Aren't I supposed to be depressed?

Post by **this-tea-is-cloudy** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:33 pm

I've been reading lots of books that have been deemed, by the general public, to be depressing. Orwell's 1984, Huxley's Brave New World, this and that by Kurt Vonnegut, and now, Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar.

To me, the first half of The Bell Jar is not at all dissimilar to The Catcher in the Rye. The same kind of witty yet entirely observation-based personal narrative style, and the same ability of the protagonist to interpret various mundane, trivial things as good reasons to be either giddy or depressed. (In The Bell Jar, obviously, Esther has a tendency to view things in the negative in this regard.) But the second half of the book to me is like reading Suzanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted, minus some of the more abstract concepts.

Point in hand, is it "bad" that it's taken me this long to let literature affect my state of well-being? 1984 didn't really leave much of a lasting impact, nor Brave New World, and the majority of Vonnegut's more "depressing" works have a tendency to ironically cheer me up rather than bring me down, even when reading about Billy Pilgrim's terrible misfortunes. The first half of The Bell Jar didn't even phase me. But the second half left me in a kind of numbed, bitter cloud of vague depression.

What kind of books make you feel like that, and what ones are you surprised by your lack of emotional response to? What's the saddest, most depressing book you've ever read, and why?

Post by **Animavore** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:44 pm

The Bible. Because it was the most badly written book I've ever come across and terrible writing gives me a sad.

Post by **hadespussercats** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:48 pm

"Saddest" and "most depressing" are very different categories for me.

Saddest-- maybe "Villette." maybe "The Time Traveler's Wife." I'm a big fan of sad. Actually, I'm pretty sure I've read lots sadder-- might have to think some more.

Most depressing-- Either "Geek Love" or "Cruddy." Both left me feeling ick, in a low-level funk for days. Which means they were well-written. But I'm not reading them again. Didn't enjoy either.

Post by **Animavore** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:53 pm

I love Geek Love. It's one of my favourite books.

I've never met anyone else who reddit before

Post by **anna09** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:44 pm

Orwell's 1984 (obviously).

Hans Fallada's Every Man Dies Alone was extremely depressing (I cried at the end).

Joyce's Dubliners wasn't exactly a feel-good collection either. Particularly Eveline and The Dead.

Edit: Also, A Tale of Two Cities.

Post by **Pappa** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:54 pm

Almost all my favourite books are pretty dark and "depressing".

1984
Keep the Aspidistra Flying (although that has a happy ending)
Burmese Days
The Trial
One Day In the Life of Ivan Denisovich

Post by **hadespussercats** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:27 pm

Animavore wrote:I love Geek Love. It's one of my favourite books.

I've never met anyone else who reddit before

It's unique. And really well-written. I recommend it a lot. But I don't ever want to read it again!

Post by **laklak** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:28 pm

The Road. Compared to the book the movie was a feel good Shirley Temple musical, with jellybeans.

Post by **rachelbean** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:57 pm

laklak wrote:The Road. Compared to the book the movie was a feel good Shirley Temple musical, with jellybeans.

yep.

Post by **Animavore** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:06 pm

hadespussercats wrote:
Animavore wrote:I love Geek Love. It's one of my favourite books.

I've never met anyone else who reddit before

It's unique. And really well-written. I recommend it a lot. But I don't ever want to read it again!

I thought it was hilarious

Post by **Svartalf** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:33 pm

Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Othello... or 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, The part of James Joyce that is not lethally strong sleep inducer, anything by Virginia Woolf ... heck, Most of what they made me study in English lit in the U was fairly depressing (except Alice in Wonderland)

Post by **FBM** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:52 pm

Right off the bat, I'd say reding Animal Farm always makes me view the world dimly for quite some time afterwards. I know what it's supposed to be about, but I've never seen the difference between the pigs and our capitalistic coorporate overlords. SSDD, afaict.

Post by **Animavore** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:04 pm

I've never really gotten depressed over a fictitious novel but books make me some real-life books make me lose faith in humanity. Especially books about the bullshit people do to each other around the world. Journalistic books from people like John Pilger and the like which highlight atrocities carried out by people on others in the name of religion, political ideals, corporate greed and that sort of thing. Punishment beatings, incarcerations, torture, killings, all that bullshit people do to each other because they can't just let each other live.

Post by **Clinton Huxley** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:10 pm

Evolution by Steven Baxter left me feeling a little deflated. Far into the future, the final descendants of humanity....well, I'll not say, dont want to put out spoilers but it is pretty.........meh.

Post by **FBM** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:10 pm

Of Mice and Men.

rationalia.com

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