Friday, December 14, 2007

Books that make me cry

Have you ever read a book that is so moving that, when you finished it, you had to close it slowly, place it gently on the table nearest you, and just sit quietly for the next several moments? That's what makes me fall in love with a book.

A lot of books are great for their entertainment value. I like exciting stories with fascinating characters and lots of action. But a truly great book goes a little further, making me feel invested in the characters' lives. Great books almost always have something in them that make me want to shake their author and say, "How could you do this? How could you make this happen to the character I've grown to love?" But every great book I read has this in common: When I reach the end, whether the ending is sad, happy, or a little of both, I just have to sit and let it all soak in.

And that is the book I want to write. I want to write a powerful, gripping story that will have its readers crying, or sighing, or both.

Here are a few books that have affected me that way:

The Giver, by Lois Lowry
Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse
Enna Burning, by Shannon Hale
The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau
The Clan of the Cave Bear, by Jean M. Auel

So that is my goal for my newest novel-in-progress, my novel in verse (which has about seven pages so far, by the way). It starts out rather tragic, yet hopeful. I showed the first four lines to my twelve-year old and she said that those lines alone make her want to read the rest of the story.

Maybe I'm onto something.

3 comments:

  1. how exciting - can't wait until you write it and i can read it! (wink)
    i love the books that make you want to cry or just sit there after you finish as well....the ones you want to go on forever and never end.....good reading!

    :o)

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  2. YES! Where to start... I agree with Out of teh Dust (as you know...). Also Walk Two Moons... Oh my Goodness - The Big Wave! Oh! I cried at home when I pre-read it and promised myself I wouldn't cry when I read it to my fourth grade class, but yes, I cried even then too. The Rapture of Canaan! Oy, I cried at that one too. The Horse Whisperer - not a great movie, but the book! It was sooooo good and moving...

    Sheri

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  3. I'll have to add some of those to my list of books to read.

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