Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Had Strong Emotions About
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A fun Tuesday meme from our friends at The Broke and the Bookish:

TOP TEN TUESDAY: BOOKS I HAD STRONG EMOTIONS ABOUT –

1. Room by Emma Donoghue -This book made me feel: SAD

I just wanted to grab that little boy up and hug him. And then save him (& his mom) and show him real trees, take him to the amusement park, buy him cotton candy, and maybe buy the mom a crown for trying to keep positive for her kid in such a rough situation.

2. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick – This book made me feel: CHILDLIKE WONDER

I just love the pictures and the story. I love that I can see the book play out not just as a movie in my head, but also what it must have looked like in the author’s head.

3. The Giver by Lois Lowry -This book made me feel: SURPRISED

This book cemented my love of dystopian fiction and piqued my curiosity about all kinds of new ideas being expressed in children’s fiction that I’d never myself been exposed to.

4. A Skeleton in God’s Closet by Paul Maier – This book made me feel: SHOCKED

I think this little novel is part of why The Da Vinci Code wasn’t nearly as shocking for me. I loved this book so much that I’ve read it again and again. The idea of a very human Jesus, and the idea that he could never have been bodily resurrected, was a paralyzing thought to me. The science woven in is so believable I wasn’t sure the main character was going to be able to rationalize his way out.

5. My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews – This book made me feel : ALL GROWN UP

The first “adult” book I’d ever read. It’s a substantial novel clearly not meant for kids. My mom balked at the content which made me love it even more. When I reviewed it for a book report in seventh grade, I remember my English teacher, Ms. Zuber, was shocked that I’d finished it.

6. A House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III – This book made me feel: BETRAYED

This was an Oprah’s book club pick (the first I’d ever tried). The cover was bleh but if Oprah liked it… I was so excited and hyped to read this book and it SUCKED. Just sucked. I made myself finish it and then wanted those hours of my life back. Darn you Oprah!

7. The Cay by Theodore Taylor – This book made me feel: INSPIRED

This book deals with racism and war so gently and gracefully that the main conflict I remember is how poor Philip will survive alone (and blind on a deserted island without his friends Stew Cat and Old Timothy). I never even noticed the old man’s race or the German torpedoes until I read it again with my own children. It takes a pretty special book to do all that.

8. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser – This book made me feel: GROSSED OUT

It’s really a wonder I eat out at any restaurant anymore, but particularly at fast food places. (Too bad I also REALLY hate to cook.) Certain facts from this book I have to consciously remind myself not to think about.

9. I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies): True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl by Laurie Notaro – This book made me: LAUGH UNTIL A DRINK CAME OUT OF MY NOSE (really)

Actually, the same goes with any Notaro book, but particularly this one. The best part is about the truck with a nutsack. Trust me.

10. Betsy, Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace: This book (series) made me feel: LIKE I’D BEEN BORN IN THE WRONG ERA

I’ve read and reread Betsy-Tacy books and they still enchant me as they did when I was a child. I wanted to be Betsy Ray and have a box that I hid up in a tree full of treasures and writing utensils. I wanted to have two best friends who went on adventures with me. I wanted all of it…except maybe Tacy’s diptheria.

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