What is the saddest book you’ve ever read?

[Anonymous]

I Know This Much Is True.

[Anonymous]

Up a Road Slowly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Little Life

I really want to like this book, partly because I told my mom it looked interesting a while back and she spent the big bucks for the hard back . I feel obligated.

But my question is, did you all find the writing a little lacking? It seemed really pedestrian or unsophisticated. And that's a strange criticism coming from me because I don't really enjoy heavy literature. The writing reminded me of Dan Brown or Sydney Sheldon (not the story line, just the bad writing).

Anyone else agree? Or am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Pp again^^. I couldn't get past the first 20 or so pages of a Little Life... But I'm willing to try again.

[Anonymous]

Little Women
Jo married the wrong man
Damn Amy

[Anonymous]

The Last of the Just

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I Know This Much Is True.

Yes. Ugh. I have a mentally ill sibling and there were scenes that were so real and true. Painful read.

[Anonymous]

How has The Grapes of Wrath not been mentioned in 14 pages?! I still can't think about it without profound sadness and read it at least 20 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone already say "The Giving Tree" and I missed it? As a teenager, moderately sad. As a parent? So, so sad.

Also, the Time Travelers Wife.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Little Life

I really want to like this book, partly because I told my mom it looked interesting a while back and she spent the big bucks for the hard back . I feel obligated.

But my question is, did you all find the writing a little lacking? It seemed really pedestrian or unsophisticated. And that's a strange criticism coming from me because I don't really enjoy heavy literature. The writing reminded me of Dan Brown or Sydney Sheldon (not the story line, just the bad writing).

Anyone else agree? Or am I missing something?

I just cannot get into this book, which is odd because it seems like something I would love. I don’t think it is badly written, in tha5 I don’t think it is formulaic or dumb, It just seems to plod along with no purpose. I have started and stopped three or four times now. I must be missing something, too.

[Anonymous]

Watership Down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp again^^. I couldn't get past the first 20 or so pages of a Little Life... But I'm willing to try again.

I started it last week after reading this thread. I am ready to put it down.

[Anonymous]

Faithful Elephants

[Anonymous]

Ordinary People
House of Sand and Fog
Beat the Turtle Drum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How has The Grapes of Wrath not been mentioned in 14 pages?! I still can't think about it without profound sadness and read it at least 20 years ago.

Of all the books I’ve read I cried the most at the end of this one.

Watership Down made me deeply sad as a kid.