Books can enlighten, amuse, or profoundly affect us long after we turn the last page. They arouse our feelings, test our beliefs, and occasionally wear us out emotionally.

This article is about a special kind of literature: the books we are so thankful to have read but would never want to read again. These six books have deeply affected people, and their stories are so powerful and moving that just reading one of them was both a gift and a challenge.

Come along as we read the books that have changed people's lives in memorable - sometimes painful - ways. 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The narrative takes place in 1939 Nazi Germany. Foster child Liesel Meminger lives close to Munich and must steal to survive. One day, she finds something she cannot resist: books. Her benevolent foster father teaches her to read. During bomb raids, she shares her books with her neighbors and a Jewish man who is hiding in her basement.

The novel shows how literature can feed the soul even in the worst times and showcases Markus Zusak's powerful writing. 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

A beautiful, distinguished family on a private island. A brilliant but damaged girl and a passionate boy. Four friends - the Liars - whose bond turns destructive. Amidst a backdrop of revolution, an accident, and a buried secret, lies build upon lies.

E. Lockhart's gripping tale entices the readers. However, the book says, "if asked about the ending, just lie."

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Sage Singer, a baker, makes friends with an older man from her grief support group, Josef Weber. Sage is lonely and still suffering from the death of her mother. As they learn about each other's hidden scars, their bond strengthens.

However, everything changes when Josef reveals a shameful secret and asks Sage for an extraordinary favor, which has moral and legal repercussions. Jodi Picoult's searingly honest novel explores the lengths we go to prevent the past from dictating the future as Sage questions her life and family assumptions. 

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The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Susie Salmon tells the story from heaven, where she sees her killer trying to hide his crime, her family's grief, and the lies her friends are spreading about her. Even though the book is sad, it is full of hope, humor, excitement, and joy as Susie gets used to her new life after death and watches life on Earth go on without her.

A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe

Set in October 1966, William Lavery is enjoying his first black-tie event when news breaks of a devastating landslide at a coal mine in Aberfan, burying a school. Determined to help, William volunteers as an embalmer, facing a job he will never forget.

This experience forces him to confront his own childhood losses and traumas. Through his compassionate work, William discovers that giving to others can sometimes lead to personal healing.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Meet Ove, an old man known as "the bitter neighbor from hell" because he is always angry, has strong beliefs, and follows strict rules. He seems grumpy, but there is sadness inside him. A funny and touching story starts when a talkative young couple with two girls moves in next door and accidentally flattens Ove's mailbox.

Fredrik Backman's debut novel explores unexpected friendships and the profound impact one life can have on many others, blending humor and heart beautifully.

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