Which books bring you to tears?

[Aris Dragonborn]

For me, it's LotR: TRotK, in the appendices. Reading the timeline of the War of the Ring was fascinating, as it touched briefly on what was happening in other parts of Middle Earth (the assaults on Lothlorien and the Lonely Mountain), then continued on to tell what happened after Frodo sailed from the Grey Havens. I was a little sad when Sam left, but what really got to me was this:

1541 - In this year on March 1st came at last the passing of King Elessar. It is said that the beds of Meriadoc and Peregrin were set beside the bed of the great king. Then Legolas built a grey ship in Ithilien and sailed down Anduin and so over the Sea; and with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that ship passed an end was come in Middle-earth of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Gets me every time. Every time. It's so.....final. We can sit back and daydream about what Gondor will be like under the rule of Aragorn's son Eldarion, and what new adventures await men, dwarves, elves, and hobbits, but the Fellowship that we knew and loved is gone forever.

Minor Threadjack: I get the same feeling at the end of the movie version of RotK, especially when 'Into the West' begins playing and the images of the characters are shown one by one. It's beauty is haunting.
/Threadjack

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Flowers for Algernon and Where the Red Fern Grows choke me up.

Johnny Cash's music does it, too, sometimes. I was listening to Ragged Old Flag and The Ballad of Ira Hayes in the car, and I had to pull over because I couldn't see.

 

[Teemu]

Only one book has made me actually cry/shed tears: Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb.

 

[Elemental]

Several moments in the Dresden Files series get to me. The first time Harry and Susan exchange "I love you."'s. Shiro's sacrifice, and the letter from him afterwards. Justine's words before going to Thomas for the last time. It's a great series--kind of like Anita Blake only with much better characters and far less monster sex.


The final book of the Dark Tower series was very bittersweet. The most painful bit for me was the scenes that follow the battle for the Breakers, where

Spoiler

Eddie is dying. Ever since the third book, he'd always been my favourite character

. That and a lot of others. Oy leaving the woods. Roland telling Irene why he can't sleep. Susannah agreeing to come with Roland on the last leg. And the very last sentence. Ultimately, could it have ended any other way?

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

Chistopher Moore's Lamb and Gail Tsukiyama's The Samurai's Garden made me a little weepy-

 

[Joshua Randall]

"Bridge to Terabithia" is pretty sad as well.

Just pretty sad? JUST PRETTY SAD?! My god, man, it's only the saddest children's book evar!!1!11!!

Seriously, I cannot think of a sadder or more depressing book that is ostensibly written for children. I mean, what better book for an impressionable pre-teen to read than one in which

Spoiler

the main character's girlfriend commits suicide in a poignant yet ultimately pathetic fashion

. Yup, there's nothing like abject misery to toughen up our youth.

 

[Broccli_Head]

Vernor Vinge's A Fire Upon the Deep

 

[Evilhalfling]

Bridge to Taribithia Just pretty sad? JUST PRETTY SAD?! My god, man, it's only the saddest children's book evar!!1!11!!

When I learned what Catharthis ment, I just thought of my reaction to this book.
It brough home the reality of death to me.

Tigaina

Watership Down - movie as little kid, and book in college.

Elfquest - Seige at Blue Mountain, and Wheel of Broken Kings

The Last Human (red dwarf) I almost quit breathing I was laughing so hard. I am certain there were tears as well.

 

[PieAndDragon]

Back from the Dead!

Thankyou all who contributed to the thread. Now have a nice list of some more books to get....

 

[Hijinks]

Elfquest - Seige at Blue Mountain, and Wheel of Broken Kings

*cries*

I miss my Elfquest so much Sonofa---- exbf has all of my graphic novels