Top Ten Tuesdays: Those Pesky Emotions

I've decided to join in with Top Ten Tuesday. This is a great feature brought to you by The Broke and The Bookish.

This week's Top Ten is:
Books That Inspired Strong Emotion


10. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Yes, I absolutely am going to start my list of with a not-really-a-book title. But, honestly I don't think that I have ever read a star-crossed lovers tale that has affected me in the way this "original" has. This is absolutely something I've picked up over and over again through the years, can quote, and love unconditionally.

9. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
There was just so much in this book that I don't think I can adequately express how I felt the first time that I read it. Let me just say that it hit me personally, and I love that it has been immortalized, because it deserves all the accolades that it gets.

8. Watership Down by Richard Adams
I've never felt the need to hurl a book EXCEPT this one. Maybe I was too young when I was assigned it in school (3rd grade), maybe it was because I've never been a fan of the anthropromorphosation of animals in books and movies (Charlotte's Web and Animal Farm are basically it for me), and maybe because I JUST. DIDN'T. GET. IT. I know it's a classic, and I know that many fantasy lovers count this book as one of their favorites. I just felt relief when I could return it to my teacher and never have to set eyes on it again.

7. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
The very first book that I read cover to cover, then turned back to page one and read cover to cover all over again.

6. Lock and Key, Just Listen, Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
I couldn't decide between these three. I didn't discover Dessen until 2008, but if I had read these books in high school with their burgeoning young love, family issues and growing pains, I would have said, "these books are my innermost thoughts and feelings".

5. Imzadi by Peter David
Geek Flag Alert: Yes, I'm a Trekkie. The background story that all fans wanted to get of Deanna Troi and William Riker. Some of you know what I'm talking about. I don't cry from books or movies, but I got damn close with IMZADI.

4. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
The unique way it was written did not, for me, detract at all from this awesome post-apocalyptic journey. With such a strong voice from the protag Saba, and her dedication and determination to find her brother, this tale blew me away.


3. Persuasion by Jane Austen
For some reason, though this novel could be construed as a little depressing, I can't get enough of the lovers that can never be, and are separated for years, only to find their way back to each other. Even in the very proper Regency setting of Austen's, lovers reuniting in the end is a win for me.


2. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
This. Book. Is. Powerful. Ok, it has a teenage protag, but is not really suitable for young readers. There is violence, sex, profanity and bad bad things, but it is by far and away the best book that I have read in the last 5 years.

1. Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Seriously, I wanted to jump up and tell everyone about this book. I wanted to run to the bookstore and make people buy it. I wanted to call my library and demand that they stock it (they already had). YA fantasy fans rejoice. This is awesomely written and has a REAL strong female main character.

What would make your list?