D is for disturbing

Jacquelyn Mitchard's The Deep End of the Ocean is one of the most heart-wrenching books I have read. I immediately thought of it when I realized today was Wednesday and that it was once again time for another book recommendation -- we're now in week four, the letter D -- for Reading at the Beach's book challenge, A-Z Wednesday:

While I heartily recommend The Deep End of the Ocean, I must tell you that it was one of the most disturbing books I've read. The plot of this novel centres around every parent's nightmare: the disappearance of a child. Beth, the book's main character, is reluctantly at her high school reunion with her family and, for a moment, leaves her children while she tends to other business, her son watching his toddler brother. But seemingly in a mere heartbeat, her 3 year old son disappears. Police are called, minutes and hours and days agonizingly pass by, and still no sign. How does a family cope with this tragedy? How do Beth and her husband deal with the uncertainty of not knowing where their child is, if he is even alive? How to deal with the overwhelming guilt? The novel touches on all this and more.

I recall that I was actually so disturbed by the whole concept that I put the book down for several days, refusing to finish it. Eventually, I did. I was glad I picked it back up again, glad to read through to the end.

If you want to read a book that totally tugs at your emotions, give this a look.