Saddest books you've ever read

A place to discuss your favorite authors and poets, Christian and secular

Saddest books you've ever read

Postby rocklobster » Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:39 am

What books either nearly brought you to tears or actually made you cry?
My votes:
Old Yeller
Angela's Ashes
The Kite Runner (such a beautiful ending!)
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. I appointed you to be a prophet of all nations."
--Jeremiah 1:5
Image
Hit me up on social media!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007205508246<--Facebook

I'm also on Amino as Radical Edward, and on Reddit as Rocklobster as well.


click here for my playlist!
my last fm profile!
User avatar
rocklobster
 
Posts: 8903
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:27 pm
Location: Planet Claire

Postby Technomancer » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:29 am

Night by Elie Wiesel
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
The scientific method," Thomas Henry Huxley once wrote, "is nothing but the normal working of the human mind." That is to say, when the mind is working; that is to say further, when it is engaged in corrrecting its mistakes. Taking this point of view, we may conclude that science is not physics, biology, or chemistry—is not even a "subject"—but a moral imperative drawn from a larger narrative whose purpose is to give perspective, balance, and humility to learning.

Neil Postman
(The End of Education)

Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge

Isaac Aasimov
User avatar
Technomancer
 
Posts: 2379
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 11:47 am
Location: Tralfamadore

Postby Peanut » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:01 am

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Night by Elie Wiesel
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
CAA's Resident Starcraft Expert
Image

goldenspines wrote:Its only stealing if you don't get caught.
User avatar
Peanut
 
Posts: 2432
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 5:39 pm
Location: Definitely not behind you

Postby Aileen Kailum » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:21 am

Tilly by Frank Peretti. I always start crying about three pages into the book. *sigh*
Need some excitement and meaning to brighten your bleak existence? Enter the CAA Monthly Manga contest!
(Warning: side affects may/will include irritability, the cramping of hands, frustration, and/or loss of sleep.)

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades
User avatar
Aileen Kailum
 
Posts: 244
Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:49 pm
Location: The great land of Texas

Postby mitsuki lover » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:03 pm

A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
User avatar
mitsuki lover
 
Posts: 8486
Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:00 pm

Postby bigsleepj » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:15 pm

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.
The Children of Hurin by JRR Tolkien
Maus by Art Spiegelman
Unwise Toasting Sermon

The Sweet Smell of CAA
The Avatar Christian Ronin designed for me
An Avatar KhakiBlue gave to me
The avatar Termyt made for me

KhakiBlueSocks wrote:"I'm going to make you a prayer request you can't refuse..." Cue the violins. :lol:

Current Avatar by SirThinks2much - thank you very much! :thumb::)
User avatar
bigsleepj
 
Posts: 3432
Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: South Africa - Oh yes, better believe it!

Postby Scarecrow » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:08 pm

The only book I remember actually almost crying at the end was Stone Fox. I was in 3rd grade I think. I was reading the last chapter and the ending was so sad =(

Watched the movie in School though and that sucked. Not sad in the least. Same ending as the book but I dunno, it just sucked.
"Take me down, shake me out. Give me a brain, that I might know You better"
User avatar
Scarecrow
 
Posts: 1354
Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2006 2:05 pm
Location: California

Postby Sheenar » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:24 pm

There's quite a few...
Old Yeller
A Dog Called Kitty
The Crossing
Schindler's List
The Road
Black Beauty
Where the Red Fern Grows --haven't finished it, but I plan to pick it up again --got sidetracked

And though I haven't read this one yet, I saw the movie and it made me cry --The Yearling --I plan to read this book hopefully this summer
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Since the creation of the Internet, the Earth's rotation has been fueled, primarily, by the collective spinning of English teachers in their graves."
User avatar
Sheenar
 
Posts: 2989
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:55 am
Location: Texas

Postby sharien chan » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:59 pm

White Oleander...but thats because it mirrored my life in certain regards
uh

Tuesday's with Morrie
The Five People You Meet in Heaven...

theres more I just can't think of them
User avatar
sharien chan
 
Posts: 454
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:36 am
Location: lalalala life

Postby GeneD » Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:41 am

I'm not sure how long ago I read it, but I cried when reading "God's Smuggler" by Borther Andrew. I read it for a book review for school; I think I was about 7th grade. I actually don't remember what happened, I think it was someone who died towards the beginning of the book, but it was very sad and I don't normally cry in books or movies.

Some of my university textbooks make me cry too.
I don't know what broke to make you like this, but I must be broken too if I'm standing here praising your destructiveness. -Rock (Black Lagoon)

As I had encountered kindness, I wanted to be kind myself. -Takashi Natsume (Natsume's Book of Friends)

MAL
Twitter
MOES: Promoting sane sigs.
User avatar
GeneD
 
Posts: 1969
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:43 am
Location: South.

Postby Warrior 4 Jesus » Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:34 am

The Killing of Mudeye

A schizophrenic teenage boy who has no friends and abusive parents is majorly bullied at school. Then one day he's found in the gym - he's hung himself with a tie. Some people are sad but there isn't the slightest bit of hope.

Got to love high-school literature - so freakin' happy.
And people wonder why I hate it so much.
User avatar
Warrior 4 Jesus
 
Posts: 4844
Joined: Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:52 pm
Location: The driest continent that isn't Antarctica.

Postby Scarecrow » Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:12 am

o.O We never got interesting books like that. I kinda wanna read that now.

Just remembered another: Bridge to Terabithia... I was kind of disappointed with the movie though but it was still good.
"Take me down, shake me out. Give me a brain, that I might know You better"
User avatar
Scarecrow
 
Posts: 1354
Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2006 2:05 pm
Location: California

Postby sharien chan » Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:09 am

Scarecrow (post: 1210938) wrote:o.O We never got interesting books like that. I kinda wanna read that now.

Just remembered another: Bridge to Terabithia... I was kind of disappointed with the movie though but it was still good.

That book is amazing!
User avatar
sharien chan
 
Posts: 454
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:36 am
Location: lalalala life

Postby Maledicte » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:48 pm

The Lovely Bones
Hart's Hope (stabbed me, right there.)
Dragonlance Legends (the last book especially--Test of the Twins. Has me bawling every time.)
Frankenstein makes me sad too.
Vampire Tapestry
User avatar
Maledicte
 
Posts: 2078
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 9:39 pm

Postby AsianBlossom » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:08 pm

Where the Red Fern Grows...oy, what an ending.
RESPECT THE UNBORN AND CHOOSE LIFE...your mother did.

"Do not underestimate the power of the muffin! The muffin will smite all those who question it! The muffin will crush all nay-sayers! He who controls the muffin shall control the entire world!" -Taishi, Comic Party English Dub
User avatar
AsianBlossom
 
Posts: 1376
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:00 pm
Location: *staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare*

Postby jaems-kun » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:57 pm

Facebook.
Image
User avatar
jaems-kun
 
Posts: 124
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:08 pm
Location: Level C

Postby the_wolfs_howl » Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:32 am

Okay, I'm a real crybaby when it comes to emotional books, so I'll pick the ones that made me cry the most

The first book I ever cried for was called something like Flames Across the Susquehana, which I read for school. Basically, it's a story about two drummer boys in the Civil War, and one of them dies T_T
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien. I cried buckets at the Shelob's Lair part.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. I read the whole book in one day, and cried a lot at the end. (And I really liked the movie, but anyway.)
The High King by Lloyd Alexander. I moped around for a week after reading this, partly because of the bittersweet ending, and partly because my favorite series (at the time) was over.
Several Adventures in Odyssey books made me cry, especially the one where Jimmy becomes a Christian.
The Letters I Never Wrote by Ruth E. Van Reken. This was really emotional for me, because it seemed she was writing about me, especially towards the beginning, the part about her childhood. I was crying for nearly every chapter.
You can find out things about the past that you never knew. And from what you've learned, you may see some things differently in the present. You're the one that changes. Not the past.
- Ellone, Final Fantasy VIII

Image

"There's a difference between maliciously offending somebody - on purpose - and somebody being offended by...truth. If you're offended by the truth, that's your problem. I have no obligation to not offend you if I'm speaking the truth. The truth is supposed to offend you; that's how you know you don't got it."
- Brad Stine
User avatar
the_wolfs_howl
 
Posts: 3273
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:26 pm
Location: Not Paradise...yet

Postby Hana Ryuuzaki » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:18 pm

[font="palatino Linotype"]Well, I've never cried at a book, but I just read a sad book about a family of Cambodians and some concentration camps.

It's The Clay Marble. Read it.[/font]
[SIGPIC]http://christiananime.net/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=9906&dateline=1214542817[/SIGPIC]
Image
[SIZE="1"][color="Plum"]WHY GOD MADE J-ROCK: Kamijo[/color][/SIZE]
[color="LightBlue"][SIZE="3"][font="Century Gothic"]Crucify My Love, If My Love Is Blind...[/SIZE][/color][/font]
User avatar
Hana Ryuuzaki
 
Posts: 546
Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2007 4:20 pm
Location: The Phantomhive Estate

Postby Sheenar » Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:52 am

Another is The Diary of Anne Frank --man, that is really sad because it all really happened...
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Since the creation of the Internet, the Earth's rotation has been fueled, primarily, by the collective spinning of English teachers in their graves."
User avatar
Sheenar
 
Posts: 2989
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:55 am
Location: Texas

Postby rocklobster » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:45 pm

Try sitting through the movie version of Anne Frank. That's even tougher!
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. I appointed you to be a prophet of all nations."
--Jeremiah 1:5
Image
Hit me up on social media!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007205508246<--Facebook

I'm also on Amino as Radical Edward, and on Reddit as Rocklobster as well.


click here for my playlist!
my last fm profile!
User avatar
rocklobster
 
Posts: 8903
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:27 pm
Location: Planet Claire

Postby Sae-chan » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:57 pm

Well, I don't usually cry at the end or during books and movies (I mean, there was this one movies at which I cried, but I don't remember what it was called and besides, I had a fever), but here's one I think I cried at. It was a long time ago.

The Basket of Flowers, by J. H. St. A., translated from French. It's an old book, short too. But that was kind of sad.

I've read the Diary of Anne Frank, and I've never cried through it, though I came close to it. Hmm... I've never seen the movie.
Sae-chan
 
Posts: 99
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:28 pm
Location: I live in Him. ;)

Postby Slytherine » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:53 pm

-The Diary of Anne Frank
-Night by Elie Wiesel
-Bridge to Terabitha [I was 9 when I read it. I cried for like...days]

~Slytherine
User avatar
Slytherine
 
Posts: 123
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:37 pm
Location: Where do you THINK I live...?

Postby Corkyspaniel » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:20 pm

[font="Times New Roman"][SIZE="2"]The only two I can think of are The Lottery Rose and Where the Red Fern Grows.[/SIZE][/font]
[color="Green"][SIZE="2"]There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.1 Corinthians 10:13, KJV[/SIZE][/color]
---
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC][font="Comic Sans MS"][color="DarkOrange"][SIZE="4"][/SIZE][SIZE="4"]Believe it!!![/color][/font][/SIZE]
[font="Comic Sans MS"][color="DarkOrchid"] [SIZE="2"]~Neji/Tenten fan~[/SIZE][/color][/font]
User avatar
Corkyspaniel
 
Posts: 79
Joined: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:19 am
Location: South Carolina

Postby MomoAdachi » Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:09 pm

*Pretties and Specials by Scott Westerfeld may seem like an odd choice, but those who've read it will know what I mean...
[spoiler]Poor Zane! I cried, I was such a Tally/Zane(Zally?) shipper![/spoiler]
*There are a few really sad Sweet Valley High books(yes, I am an unapologetic SVH fan!), When Love Dies and On The Edge come to mind
*Elsie Dinsmore and its sequel, Elsie's Holidays At Roselands by Martha Finley
*Several American Girls Collection books have really sad parts, like Meet Kirsten and Changes For Addy

I guess who can tell that I'm not a big classics fan. I have pretty shallow taste in books.

Oh, and if we're counting nonfiction, the silent film actress Clara Bow's biography, Running Wild by David Stenn(sp?) can be a real downer, as can Joan Crawford's life story.
Non-Christian Anti-Hentai Grrl
#1 Dubbed Sailor Moon Fan!
#1 Peach Girl Fan!

98% of the teenage population does or have tried smoking pot. If you are one of the 2% who haven't, copy or paste this in your signature.
User avatar
MomoAdachi
 
Posts: 299
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:45 am
Location: USA

Postby Doubleshadow » Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:20 pm

Animal Farm by George Orwell. It didn't help that I'm a major horse lover.
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque. The point of view of a soldier who deals with killing other human beings, as opposed to the faceless generic enemy, and knows that the end is inevitable.
[color="Red"]As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. - Proverbs 23:7[/color]

The Sundries
Robin: "If we close our eyes, we can't see anything."
Batman: "A sound observation, Robin."
User avatar
Doubleshadow
 
Posts: 2102
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 7:04 pm
Location: ... What's burning?

Postby Angel Tifa » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:19 am

Lord of the Flies and The Great Gatsby were the saddest ones I've ever read thus far.

Also for those of you who have played Resident Evil Code Veronica X, needless to say the book based off of that game was very sad at the end. S.D. Perry is the author of the Resident Evil novels.
[color="Purple"]God Is Good All The Time :angel:![/color]
User avatar
Angel Tifa
 
Posts: 272
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 6:15 pm
Location: Southern California

Postby Kkun » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:23 am

The Kite Runner is definitely up there, though the ending is a good deal more hopeful than the rest of the book.

While it's funny and insightful at times, Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is up there. I don't want to give too much away, but it's about a boy with Asperger's syndrome who attempts to solve a mystery that winds up unravelling his entire life. The ending is very satisfying but the events that occur to get there are heart rending.

Pat Barker's Regeneration is also high on my list of sad books. It's kind of a fictionalized account of WWI poet Siegfried Sassoon's time spent in the Craiglockhart asylum. He was a conscientious objector to the war and they tossed him in Craiglockhart for it, claiming he was insane. It was just an incredibly depressing book.
I'm a shoe-in for hater of the year.
User avatar
Kkun
 
Posts: 3604
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:00 am
Location: The Player Hater's Ball.

Postby EricTheFred » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:36 am

Kokoro is a wonderful, but very sad book. I've read it in English, and one of my goals for learning written Japanese is to be able to read it in the original language.

Death, Be Not Proud

For Whom the Bell Tolls
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May He cause His face to shine upon you.
May He lift up His countenance and grant you peace.

Maokun: Ninjas or Pirates? (Vikings are not a valid answer, sorry)

EricTheFred: Vikings are always a valid answer.

Feel free to visit My Writing.com Portfolio

Largo: "Well Ed, good to see ya. Guess I gotta beat the crap out of you now."

Jamie Hyneman: "It's just another lovely day at the bomb range. Birds are singing, rabbits are hopping about, and soon there's going to be a big explosion."
User avatar
EricTheFred
 
Posts: 1691
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:26 pm
Location: Garland, TX

Postby GeneD » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:09 pm

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. It's not actually a sad book, but it got to me. The fact that in real life there are people who write their kids off to a nanny, who ends up actually raising their child for them was just too sad. I felt so sorry for the child, and the nanny who loves the child but can't really ever do anything for him/her.
They made a movie of the book, but I haven't seen it.
I don't know what broke to make you like this, but I must be broken too if I'm standing here praising your destructiveness. -Rock (Black Lagoon)

As I had encountered kindness, I wanted to be kind myself. -Takashi Natsume (Natsume's Book of Friends)

MAL
Twitter
MOES: Promoting sane sigs.
User avatar
GeneD
 
Posts: 1969
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:43 am
Location: South.

Postby Felix » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:40 pm

I... haven't actually read very many sad books. :| But the saddest amongst the ones I have...?

>.>

<.<

Bridge to Terabithia. I cried, hehehe ^^; And I was 16 when I read it, too. Go ahead, laugh it up. XP
User avatar
Felix
 
Posts: 2098
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 10:00 am
Location: Unemployed in Greenland

Next

Return to Book Corner

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 73 guests