There are times when all you need is a good cry. In this hustle-bustle of life sometimes one does not get the time to pause and feel those emotions. You read books that make you happy and your heart warm. It makes you feel content but it’s okay to discover and read a book that completely destroys you — books that make you ugly cry. Not all books have the power to make you feel that way. Here is a list of classics that are worth the re-read and revisiting the pain you’ll feel.
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Teenager Hazel Green’s life with cancer has been written and made into films even but we can’t seem to get the book out of our heads. You read, you cry and you feel her pain of wanting to give up yet going on. She meets the love of her life, Augustus Waters, who supports and helps her gather strength. However, they have been left in the hands of destiny. Throughout the books, the author reminds, “That’s the thing about pain, it demands to be felt.” So if you want to follow his advice, it’s worth revisiting his lines.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Get ready to grab a bunch of tissues while you read this heartbreaking and devastating book by Hanya Yanagihara. It narrates the story of four friends — Willem, JB, Malcolm and Jude — who meet in college. It shows each one’s struggles of early childhood and how their lives develop. It is a traumatic and depressing book with a heartache so intense, there is no better way to feel alive!
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Alice Walker takes us on an emotional journey as she narrates in her novel the story of a young Black girl, Celie. It unfolds her life struggles which she faced while getting sexually abused. We get to know about her traumatic incidents from the letters she used to write to God and her sister. This masterpiece touches your heart with an unbreakable Celie expressing her emotions as she writes in her letters, “You got to fight. But I don’t know how to fight. All I know how to do is stay alive.
Just Breathe by Cammie McGovern
Cammie McGovern will break your heart in two as you read about Jammie and David’s unexpected friendship. Both the teens fight an illness and try to find the healing they need. They hide secrets of their own from each other, which weigh heavily on their hearts. If you loved reading The Fault In Our Stars and Five Feet Apart, this book is perfect for a good cry too.
The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank
How can we dare to create this list and not include this masterpiece from World War II. Anne Frank’s diary has become a world classic that depicts the cruelties of living in confined quarters with the threat of discovery and death, while keeping your spirits alive and your strength that comes from within.
Early Departure by Justin A. Reynolds
What if you could bring your best friend back to life but only for a short time? Jamal tried to save his best friend Q and now he has a second chance. A new technology will let Q restore his life for a few weeks before he dies permanently. Early Departure unites loss, grief, friendship and love to form a unique tribute to the bonds that bind people for life and beyond.
A Night to Remember by Walter Lord
You might have watched Titanic but even the classic film can’t be compared to this book that gives a riveting description of the sinking of the famous Titanic ship. The most accurate and heart-touching book about the disaster, A Night to Remember shows how people sacrificed their lives, while others fought like animals for their survival.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath skilfully draws the attention of the readers towards the protagonist Esther’s breakdown. It is a semi-autobiographical novel which not only depicts the character’s mental illness but it actually hides Plath’s depression, which ultimately leads her to end her life. You see Plath and Ted Hughes in chapters without her mentioning their names and your heart breaks at the thought of this genius who was gone too soon.
No Place I’d Rather Be by Cathy Lamb
Cathy Lamb’s emotional and deeply honest novel No Place I’d Rather Be delves into the life lessons a woman discovers which shaped her family’s past. Olivia gets a chance to heal and determine where her home and her heart truly belong. We assure great tear-storm!
Me Before You by JoJo Moyes
You’d be sitting with tears running down your face once you complete this book. It tells you the story of Louisa Clark who has lost her job and is seeking a new one. This is how she ends up meeting Will Traynor, who became paralysed after an accident. Louisa brightens up his life and it depicts how their relationship grows. A heart-wrenching, tear-jerking and captivating novel and definitely the one that you need tissues for!
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This novel follows the life of a young introvert boy called Charlie. He writes letters that are singular, unique and devastating. The book talks about mental health, social structure, drug abuse and many other subjects relating to adolescent life. Throughout the book, we see the author trying to answer the questions which we face in our life, through the characters.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Fourteen-year-old Lily Owen’s life is formed throughout the hazy memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. She leaves her abusive father to discover her past. She ends up finding a trio of three Black beekeepers and the devastating truth about her mother.
The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth
Veronica Roth has penned a trilogy — Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant, which tells the story of a dystopian Chicago and a girl trying to find her place in the world. A story about the civil war, heartbreak and questions of identity, this book will make you feel devastated.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Can we really miss Khaled Hosseini while drawing up this list? The Kite Runner is not just a book to read but a whirlpool of emotions to be felt. From the absolute brotherhood between two friends, Amir and Hassan, to the hurt and tears that are unstoppable throughout, the betrayal, guilt and inner struggle, Khaled Hosseini knows which string of the heart to pull as he finally concludes with “for you, a thousand times over.”
(What books make you ugly cry? Tell us at t2@abp.in)
