I want a very depressing book

The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Sadaawi

Is Dr Zhivago the novel as depressing as the film?

The boy in the striped pyjamas....John Boyle

"But You Did Not Come Back"Marceline Loridan-Ivens .
So sad and depressing two friends couldn't finish when I lent it.

MayBee70

Sparklefizz

Maybee70 I thought A Thousand Splendid Suns was uplifting

While I was reading it, I spent most of the time in tears. It's one of the saddest and most upsetting books I have ever read.
Perhaps it would suit OP's requirements.

I was numb at the end. Reminded me of films that I’ve been to see where I had to stay in my seat for a while after the film finished ( eg Brokeback Mountain).

But you said it was "uplifting" in your earlier post MayBee70

A Long, Long Way by Sebastian Barry is set in World War 1 following the life of young Willie Dunne. It is a beautifully written book and yes it is terribly sad. It is a haunting story which will stay with you.

Too close to home these days, isn’t it Purplepixie?

Try reading 1984.

Hamnet is coming out as a film,too. Just been and watched Nuremberg, that’s depressing but what a good actor Russell Crowe is as Göring. I get quite a few books online and if you look for psychological horror novels most are depressing. Also Thomas Hardy novels - king of the depressives !

Germinal by Émile Zola

Hamnet and A Little Life.
I don’t know what possessed me to read them during the summer after DH died. ☹️

I agree with Shuggie Bain and The Road, but Never Let me Go wins the prize for me!

I think there is a danger of confusing sadness with depression. Some very sad books are quite uplifting while depressing books can lower your mood and increase anxiety.

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff I was gripped by this book but it is unremittingly grim.

I suggested it to my book club but no one else wanted to read it!

Sparklefizz

Maybee70 I thought A Thousand Splendid Suns was uplifting

While I was reading it, I spent most of the time in tears. It's one of the saddest and most upsetting books I have ever read.
Perhaps it would suit OP's requirements.

I was numb at the end. Reminded me of films that I’ve been to see where I had to stay in my seat for a while after the film finished ( eg Brokeback Mountain).

The Woodlanders,by Thomas Hardy is , by no stretch of the of the imagination, cheerful. Typical Hardy

Magenta8

George Orwell's 1984 is pretty grim, especially as the world seems to be going in that direction albeit rather later than predicted.

I agree. We don't yet have thought police, but Alexa is a good stand in.

Cameras all over the place, you can't go shopping without being on camera.

Maybee70 I thought A Thousand Splendid Suns was uplifting

While I was reading it, I spent most of the time in tears. It's one of the saddest and most upsetting books I have ever read.
Perhaps it would suit OP's requirements.

Primrose53

Try “The Death and Life of Sylvia Plath”. I’ve just started it.

She is probably my favourite writer/poet of all time.

Another vote here for Angela's Ashes.

I also recommend ‘a little life ‘ I loved it but it’s a hard read, ditto ‘never let me go ‘
My daughter recommended’a story of a heart ‘ I started it but wasn’t in the mood, but I will give it another go.

Black Beauty.

I find Bathsheba Everdene's doomed love for Sergeant Troy in Far From The Madding Crowd very depressing.
I've read it a few times and thought the film was beautifully done and all the way through reading and watching I want to scream at her- YOU'VE PICKED THE WRONG ONE !
But then , it wouldn't be a story ,would it ?

Just read "Abide with Me" Elizabeth Strout. Small town America 1959. Narrow minded bigots. Although there is redemption at the end.

“Love set you going like a fat gold watch”

One of my favourite poems.

Morning Song.