This Week’s Topic: All the Feels
I saw this quote many, many years ago, and it still comes to mind often:
Let's be honest, I have read over 300 books this year. I am not going to remember every detail of every book. Sometimes, something occurs in the book, which I will never forget, but for the most part, my reading experiences are more closely tied with the emotions they evoked.
There are some books out there, that the mere mention starts some sort of emotional tsunami in me. There are ones that give me the happy feels, ones that make me feel proud, and ones that bring back the tragic and sad feels, but the common factor is - they made me feel.
Examples:
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Tragic feels: The tears creep into my eyes at each and every mention of this book. I just can't help it. This was a tough one for me. I have attachment issues, and when something bad befalls a beloved character, I take it really hard. I have a plethora of YA books I would put in this group, but we don't have all day.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Combination feels: This book delivered so many feels. It takes place during WWII, so lots of anger and sadness over the events that took place, but I also got so stirred thinking about the power of the human spirit portrayed in this book.
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Sad feels: I snotty cried over this book. I cried so much, my eyes crusted over, but there was so much beauty in the pain.
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
Happy-Sad feels: A myriad of tears were shed over this book, happy and sad, but in the end, I am left with a huge smile on my face and lots of happy feels.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Sad-Disappointed feels: This book belongs to a class of books, where I was so happy for how the character had grown and redeemed themselves, but still couldn't earn a better fate. I would put The Midnight Star in this group too.
Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean
Painful feels: I still have trouble forgiving Jay McLean for what she did to me during this book. That ending!!!! I didn't think I was going to survive.
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
Tragic feels: Drat! I am crying. If you read the book, I know you understand.
Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
Heck-yeah feels: A whole different set of feels here. This book left me punching my fist in the air and feeling really pumped up. I would say The Running Dream could fit here too.
A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
Stupid-Happy feels: A goofy smile erupts on my face, whenever someone talks about this book. It just left me filled to the brim with happiness. I would file Flipped and Wonder in this category too.
What are some of your favorite "feels" books?
Let us know in the comments!
Books that made me cry include The Book Thief, The Kite Runner, Fairies in my Fireplace. The Arisen series, The Morningstar Strain trilogy, Bug Out and Extinction Cycle gave me the tension and heart hammering fear for my favourite characters. Harry Potter and The Iron Druid series made me laugh. Stephen King's 'It' just blows me away every time I read it. I was swept along by the action in The Hunger Games, pulled into the worlds of Ready Player One and A Song of Ice and Fire. So many amazing books I can't name them all! I think a post about this might need to be done!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of those, but I have heard of almost all of them. I am not surprised King makes your heart pound though. He scares the bejesus out if me
DeleteI recently read The Hate U Give and it made me cry so much. It is such an amazing book. I am currently reading To ll the Boys I've Loved Before series and it is giving me warm feels. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda made me so happy :)
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing list here though :)
Simon and TAtBILB gave me all sorts of happy feels, and I am feeling them again just thinking about them
DeleteA book has never made me cry, but The Serpent King and All The Bright Places made me sad. All The Bright Places was especially sad because the characters reminded me of these kids I knew in high school. The similarities between the characters and the real people kind of freaked me out.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I think I sobbed hysterically at "that" point in both those books. It was for the lost opportunities for those characters. I think in would have been even more hysterical if the characters reminded me of people I knew. When my father was very I'll, every parent with cancer in a book sent me to a dark place.
DeleteYes! This quote totally works for books too. Sometimes I tell people I loved a book and when they ask why I can’t remember I just remember I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI often explain my love for a book in terms of how much it made me feel
DeleteI don't remember a lot of the books I read either. Not surprising we forget, considering how many we read. But, like everyone else, I do remember the feels. I don't cry very often, but can be found with a tear in my eye now and then.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I am a total crier, but I also get a smile on my face thinking of those fun or joyful books
DeleteI agree that I remember the feeling a book gave me way more than details of the book. I agree with the Nightingale, AtBP and Love and Other Words. Some other books that gave the feels are A Monster Calls, Me Before You and Bright Side.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the film version of Me Before You, because I still sob when I tell people about the book. I have heard Bright Side is super emotional. I think that's why I have put it off for so long.
DeleteOh yes, I completely agree with this! For me I feel like the characters are what have to be AMAZING to create a memorable book, and strong emotions will come from having great characters - at least for me. Also I *love* when a book feels like a roller-coaster of emotions, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, for example, was like that. I completely agree about Moxie and Before I Fall, they really tugged on my emotions in different ways. Fantastic post!
ReplyDeleteVeronika @ The Regal Critiques
I am a character driven reader, so I totally agree. Roller coasters are always a thrill. It's amazing when an author can make me feel so much
DeleteI’m always surprised by the books that I have the strongest reaction to. And I don’t know if I can always relate how I feel in a review. I have to dig deep and reflect on the emotions the author generated by their words. An awesome discussion post Sam! ❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteI think I am an empath of something, because I feel too much. Just today, my desk-neighbor looked over, and was like, "Are you crying?" The answer was yes, the news story I was reading was really sad. It is really hard to capture my true emotions in my reviews, but you write really well, and I think you do a great job.
DeleteHenry's Sisters is a book that is GUARANTEED to make me cry every time I read it. You're right, though, even if I don't remember every little thing (or even most things) about a book, I do sometimes remember just a general feeling I had about the book.
ReplyDeleteI just looked it up. I love sister stories, and am really curious about their childhood. I know I evaluate books heavily on how they made me feel. It could have been the most tightly plotted, well written book, but if I didn't feel anything in particular, it won't get 5-stars from me, because my memory is so closely tied to the emotional impact of the book, and that's what gets the high ratings.
DeleteTotally agree, every book on my favorites list is there because of the feels. Every last one. The Serpent King is one of them, I LOVE that book. Now I must read Second Chance Summer and Quiet Kind of Thunder, too. I own them, so I really should.
ReplyDeleteI am getting a little misty just thinking about TSK. 😭 The funny thing about Second Chance Summer is I knew how it was going to end, but I was not prepared for all the emotions I would feel. I hope you get to both those books, because they were wonderful!
DeleteI'm a horrible reader and have only read Second Chance Summer from here, but I totally agree with what you said about it! It was definitely sad, but a memorable and beautiful kind of sad. ♥
ReplyDeleteI know at the end, I felt grateful that they had that summer together, and that her dad had that closure, but I still cried like a baby.
DeleteI read The Serpent King but I didn't love it as most people did. I did find the story inspiring. I totally loved Before I Fall and totally agree with you Sam! And toally agree with All the Bright Places too. That book should be another genre, like Realistic Horror or something, It undid me in a horrific but awesome way :)
ReplyDeleteAtBP undid me as well. That is really a testament to how well Niven crafted her characters, because my heart can only break that way for someone I formed a really strong attachment for. (Oh, I totally laughed about the realistic horror thing.)
DeleteI can totally relate to this! You could also say that books I DNF are books that don't make me "feel" enough towards them because I can't connect with the story/characters/writings style. Looking back on the books I've rated 5 stars and gushed about over the years it's accurate to say those are the books that connected with me the most :)
ReplyDeleteI am a character driven reader, and the plot needs to be incredible for me to keep reading a book, where I cannot feel something for the characters. Same for me and my five star reads. They are the ones I have the greatest emotional response to, and that makes them memorable for me,
DeleteAnd that's why my ratings reflects ...the feels!!!! Even if a book has flaws if he made me feel, hurt, hope etc. it will be 5 stars because that's what I expect from my reads. So you are absolutely right Sam! Sophie @bewareofthereader
ReplyDeleteI studied science, so I am not all analytical about my reading. I don't think I have every critiqued the writing as far as craft, but I am all about how it made me feel.
DeleteI cried for pages during chapter 31 of Wildcard. So sad. I might read just that chapter again just because it's so beautiful and sweet. There's a page in Life After Legend that I cry over too.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the name of the story, but it's the short story in Summer Days and Summer Nights that Veronica Roth wrote. I cried over that one too. I think I had to stop reading for a minute just to cry. And then I loved the ending. It was beautiful. On the other hand, the end of Allegiant made me so upset that I turned to fanfiction to "fix it".
So, what you're saying is that I will be crying during chapter 31 of Wildcard? I bawled at the end of Legend. It was such an interesting and beautifully meaningful ending Lu gave to that series. I'm getting misty right now. I must admit, I thought the very ending of Allegiant was sort of joyful, but I hated that book for the way it ended other things.
DeleteYou're right, that quote totally applies to books! That's one of the great things about rereading though, I forget a lot of what happened by the time I reread it, but I know ahead of time exactly what sort of emotions I'll get to feel. And I guess it makes sense that the books that don't leave an impression on me after finishing are the ones that don't give me any strong emotions.
ReplyDeleteSo, then you're prepared for the onslaught of emotions. That is sort of why I have not watched several adaptations. I know I be all ugly crying.
DeleteThis is such a great discussion! I definitely remember books that made me feel a certain way much better and longer than books that I just enjoyed, but didn't have any real emotional connection to. I know that I loved Heartless, but I can't remember nearly as much detail about it as And I Darken, for example.
ReplyDeleteI am the same. I have most certainly enjoyed many books. I liked the story and the characters, but they didn't stick with me in any real way, because they didn't make me experience any really strong emotions. Doesn't mean they are bad, just not memorable.
DeleteI didn't read Before I Fall but I watched the movie and I really wished for a better ending because the character really deserved it after all the character growth! Great post, Sam!
ReplyDeleteYES! I was so proud of the person Sam became. I didn't like her much at the beginning, but we spend that time with her, and see her work to be a better person, and it seemed like such a waste, because ultimately, she still met her end. (tearing up right now)
DeleteI read a children's book today that had me sobbing. It's called Ida, Always. It was really difficult for me to get through the last few pages. Even my husband cried when he read it (the twins like to be read the same book multiple times, and I just could not read this one again).
ReplyDeleteI totally get what you mean, though. There are a lot of series I started and never finished, but I KNOW I want to finish them because of how they made me feel. I may not remember all of the details (so a re-read will be required), but I know I enjoyed them enough to keep going.
Lovely topic!
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?
I just read the synopsis for Ida *crying*. I think it's fantastic that there are great books out there to help children organize their thoughts about death and dying and saying goodbye though.
DeleteWith series, it's such a commitment. It either needs an incredible plot, intriguing world, or characters I care about to keep me reading that many pages. The ones I really want to read are a combination of the three.
Oh, that is a good quote. A very good quote. And I agree, it can work so well for books as well.
ReplyDeleteI always marvel at your ability to read this many! But yes, I struggle to remember even 100, so 300 must be challenging. But why would we even try? There are so many other things to remember in life, and with books, for me it was always about the way they made me feel. I think, in the end the ones that gave you strong feelings are the only ones you'll remember in the end!
I haven't read these, but I have heard about some of them, I'll have to check them out :)
There are definitely more important things to use my working memory for (I used to tell my teachers that all the time. Ha!). I can remember some details, but the ones that were really great, left an impression on my heart.
DeleteI couldn't agree with you more. Reading is about the feelings. For me, any book that can bring on real emotion is a win whether it is surprise, joy, excitement, or sadness. I have found that I only remember details of books that I have read more than once.
ReplyDeleteIt really is about the feelings. I would say there is a direct correlation to how much I remember and how much I felt, but I feel like the things I remember are closely tied to the things that evoked such strong emotions from me.
DeleteI strongly believe in this too. There are so many occasions in life where you don't remember the minute details just the emotions. Books are the same... I've never read any of your list though, although I've heard so much about The Nightengale.
ReplyDeleteThe Nightgale was different from my norm, but such an amazing and inspiring story
DeleteYou raise an excellent point, I will always remember the books that made me feel something most. This is usually because I've connected with the characters so their emotions are my own. All The Bright Places is one I won't forget anytime soon I was an ugly sobbing mess with that book it was so good! I do think there are some books which overcome book amnesia and just cement themselves in your mind and just hearing the title mentioned has you telling folks all about the book and how you made you feel even if it was 10 years ago you read it.
ReplyDeleteWith banned book week, I have been seeing The Color Purple around. I read that book in the 80s, and I still get really emotional when people talk about it. That's quite a lasting impression
DeleteGreat post and I completely agree that the way books make me feel is how I best remember them. All the Bright Places, I Have Lost My Way, and The Beauty That Remains are three that I definitely remember because they just made me feel so emotional.
ReplyDeleteI Have Lost My Way had me sobbing, warm & fuzzy, and even feeling thankful. Loved that book!
DeleteI so agree with you, specially happy to see all the bright places in there!
ReplyDeleteATBP crushed my soul.
DeleteThe Nightingale is one that is simply unforgettable. Such a powerful book. I'd already been reading Hannah for several years when The Nightingale was released and it just blew everything else she had written out of the water. It's like, "You can stop writing now. You've done it. This is the one you'll be remembered for." That book hurt my heart in so many different ways.
ReplyDeleteThe Serpent King is kind of an odd one for me because I have such conflicted feelings about the book. I loved Dill and Travis but I couldn't stand Lydia. She almost ruined the book for me. But despite my mixed feelings there was one scene in that book that has stuck with me and probably always will. Every time I think about the line "Is my mom there?" I cry. :(
I'm crying!!! The Nightingale is one I always recommend to people, because it's just an amazing, and as you said, powerful story. Heartbreaking, but simultaneously uplifting. Loved it. I liked Lydia, and I loved her dad. It all worked for me in TSK.
DeleteLoved her dad. He was such a good man.
DeleteHe really was!
DeleteYou are so right! When I think about some books I've loved in the past sometimes I don't remember the plots but I remember when they made me sad, happy, or just basically in fangirl heaven. A Quiet Kind of Thunder made me so happy too!
ReplyDeleteI wish more people talked about AQKoT, because it was fabulous and Barnard is amazing.
DeleteAll the Bright Places made me ugly cry (on my birthday). I LOVED it! A Quiet Kind of Thunder was amazing too.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Nothing like a good, cathartic cry on your birthday. Get those tissues ready for when it comes to Netflix.
Delete