What's the last book that had you in tears?
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What's the last book that had you in tears?
Inspired in part by peter's thread about books that disturb your sleep, here's another question: What's the last book that made you cry?
I'm going to name two things, actually. And both of them are comics.
First of all, Daytripper, a short series by brothers Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, is all about death and life (each chapter is a pivotal day in the protagonist's life, and the conceit is they all end with him dying on that day), and although the whole thing can be pretty bittersweet and sad, there was just one small moment near the end that set me off.
Secondly, we have Y: The Last Man, written by Brian K Vaughan. This was a long series (10 volumes or 5 big hardbacks in full), and right at the end there is a certain... event that I really, really do not want to spoil at all, but when I got to it I totally lost my shit. I mean serious, loud, ugly sobbing for five minutes or something. That has never happened to me before, and I have no idea why it hit me so hard. I'm still kinda angry about that book.
I'm going to name two things, actually. And both of them are comics.
First of all, Daytripper, a short series by brothers Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, is all about death and life (each chapter is a pivotal day in the protagonist's life, and the conceit is they all end with him dying on that day), and although the whole thing can be pretty bittersweet and sad, there was just one small moment near the end that set me off.
Secondly, we have Y: The Last Man, written by Brian K Vaughan. This was a long series (10 volumes or 5 big hardbacks in full), and right at the end there is a certain... event that I really, really do not want to spoil at all, but when I got to it I totally lost my shit. I mean serious, loud, ugly sobbing for five minutes or something. That has never happened to me before, and I have no idea why it hit me so hard. I'm still kinda angry about that book.
- Iolanthe
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It was actually one of Aliantha's series of books about Naomi and Joseph, but I can't remember which one and which bit!
Sense and Sensibility always makes me cry, the bit where Elinor realises that Edward isn't married after all.
Sense and Sensibility always makes me cry, the bit where Elinor realises that Edward isn't married after all.
I am playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order!
"I must state plainly, Linden, that you have become wondrous in my sight."
"I must state plainly, Linden, that you have become wondrous in my sight."
- Orlion
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It's been a while... I seem to sob more at movies then at books. With books, I'm most likely to hurl them across the room in frustration (damn you, Kallor!).
The one I can remember is Little, Big by John Crowley. There are quite a few sad scenes in that one, but the one that got me the most involved a mouse trying to get the attention of one of the characters as he was leaving for the City. *sob* Turn around! He knew your grandfather!
The one I can remember is Little, Big by John Crowley. There are quite a few sad scenes in that one, but the one that got me the most involved a mouse trying to get the attention of one of the characters as he was leaving for the City. *sob* Turn around! He knew your grandfather!
'Tis dream to think that Reason can
Govern the reasoning creature, man.
- Herman Melville
I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all!
"All creation is a huge, ornate, imaginary, and unintended fiction; if it could be deciphered it would yield a single shocking word."
-John Crowley
Govern the reasoning creature, man.
- Herman Melville
I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all!
"All creation is a huge, ornate, imaginary, and unintended fiction; if it could be deciphered it would yield a single shocking word."
-John Crowley
- sgt.null
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this poem...
Tarantulas on the Lifebuoy
Tarantulas on the Lifebuoy
By Thomas Lux b. 1946 Thomas Lux
For some semitropical reason
when the rains fall
relentlessly they fall
into swimming pools, these otherwise
bright and scary
arachnids. They can swim
a little, but not for long
and they can’t climb the ladder out.
They usually drown—but
if you want their favor,
if you believe there is justice,
a reward for not loving
the death of ugly
and even dangerous (the eel, hog snake,
rats) creatures, if
you believe these things, then
you would leave a lifebuoy
or two in your swimming pool at night.
And in the morning
you would haul ashore
the huddled, hairy survivors
and escort them
back to the bush, and know,
be assured that at least these saved,
as individuals, would not turn up
again someday
in your hat, drawer,
or the tangled underworld
of your socks, and that even—
when your belief in justice
merges with your belief in dreams—
they may tell the others
in a sign language
four times as subtle
and complicated as man’s
that you are good,
that you love them,
that you would save them again.
Tarantulas on the Lifebuoy
Tarantulas on the Lifebuoy
By Thomas Lux b. 1946 Thomas Lux
For some semitropical reason
when the rains fall
relentlessly they fall
into swimming pools, these otherwise
bright and scary
arachnids. They can swim
a little, but not for long
and they can’t climb the ladder out.
They usually drown—but
if you want their favor,
if you believe there is justice,
a reward for not loving
the death of ugly
and even dangerous (the eel, hog snake,
rats) creatures, if
you believe these things, then
you would leave a lifebuoy
or two in your swimming pool at night.
And in the morning
you would haul ashore
the huddled, hairy survivors
and escort them
back to the bush, and know,
be assured that at least these saved,
as individuals, would not turn up
again someday
in your hat, drawer,
or the tangled underworld
of your socks, and that even—
when your belief in justice
merges with your belief in dreams—
they may tell the others
in a sign language
four times as subtle
and complicated as man’s
that you are good,
that you love them,
that you would save them again.
Lenin, Marx
Marx, Lennon
Good Dog...
Marx, Lennon
Good Dog...
- peter
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It seems a trite answer but SRD is one of the few authors who can do this for me on a predictable basis. Re-reads of the Ist and 2nd Chrons will have me 'filling up' at the same points every time [Prothall jesting with Foamfollower about the diamondraught, the meeting with 'the Search' in the Sarangrave being two cases in point]. I'm not a fiction reader as a rule, prefering popular history, science and philosophy where there is not much scope for high emotion. Poetry however is a different matter. A few times I have tried to read "Horatius at the Bridge" by Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay to friends aloud - and each time I have had to dash away the tears and give up the atempt. Even a silent reading makes me choke. give it a try:-
www.bartleby.com/360/7/158.html
www.bartleby.com/360/7/158.html
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
- peter
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Dear little Bog-Face,
Why are you so cold?
And why do you lie with your eyes shut?--
You are not very old.
I am a child of this world
And a child of grace,
And Mother, I shall be glad when it is over,
I am Bog-Face.
[Stevie Smith.]
Why are you so cold?
And why do you lie with your eyes shut?--
You are not very old.
I am a child of this world
And a child of grace,
And Mother, I shall be glad when it is over,
I am Bog-Face.
[Stevie Smith.]
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
- aliantha
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Really? I'm sorry. (Kind of. )Iolanthe wrote:It was actually one of Aliantha's series of books about Naomi and Joseph, but I can't remember which one and which bit!
I totally teared up at one certain part in TLD....
EZ Board Survivor
"Dreaming isn't good for you unless you do the things it tells you to." -- Three Dog Night (via the GI)
https://www.hearth-myth.com/
- peter
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{Not quite in keeping with the thread but I hope Murrin will forgive me a small diversion - I was reminded of Groucho Marx's famous comment on an aquaintances recently published book; "I was convulsed with laughter from the moment I picked it up until the moment I put it down - some day I intend reading it."}
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
- peter
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TLD - and not for the right reasons! I'm going off to get a copy of Dan Brown's 'Inferno' and if I enjoy it more than that last offering of Chrons I swear I'll never speak to SRD again - and you lot will never hear the end of it!
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
- SleeplessOne
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- Vraith
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there're a bunch of "vampire" books...really, pretty bad...Really. [with some interesting little ideas/moments...but not worth it really, for most people] by this guy named Lumley. A bunch of them...and a bunch of semi-connected books.
But, anyway, in a set about the Vampire home [Wamphyri, really, not "Vampires." Whatever. And nothing sparkly about these creatures, not at all].
But anyway, several very long books into this series, I had a moment over one of the bad guys.
Didn't occur to me till later that maybe some sub-conscious overflow was happening...cuz the incident involved lepers.
But, anyway, in a set about the Vampire home [Wamphyri, really, not "Vampires." Whatever. And nothing sparkly about these creatures, not at all].
But anyway, several very long books into this series, I had a moment over one of the bad guys.
Didn't occur to me till later that maybe some sub-conscious overflow was happening...cuz the incident involved lepers.
[spoiler]Sig-man, Libtard, Stupid piece of shit. change your text color to brown. Mr. Reliable, bullshit-slinging liarFucker-user.[/spoiler]
the difference between evidence and sources: whether they come from the horse's mouth or a horse's ass.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
the hyperbole is a beauty...for we are then allowed to say a little more than the truth...and language is more efficient when it goes beyond reality than when it stops short of it.
the difference between evidence and sources: whether they come from the horse's mouth or a horse's ass.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
the hyperbole is a beauty...for we are then allowed to say a little more than the truth...and language is more efficient when it goes beyond reality than when it stops short of it.