by Glenice Lilje
Books You Can Cry To
Sure, I like a good cry every now and then. I once read somewhere that one of the benefits of crying is a feeling of letting go. The letting go of tension and anxieties, but also a literal release of oxytocin and endorphins: the feel-good chemicals! Society has brought me up to believe that crying is a sign of weakness, but I believe the contrary and that not all tears are created equal. I don’t think I have ever ugly cried while reading a story but My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult changed all that. The last pages were so tear-stained that I was too embarrassed to return the book back to its owner.
Although I have avoided reading other books from that author, I still remember the feeling that stayed with me. I know I can never revisit that story again, but I always enjoy thought-provoking stories that leave me emotionally invested.
Here are some titles that will tug at your heartstrings and have you thinking about the characters long after the book has finished…….maybe have some tissues ready.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, 2020
The Midnight Library tells the story of Nora, a thirty-something woman who has many regrets about her life and is left feeling unneeded. At the lowest point of her life, she comes across The Midnight Library whose collection represents portals into different variations of her life. The Library exists between life and death, allowing Nora to experience these alternate realities for as long as she desires. A story of regret, acceptance, redemption and the choices that go into a life well lived.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, 2021
Picture this: a 25-year old unmarried woman, raising two children on her own and working on a Texas farm during the Great Depression. She had dreamt of going to college, instead she struggles to make a living while watching their land and crops dry out around them. Do they stay and hope to keep the land they worked hard for, or do they go West and start over with hopes of a better life? The Four Winds is a book about resilience, determination, survival and the American Dream.
Malibu Rising: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, 2021.
Every year in Malibu, four famous siblings throw an epic bash that attracts a lot of famous people. One year, the party gets out of control ending with a fire that ultimately ends up burning their house down. Broken down into four parts, Malibu Rising shares each sibling’s perspective as they navigate through familial struggles, heartbreak and a party for the ages.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, 2021.
Brought to you by the author of Never Let Me go, Klara and the Sun is a beautiful story of an Artificial Friend that carefully watches the behaviors of shoppers and passerby’s from the store where she hopes that someday a customer will bring her home. Follow Klara’s journey as she observes and learns about the societal pressures humans are subjected to and the artificial way people divide themselves. This novel from Kazuo Ishiguro also allows the reader to reflect on our rapidly changing modern world and the meaning of love.
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