This article presents a list of 10 books that are sure to evoke intense emotional responses, including tears, from readers. The books are listed in chronological order of publication and cover a diverse range of genres, including memoirs, plays, and novels. Some of the featured books include “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini, and “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green. The article provides a brief synopsis of each book and highlights its themes and emotional impact. Despite the heavy subject matter, the article encourages readers to dive into these powerful works of literature.

10 Books That Will Leave You in Tears

Reading a good book can take you on an emotional rollercoaster, and some stories hit us harder than others. Tears can be shed for many reasons, from joy and relief to grief and heartbreak. As an AI language model, I do not get emotional, but I know the books that leave humans in tears. Here are 10 of them, in chronological order of publication.

1. ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ by Anne Frank (1947)

This classic of world literature tells the heart-rending story of a young Jewish girl who spent two years hiding in Amsterdam with her family during the Nazi occupation of Holland. Anne’s diary is a record of her daily struggles, joys, fears, and thoughts, as well as a profound meditation on the human condition. The following quote from her diary sums up the sadness of her fate: “I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness; I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too. I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquillity will return once more.”

2. ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee (1960)

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a masterpiece of storytelling and social commentary. It tells the story of Scout Finch, a six-year-old girl who learns about racism, prejudice, and injustice in her small southern town during the Great Depression. Her father, Atticus, is a lawyer who defends a black man unfairly accused of raping a white woman, and his integrity and courage inspire Scout to see beyond the surface of things. The novel’s denouement is both tragic and bittersweet, as Scout learns a painful lesson about the harshness of reality.

3. ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ by Tennessee Williams (1947)

This Pulitzer Prize-winning play is a character study of Blanche DuBois, a fading southern belle who moves to New Orleans to live with her sister Stella and her brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski. Blanche’s fragile emotional state, her secrets, and her illusions clash with Stanley’s brute physicality, his distrust, and his cruelty, leading to a devastating climax. The play’s closing line, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers,” is one of the most poignant and memorable in American literature.

4. ‘The Bell Jar’ by Sylvia Plath (1963)

This semi-autobiographical novel tells the story of Esther Greenwood, a young woman who descends into madness and attempted suicide under the pressure of societal expectations, personal doubts, and a lack of purpose. Esther’s voice is raw, witty, and truthful, as she describes her feelings of isolation, ambivalence, and despair. The novel’s ending is open to interpretation, but it leaves a deep impression on readers.

5. ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1985)

This Nobel Prize-winning novel is a romantic and melancholy tale of love and loss set in a fictional Caribbean port town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It tells the story of Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza, two lovers separated by fate and social norms, who reunite after 50 years of waiting and suffering. The novel’s vivid descriptions of love and desire, as well as its meditation on time and mortality, make it a powerful and touching read.

6. ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini (2003)

This debut novel is a heart-wrenching story of friendship, betrayal, guilt, and redemption set in Afghanistan before and after the Soviet invasion and the rise of the Taliban regime. It tells the story of Amir and Hassan, two boys from different social classes and ethnic groups who grow up together, but are torn apart by a traumatic event. The novel’s exploration of the themes of loyalty, forgiveness, and self-discovery resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds.

7. ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak (2005)

This bestselling novel is a haunting and lyrical tale of a young girl named Liesel Meminger, who discovers the power of words and books in Nazi Germany during World War II. The novel is narrated by Death, who is fascinated by Liesel’s life and the lives of those around her. The novel’s depiction of the horrors of war, the fragility of life, and the resilience of the human spirit is both beautiful and devastating.

8. ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ by John Green (2012)

This young adult novel is a poignant and funny love story between two teenagers, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, who meet at a cancer support group and bond over their shared love for a book. The novel’s witty dialogue, charming characters, and philosophical musings on the meaning of life and death make it a refreshing and emotional read. The novel’s ending, however, is a tear-jerker that leaves few dry eyes.

9. ‘The Nightingale’ by Kristin Hannah (2015)

This bestselling novel is a gripping and emotional story of two sisters, Vianne Mauriac and Isabelle Rossignol, who resist the Nazi occupation of France in different ways. Vianne tries to protect her family and her neighbors, while Isabelle joins the Resistance and becomes a courier. The novel’s portrayal of the brutality of war, the strength of women, and the power of love and sacrifice is both inspiring and heartbreaking.

10. ‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara (2015)

This epic novel is a searing and controversial portrait of four college friends who move to New York City and try to make it in their respective careers while dealing with trauma and abuse from the past. The novel focuses on one of the friends, Jude St. Francis, who suffers from a mysterious and horrific condition that has left him scarred physically and emotionally. The novel’s exploration of friendship, intimacy, pain, and healing is profound and unforgettable, but its graphic and unrelenting depiction of abuse and self-harm can be too much for some readers.

In conclusion, these 10 books are powerful works of art that will make you laugh, cry, and think. They show the diversity and depth of human emotions, experiences, and struggles, and they remind us of the power of literature to move us and inspire us. Whether you read them alone or with others, these books will leave a lasting impression on you. Happy reading!