5 Emotional Books To Make You Cry A River

The Science of Liking Emotional Books

Emotional Books To Make You Cry

The astoundingly large readership for "sad" books can be confusing for those on the outside. However, for readers who live for books that have the ability to emotionally wreck them, it is the most normal thing in the world. According to psychology experts, consuming heartbreaking stories helps us appreciate our own privileged lives. At the same time, it connects us to our own emotions. After all, we read in order to experience events and emotions that our real lives can't offer us. Emotionally devastating reads leave a profound dent on our hearts, thus immortalizing the reading experience. Shedding tears is a sure fire way of making a book memorable for ages to come. 

Here are 7 novels that will make your eyes eject fountains. 

1. Human Acts, by Han Kang

Human Acts is an award-winning bestseller following the violent student uprising in South Korea that claimed hundreds of young lives. The story starts out with the tragic murder of Dong-ho, whose death acts as the catalyst for the rest of the plot points. The book is narrated in a unique format, with every chapter told from the perspective of a different character. Every narrator has been touched by the horrific repercussions of the revolution. Some of them are direct victims, while others are the bereaved family and friends. Human Acts paints a brutally realistic but heart-wrenching portrait of suffering and grief tied together. Loss of life is never easy to digest, but nothing is as hard on the soul as a hopeful youth being extinguished. As the book progresses, one can't help but mourn along with the characters. The fact that it isn't just a fictional account, but an actual representation of facts, makes it all the more harrowing. That being said, the novel still manages to leave off at a hopeful note amidst injustice and massacre. The book isn't for the faint of heart, but if you can take it, Human Acts is a must-read for all those wanting to learn about Korean history (and cry a river in the process). 

2. Beartown, by Fredrick Backman

Beartown. A small town that is counting on its young ice hockey team to hoist itself up. A town marked by close companionship and hidden secrets threatens to fall apart when a teenage girl is left traumatized by the captain of the hockey team. Beartown is arguably Backman's best novel. A masterpiece that is fully steeped in raw human experiences and poignant emotions. The true genius of the book lies in the depiction of dark subjects through the ordinary human lense. In fact, every single line of this gem of a novel drips with gut-wrenching authenticity. The author expertly weaves an impeccable tapestry by narrating the story from multiple POVs. Some of the scenes are so emtionally charged that they feel surreal. As a testament to the power this book holds, let me admit something. I couldn't care less about sports; and this book made me cry over a hockey scene. If that doesn't sound convincing, I don't know what will. Beartown will make you ponder important questions that need to be answered. However, make sure you have a handkerchief nearby as your read it, because you will definitely be needing it. 

3. The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale is everything you could possibly want from an emotional novel. Set against the horrifying backdrop of WW2, it follows two sisters over the course of several years. They are both different as can be, but the one thing that unites them is their suffering, and their inner resilience. The Nightingale is one of those books that hit you like a ton of bricks and stay with you forever. Ever since I first read it, not a single day goes by where I don't think about it. The agonizing plot of the book is characterized by brutal occurrences and gut-punching sequences. However, despite all the chaos, spirits of love and survival run rampant. The characters go through some of the worst torture one could imagine, but they still emerge stronger than ever. Their pain is so palpable that it makes the reader want to shelter them from the coldblooded cruelty of the world. Hannah's writing is nothing short of a literary miracle; every word of hers sustians the other, creating a poignant tale meant to conquer hearts. Words alone cannot justify what this novel is to me, and thousands of other readers all over the world. What I can say for sure, is that reading The Nightingale will move the deepest parts of your soul, and make you feel blessed for everything you have: freedom, a sound family, and peace. These are bounties that war-struck individuals can only dream about. 

4. Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys

Young adult novels are often regarded as superficial and juvenile. However, writers like Sepetys are doing their best to do away with this flawed assumption. This particular book is an awesome example of that. Between Shades of Gray follows Lina, an average fifteen year old living comfortably with her family in Lithuania. That is, until one day, she is torn from her life by Soviet Officers. Lina is forced to labour in the coldest parts of Serbia on Stalin's orders. The selling point of Sepetys's work is that her stories highlight the lesser known parts of history that are often overlooked by the masses. With surprising depth and emotive expression, the writer creates a narrative that barrels into the reader's hearts. It is heartbreaking beyond measure to witness a young girl stripped of her innocence, dreams and hopes. This dark and depressing era of history has been masterfully described by the writer. As the plot thickens, Lina and her family suffer the heavy blows of oppression along with hundreds of other prisoners. While the story might seem totally despondent, it is actually a beacon of hope. As the title suggests, things are never white and black. Instead, there are several shades of gray imbued into every situation. This aspect of the book makes it unbelievably poetic. To top it off, just be prepared to shed buckets of tears when you pick it up. 

5. Crying In H. Mart, by Michelle Zauner

When thinking of emotional reads, fiction books come to mind. However, this memoir is definitely an outlier. Crying In H Mart details a Korean woman's complicated relationship with her mother, as well as the grief associated with her demise. It is a book that will especially strike a chord with those who have lost a family member at some point. This memoir is a rarity, in the sense that there aren't many books out there that feel so extraordinarily real. Zauner's twisted emotions about her extended family, her issues with carving out her own identity, and her emphasis on the sentimental significance of food are all presented beautifully in the memoir. Being Asian, many of her experiences resonated with me on a personal level. The Asian experience is a far cry from western values, and Zauner has done an immaculate job of narrating the good, the bad, and the ugly about it. It is harsh and brutal at times, but it is also home. The juxtaposition between disagreeing with your parents, and not wanting to lose them either is the central theme of the book. What's more, it can't be passed off as a fictional story. I remember ugly-crying for quite some time during several parts of the book. If you think yourself capable of handling it, Crying In H Mart should certainly be your next read. 

Final Remarks

There are loads of other recommendations that fit this topic. That's because most of my favorite books happen to be tear-jerkers. I will probably make another list like this one soon. 

Let me what you think of the recommendations in the comments! 

Happy reading folks!