What is the saddest book you’ve ever read?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I finished The Lovely Bones, I said to my husband "I do not want any person I care about deeply to read that book -- it's just too sad." It haunted me for DAYS (there's a particular scene involving a dog that has me sobbing even as I'm typing).

Case Histories was the first book I read after my daughter's birth, and as I've posted in a thread a couple of months ago, I sobbed during that one in part because I recognized that I now read about children from a different perspective, one that I literally felt in my body (I say this as one who was childless bv choice for years and years, struggled with infertility, wrote a dissertation on fertility/cultural constructs of infertility -- in other words, I try to be really careful that I don't use a framework of 'being a parent changes everything', but at least in my case, there has been a visceral impact on how I approached some reading.)

I have vowed never again to read Old Yeller, ever, just as I have my daughter checking that website that warns you about any dog's death on any movie/TV show for me A LOT. Frankly, I've handled losing several family pets better than I can handle reading about it -- not sure why.

I've found this to be true of movies, as well, after I became a parent. I can't watch horror movies anymore, particularly if children are involved. Most of my friends say the same.

[Anonymous]

Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes
The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou
Night, Elie Wiesel
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda, Roméo Dallaire

[Anonymous]

Add to that And the Band Played On, Randy Shilts. Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can those of you who read a lot of extremely sad books explain why? Truly curious, as I really avoid them like the plague. I don't like sacharrine romance novels, but I don't purposely pick books that I know will make me cry through the whole thing either.

I don't purposely pick them either. And it's not what people are implying on this thread. They're just naming the saddest books they've read
You shouldn't avoid books that have sadness -- you're missing some of the best fiction in literature. And, as a plus, it makes you a more empathetic human being.

[Anonymous]

A Little Life

[Anonymous]

I just finished The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. Fabulous book and highly recommended, but very sad. About the AIDS crisis in 1980s Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Everything by John LeCarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bastard out of Carolina by June Allyson

or

The Book Of Lost Things by John Connolly

I agree about Bastard out of Carolina (by Dorothy Allison). Parts of that book made me so upset/angry I had to put it down for a few days.

Also, Sophie’s Choice.

I saw bastard out of Carolina and can't imagine reading it. I was devastated.

I cane on here to write Bastard out of Carolina. Very sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When Breath Becomes Air.

I have wanted to read this for so long, but I just can't bring myself to.

NP. You should! It's one of the saddest but most beautiful, profound books I've ever read. Not disturbing, like some of the others here...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Thornbirds

Omg YES. I was a teenage girl when I read this and made me cry for days.

NP. Really? I also read it as a teenager, I think the summer after 11th grade. There are some sad parts but overall I would not put it anywhere near the same category as some other books listed here. Great book though!

[Anonymous]

This may be a little corny, but I happened to see a copy of Dr Seuss ‘Oh Yhe Places You’ll Go’ in the grocery store. I started reading it and next thing I knew I had to fight back tears! As an adult the message resonated with me so much, especially with what I’ve been through in my life, that I was overcome with emotion. I had to put the book down and pull myself together. In the aisle at the grocery store. It’s a great message.

[Anonymous]

Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Her grief over her mother's death, especially now that I'm a mother.

[Anonymous]

I read Kramer vs Kramer (before they made it into a very good movie) when my son was a few years old and it really hit me hard.

[Anonymous]

Beach Music by Pat Conroy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved Never Let Me Go, also by Kazuo Ishiguro. Very sad.

I was going to post this one, but searched and found yours.