the other day, Lisbeth really is one of the most amazing and unique heroines out there.
10. The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger I don't think I say how good this book is sometimes, and how much I love it. It's slightly barmy and sometimes slow-paced but it makes for a great read. It reminds me of Romantic Comedy films in the way it is written and I think I'd be safe to recommend it to a few people who would take me seriously. (They can't lend my copy though since my Grandmother has it!!!)

Friday Hop Quatorze

Q: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to get your hands on any particular book?

I live in a main city in England (Livepool) so I've always been close to bookstores and easy to access for people to deliver to me. I've never done anything really describable as crazy, but I have ordered books from foreign countries before- knowing I'd have to wait a month or more for it to arrive. Usually, if I want a book, nothing will stop me. I remember when I was first reading the Belgariad that I wanted the same style of cover for all five books (two of which I already owned) and I trawled the internet for almost two hours so I could get those covers. They were twice as expensive as the available copies on Amazon, but I liked the other covers too much.

I think that I am (geographically and economically) always in a position where it is very easy for me to get whatever book I want whenever I want it. I'm not averse to doing something a little zany for a book, but I've never been given the oppurtunity. I'll be sure to update this if I remember anything during the day.

Recommend It: Which book from the last 10 you've read would you recommend to a friend?

Anyone who has read or hopped by this blog probably knows how much of a fan of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (my review) I am. So though I'm afraid of becoming a broken record, this is just so easily the book I'd recommend. It's a perfect mix of Fantasy and the falling in love element of romance (which I my preferred part of it). It was a well-written, immensely enjoyable hybrid of things I love in books.

Also, I don't have many real life friends who are great readers, let alone any who read fantasy. The one person I know who read fantasy, hates romance. So basically I need all you internet people to talk to me about this book and satisfy the craving I have to discuss this until my fingers fall off, blistered and bleeding.

If I was to say a book that couldn't be that, I'd have to say The Iron Maiden by Resa Nelson (my review), because I really, really liked it and, having not a read a high fantasy in while, I feel a craving for it. This was the last one I read so it's the one on my mind and the one my next fantasy will have to live up to!