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Saddest/Most Depressing Novel You've Ever Read

  • Thread starter Deleted member 6550
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Thank you whoever mentioned 'Flowers for Algernon' - I'd forgotten all about it. Heartbreaking. Not a bad film either, I recall.
 
For me, Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka was very sad and bleak.

Also agree with Jude the Obscure (Hardy), that's a very depressing one...
 
The Grapes of Wrath and Atonement. I didn't like the Grapes of Wrath, but I loved Atonement. I don't usually go for depressing stuff because I read to be happy and not think about depressing things in life.
 
Most heart-wrenching book I have ever read..

is Guys Don't Rat on Guys by Grey Baker. This book is not only an amazing read but it will bring the toughest person to buckets of tears. It is for sale on Amazon but is probably available other places too.

Amazing book - you will love it.
 
I think the most depressing and disturbiing book I read in the past year was Gayle Sanders "Mummy's Witness". It's a non-fiction book but had long lasting effects on me. Lots of thougths and lots of sadness while reading. I actually found myself needing a break after three pages.
Fiction books rarely don't get me so I really can't recommend something from this genre. Maybe some series stuff were you've got attached to a character over time and books.

My hubby and I played a game on the Playstation 2 yesterday. It seems that one main character after another is dying in this game and that made me sad (and mad) because it was always my character that died. Not because I am to dumb to play but because that's the storyline and I get to play another character afterwards. Does that count ? :rolleyes:
 
i aint really read many sad books,i suppose i have to choose 'demon apocalypse',by darren shan,because its so sad at the end when the main char has to kill his younger brother to save so many other people,really sad then...
 
I am surprised that no one mentioned Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. The book is not difficult to digest. I read it about three weeks back and I am still depressed by it. Murakami is a great story teller.
Atlas Shrugged was pretty bad too though not as depressing as Norwegian Wood.
 
I second Things Fall Apart and Flowers for Algernon. I would also recommend The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham. The movie is excellent as well - but of course I would read the book first.
 
I would consider the most depressing book I have read to be Giants in the Earth, by O. E. Rolvaag. It tells the story of Norwegian immigrants facing the hardship of settlement on the Midwestern prairie, and ultimately succumbing to the dark wilderness of the land and the dark religion of the soul. It was published in Norwegian in 1925 and translated by the author into English in 1927.

Rolvaag lived in Northfield, Minnesota, just down the street from my Grandmother. She didn't think much of him.
 
Depressing:

The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster
In the Country of Last Things by Paul Auster
Affliction by Russell Banks
Continental Drift by Russell Banks
Paris Trout by Pete Dexter
Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc


Tear-jerking/sad:

The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks
The Sign for Drowning by Rachel Stolzman
A Lesson Before Dying by Earnest Gaines
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison is both but with a large amount of "disturbing" mixed in as well.
 
Jude The Obscure by Thomas Hardy
The Painted Veil by W.Somerset Magham
I could also say Wuthering Heights
 
One of the most depressing books I know that I've ever read was My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult. Also Nineteen Minutes by the same author. Jodi Piccoult does depressing really well.
 
Ryouko said:
The Grapes of Wrath and Atonement. I didn't like the Grapes of Wrath, but I loved Atonement. I don't usually go for depressing stuff because I read to be happy and not think about depressing things in life.
Click to expand...

Taking solace in the demise of Tom Joad is like reading about the crucifixion. There are some interesting parallels there.
 
The Bible. Everybody dies in the end. Many people must consider this a classic though. It is the best selling work of fiction ever.
 
dude,
I see you're reading a book by Martin. Might interest you to know my brother is well acquainted with him and has spent time visiting his home. Can't tell you much about that as my brother and I barely speak to each other.

Thanks for the compliment by the way.
 
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