Which books bring you to tears?

[PieAndDragon]

No, not in a bad way.

Just finished reading Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Avatar, final part of the Kushiel's Legacy trilogy, and really enjoyed, with a few tears for the ending.

A few other authors have mananged this, the most memorable to be being Robin Hobb and Fitz in Royal Assassin and the end of the Fool Trilogy.

So how about any of you? What fantasy / scifi (or other) books make you emotional

 

[Wombat]

The first book that pops into my head is The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. I have read that book three times and each time it made me cry. That speaks amazingly well for his ability to handle language.

While it doesn't lead to tears 1984 by George Orwell always leaves me emotionally drained.

And on a very personal level I always have a difficult time reading the end of most Arthurian novels. The Arthurian legends are an incredibly strong personal touchstone in my life, so each book, when it comes down to or near the destruction of Camelot and the (semi-)death of King Arthur requires some real mental fortification. Whether this is Thomas Berger's Arthur Rex, Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, or the play (but NOT the movie!) Camelot by Lerner & Lowe, each time I feel the blow and the loss all over again.

Okay, I have an obsession...

 

[sniffles]

I've read LOTR about a dozen times now, but I still tear up when Frodo says farewell to his friends at the Grey Havens in ROTK.

I also found Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry very emotional. That kind of taps into the Arthurian themes Wombat mentions.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Miles' 'best damned abject' letter in A Civil Campaign makes me well up every single time.

-Hyp.

 

[Rykion]

Reading through The Chronicles of Narnia always brings a tear to my eye. A great series of books.

 

[Michael Tree]

I find Guy Gavriel Kay's books very powerful. I haven't read the two mentioned in this thread, but Tigana and the Sarantine books both had me in tears.

Some of Charles de Lint's short stories also have that effect, as have a couple of Neil Gaiman's short stories, especially Troll Bridge. I don't find their novels as powerful though.

A lot of non SF/Fantasy books have done that as well, like Victor Hugo's Les Miserables (go figure), Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, and 19th century tragedies in general.

 

[WayneLigon]

I may have to check out Kay again, then; I didn't much like The Fionovar Tapestry since as a whole I don't like Arthurian books. When the Arthurian connection is revealed, I felt kinda cheated like I did when I went to see The Village - I'd come in being told it was a fantasy book of another world only to find the Arthurian stuff. And he killed off the only character I liked. Always a bummer.

 

[Tinner]

While most of the Discworld stuf makes me laugh, the ends of "Wee Free Men" and "Hat Full of Sky" always choke me up a little.

 

[Dingleberry]

The first book that pops into my head is The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. I have read that book three times and each time it made me cry. That speaks amazingly well for his ability to handle language.

Miles' 'best damned abject' letter in A Civil Campaign makes me well up every single time.

Both seconded. Also, though it's not fantasy or sci-fi, Lonesome Dove gets me in numerous spots.

 

[Turhan]

Dennis McKiernan's Iron Tower trilogy. Be sure to read the appendices.

I've only recently didscovered GG Kay (Baudolino) but it is clear I need to read more of his work. It's nice to get away from teh formulaic fantasy that normally sucks me in.