Books that make you cry

[Scimitarsandstars]

I just finished Earth and Heaven by Sue Gee. I first tried to read it about 12 years ago but gave up as I was finding it too upsetting.

I picked it up again a few days ago as I love her writing and this book is so beautifully written. Once again, I was in floods of tears , although this time, I have finished it. I don't remember another book that has made me cry so much. I don't regret reading it though. It is so thoughtful and moving, and so evocative about the post WW1 period (although I am slightly doubtful about the ending).

So I am wondering, has anyone else read a book recently that's made you sob? And did it put you off reading it?

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd. - do not read the ending in a public place! I absolutely sobbed!

All Quiet on the Western Front.
I read it on a train and was v embarrassed as I had tears streaming down my face!

Yes! Anything by Khaled Husseini, especially And the Mountains Echoed and the Bookseller of Kabul

Came on to say the same thing. I was on the tube and I just burst into tears once I understood. Big snotty, sobby tears.

Also Hamnet
Also Velveteen Bastard Rabbit
Also the end of Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (howled)

Yes Burial Rites also made me cry! I cry a lot at books so looking through the list is more helpful then trying to remember one of the many books that made me cry.

Noughts and crosses I remember going into my mums bedroom as a young teen after hours of crying in my bed in the middle of the night as I just couldn't stop.

The Poisonwood Bible must be one of the best books ever. Think about it all the time esp with everything going on in DRC

I have had the Poisonwood Bible on my bookshelf (unread) for years now. I think I might have to make a start on it after this thread.

Hamnet
A Song for Issy Bradley
A God in Ruins

Howled over all three.

I read Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo to my son as his bedtime story when he was 8 or 9 and the final chapter reduced me to a blubbering wreck. A couple of years later, his teacher read it to the class and she also was in floods of tears during the final chapter. He was able to assure her that the same thing had happened when his mum had read him the story.

Have started All the Colours of the Dark today (on the back of this thread). Tissues close by....

The Light between Oceans by ML Stedman. I don't cry at many books but that made me sob.

Also I didn't read Goodnight Mr Tom as a child so had no forewarning of a certain scene regarding under the stairs. I was reading it to my then young children and had to stop, compose myself and then read on. My voice still cracked and I had a quick weep in the bathroom afterwards.

Also I didn't actually cry at the end of A God in Ruins but I remember feeling like I'd been punched in the stomach. I had to have a lie down to contemplate it all!

Another book about a dog which Made me cry my eyes out especially because it was a true story is Merle's Door: Lessons from Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote. Check it out. Ted Kerasote is a well known writer for Audubon, National Geographic, etc.

Still Alice - I read it when my Nan was suffering with dementia and it was so poignant and so much of it rang true. The bit about thinking the mat was a black hole really got me, it was just so close to something we’d experienced.

Oh also, The Art of Racing in the Rain 😭

Christine Dwyer Hickey’s “Last train from Liguria”

Billy Prior witnessing Wilfred Owen's death at the end of Pat Barker's The Ghost Road. I knew it was going to happen but sobbed my eyes out in a (fortunately empty) train carriage.

Just finished Betty I was sobbing

Best book I’ve ever read tbh

The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden

Another vote for The Kite Runner. Sublime 🥹

Dorothy Dunnett’s Pawn in Frankincense.

Only really cry over animals. So The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford - also a film.

I cannot describe it to people without welling up. Basically three animals two dogs and a cat are somehow left behind when a family move and this is their journey to finding their people. At the very end one dog and the cat turns up (I am welling up now!!) and the boy is thinking the old dog didn't make it. Oh god I am really crying now!!). I remember trying to tell my sister in law about it and it took me 5 goes and in the end she begged e to stop as I was crying so much!

'The Hand That First Held Mine' by Maggie O'Farrell.

Private Peacful