When you think of Stephen King, heartwarming, poignant, touching and sentimental are probably not the words that come to mind. I mean, he is behind some of the most terrifying stories of all time. I’ll admit, I’ve had to sleep with the lights on a few times after finishing one of his books, but I’ve also found myself reaching for the box of tissues. And while I love a creepy story with a little supernatural thrown in, it’s the characters that King creates—their flaws, fears and friendships—that bring me back again and again. If you’ve stayed away from reading a Stephen King book, I hope this list will change your mind. These are the five Stephen King books that made me cry and may make you as well. Long days and pleasant nights, Constant Readers.
Keep the Tissues Handy: 5 Stephen King Books That Will Make You Cry
This novella set in Stephen King’s fictional town of Castle Rock is perfect reading for the fall. I’ve recommended it over and over to people who have told me they are too scared to read Stephen King. In the book, Stephen Carey has a mysterious condition where he is losing weight though his body is not physically changing. After a rocky start, he becomes friends with a couple who have just moved to town and opened a new restaurant. The ending is what will tug at your heartstrings and may leave a tear running down your cheek.
This is an incredible read—and if you’re a Dark Tower fan you need to read this. Also, if you’re in a book club, this is a fantastic pick with lots to discuss. There is even a reading group guide available. There’s also a movie, but I don’t know if it does the book justice—I sure hope it does. But why did this book make me cry? The friendships. You will see yourself, or others, in these characters and you will not forget them. I think this quote best describes the experience of reading Hearts in Atlantis: “You will see Stephen King in a new light. Read this moving, heartfelt tragedy and weep—weep for our lost conscience.” —BookPage
The gentle, nostalgic 2001 film, “Hearts in Atlantis,” is based on the melancholic short story “Low Men in Yellow Coats.” In the summer of 1960, 11-year-old Bobby befriends the mysterious older man, Ted Brautigan, who moves into the upstairs apartment. Little does Bobby know that Ted is being pursued by sinister “low” men in yellow coats.
I know lots of Stephen King fans who haven’t read THE DARK TOWER Series. If you are one of those, now is the time to start. You will love how that world weaves its way into the other books of Stephen King. You’ll be wondering why you stayed away for so long. Why did this book make me cry: Jake Chambers. Jake finds himself in the world of Roland Deschain, becoming part of his ka-tet. SPOILER ALERT: I really hate it when my favorite characters dies. SPOILER ALERT 2: Even though we see Jake again, I still can’t forget his fate in the first book.
For almost a decade, Stephen King fans have been yearning to see this epic series on the big screen, and they’ll finally get their wish with this adaptation, starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. It tells the story of the fallen land of Mid-World, through the eyes of a knight whose primary mission is to save his decaying world by reaching the titular tower that stands at the intersection of time and space. This mix of horror, western, and sci-fi will be a must-see. RELEASE DATE: February 17, 2017
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Don’t get me wrong, this is one seriously scary book. It’s been years since we’ve seen Danny and now he’s an adult. He is a troubled soul. He has an encounter with a woman and later her young son, and this haunts Danny—they both do. There are other people who haunt Danny, too. But again, it’s the relationships that I remember most about this story. In the ending, I think Danny gets closure, in more than one way. It was the scene with his dad that had me brushing my cheeks. (And maybe some relief that I’d made it through the scariest part.)
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IF IT BLEEDS is a wonderful collection of four stories. Readers of The Outsider or the Bill Hodges Trilogy will be pleased to see the return of Holly Gibney in the title story If It Bleeds. But it is the second tale in the book where you might need a tissue. The Life of Chuck is one of my favorite things written by the master storyteller. It’s such a surprising tale—and I found myself highlighting my favorite lines. I loved each part and how they come together at the ending. Your vision might become a little blurry and you might have a big droplet hit the page.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author, legendary storyteller, and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary collection of four new and compelling novellas—Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, The Life of Chuck, Rat, and the title story If It Bleeds—each pulling you into intriguing and frightening places.
The novella is a form King has returned to over and over again in the course of his amazing career, and many have been made into iconic films, including “The Body” (Stand By Me) and “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” (Shawshank Redemption). Like Four Past Midnight, Different Seasons, and most recently Full Dark, No Stars, If It Bleeds is a uniquely satisfying collection of longer short fiction by an incomparably gifted writer.
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