Inspiration: Books That Brought Us To Tears…
“Things have different qualities, and the soul different inclinations; for nothing is simple which is presented to the soul, and the soul never presents itself simply to any object. Hence it comes that we weep and laugh at the same thing.” Blaise Pascal
Inspiration: Books That Brought Us To Tears... Which Books Come to Your Mind?
Has a book ever brought you to tears? Have you put down a book you were reading because you were overcome by emotion; touched by a powerful event in the book that triggered something in you? I have and when that happens, I take time to regroup and to examine what made that particular passage so painful, so poignant. I believe that great books touch both our hearts and our souls… we shed a tear for the one within who empathizes, the one who knows… I’ve always loved books and, from time to time, I come across books that just rip you from the inside out because the story is so powerful, so sad, and yet, so inspiring. What about you?
Yesterday, I Cried: Celebrating the Lessons of Living and Loving by Iyanla Vanzant
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah
My Sister’s Keeper: A Novel by Jodi Picoult
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah
A well-written book absorbs you and transports you to another place; the world of the protagonist and all the other characters in the story. In that world, we feel both the pleasure and pain of those represented and that is why it becomes easy to cry over a truly sad tale. Above and below, I’ve put together 18 books that I’ve read and that came to mind when I first read the Plinky prompt on which books have made me cry…
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Marcus Tullius Cicero
Inspiration: Books That Brought Us To Tears... So many to choose from...
Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through by Iyanla Vanzant
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Veronika Decides to Die: A Novel of Redemption by Paulo Coelho
I remember the first time I read Things Fall Apart, I had to put it down several times as the painful scenes became overwhelming… Then, when Ikemefuna was killed, I wept. I have done same for the writers or characters in the books I listed. I would encourage you to read any of these books; not just because they are tearjerkers, but because they are well written, powerful stories that would leave you with much to contemplate, and even more to be grateful for in your life. More below.
“A tear dries quickly when it is shed for troubles of others.” Marcus Tullius Cicero
Inspiration: Books That Brought Us To Tears... What comes to mind?
In the Meantime: Finding Yourself and the Love You Want by Iyanla Vanzant
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Woman At Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi
A Child Called “It”: One Child’s Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
When I pick up a book to read, everything falls away, and I am completely in the world of the characters in the book. Book lovers tend to lose themselves in a good book, make connections with characters they like, and empathize with those characters. This makes for an emotionally charged reading experience. I love non-fiction, even though I read widely, and some autobiographies have harrowing stories that make you feel compelled to put the book down and weep. I can imagine that the same happens to you… What about you? What are your thoughts? What books have brought you to tears? Do you know why? Would you recommend them? Do share! Thank you. 😉
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Plinky: Has a book ever brought you to tears?
Positive Motivation Tip: All great books touch both our hearts and our souls… we shed a tear for the one withing who empathizes, who knows…
Related articles
- Tearjerker Books (laurieanichols.wordpress.com)
- Inspiration: Five Things To Be Thankful For Today… (eof737.wordpress.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos Girl Crying, bookspine, via Wikipedia.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Trackbacks
- 100 Top Inspirational & Motivational Books by Women | Mirth and Motivation
- Weekly Writing Challenge: The Inimitable Chinua Achebe… | Mirth and Motivation
- Weekly Writing Challenge: The Inimitable Chinua Achebe… | The Blog Farm - A Growing Blog Community
- Chinua Achebe: Celebrated Nigerian Author Dies at 82 | Mirth and Motivation
- Chinua Achebe: Celebrated Nigerian Author Dies at 82 - The Blog Farm
- Motivation Mondays: A Passion For BOOKS | Mirth and Motivation
I’m also immersed in the world of the book when I’m reading. I do cry when I read sometimes, but am having trouble remembering the last time I cried. I read Hunger Games recently for a student I was tutoring, and teared up at a scene where a young girl died. I know there are many more – I’ll have to think about it! It’s amazing how a talented author can bring us to a place of real emotion.
I do get absorbed by the world of a good book and find it easy to cry too… I bet I cried at some fairy tales too… just can’t remember which ones… 😆 Too many of them to count. TY! 🙂
The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
That was stupendous wasn’t it? TY! 🙂
It’s been a while since I read a book. Lately, it’s the blogger posts and the stories they tell. Sometimes the pain is so real and reminds me of my own that I get teary eyed. A loss love one, a reunion of a long lost family, a remembrance of dead family, a pain of a broken heart and soul, all these are easy triggers when I’m facing some longings myself. Sometimes even the lyrics of songs can move me to a few tears. I was listening to the song “Living Years” on my way home from work, and then I thought about my parents, of how much I missed them. Next thing I knew, I could hardly see the road when my eyes got misty. Beautiful post.
Thank you.
TY for your feedback… Yes, the blogs do take a lot of time… I do read them late at night some days. Our memories trigger the same reaction as a line in a good book.. I send you and your parents loving, healing light. TY! 🙂
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Marcus Tullius Cicero
“A room without a music instrument is like a body without a soul.” Frizz
“A photo without any living animal is like a body without a soul.” Frizz
Now you are on a roll with that quote… I like your versions too. Reading has always mattered to me and I’d even say it saved my life during my formative years… I would lose myself in a book and all my worries will fade away. TY! 🙂
I read a lot of sci-fi when I read, and that rarely makes me cry. Sometimes I also like autobiographies and sometimes they make me cry, but I can’t think of one off the top of my head right now.
Oh not to worry Robyn! It will come to you when you least expect it. Oddly, I don’t read sci-fi at all even though I loved Star Wars and those TV shows… TY! 🙂
Yes, I have ready a few books that have moved me to tears. One book that comes to mind here is “A child called It” by Dave Pelzer. A book which became more powerful than usual because it was a autobiography. Great, but sad book.
Yes, that is one that comes to mind with many people. I saw a recent picture of him and he looks happy and at peace… TY! 🙂
I tend towards non fiction these days so much shaking of the head but no tears. I do cry at films though if thats anything like the same thing
Yes, that would work too Peter. I’ve cried at a few movies too and even the one I reviewed had some teary parts in it too. TY! 🙂
Oh to have the luxury to read a good book! I sneak a chapter on a really good night but read suspense novels, (and strangely – non-fiction books about astrophysics- yes, true!) never tear-jerkers. I can’t even watch Bambi, because I cry!! I’m weak! I know I’m missing out on great writing but I can neither watch a sad movie or read a book that will bring me to tears – I’d rather laugh… 🙂
Oh I do hope you read a great non-fiction some day. They are not all teary. Tearjerkers can be cleansing too especially when the ending is triumphant. TY! 🙂
I can’t think of ones off the top of my head right now (other than a few you’ve already mentioned) but I absolutely love books that can make me feel that much. Whether I laugh out loud or cry silently, if a book can move me that much I am in heaven.
Same here Lisa… I love books that move me and that make me appreciate the power of the human spirit. I like both funny and true stories… TY! 🙂
Yes Elizabeth, I totally agree that books I’ve read over the years have the power to bring me to tears. One book which really made my sob as a young girl was “The Incredible Journey”. Wow, I did shed a many tears for those little furballs while they were on their long adventure!
TY Lee! I will look it up and read it… I love touching stories and don’t go looking for tearjerkers, but it is part of life and I cry at the sad parts… TY! 🙂
Definitely! When I get into a book that really hooks me I can’t put it down. That’s why I don’t read as much as I would like because I know I may be up all night.
Many books have brought me to tears and made me laugh out loud. The last one was ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ by W. Bruce Cameron. I highly recommend it.
Thanks Elizabeth.
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TY Barb! I will go look for the book and read it…Like you, since the daily challenges, I don’t read as much… I still read, but nothing like my blog friend Sharon… I’d like to get back to that. TY! 🙂
Wow…”A room without books is like a body without a soul” So true! LOVE that quote! 🙂
I JUST read “A child called ‘IT'” for the first time this past week….I can completely understand why it would make someone cry….the abuse in it was so horrible!
There was a book I read over and over as a child called, “Dearest Debbie” that made me cry…I forgot who the author is….
Yes, Dearest Debbie is by Dale Evans of Dale and Roy Rogers fame… A truly sad story. IT was a difficult read too. TY! 🙂
Hey thanks for the list of books to read. Off the top of my head, I don’t remember if a book has made me cry before, although some of the stories I’ve written have brought on the tears for whatever reason.
I’m actually in the mood for a tearjerker now and will be looking some one to read once I get the time to:)
I will stop by to say hello on your blog… Yeah, the tearjerkers don’t always come to mind but they are usually powerful stories. TY! 🙂
The timing of this post was funny to me, in light of that I’d just finished reading a book (Sarah’s Key) that both made me cry and set it down to give me pause to reflect. I hope you’ll read it!
WoW! I’m getting recommendations galore… Love it. I will check out the book you mentioned too. TY! 🙂
Harry Potter made me cry . . .
When Dobby the house elf died.
Others that have produced tears of sadness:
Old Yeller * Thomasina * Born Free * Slum Dog Millionaire
I don’t like crying, so I tend to pick books and movies with happy endings.
Dobby’s death was very sad… I cried at that too. Slum Dog warmed my heart and Born Free still leaves me in awe. I love happy endings too and some sad stories ended happily… TY! 🙂
Where the Red Fern Grows and Love you Forever…. These two books bring tears to my eyes each and every time I read them…
A Walk to Remember is such a good read and made me bawl like a baby… I’m such a sucker for a good cry. 🙂
I like the line a sucker for a cry… I don’t go looking for them but I am moved by the sadness and respond accordingly. Good to hear from you again… been a while. TY! 🙂
When we were first married, I re-read Tess of the D’Urbervilles. While reading the last chapter, I got so caught up in the story that I began to cry/sob. Poor Dapper G was taken by surprise, “What’s the matter? he said gently. Then I told him I was reacting to the book . . .
OH how sweet! I bet it endeared you to your loved one more… Beautiful. TY! 🙂
Great list of books. I don’t think I’ve ever stopped reading because I became too emotional. I do often see characters from books I love in the world around me. They make life so much richer.
I don’t put them down for long as some of the saddest stories I’ve read ended on a happy note… Yes, the characters are in real life; I haven’t seen many of them thankfully. TY! 🙂
Hmm, I’ve been disappointed, moved, angry, happy and pensive by several but can’t remember if any made me cry.
I bought Left to Tell after a reading with the author whose name escapes me now but I still can’t bring myself to read it as just listening to the parts she read made me sad, angry and perplexed.
I hear you… there is much to test our resolve on this planet.I recently purchased Slavery by Another Name by Douglas Blackmon, and it is riveting; shocking and sad. The action of humans against other humans left me breathless. TY!