Sob-Fest - books that make you cry

I noticed a forum on Whale Song's page on Amazon.com. It's on books that made you cry.

There are a few awesome, sob-provoking books that come to mind for me:

Mothering Mother by Carol D. O'Dell is probably number one on my Sob-Fest list. It's a true story of a woman who was adopted as a young girl by very religious parents. Her adoptive mother ends up with Alzheimers and Parkinsons and the author must care for her, plus she's on her own search for her biological parents and sister.

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult is another one that I found made me emotional. Anything to do with mothers and daughters tend to do that for me, and this one was made more poignant when the daughter needs a new heart and the mother has to make a choice that many might not consider.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See took me to an ancient China, where the old custom of torturous footbinding was in practice and when girls were matched with another to be their soulmate. This story of friendship shows the deep bonds that best friends have and the effect that's caused when a friendship is torn apart.

These are a few books that have made me cry, and like many people I take that to mean they are wonderfully written, provoking and heart felt.

The book that REALLY made me cry is my own novel Whale Song. I never expected that. While writing it, I always knew the ending, which is sweetly sad and hopeful.

I held off writing the final 2 chapters and did all the editing of the previous chapters first. Then I had 2 editors edit up to that point, so the book was 'tight'.

Finally I sat down to write the last chapters. I poured everything into them and I'll admit, I cried through the whole process. It started as that burn in the throat, then the tears. I was actually forced to take a break between the last 2 chapters. By the time I was finished, I was sobbing.

My husband came home and found me in front of the computer, red-rimmed eyes, tears down my face. He asked me what was wrong. I looked up at him and said, "I finished Whale Song." Waaaa....

It's a bit embarrassing to admit that, but it's true. I cried like a baby. At first it was because the ending that I'd always seen so clearly was so poignant and I loved my characters and their struggles. After a while I realized I was also crying because Whale Song was finished--complete other than a bit more editing. My journey with Sarah and the whales had come to an end, and the novel that had haunted me for 2 years was going to be published.

I wonder if more authors have cried over their own work. Or am I the only big baby author out there. I hope not.

Join in the conversation on books that make you cry.

Or leave your Sob-Fest list here by leaving a comment. :)

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,

Canadian suspense author

http://www.cherylktardif.com/