Category Archives: Made Me Cry
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
I’m not going to spoil this for you. But you need to be aware of a few things before you pick up this book. Those things are: this is an incredibly sad story about a Nigerian refugee who seeks an informal asylum in England. There are two incredible women in this book, the girl who goes by the name “Little Bee” and Sarah, the woman who tries to save her.
This book is about sadness. And suicide. It’s about hope and trust. It’s about betrayal and cowardice. Continue reading
No Impact Man by Colin Beavan
This book isn’t just a facts-only-ma’am sort of read. It is a novel, with real characters and both sadness and joy. Beavan couldn’t have done it better. He snagged me immediately, cast me out there into the unknown, and reeled me in through waves of… reality. And not just green living reality, though that is the premise of the book. He invites us all in, exposes his family and himself, and truly if there’s someone I would want to befriend, he is absolutely one. Continue reading
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
I sure loved this book. Artistic, extremely creative, philosophical, and sweet. The dynamic characters were ones with whom I fell in love, and the story line was intricately interwoven and brilliantly written. The premise of the story is that there … Continue reading
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Dr. Frankl is a psychiatrist who survived multiple concentration camps during World War II. In this book he describes the devastation, both physically and emotionally, of the way people were tortured and murdered throughout this experience. This part of the book was extremely difficult to get through.
After that, he describes the psychological characteristics of the people who survived versus the people who did not. Essentially, those whose suffering was given meaning, those whose life served a purpose, are they who did not give up and kept on trodding through their daily misery.
Finally, Frankl introduces us to logotherapy, which is his version of treating the soul who has lost their purpose. It involves re-framing emotional lenses and seeking relevant reasoning behind their experiences.
It’s no wonder that Man’s Search For Meaning is one of the more quoted books in the material I love to read: metaphysical and spiritual soundness.
For you psychology folks, for those of you who think that your life is filled with eternal martyrdom, I think you’ll enjoy this. Sometimes seeing the pits of hell is precisely what you need in order to realize that your own misery is relative. Continue reading
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
When I was a little girl, I used to imagine what my family would feel like if I died. It’s dark, yes, and a very sad thing for a little girl to consider. In this piece, the author masterfully describes the very scenario that made my eyes water as a young child.
It’s rare to come along a book that moves me so gently, so passionately. And this turned out to be the one. Not only have I discovered an amazing new author in Alice Sebold, I was amazed as I flitted like a leaf through this book.
I bawled. At my desk at work. While I listened to the book during my lunch break.
I consider this no simple feat.
This is the story of Susie and her family. At fourteen, Susie is murdered by a neighbor. This is the tale of the family, as told from Susie’s perspective from heaven, as they cope with their loss. Continue reading
