Books that made you cry.

[oceanflower]

What books have made you cry?

[oceanflower]

I can think of three off the top of my head:

The English Patient
Bridges of Madison County
Anna Karenina

[musi]

Gone with the Wind. i was so upset i thought the book was over when Melany died.
Thorn Birds (hey, i should remember to nominate it next time)
the Gadfly by Ethel Lilian Voynich, though it was really long ago

i haven't read any of those you have, Liz, but since i cried all through the English Patient movie, i could guess that it would be the same with the book :)

[oceanflower]

i haven't read any of those you have, Liz, but since i cried all through the English Patient movie, i could guess that it would be the same with the book :)

I've never cried so much in a movie as I did in The English Patient. I could hear manypeople in the audience sniffling and openly weeping as well.After the movie I got in my car to leave but had to wait, I was crying so!

[vierdreieins]

Hmm. I can't think of any that I've really cried in, but I might have in A Walk to Remember. When my mother read that, she said she was absolutely bawling through the whole last three chapters. Incidentally, the movie makes me cry more, and doesn't make her cry at all. Ironic.

[Rain]

I don't cry while reading. Tears could drip on the pages. You know what water does to paper.

:o

[oceanflower]

I don't cry while reading. Tears could drip on the pages. You know what water does to paper.

:o

That's what they make Kleenex tissue for. ;)

[majestic62]

I don't cry while reading. Tears could drip on the pages. You know what water does to paper.

:o

:D HAHA! My thoughts exactly! :p

[Nanoitsu Shuam]

I don't cry while reading. Tears could drip on the pages. You know what water does to paper.

Yes, it mistreats it considerably. But you can always stop reading, while weeping, if you need to. Personally, I think crying is much over-rated, and more a sign of personal problems, and an undeveloped way of coping with such problems than anything else. And I much prefer being in ecstasy, while reading, anyhow. Then there is the light, which does no good to paper, either. Read fast. Run through the pages, or they become blue before you are through. No, really, slowness is the key. Sometimes. Read in the dark, slowly, slowly...

Jurgen
Figures of Earth
The Silmarillion

I have to say, there are billion things in a book that I value more than its potential to make me cry. And those books that consciously manipulate your feelings, and, at certain points, try to make you cry, I think of as good for children, but not for adults. Hitchcock once stated:

"The audience is like a giant organ that you and I are playing. At one moment we play this note on them and get this reaction, and then we plat that chord and they react that way. And someday we won't even have to make a movie- they'll be electrodes implanted in their brains, and we'll just press different buttons and they'll go 'ooooh' and 'aaaah' and we'll frighten them...Won't that be wonderful?"

It'll be wonderful, so wonderful! :rolleyes:

[oceanflower]

Yes, it mistreats it considerably. But you can always stop reading, while weeping, if you need to. Personally, I think crying is much over-rated, and more a sign of personal problems, and an undeveloped way of coping with such problems than anything else.

I have to say, there are billion things in a book that I value more than its potential to make me cry. And those books that consciously manipulate your feelings, and, at certain points, try to make you cry, I think of as good for children, but not for adults. Hitchcock once stated:


Crying is a sign of personal problems? I cried as my babies were born: those were tears of joy. I cry when I see the suffering of another human being: those are tears of compassion. I cry when I receive a touching gift from someone I care about: these are tears of tenderness. If I read of any of these things, I may cry: these are tearsof empathy.
Joy; compassion; tenderness; empathy. Yes, terrible problem, all. :rolleyes:

[oceanflower]

Yes, it mistreats it considerably. But you can always stop reading, while weeping, if you need to. Personally, I think crying is much over-rated, and more a sign of personal problems, and an undeveloped way of coping with such problems than anything else.

I have to say, there are billion things in a book that I value more than its potential to make me cry. And those books that consciously manipulate your feelings, and, at certain points, try to make you cry, I think of as good for children, but not for adults. Hitchcock once stated:


Crying is a sign of personal problems? I cried as my babies were born: those were tears of joy. I cry when I see the suffering of another human being: those are tears of compassion. I cry when I receive a touching gift from someone I care about: these are tears of tenderness. If I read of any of these things, I may cry: these are tearsof empathy.
Joy; compassion; tenderness; empathy. Yes, terrible problems, all. :rolleyes:

[Nanoitsu Shuam]

Crying is a sign of personal problems? I cried as my babies were born: those were tears of joy

Hmm, I have no similar experiences, I believe, so no comments for that...


I cry when I see the suffering of another human being: those are tears of compassion.

Well, I don't. I feel bad, I suffer with him. That's compassion, compatí, 'patí'--to suffer. Experiencing feelings of suffering and related thoughts may lead to crying, but only if you have no better developed ways of coping with such feelings and thoughts (that's why babies cry if they feel bad: they can't do anything else), or if you are in a state of regression. Actually, regression is not very uncommon in adults; but it's not indispensable as a mental coping mechanism, either; and if a work of art stimulates regression, I don't have much respect for it.


I cry when I receive a touching gift from someone I care about: these are tears of tenderness.

What if somebody, whom you hate, gives you a touching gift? But really, I have no idea what you're talking about, so again, I have to pass commenting this in any meaningful way. (Or perhaps such an experience arises thoughts of self-importance (thoughts like "I'm beloved, after all", "I'm useful, after all", "he loves me, eventhough I'm only this worthless me"), which in a problematic personality may lead to anything; I don't know...)

But yeah, I guess I see what you're trying to say, and you're probably right... :forward:

[Jezebel]

Crying is a sign of personal problems? I cried as my babies were born: those were tears of joy. I cry when I see the suffering of another human being: those are tears of compassion. I cry when I receive a touching gift from someone I care about: these are tears of tenderness. If I read of any of these things, I may cry: these are tearsof empathy.
Joy; compassion; tenderness; empathy. Yes, terrible problems, all. :rolleyes:


Agreed. Completely.
Crying is not a sign of under development, a lack of proper coping skills, or any of that nonsense. Crying is an effective coping skill as well as an appropriate way of expressing emotions. As an effective coping skill: Yes, babies do it but that doesn't mean it is "below" us once we've grown. If you are in a situation that you cannot do anything about but it upsets you, it is very effective and healthy to cry about it. You let out your emotions and are showing that you are able to accept the fact that you cannot change the situation but are still affected by it emotionally. This is far healthier than stubbornly refusing to admit that you cannot change the situation or denying your emotional response to a situation.

Humans are emotional and that is not a flaw. Emotions are not some form of regression or under development. People who think we should strive to move beyond emotions are going to be forever in conflict and will be far more unhealthy than those who embrace their emotions.

[oceanflower]

So, Nanoitsu Shuam...since no books have made you cry, this thread is finished as far as your concerned.

[oceanflower]

The topic is: What books have made you cry?

[Nanoitsu Shuam]

So, Nanoitsu Shuam...since no books have made you cry, this thread is finished as far as your concerned.

Perhaps you should have refrained from replying to my post, with rolling your eyes, then? Some kind of an explanatory post was obviously needed, so that's what you got. Besides, it remains my fixed intention not to continue arguing about the subject. I've stated my opinions, and provided enough rationale for them, and that's enough for me; Jezebel has her opinions, as you have yours, and that's perfectly fine with me.

And there are at least three books that have made me cry, and I listed them in my first post to this thread. So you will have to come up with a new rationale for formally kicking me out of this thread!

:)

[oceanflower]

Perhaps you should have refrained from replying to my post, with rolling your eyes, then? Some kind of an explanatory post was obviously needed, so that's what you got. Besides, it remains my fixed intention not to continue arguing about the subject. I've stated my opinions, and provided enough rationale for them, and that's enough for me; Jezebel has her opinions, as you have yours, and that's perfectly fine with me.

And there are at least three books that have made me cry, and I listed them in my first post to this thread. So you will have to come up with a new rationale for formally kicking me out of this thread!

:)
This discussion had begun to go too far off-topic. While some off-topic posts are usual in most threads, it is my job as co -administrator of this site (or the job of one of the site's moderators) to get things back on-topic. you'd like to add to your list of books that have made you cry, you are welcome to continue posting in this thread. If you take issue with anything I have just written, please PM me.

[Rain]

I may have gotten a little misty during Life of Pi or The World According to Garp.

[Jezebel]

I've been trying to think of books that have made me cry since this thread first started but I couldn't for the life of me remember any even though I know there are lots... I finally remembered one though:
Where the Red Fern Grows

[oceanflower]

As a young girl I cried reading The Little Princess by Frances Hodgeson Burnett

[Winifred]

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Read when I was 13. I had pneumonia, was out of school, and couldn't do much but read. My stepfather brought it home from the library for me. I remember he was a bit shy about choosing a book for me, a girl, since he was an unabashed Buck Rogers fan when young. A great read, but so sad.

[ArthurDent]

Heavier than heaven - in one of the last chapters, the author attempts to depict Kurt Cobain's suicide in details. I cried like a baby...

1984 - The re-education of Winston Smith.

[Nanoitsu Shuam]

Oh yeah, it's difficult to recall which books exactly . . . if any . . . But I think I'll have to add a few titles to my list: My Life by Richard Wagner (also a very depressing book), and one or some of the three volumes of the Liszt biography by Alan Walker (also depressing).

[JackG]

There have been some books that have made me cry. I have to admit "Where the Red Fern Grows" made me cry. Sad dog stories always make me misty eyed but also some Russian lit. has some tear jerker scenes in it too.

Fathers and Son by Ivan Turgenev- A story about the passing of generations in Tsarist Russia. One scene where the father Nikolai walks into his garden and thinks about his life, late wife, and how he can't communicate to his son who has been transformed into a fatalist. A good read that I recommend to anyone.

Sebastopol Sketches by Tolstoy- A series of 3 stories about the Crimean War in which Tolstoy was actually participated in. I believe it is in the first story, one of the characters is about to be blown up by a grenade of some sort and his whole life flashes before him. Tolstory beautifully creates the scene and a powerful piece of prose. Definetly made me tear up a bit.

P.S. I'm glad I found this forum because at college I can't find many people who are interested in literature.

[Stargazer]

I have seldom cried so uncontrolably as the time I read the last page of the Winnie The Pooh books to my little boy.

I could feel it building and was helpless to stop the sobs. Those books meant so much to me when I was younger and reading the final words just tore me apart. It's all about leaving childhood behind but never forgetting.

Oh dear.......

[BLUE BABY]

"Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book despicted scenes of parents losing their children, wives losing their husbands, childrens losing their parents, siblings losings each others. And most important of all, the deaths of two of the main characters, Eva St Clare and Uncle Tom. I cried when I read the scenes of both of their deaths.

[lyzardly]

When I was in 3rd grade, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson made me cry and I distinctly remember having to put the book down and sob before I could finish it.

Also, To Kill A Mockingbird always makes me cry. My dad read it to me when I was very young and then we watched the movie. At the part when Jem and Scout are walking home from the school play, my dad started to cry. I was confused and said, "Don't cry Daddy, you know how it ends." To which he replied, "I just can't handle the thought of anything happening to my kids." Now, I can't make it through without tears. Even when I was reading it outloud to my boyfriend last year, my eye juice was leaking.

I'm such a sap...

[Jezebel]

Oh yes, Bridge to Terabithia made me cry too.

[Lauren]

Pathetically, I cried while reading Tuck Everlasting and Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli. I really hated them both.

[Aida]

I cried recently while reading Brokeback mountain. When I saw the movie I had to hold back tears, I hate cryin' in public....

The book that made me cry my eyes out the most is a book by swedish author Peter Pohl called I miss you, I miss you. It's about a twin sister left alone after the other twin dies in a car accident....heartbreaking. I read it 10 years ago...it's still a sad memory..

[Blade of Regret]

Oh yes, Bridge to Terabithia made me cry too.

haha me too.....Oh and so did the Outsiders... Johnny!!! *bawling*

[Jezebel]

haha me too.....Oh and so did the Outsiders... Johnny!!! *bawling*

I love that book, and yes, I cried reading that one as well. :(

[mc_kamuflaj]

i think tehere are too many novels but i was affected from Jane Eyre most.Mybe it is not affected for you but I believed that love is the biggest sense to affect a person in a work so i was affected and cry abit in that....:(_-__----___

[yuping]

O,Camellia made me cry long ago.

[Dahlia]

I agree with mc kamuflaj, Jane Eyre really made me cry. And obvious books like His Dark Materials and the Harry Potters. It doesn't take much in a novel I'm involved in to start weeping.

[TariNumenesse]

The first book I ever cried at was Anne of Green Gables. Since then, I have cried at several, but at the moment I cannot recall any of their titles! I think that The Crown Rose made me cry, and I have come very close when reading the Bible.

[Nafe]

Tons of books. Most recently, either an Isaac Babel story or Longing by Amos Oz.

[KMarie253]

The Time Travellers Wife!!! There are some really gut wrenching moments in it!! Other than that, ha ha, Harry Potter and THBP made me cry! :(

[isolated_artist]

At the risk of sounding like a dork, I will admit to bawling when Sirius Black died in the 5th Harry Potter book. I haven't read many tear-jerkers lately... maybe I'll have to skim through this thread and pick up a good one at Borders

[jane]

i think tehere are too many novels but i was affected from Jane Eyre most.Mybe it is not affected for you but I believed that love is the biggest sense to affect a person in a work so i was affected and cry abit in that...._-__----___


yes, Jane Eyre made me cry, too. also, The Mill on The Floss by George Eliot affected me too much.

[pingu]

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Gosh, I hate and love that book at the same time)
The Lost Prince by Frances Hodgson Burnett (those were really tears of happyness I guess)
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by J. K. Rowling (Sirius was my favourite character, I cried like a baby as I sat on my bed with the book in my lap in the middle of the night)
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas

I think I cry a lot while reading books. Too emotional, I guess :)

[Rachel]

For the most part I haven't read many books that really made me cry. The story has to really reach me on a deeply personal level and although I may love even rave about a book , that doen't mean it touches me in a way that makes me cry.
Having said that I will admit to crying myself nearly to sleep over some of the characters in the Unfinished tales by JRR Tolkien and also his Silmarillion.

[Jezebel]

Hungry for Home: A Wolf Odyssey by Asta Bowen. Read this a while ago and it made me cry again and again, especially because it was based on real events.

[Idril]

I'm not a particularly weepy person, there are only a couple of books that have made me shed tears, the first one is The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan which is somewhat embarrassing because it's such Chick Lit but nonethless, it was an incredibly moving novel. The other book that made me cry, and this was more than a few tears, was Swan Song by John Galsworthy. It's the last book in the second trilogy of the Forsyte Saga and in it, Soames dies and I love Soames, he is such a wonderful, complicated, conflicted character and I knew his death was coming but that foreknowledge did nothing to soften the blow for me.

[Andanzas]

Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes.

[Idril]

Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes.

Oh yes, I had forgotten about that one, the ending to that book is particularly devastating.

[Rachel]

I had completely forgotten about flowers for Algernon. I read it when I was a very young child and was so broken hearted and despairing I actually thought about suicide. It is one of those stories that should be read by someone who is more mature than I was obviously.

[Argento_Scipio]

My Friend Lenoard made me cry....but that was before I found out the author made up the story. It's still a sad story, but I kind of feel betrayed :\

1984 had its moment with the ending. I didn't expect it coming when I read it.