Ken Hurley
A book is a gift you can open again and again. – Garrison Kiellor
Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read. – Groucho Marx
One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for a thousand years. To read is to voyage through time. – Carl Sagan
There was a time in my life when I was in the book production business. I had the great privilege of having a graphic arts business in Manhattan whose clients were publishers from around America — most of whom had their offices in Manhattan. Convenient, right? Especially for me, since I also lived in Manhattan. I often rode my bicycle to work. Manuscripts o8thf all types crossed my desk ready to be turned into books. Some were inspiring novels, self-help books, cook books, encyclopedias, children books, biographies, autobiographies, (Auto biography? As if the effort was automatic.) Some of the manuscripts were from famous authors of the time, including Mario Puzo, Elmore Leonord, Gloria Stienem, Jean Auel, Robert Ludlum, and many more. I didn’t have to read them to bid on the project. But I enjoyed reading a book in manuscript form before the public could get their hands on the hardback. I wanted to read them. Eventually these manuscripts were turned into books. To be clear, we were not in the printing or bindery business. We were typographers! Graphic Artists!!
And so, while the Dick and Jane books from first grade reading instruction did not instill a love of reading in me, fortunately, I discovered the joys of literature and non-fiction a bit later in life.
I confess. When Schwammy suggested our topic for this month’s Chit and Chat, “Books That Moved You,” I was eager. My first thought was The Bathroom Reader series. But knowing Schwammy, he didn’t mean that kind of movement. He meant emotional movement. So, I began my best recollection efforts and soon became overwhelmed by the number of well-written, powerful, insightful books I can remember reading that moved me emotionally.
Literature is a powerful medium for exploring complex human emotions, often evoking feelings of joy, sorrow, and contemplation. My personal list has too many books to include them all here. So, what follows are just some of the “Books That Moved” me.
The Giving Tree (1964) by Shel Silverstein is a poignant story about selfless love and sacrifice between a tree and a boy. It encapsulates complexities of generosity and the often one-sided nature of selfless giving. The emotional impact I felt arises from the cyclical narrative illustrating the boy’s growth, contrasting with the tree’s diminishing and dying state. Feelings of sadness and ambivalence cause one to question the balance of love and selfishness of the boy. The ultimate sacrifice of the tree, which gives everything until it is left as just a stump, leaves an indelible mark on anyone with a heart, evoking reflections about relationships and the nature of unconditional love. Belive it or not, its thematic construction is controversial.
Flowers for Algernon (1959) by Daniel Keys explores human intelligence and its connection to identity, self-worth, and dignity. The novel follows Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man (low IQ) who undergoes experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. It works. As Charlie’s intellectual abilities surge and he becomes more self-aware, the narrative addresses the pain of isolation and the fleeting nature of happiness. Empathy for Charlie’s plight is truly felt as he navigates relationships, ultimately leading to his tragic realization that intelligence does not guarantee fulfillment. The emotional tone shifts from hope to despair, as his intelligence slowly regresses back to his original state, leaving him with a profound sense of loneliness that can often accompany humans with self-awareness. His last wish prior to his death is that someone will place flowers at the grave of Algernon. PS: Algernon was a lab rat.
The Diary of Anne Frank, originally published in 1947 as The Diary of a Young Girl, chronicles the true writings and short life of Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager who went into hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The extraordinarily well-written diary serves as a poignant testament to the resilience of the human spirit amid the horrors of the Holocaust, war, and persecution. Anne shares a first-hand account of her hopes, fears, and aspirations, which in turn becomes a deeply personal emotional experience.
The emotional impact of Anne’s diary lies primarily in its themes of innocence, loss, and her desire for freedom. Written with remarkable maturity for her age, Anne’s words illuminate the vibrant life she yearns for, filled with friends, laughter, and love, in stark contrast to the deadly oppressive environment surrounding her as she hides in a small attic with her family. I was drawn into her world and could feel her struggles to find identity and meaning in an increasingly hostile society.
Tragically, the diary culminates in the bitter realization of Anne’s fate. The entry dated March 29, 1944 highlights her desire to be a writer, reflecting her dreams and ambitions. The knowledge of her ultimate demise at the hands of a betrayal and the horrors of the Holocaust adds immeasurable weight to her words. I felt grief, anger, and a sense of helplessness. The emotional toll of her true story is a reminder of the fragility of life and the never-ending urgency of compassion in the face of human suffering.
M. Scott Peck’s People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil (1983) offers a different exploration regarding the complexities of the human emotional landscape. Peck was a psychiatric doctor who delved into the psychology of human behavior and the nature of evil. Through a combination of case studies, psychological insights, and philosophical reflections, Peck examines the concept of “evil” as it manifests in individuals and society. He analyzes deceptive behavior, manipulation, and the denial of responsibility, themes that resonated deeply within me, particularly regarding the emotional ramifications of these actions on both perpetrators and victims.
Peck defines evil as the deliberate use of power to destroy the positive growth of others, essentially prioritizing the preservation of one’s “sick self” by harming others to maintain a distorted self-image; he describes “people of the lie” as those who actively engage in this behavior, often through manipulation, lying, and scapegoating. Remind you of any public figure running for high office?
The emotional impact of People of the Lie arises from its stark examination of the human condition and the moral dilemmas people face. Peck’s truelife discussions of evil are expressed through personal anecdotes and his case studies, which provoke discomfort and reflection. I was compelled to confront unsettling questions about my own behavior and my capacity to resolve conflicts within myself. The emotional weight is not merely in the acknowledgment of evil, but also in understanding the intricate interplay of love, forgiveness, and healing.
Peck emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the darker aspects of humanity, urging one to confront their pain rather than repress it. The notion that evil often masquerades as ordinary behavior fosters a sense of unease, compelling one to scrutinize one’s relationships and societal structures. Ultimately, the emotional journey through this book pushes one toward healing and self-awareness, highlighting the transformative power of love and forgiveness amid suffering.
Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America (2000), edited by Hilton Als, is a raw and haunting compilation of historical photographs and narratives depicting the brutal reality of lynching in the United States. This work combines visual art with sociopolitical commentary, presenting an unflinching portrayal of lynching, racial violence, and its deep-seated impact on American history and culture. The emotional weight of these photographs is stunning and profound, evoking horror, anger, and sorrow.
The emotional impact for me from Without Sanctuary lies in its unfiltered representation of the atrocities of racism and its sad enduring legacy. The photographs capture moments of actual violence committed against African Americans, stripping away any sugar-coating of history. The stark reality of the imagery forces one to confront the realities of hate, prejudice, and injustice, leaving one to consider feelings of disgust and outrage at the brutality humans can inflict upon one another.
Through the juxtaposition of images and personal stories, the emotional resonance is amplified. As one learns about the victims and communities affected by lynching, the narrative becomes increasingly personal. The testimonies offer voices to those silenced by violence, creating a sense of urgency to acknowledge and rectify historical wrongs. The emotional impact is not only one of mourning for the past, but also of a continued call for social justice and reconciliation in contemporary society.
That’s what I’ll offer in narrative form. What follows is a short list of other books that moved me in one way or another.
Memoirs of a Mangy Lover (1963) Groucho Marx
The Kite Runner (2003) Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007) Khaled Hosseini
James and the Giant Peach (1961) Roald Dohl
A Monster Calls (2011) Patrick Ness (from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd)
The Lovely Bones (2002) Alice Sebold
One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) Gabriel García Márquez
The Road (2006) Cormac McCarthy
The Overstory (2018) Richard Powers
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth (1978) M. Scott Peck
Confederacy of Dunces (1980) John Kennedy Toole
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader, a compilation series (2000)
Ken’s Guide To The Bible (1995) Ken Smith
And, one last book that moves: Birthright – Murder, Greed, and Power in the U-Haul Family Dynasty (1993) Ronald J. Watkins
Thanks for reading!
