Arm yourself with a king-sized box of tissues.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new ‘top ten’ challenge is posted – anyone can join in. This week’s topic is a freebie, so I’ve picked the Top Ten Books to Make You Cry…. Nothing like a depressing start to November, hey?!
I read Jonathan Tropper’s latest release (One Last Thing Before I Go) through tears (of sadness and laughter). I happened to mention on Twitter that I had to stop reading the book a number of times because I was making a spectacle of myself whilst waiting for my son’s guitar lesson to finish (sobbing, there was snot and no tissue).
My sister-in-law revealed that she had never cried reading a book. Ever. I fired off some titles that had me bawling like a baby. Nope, has never cried. Which made me wonder, am I overly emotional? Do I get too caught up in what I’m reading?
So this list is really for my sister-in-law – I need to find the book that will move her to tears!
1. Of a Boy by Sonya Hartnett – without question the saddest, most heartbreaking book I have ever read. When I lent it to a friend she asked “Will I need counselling?”. “Yes,” I said, handing her a box of tissues. Get it on Kindle here.
2. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan – if you don’t already know the story of Frank Lloyd Wright’s mistress Mamah Cheney, don’t find out before reading this book.
3. Last Night at Twisted River by John Irving – there are perhaps sadder books by Irving (Owen Meany, Cider House Rules) but this one had plot twists that shocked me.
4. When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman – like Tropper’s books, Winman had me crying with laughter and sadness.
5. Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Walman – if you’ve just had a baby don’t read this book – wait until the hormones have settled (although even then, it’s a tear-jerker).
6. Beautiful Boy by David Sheff – heartbreaking, brave and terrifying.
7. One Day by David Nicholls – don’t read any reviews with spoilers!
8. This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper – an emotional rollercoaster.
9. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak – wow. Written for the YA market, but speaks to everyone.
10. Red Dog by Louis de Bernieres – even if you’re not an animal lover, this book will pull at the heartstrings.
I could probably add another twenty to this list but reading is meant to be fun, right?!