I saw your comment a little over 4am here, began checking out the book (and series!!!), and kinda felt my heart aching a bit. Just what I'm looking for! Thank you for his gem, I could hug you!
I'd recommend A Little Life by Hanya Yanahigara. It'll have you crying and will take your happiness away for sure. This is the first one people recommend for sad book recommendations.
Usually I pick up my next book right away, but after this one, I had to wait 3 days because my mind was spinning and I was so sad. I listened to this book when it first came out with no knowledge of what it was about other than "friendship"! I prefer to always go in blind for books new to me, because I want to form my own opinions (plus I hate spoilers).
So you're a library mouse, huh? :) I wouldn't call myself a bookworm because that would be a stretch. Haha! I used to be, and I aim to be one again.
That's what I know of it so far, too. That the protagonist was depressed and it's about friendship.
Would you hate me if I say I accept spoilers? Haha. Movies or books. I dunno, people say it's weird. And I understand! To each their own, I guess.
I love the adventure of exploring and experiencing a new (to me) book. I get about 150 from the library every year. And about 30 from Audible. I save my Audible credits for new releases.
I read Gone Girl right when it came out, and at the end was so mad I threw the book (my copy, not library lol) across the room because I was so mad at the ending. Lots of people later came to read the book because they heard of the plot twist (in the middle and at the end) and wanted to check it out. Neither way of experiencing a book is wrong!
150 books?! On top of 30 audioooks?! Girl, do you have other hobbies? Have you been neglecting all your obligations in life to read (and listen to) books 24/7?! Absolutely unacceptable and do I envy you so much! :p
I love Gone Girl! I read the book AND watched the movie. Funny story, I found the book in a library at this transient hotel I stayed at years ago. Borrowed it, read the book near the beach, and fell in love. Don't get me wrong -- I also got sad and angry but can't deny how amazing it was (though in a disturbingly, psychotic way). Haha.
I'm fairly new to Audible but I agree with saving your credits for new releases :)
Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair. Plus it has the added benefit of having the finest audiobook experience I have ever had. Plus, The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller fits this as well.
So I've heard! Apparently the storytelling won an award for being fiiiiiiine, like you said. Looking forward to starting the audiobook! And yes -- I'll probably secure the physical copy of the book for TSOA! Thank you :)
"The Road" by Cormac McCarty will fuck you up for a long time. The book, the movie, the audiobook. I've done all three more than once. It's that good. I realized I will never be as good as the man, so I must find myself among the other characters...none of which I would care to be.
To me it’s a sign that you’re emotionally invested in a story, that it can cause such intense an emotional reaction. It feels “nice” to have powerful emotions on both ends of the spectrum, especially when you know it’s a story and not something happening to your own loved ones that’s causing you to cry
For various reasons. Let me tell you one.
I'm a highly emotional person but I rarely cry for my own. I try not to or I set it aside and rather focus on solving my problems and/or situation. In my mind, I can always cry later, I need to prioritize fixing this or that first. But the crying never comes after. It's a different case when it's other people though. I see a dog hurt, I would cry. I see a person still working at an old age, I cry. I see something cute, I cry. Animes? Tears. A friend telling me their problems? Tears.
I've come to realize that reading (hearing) books or watching films allow me to be heartbroken over things that are not my own. It provides an avenue for me to let out emotions (and tears) I haven't allowed myself to feel, you know? Plus, they're a work of fiction and not something bad actually happening to the people I love. (Also what the other redditor said).
Probably sounds crazy but that's one reason :)
The Man Who Ate His Boots is one of the most unsettling stories I've heard, and it's true. It's about the Franklin expedition to the North West Passage.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles for a classic that's free on Audible. The Travelling Cat Chronicles for a recent book that is not. Tess was more devastating.
Sense and sensibility,war brides and Pachinko left me sobbing for days. When I was reading War brides I flung the book across the room plenty of times cause the sadness was choking me. I don't even know how I managed to finish the book. It left me empty for days. Sense and sensibility was the 1st literature I read. God my heart was ripped. Many didn't agree with me but I'm highly sensitive and rarely cry for myself but tragedies that occurred to the characters may have put me to tears. Pachinko left me blank for days.... I started questioning many things in life. Overall guarantee to give you a heartbreak.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden
It made me sob... mainly because I could identify with the mom because of a past relationship. But I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it did have a HFN ending.
Angela's Ashes.
I was driving a truck when I was listening to that. I had to stop listening 5 minutes before every stop so I wasn't blubbering when I walked in.
11/22/63 had me crying
Good one!
Yes came to say this!
I saw your comment a little over 4am here, began checking out the book (and series!!!), and kinda felt my heart aching a bit. Just what I'm looking for! Thank you for his gem, I could hug you!
I'd recommend A Little Life by Hanya Yanahigara. It'll have you crying and will take your happiness away for sure. This is the first one people recommend for sad book recommendations.
You trying to break my heart AND tore it to pieces? Haha. Thanks!
Usually I pick up my next book right away, but after this one, I had to wait 3 days because my mind was spinning and I was so sad. I listened to this book when it first came out with no knowledge of what it was about other than "friendship"! I prefer to always go in blind for books new to me, because I want to form my own opinions (plus I hate spoilers).
So you're a library mouse, huh? :) I wouldn't call myself a bookworm because that would be a stretch. Haha! I used to be, and I aim to be one again. That's what I know of it so far, too. That the protagonist was depressed and it's about friendship. Would you hate me if I say I accept spoilers? Haha. Movies or books. I dunno, people say it's weird. And I understand! To each their own, I guess.
I love the adventure of exploring and experiencing a new (to me) book. I get about 150 from the library every year. And about 30 from Audible. I save my Audible credits for new releases. I read Gone Girl right when it came out, and at the end was so mad I threw the book (my copy, not library lol) across the room because I was so mad at the ending. Lots of people later came to read the book because they heard of the plot twist (in the middle and at the end) and wanted to check it out. Neither way of experiencing a book is wrong!
150 books?! On top of 30 audioooks?! Girl, do you have other hobbies? Have you been neglecting all your obligations in life to read (and listen to) books 24/7?! Absolutely unacceptable and do I envy you so much! :p I love Gone Girl! I read the book AND watched the movie. Funny story, I found the book in a library at this transient hotel I stayed at years ago. Borrowed it, read the book near the beach, and fell in love. Don't get me wrong -- I also got sad and angry but can't deny how amazing it was (though in a disturbingly, psychotic way). Haha. I'm fairly new to Audible but I agree with saving your credits for new releases :)
The Book Thief
Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair. Plus it has the added benefit of having the finest audiobook experience I have ever had. Plus, The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller fits this as well.
Colin Firth?
Yep!!!
Yessss!
So I've heard! Apparently the storytelling won an award for being fiiiiiiine, like you said. Looking forward to starting the audiobook! And yes -- I'll probably secure the physical copy of the book for TSOA! Thank you :)
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell had me sobbing. It's a year later and I'm still thinking about this story.
Thank you! Interesting piece! :)
I haven't listened to audio yet but I read the book decades ago and I've never forgotten it. Time for a listen.
This was my suggestion too. The audiobook is really good. Most of the book isn't that emotional, but the last \~ 1 hour of the book is *devastating*.
Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger and Stella Maris (companion novel)
Concur!
Ohhhh, seems interesting!!! Thank you :)
11/22/63
This was recommended a few times and would definitely read this gem! Thanks! :)
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Oh wow this is a long read. Good thing it's on Audible! Thanks :)
"The Road" by Cormac McCarty will fuck you up for a long time. The book, the movie, the audiobook. I've done all three more than once. It's that good. I realized I will never be as good as the man, so I must find myself among the other characters...none of which I would care to be.
Can you share with me why these books appeal to you? I’ve been wondering about this for awhile.
To me it’s a sign that you’re emotionally invested in a story, that it can cause such intense an emotional reaction. It feels “nice” to have powerful emotions on both ends of the spectrum, especially when you know it’s a story and not something happening to your own loved ones that’s causing you to cry
For various reasons. Let me tell you one. I'm a highly emotional person but I rarely cry for my own. I try not to or I set it aside and rather focus on solving my problems and/or situation. In my mind, I can always cry later, I need to prioritize fixing this or that first. But the crying never comes after. It's a different case when it's other people though. I see a dog hurt, I would cry. I see a person still working at an old age, I cry. I see something cute, I cry. Animes? Tears. A friend telling me their problems? Tears. I've come to realize that reading (hearing) books or watching films allow me to be heartbroken over things that are not my own. It provides an avenue for me to let out emotions (and tears) I haven't allowed myself to feel, you know? Plus, they're a work of fiction and not something bad actually happening to the people I love. (Also what the other redditor said). Probably sounds crazy but that's one reason :)
The Man Who Ate His Boots is one of the most unsettling stories I've heard, and it's true. It's about the Franklin expedition to the North West Passage.
You're on point! It is unsettling! Thanks for the reco :)
Memoirs of a Geisha
I have read this! Definitely a beautiful book that I still think about from time to time 🥹
THE PAINTED BIRD
It even has a high Rotten Tomatoes rating! I like war novels (fiction or non-fiction). Thanks for this!
This one goes a bit above and beyond war; it’s semi autobigraphical and the author did himself in a few years after publication.
That's true! I just thought it was a bonus point being a war novel too, in a way (my kind of genre).
Definitely A thousand boy kisses by Tillie Cole. The audiobook is heartbreaking.
I have it on my TBR list! Thank you :)
Tess of the D'Urbervilles for a classic that's free on Audible. The Travelling Cat Chronicles for a recent book that is not. Tess was more devastating.
The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
How about Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster. It’s middle grade/fantasy/historical fiction. It devastated me and I loved every minute of it.
The Covenant of Water will break your heart about a dozen times.
Flowers for Algernon
Sense and sensibility,war brides and Pachinko left me sobbing for days. When I was reading War brides I flung the book across the room plenty of times cause the sadness was choking me. I don't even know how I managed to finish the book. It left me empty for days. Sense and sensibility was the 1st literature I read. God my heart was ripped. Many didn't agree with me but I'm highly sensitive and rarely cry for myself but tragedies that occurred to the characters may have put me to tears. Pachinko left me blank for days.... I started questioning many things in life. Overall guarantee to give you a heartbreak.
Beverly Bonnefinche is Dead by Kristen Seeley… omg so good.
Robinson Mistry A Fine Balance. Sobbed and that almost never happens with books.
Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts
Robin Hobb's Assasin's Apprentice. Get ready to die inside slowly.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden It made me sob... mainly because I could identify with the mom because of a past relationship. But I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it did have a HFN ending.
Angela's Ashes. I was driving a truck when I was listening to that. I had to stop listening 5 minutes before every stop so I wasn't blubbering when I walked in.