Last week, the girls did a post about their top three tear-jerkers. Books they cried buckets while reading. At the time, I couldn’t think of any to add to the mix. I know there have been several that touched a cord with me, but I just couldn’t put my finger on a single title. Maybe I’m getting old and my memory is faulty? Ahh, well…
Since then I’ve been thinking about it. Not necessarily specific books that touched me or made me cry, but the circumstances behind them. And I wonder, what gets to you? What’s guaranteed to strike a cord?
For me, I think anything to do with children. As a mother, I often worry about my children, rejoice in their accomplishments. My heart squeezes when they’re unhappy. Many times I’ve read a novel with children and find myself getting misty. Whether it be because they connect with the adults in the novel, or are hurt – either physically or emotionally – at some point, or whatever.
Other things guaranteed to set me off are:
Death. I’ve read several novels where the main protagonists don’t make it to their Happily Ever After. Three Wishes by Barbara Delinsky comes to mind. Although the ending wasn’t unexpected, it still tugged at me. For weeks after reading that particular novel, I’d find myself tearing up.
Last night I re-read an In Death book by J.D. Robb. Two cops died in the line, and I found myself choked up over it. Probably because MM is a cop, and it’s one of my biggest fears.
Life. Watching someone overcome major obstacles in their life and find happiness, either inside themselves or with another. The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt is a good example. In the end, Simon realized his life with Lucy was more important than his quest for revenge. He chose to live, with Lucy, rather than face death every day. Is there anything more amazing?
Love. One of the main reasons most of us read romance is the journey of love. Watching two people find each other and fall in love is always a pleasure. But on occasion, it’s more than that. For example, watching two people who have been scarred in the past come together and rise above their pasts to live and love with one another. Or even those who haven’t been scarred in the past, but who still struggle to find the one that was meant for them. Seeing them finally find their Happily Ever After…well, it’s touching, don’t you think?
Friendship. I’ve been very blessed in my life with good friends and a wonderful family. There are times when I just need an outlet, whether it be laughter, tears or anger, and knowing I have a wonderful support system makes all the difference in the world to me. Too many times to count I’ve called Daphne or one of the other girls and poured my heart out. Or begged them to have a girls night with me. Or listened when they needed a shoulder to cry on. In a novel, seeing women – or men, as the case may be – come together to form tight relationships with each other tugs at my heartstrings. Especially when it’s rather unexpected. As I just read an In Death book, I’ll use Eve Dallas as an example.
Though she grew up with no one and nothing, she made herself into an amazing woman. One who stands for the dead and can barely give pieces of herself to those she cares for. But seeing her growing relationships with the women she comes into contact with – Mavis, Mira, Peabody – Never fails to get me. It’s so unexpected for her, and so unwelcome half the time, it never fails to tug at me.
The truth is, I’m a bit of a sap. No, I don’t cry at the drop of a hat, but certain things trigger something inside of me, and I find myself misty, or in outright tears.
So what about you? What are your triggers? What will set you off, no matter what?
Death usually sets me off. A child getting hurt will do the same. To be very honest, I’m a waterpot, anything will have me crying.
I cry at just about anything! I think I am a bit better than I used to be though. It used to be that just seeing a family together made me cry, not to talk about soppy commercials, soaps, death, just seeing other people crying! Just about anything!
For some reason ANYTHING with single Moms overcoming obstacles with and for their children. I don’t know if it’s because my sister is a single Mom, was actually a single Mom while still married, or just what.
I know being a parent, a good parent, is the hardest and yet most rewarding thing I’ve done (doing) with my life.
Crikeys, I didn’t mean to get on my mommy soap box.
What always gets me are the outsiders and orphans who finally get a home. (probably goes back to my OWN issues as a kid- AGAIN!) Those get me everytiime.
Books make me cry but movies and tv make me SOB. Michael Landon could set up a tearjerker like no else for me as a kid. Especially the ones where the kids had a specific difficulty like a bum leg or a stutter! Got me everytime.
I remember balling watching the movie Billy ELliot. ABout a kid from a rough irish family who loved to dance. Oh and of course Steel Magnolias. Yeesh that one had it all. Friends, Death, Family. I STILL cry everytime I see that one.
Like you, anything with death and children who are hurt. I cry about people who are forced into humiliating situations, particularly when they’re helpless (rape, torture, human trafficking) and when someone finds out they’re being cheated on (sometimes I cry during Dr. Phil!). I also cry at slow, folky songs (they remind me of the 60’s, which reminds me of my parents, which reminds me I’m getting old, which reminds me I’ll die one day–how’s that for weird?). My hubby once told me to watch Sweet November. “Does it have a happy ending? I only watch movies with happy endings,” I told him. “Yes, it has a happy ending,” he assured me. I could have killed him when we got to the end of the movie. To this day, he maintains it was “happy” because “it’s better to have loved and lost than–”
“No!” I yell at him. “It’s better IF SHE DIDN’T DIE!”
Death gets me, most of the time… also when two ppl can’t be together, because their responsibilities to others… like in Blue Willow by Deborah Smith…
I cry more with movies then I do books. A child or a main character’s death in a book causes me to cry, sometimes.