I finished a book last night that made me bawl like a baby. Literally, through the last chapters, I could barely read the words for the tears clouding my eyes. However, I loved the book. I loved it so much that I couldn’t help but cry. I had fallen desperately for the story, the characters, and the strength found in the relationships therein. The book I am referring to is called These is my Words by Nancy E. Turner. Despite the water works that overcame me, I would, with all my being, recommend everyone in this world to partake of the beauty found within its pages. Yes, you may shed many tears, but they well are worth it in the end.
After gaining control of my tear ducts, I began thinking about all the books that have made me unable to control my emotions—the books that made me cry. Here is a list (it may not be exhaustive):
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- Traitor by Sandra Grey
- The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale
- New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
- The Great and Terrible series by Chris Stewart
Story time: As I read the seventh Harry Potter book, there came a part where one of the characters was killed. Of course, I’m not going to say which character, so I won’t spoil it. But I will say shame on you if you haven’t read the HP books. :)
My old roommate finished the book a couple days before I did, so she was be able to chitchat about it with me as I read. One night, I could not put the book down and read into the wee hours of the morning. Around 12:30 A.M. the said death occurred. My roommate had gone home for the weekend, so she wasn’t readily available to talk to me as I sobbed. I thought she might still be up, so I called her. To my relief, she answered the phone.
She thought someone real had died and was about to hop in her car to drive home.
Then I said, “***** died!”
She started laughing at my emphatic declaration of sorrow for the lost character. He was given a sock at one point in the series. Spoiler!
I came to find out later that she was not quite sure how to console someone who was crying over the death of a fictional character. Anyway, at least I made her laugh.
So, I pose the question, which books have made you cry?
PS: Don't forget to enter to win a free book called Minder by Kate Kaynak. Go here to enter on my blog! Contest closes tomorrow.
The minute I read the title of your post, I thought of "The Actor and the Housewife." Kind of silly, but I'm glad it made your list too. :D I cried extensively. Also, "The Time Traveler's Wife." Although I was pregnant at the time, so I'm not sure how much was the book and how much was the baby. (And of course HP 6 and 7.)
ReplyDelete"Les Miserables" and "A Tale of Two Cities." Both made me bawl like a baby!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ashley for stopping by my blog. Having your pretty face grace this blog post brings me back to Heritage Tours days and us flitting our way across the United States singing songs and seeing great sites. I was glad you were in my family. Love and miss you!
ReplyDeleteI still laugh about that to this day. I really did think someone had really died and my heart entered my throat as I listened to you cry. But as I realized what you where talking about I did hope that my words of comfort like...
ReplyDelete"he is in a better place'; "everything will be okay' helped to ease your pain.
Oh Lizers, that was so funny that you were trying to console me. Haha. You did a great job helping me through the touhh heartbreak over the cute little guy.
ReplyDeleteHey, girl, you made it into one of my posts. Do you feel special? You should cause you totally are even without being in my post. Love ya girl!
Many books make me cry. Nicholas Sparks’ books rarely fail in causing me to shed a tear. But, no book has made me cry like The Time Traveler’s Wife. New Moon, however, was the only novel that made me so angry I skipped to the part where Alice returned, refusing to cry until I discovered his return, then, of course, I cried.
ReplyDeleteSomebody else already mentioned this one, but Tale of Two Cities made me BAWL when I was a kid. Also, The Color Purple, Speak, Wintergirls, Before I Fall (I sobbed and sobbed at the end), and yeah I quite possibly cried a bit in New Moon like a complete fangirl.
ReplyDeleteI like it when a book makes me cry. It's very cathartic. My husband thinks I'm nuts.
Is wrong to say I LOVE books that make me cry sometimes??? I often will reread a book just for a good cry (Where the Red Fern Grows) gets me everytime.
ReplyDeleteJane Eyre and My Sisters Keeper have been known to make me weepy :)
ReplyDeleteActually Julia I felt very honored to be a part of your post. Thanks for including me in your fantastic blog. To Kill A Mockingbird I believe was the last book that had me shedding some tears.
ReplyDeleteNew moon... *sigh*
ReplyDeleteOn the Stephanie Meyer subject, you should read 'The Host' if you havent already. Sure to draw a tear or two (or a bucket in my case!)
:)
Jen
Jen - I have read The Host. Great book. I really wish Stephenie Meyer would write more books (not Twilight related). And J.K. Rowling should write another series (not HP related).
ReplyDeleteAlmost every book I read makes me cry in one way or another. But then, I'm super emotional and I cry at dumb commercials and awful TV shows, so you know, I don't have much credibility in that department. haha 'These Is My Words' made me bawl like a baby, though, as you know.
ReplyDeleteYes, Sarah, I know. And you are the one who got me in the pickle of reading a book that has made me far too emotional all day. Hehe. I love you, girl! Thanks for the chat today at work. You rocketh my world.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so much an emotional reader, but HP 6/7 (DUH xD), If I stay, the book thief, the piper's son, and an oldie but a goodie: Where the Red Fern Grows :) Great post, if a book makes me cry, it must be a pretty darned good book :)
ReplyDeleteBooks that made me cry or nearly cry:
ReplyDeleteA Dog Named Kitty
The Yearling
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
... I need to think, but those are the ones off the top of my head! :)
Oh, Kris, I am longing to read Delirium. It is on the list. Darn, it is going to make me cry. Gah, that is so not good. Will hold off on that one for a while so I can gain control of my emotional basketcaseness. haha Thanks for the comment!
ReplyDeleteI cried while reading The Hunger Games. Without giving any plot spoilers, the part that got me was in the middle of the book, when Katniss sings the poem aloud. Loved that book!
ReplyDeleteI teared up during HP7 but nothing really flowed. The Dark Tower (Book 7 in the DT series) by Stephen King had me bawling, though. It sucked because I wanted to keep reading but I couldn't see anything through the tears in my eyes. Hahaha.
ReplyDeleteI cry at the drop of a hat! So I was surprised that DH didn't touch me at all - until three days later, when the death of MY favorite character hit me. Even then, I felt more cheated than anything - and that just goes to show how personal reading is.
ReplyDeleteBut the one book that caught me by surprise, and had me practically sobbing aloud all through the last pages, was Catherine Jinks's "Pagan's Vows". Her characters are so real - and the protagonist, an orphaned teen, is so shocked to realize that he is loved and respected - it just really got to me. More so because I wasn't expecting it!
I love this, Julia. You have such a great way with words. And I love the humor you bring to your writing.
ReplyDeleteAll my love, friend.
The above comment is from, me, Alex :)
ReplyDeleteAll my love to you, Alex!
ReplyDelete