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Books/book club

I want a very depressing book

(130 Posts)
ochia03 Tue 30-Dec-25 11:36:42

Ive always loved reading really depressing books, since I'm a rather happy-go-lucky person, so most of the ones I read don't make me feel very sad. So that's where I employ all of you great people, to find me a book that will make me rethink why I created this post. Please and thank you smile

Ladyleftfieldlover Thu 01-Jan-26 20:15:34

The Road - and then watch the film!
The First Circle - Alexander Solzhineitsin (sp)
Anna Karenina - Tolstoy
The Kite Runner

sarahcyn Thu 01-Jan-26 20:15:41

Another vote here for Atonement by Ian McEwen.
Don’t forget Nineteen-Eighty-Four.

Isobelw Thu 01-Jan-26 20:37:46

A little life
Shuggie Bain

Stansgran Thu 01-Jan-26 21:17:46

I’ve read an awful lot of these and have many of the others on my reading list . They are ok interspersed with other reads but reminding myself of all the ones I’ve read has made me determined to go away and read Georgette Heyer for a week or two. Deeply depressed now.

Mmc123uk Thu 01-Jan-26 21:32:21

I loved Elinor Oliphant, made me cry (a lot) but I loved the ending.

A little life was also a harrowing read but a really worthwhile story.

I found them both really engaging & well written

Kathmaggie Thu 01-Jan-26 23:21:39

The Reader - thought provoking but sad

Lovetopaint037 Fri 02-Jan-26 00:43:26

Cgto2

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.
The bleakest book I’ve ever read!

If you really want bleak and it’s bleaker than The Four Winds try The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

Applegran Fri 02-Jan-26 03:05:02

I finally read Anna Karenina a few years ago and found it so good that I went on to read War and Peace (though I did skip some of the descriptions of battles) and then read another Tolstoy I think called Resurrection - really depressing in one way but Tolstoy makes it a really great read.

Meandrogrog Fri 02-Jan-26 03:48:47

Sophie’s Choice.

Eloethan Fri 02-Jan-26 06:32:31

I too would nominate Tess of the D'Urbevilles. Also Remains of the Day, though I would probably describe it as sad, rather than depressing.

Colls Fri 02-Jan-26 06:59:58

Jude The Obscure by Thomas Hardy.

Applegran Fri 02-Jan-26 07:15:10

A few years ago I finally read Anna Karenina and understood why it is so very highly regarded - it is brilliant! So I then read War and Peace (missing out some of the accounts of battles) and having at last discovered Tolstoy went on to read Resurrection which is very depressing but deserves to be better known.

Luckygirl3 Fri 02-Jan-26 07:47:19

Anything by Margaret Atwood - makes you lose the will to live.

dogsmother Fri 02-Jan-26 09:10:00

My vote would be for A Little Life.
I thoroughly enjoyed what was a depressing and sad book. It was however quite an epic and would recommend.

Applegran Fri 02-Jan-26 09:36:05

Oops! Sorry posted twice on same books

Geordiegirl1 Fri 02-Jan-26 10:17:49

There’s a Scottish saga, covering three generations - brilliant but bleak - A Scots Quair by Lewis Grassic Gibbons.

Greyduster Fri 02-Jan-26 10:51:36

Luckygirl I agree with you about Margaret Attwood’s books, but I bought a book of her poems recently and they were a complete surprise - clever, insightful and not at all depressing.

Iwtwab12bow Fri 02-Jan-26 11:00:20

The boy in the striped pyjamas.

JaneJudge Fri 02-Jan-26 11:04:49

every time I see this thread in active conversations I have a little chuckle to myself smile

Severnsider Fri 02-Jan-26 12:32:55

Demon Copperhead - it's even worse than Shuggie Bain.

undines Fri 02-Jan-26 12:54:38

Birdcage Walk
Had it on audiobook, can't recall author
Very much regretted the hours spent listening

springishere Fri 02-Jan-26 16:37:03

Well, there's a nice list of books to avoid!

Luckygirl3 Sat 03-Jan-26 16:04:24

Greyduster

Luckygirl I agree with you about Margaret Attwood’s books, but I bought a book of her poems recently and they were a complete surprise - clever, insightful and not at all depressing.

Interesting as I noticed that she was also a poet and have suggested her for our next poetry group meeting. Good to have an endorsement.

springishere Sat 03-Jan-26 16:18:48

At present I'm reading "The School of Night" by Karlove Knausgaard, translated from Norwegian. A Christmas present - very long, no chapters and very depressing.

ochia03 Tue 06-Jan-26 19:12:09

ochia03

Ive always loved reading really depressing books, since I'm a rather happy-go-lucky person, so most of the ones I read don't make me feel very sad. So that's where I employ all of you great people, to find me a book that will make me rethink why I created this post. Please and thank you smile

Ive always loved reading really depressing books, since I'm a rather happy-go-lucky person, so most of the ones I read don't make me feel very sad. So that's where I employ all of you great people, to find me a book that will make me rethink why I created this post. Please and thank you smile. 100001.onl/

I got this,..