'Soul Survivor' is also a great book about a true abduction story. It's about a man who was abducted and subjected to all sorts of abuse. His journey of recovery and finding himself again after such a traumatic event is both inspiring and heart - wrenching. It shows the long - term effects of abduction on a person's mental health.
I think 'Room' by Emma Donoghue is very impactful. It tells the story of a woman and her son who are held captive in a small room. It shows how they cope with the situation and the psychological impact of abduction. The way it's written makes you really feel what they're going through.
For me, 'The Glass Castle' stands out. It's not just about the trauma of poverty and family problems but also about the resilience of the author. It shows how a child can grow up in difficult circumstances and still find a way to make something of their life. The details of the family's nomadic and often chaotic lifestyle really stay with you.
Well, 'A Child Called It' is very impactful. The way Dave Pelzer describes his experiences of being starved, tortured, and constantly in fear as a child is both heartbreaking and eye - opening. It makes you realize the horrors that some children have to go through.
I think 'The Night of the Gun' by David Carr is really impactful. Carr was a journalist who had a serious drug problem. In this book, he investigates his own past using the skills of a reporter. He interviews people from his past and digs into his own memory, which gives a very different and eye - opening perspective on addiction.
'Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body' by Roxane Gay is quite impactful as well. While it's not solely about anorexia, it does touch on body image issues and eating disorders in a way that is both relatable and thought - provoking. It shows how our relationship with our bodies can be deeply affected by society's standards and our own internal struggles.
Well, 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman is also very impactful. It's a unique graphic novel that tells the story of Spiegelman's father's experiences in the Holocaust. The use of animals to represent different groups (Jews as mice, Nazis as cats) makes it accessible yet still deeply moving.
I think 'The Road of Lost Innocence' by Somaly Mam. It's her autobiography about her own experience of being trafficked in Cambodia. Her story is very powerful as she not only survived but also became an advocate to fight against human trafficking.
Well, 'The Great Gatsby' is a highly impactful fiction book. F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays the decadence and hollowness of the American Dream. 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding is impactful too. It shows how quickly civilization can break down when people are left without proper order. And then there's 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger which has influenced generations with its exploration of teenage angst and alienation.
The book 'The Devil in the White City' is impactful as it combines two very different but equally fascinating stories. It shows the contrast between the wonder of the World's Fair and the evil of a serial killer. 'A Long Way Gone' is impactful because it shines a light on the issue of child soldiers. 'Hidden Figures' is impactful as it brings to the forefront the overlooked contributions of African - American women in the space program.
The accounts of the Vietnamese people's resilience during the war are quite impactful as well. Some books that include the Vietnamese perspective show how they endured years of bombing and fighting, and still managed to hold on to their culture and hope. It gives a more complete picture of the war as not just an American - centric event.
The book 'The Price of Salt' is also notable. It was one of the first lesbian - themed novels to have a somewhat happy ending. However, it still shows the discrimination that the characters had to endure throughout the story, which was quite significant considering the time it was written.