The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods
Author: Julia Butterfly Hill, Julia Hill

The Whale Warriors: The Battle at the Bottom of the World to Save the Planet's Largest Mammals
Author: Peter Heller

A Word After Dying (Meredith and Markby, Bk 10)
Author: Ann Granger

An OxyContin and heroin epidemic that began several years ago continues to kill at an alarming rate. So far, several thousand have died across the state, including 3,200 from 2003-2007. Drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in U.S., data show

Fueling the surge are prescription pain and anxiety drugs that are potent, highly addictive and especially dangerous when combined with one another or with other drugs or alcohol. While most major causes of preventable death are declining, drugs are an exception. The death toll has doubled in the last decade, now claiming a life every 14 minutes. Our newest title, There is No Hero in Heroin, is one woman’s real-life journey, as she slowly realizes that she and her entire family has been “hijacked” by her son’s opiate addiction.

One of the things that makes this memoir so unique is that Janice, the mother of an addicted son, weavesfirst-person excerpts—written by her addicted son among her own memoirs—so the reader can experience thoughts, feelings, heartbreak, anger and frustration from both viewpoints. Her son writes:

My mom once asked me what it felt like to use. It is like being melted wax.

Fluid. Liquid. Spineless. Not the spineless I feel sober, but a freeing kind of spineless. My body is weightless, shapeless, and shiftless. I can feel things I have never felt before, all the while avoiding the feel of any emotion .

. . I feel the breeze pass right through me. I bear the uncomfortable sweltering heat and never notice I am sweating, or the bitter, chilling frost without the slightest shiver. I forget to eat, but I feel completely satiated. My mind is empty and my heart is numb . . .What I am afraid of is feeling.

Tommy, Nargi’s addicted son admitted to selling opiates to Jared Loughner, years before The Tucson Tragedy in January of 2011, that critically wounded and forever changed the life of Former AZ Representative, Gabrielle Giffords.

Nargi, a registered nurse, has utilized her twenty-eight years leadership experience to form the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation, and established the annual World Wide Black Monday Event to raise awareness for loved ones lost to addiction. For more information about the foundation, Janice or the Black Monday Event, you can visit her website at http://tinhihfoundation-com.webs.com

THERE IS NO HERO IN HEROIN

Author: Janice Nargi

Category: Addiction / Recovery / Memoir

Edition: First

Publication Date: September, 2012

Price: Paperback $19.95, Ebook $9.99

ISBN: 978-0-9831665-2-8

LCCN: 2012934200

Approximate Length: 188 pages

Trim Size: 5 X 8

Distributor: Atlas Books

Publisher: Twin Feather Publishing

P.O. Box 18910

Tucson, AZ 85731

Currently out in ePDF and ePub on Amazon.com and other sites.

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert - one of my all-time favorites!

Terms of Endearment by Larry McMurtry

Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy - one of my all-time favorites!

The last book/books I remember that really had me boo-hooing was, "The Summer Tree" trilogy by Guy Gavrial Kay. I read it many years ago, and to this day can't think about several different scenes without getting teary.

Another one was "The Stand", by Steven King. Every time he killed off one of my favorite characters, I cried. Good think ol' Steve wasn't around when he killed off some of them, or I might have hit him on the head with the book. Almost certain brain damage if I had. "L!"

The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton

Villette, Charlotte Bronte - this book broke my heart

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens - I don't think I actually cried reading this, but I came very close

Hmm, interesting that I haven't read any contemporary books that made me cry - or that I can't remember any of the contemporary books that made me cry.

I tend to try to stay away from sad books for the most part. However, the last book that I read that really brought me to tears was back in February of 2011. It was Blue by Lou Aronica. It was sent to me as part of a tour which was being run at around that time. Oh my gosh! I was practically bawling. It was very good though! :) I gave it an A! on my blog. Have a wonderful day! Here is my review of the copy that I received if anyone's interested.

Blue was taken by someone! Thank you so much! :)

I would have to say the book I read most recently that moved me to tears is "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein.  Fabulous story, well written and very moving.  Highly recommended!

Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg

It would be a very long list indeed of books that made me cry, but a few were memorable for the sheer amount and intensity of the water works.

First place would definitely go to *1,000 Splendid Suns*.  I sobbed buckets, and if I think too long about it, I will start up again and it has been several years since I read it.

Others would be:

*The Book Thief*:  Even though there was plenty of foreshadowing, and I knew what was coming, the tender, simple way things were told had me seriously bawling.

*The Time Traveler's Wife*:  Henry was the bravest man I've ever read about.

*The Red Tent*:  Another book where knowing what happens did not spare me any of the sorrow. I just sobbed.

*The Art of Racing in the Rain*:  I think some of the tears were just for the sweetness of this wonderful book. 

*One Thousand White Women*:  Not a book I will forget in a hurry.

Edited to add: *House Calls and Hitching Posts*  the real life memoirs of a doctor in Amish country, had a few parts that had me crying my eyes out. It is a very good book, though.