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Original poster

The saddest book you've ever read . . .

308 replies

expatinscotland · 27/05/2005 13:51

or didn't finish b/c it was just too depressing?

'White Oleander' by Janet Fitch

OP posts:
bundle · 17/06/2005 21:58

remember crying at Tess too, and Anna Karenin

Xanthe · 17/06/2005 21:56

Tess of the D'Urbevilles by Thomas Hardy. I could never read it a second time - far too sad. In fact most of the Thomas Hardy novels I've read are quite depressing.

expatkat · 17/06/2005 02:12

One of the saddest: The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.

Lara2 · 17/06/2005 00:24

Goodbye Mog - so many years together!!

marthamoo · 16/06/2005 22:59

Sobbed buckets at The Red Tent by Anita Diment (recommended by jimjams and utterly brilliant).

Also The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard. Harrowing story about a woman whose toddler son is kidnapped - it was one of Oprah Winfrey's Book Club selections (no, seriously) and I couldn't put it down - so sad.

SleepyJess · 16/06/2005 22:56

Between Two Eternities by Rosemary Kay.. as already mentioned by Ellbell.

This was televised as This Little Life. Very good tv adaption but the book is better.

Christie · 16/06/2005 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tortington · 16/06/2005 21:03

the only time i cried was when Boromir died in LOTR.

tiredemma · 16/06/2005 20:43

will do- off to amazon and ebay now to see if i can get it.

charleepeters · 16/06/2005 20:41

you should - i thought everyone had read it! oh well proves me wrong i wont say any more i dont want to ruin it. let me know how you find it.

tiredemma · 16/06/2005 20:40

think i will get that one to read.

charleepeters · 16/06/2005 20:39

Good NIght Mr Tom is about a boy who evacuated to the country in the war and lives with and old man 'Tom' he has been badly abused by his mother,theres a shockingly sad bit in the middle it turns out well though.great book you should read it. they made a film of it a while ago it was really good.

starshaker · 16/06/2005 20:36

a child called it and one child. reading tiger child at the mo seems a bit cheerier

tiredemma · 16/06/2005 20:35

what is goodnight mr tom about?

charleepeters · 16/06/2005 20:32

Good Night Mr Tom made me cry and cry

tummermum · 16/06/2005 20:29

CHINESE CINDERELLA BY ADELINE YEN MAH IS A HEARTBREAKER. IT IS THE AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL STORY OF A YOUNG CHINESE GIRL TRYING TO WIN THE APPROVAL OF HER FAMILY. WEPT BUCKETS. MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAS READ RED SKY IN THE MORNING TOO AND SHE FOUND IT VERY MOVING.

jodee · 03/06/2005 19:17

I'm reading Birdsong but I'm only as far as p.63 (it's taking me an absolute age to read anything at the moment, for some reason) - better have the box of tissues to hand, then.

I've never found anyone else who has read what I would vote to be my saddest ever book - A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken. (Maybe not one for the anti-CS Lewis camp ).

MRSflamesparrow · 03/06/2005 18:27

Gonna have to go buy Charlotte gray now

You people are costing me a fortune!!

anorak · 03/06/2005 15:51

That is only a theory. Obv you would have to ask Faulks to be sure of the right answer!

Magscat · 03/06/2005 15:37

Thanks Anorak - it's been bugging me trying to work out what he intended and I've never read any other Faulks so interesting to hear what you said.

Right, I'll shut up about Charlotte Gray now.

dinosaur · 03/06/2005 15:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

anorak · 03/06/2005 15:24

Magscat, I've had to study Faulks's books for a work project, and I found that in every case he writes as if he truly believes in loyalty and true love that won't be denied. I think Charlotte couldn't forget Peter because he was the one for her.

Personally, I preferred Octave too

Marina · 03/06/2005 15:20

With you on Philip Pullman, Jodee, Pruni and Prufrock, although I have been unable to get past little Tony losing his daemon and dying without weeping copiously.
Michael Rosen's Sad Book doesn't make me cry exactly, but it is deeply moving and truthful about depression and bereavement, and a very humane and generous piece of writing.

Magscat · 03/06/2005 15:15

Interesting Anorak - sounds reasonable. Maybe I'm just a cynic to think it was meant to mean that she was doomed as well because the relationship wasn't going to last (I just thought the resistance guy was a better character than the pilot so I wanted her to end up with him!)

anorak · 03/06/2005 15:11

I thought Faulks put that in to demonstrate that although it was a wonderfully happy day for Charlotte, she was marked by what she had witnessed and would never be able to forget. Those images would haunt her in unexpected places - and make her grateful for her own life and happiness.