Probably like most of you, I read a lot. But it is a rare occasion when I find a book that bring not only tears of sorrow but also tears of joy to my eyes, makes my breath catch in my throat and my heartbeat pound against my ribcage. Those are the kinds of books that not only entertain us but become part of us, like a friend that you can always count on to make your heart just a little lighter.

If you have found such a book, share it with us so that we can discover its magic as well. If you have not, then maybe you can find something here that will bring you closer.

My personal all time favorites are
Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern, a touching story about two people who are meant to be together but are constantly separated by circumstances beyond their control
And
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, my favorite of all Sarah Dessen novels and definitely worth checking out for any and all those of you who love a character that they can relate to.

One of the books that I have read that sticks out in my mind is "She's Come Undone". I haven't read it in a while (which needs to be rectified) but from what I remember its about a girl who is obese and all the trials and tribulations she goes through in her life. Maybe it struck a cord because when I was younger I struggled with my weight as well so I could really sympathize with the character as well as the fact that some of the things she went through, I myself went through. I always recommend the book to anyone who I know is a reader and I recommend it to you as well if you ever get the moment to read it. It's a wonderful book (to me at least lol)

[gretchen]

For me it must have been The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It was her debut novel, so one shoudn't even expect anything high from her about then, but something in this book made me think about it for a long time. It's a story about a guy who travels in time and meets Claire at various times in her life. Simply touching. Btw if you do happen to like books with time travel themes, another one that I simply can't get out of my mind is an older one called Replay by Ken Grimwood.

I absolutely loved Me before you by Jo Jo Moynes - made me laugh and cry in equal measure

[finallyiamnoone]

I absolutely worship "The Street Of Crocodiles" and other prose by Bruno Schulz. It's very oneiric, biographical, but with a large amount of what could be probaby described as magical realism, full of amazing metaphors and epithets.

There are so many, but if I have to chose one: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

This is the book that touched my heart and mind when I was very young. Now that I'm not so young, it still touches my heart and mind.

[cammybear]

I agree with ardared on Wally Lamb's "She's Come Undone". I read it years ago and only saw the issue of obesity, then read it again recently and realized that childhood sexual abuse was the issue, which is known to underlie obesity in many women. I think I laughed more the first time and cried more the second time, but loved it both times.

I also loved, loved, loved Wally Lamb's "I Know This Much Is True" which deals with twins and schizophrenia in a very poignant way. I have read it at least 4 times and know I will read it again.

This is going to be a bit random but the harry potter series started me reading I wouldn't read any novels untill i read the harry potter books which I didn't find until the first movies came out.

[mstigerlily]

I have to have read over 1000 books in my lifetime, no idea. There were many, many good ones and many bad ones and lots in between.
But touched my heart? And stayed with me? A tall order, but here they are:

1. Candy by Luke Davies (if anyone has in .MOBI or .ePUB please let me know. I have reread this at least a dozen times)
2. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
3. The Fault in our Stars by John Green
4. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
5. Incendiary by Chris Cleave (to me, better than Little Bee, also good)
6. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
7. The Catcher in the Rye

Runners up that touched my heart but on a lesser scale *I am probably forgetting sooooo many*

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (quite a huge read, and a bit too complicated but I loved)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
The Handmaid's Tale and probably also Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (as a child)
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (as a child)
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (as a child)
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (as a child)
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle (as a child)
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (as a child)


The book I'm reading now We Live in Water by Jess Walter is fast becoming a contender, it is amazing, each short story a little jewel of awesomesauce, I mean it is just kickass stuff, what a writer this guy is. it's even better than Beautiful Ruins. And dare I say even better than any other collection of short stories I've ever read.

One book that i have loved even though it made me cry like crazy because it´s such a sad story is "Sarah´s key" by Tatiana de Rosnay, it´s actualy a french novel called "Elle s´appelée Sarah". It´s amazing, about a little girl and everything she goes thru during WW2.

Marquez' 'Love in the Time of Cholera.'

Sweeping...

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

To Kill A Mockingbird and Tuesday's With Morrie

[traceliner]

Wayyyyyy back in the late 70's, I loved a book titled "The Other Side of the Mountain - The Jill Kinmont Story" it was about a young woman, on the US Olympic Ski Team, she becomes paralyzed from the neck down, and has to figure out how to live a productive life.... I think she is still alive, will have to look into that, but that was one of the first books that I just read over and over as a kid.....doubt it is available as ebook, but it was absolutely amazing.....

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Read it when I was a teenager, It's a diary of a 15y old who turns to drugs. At odd times the story would come back to me in the years since I've read it.