The first book that made me cry was "Old Yeller" Did I spell that right? About the little boy and his dog. I would have been about 8 and my Mum took it off me in the end because I'd read it over and over. Sometimes I'd just skip to the part where the dog got sick (she types so as not to give the game away if someone hasn't read it yet.)
Definately, "April Fool's Day". I read it thru the night and took the day off work to finish it. I want to read some of the books listed here and, Dragonslayer? Yep, you spelt "Tim" correctly!

Many people have posted 'April Fool's Day' and although I haven't read it, I know another Bryce Courtenay book that brought me to tears, 'Jessica'.
This is a truly wonderful story and I would recommend it to anyone.

This July 2004, in Australia, the mini-series of 'Jessica' was broadcast on TV and it certainly lives up to the book. I cired no less than 5 times during it.

Linda, I too love Chaim Potok's books. "The Chosen" was an absolute classic. As for "Angela's Ashes"...it had its great moments, but the style of writing nearly put me to sleep. (I'll probably get in trouble for this!) It was just so long, and with no real climax...hundreds of pages of the same thing. Don't get me wrong, I appreciated him relating his amazing experiences, but it wasn't a STORY, really...just an account. The lack of quotation marks was bothersome as well. (I know he had his reasons, it was from a child's perspective, blahblahblah. I just didn't like it, ok? )

How about Night by Elie Wiesel? Talk about a tear-jerker. Perhaps the Holocaust has been a bit overdone, but with good reason. I can't imagine not having read that book and would reccomend it to anyone who thinks they can handle it. There was actually a girl in my English class who preferred failing the final to finishing that book; she had nightmares for months. (She must have quite an advanced imagination. )

Sue, I agree with you about Derrick Longden -his books make me laugh out loud. Have you read the one about his mother -"Lost for Words"? Wonderful!
But the most tearjerking book I have ever read was "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford. I only ever have to pick it up and read the last three pages and I cry for hours. Super book!

Hmmm. Maybe I'm a sap, but I cry a lot when I read. I have always allowed myself to get very emotionally attached to characters in books, even ones that aren't emotionally deep. But of all the books I've read, there are three that spring to mind as having been most emotional. Two of them I've read over and over, and I cry every darn time. Those are Jane Eyre and Little Women. Cliche, I know, but I can't help it. The third is Ordinary People. I had to read this in my 8th grade english class. I was 12, and the subject matter was pretty rough for me at that age. It really stuck with me.

Angelas Ashes for me... The whole book I was bawling. It was very depressing, but excellent.

Winds of War by Herman Wouk. It had an amazing emotional impact on me--I found it deeply depressing, for some reason even more depressing than reading a true story like Elie Wiesel's Night.

Yes, "Angela's Ashes" is definitely a very emotional book.

But the book that made me cry the most was "The Bridges of Madison County". I think I cried more reading the book than watching the movie. While reading the last pages, I had to stop and clean my glasses as they kept getting all wet. Very sad, but lovely novel.

As a kid "Bridge to Terabithia" and "Cracker Jackson" made me bawl.

Now "Angela's Ashes" and "Bastard out of Carolina" did it to me. I'm a big sap for biographies, especially celebrity biographies of the early 20th century. I just finished reading Maureen O'Hara's and teared up her retelling the death of John Wayne and her last husband.

Going with the others that said "April Fool's day" - as much as I love the book it was exhausting getting through it.

"Sophie's Choice" has some emotional parts, as did "The Lovely Bones," "Angela's Ashes," and "Atonement." Those four books immediately came to mind, but I'm sure I'll think of others.

'Tim' by Colleen McCullough definitely.

'My Brilliant Career' by Miles Franklin.Didn't so much make me cry, just made me empathise with Sibylla (?).

'Gallipoli' Jack Bennett.

Now that book did make me cry.War, mateship,humour,tragedy.It is a book that I can read every time I come across it on my bookshelf

Oh dear Lothruin.I forgot Little Women.
I appreciate what you are saying about becoming attached to the characters. I get mad when they are cheated, start reading quicker than normal to see whether the bad guys get their comeuppance, sit back with a triumphant laugh and continue reading

Here's some books that made me cry:
PS I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
So Much To Tell You by John Marsden

All very emotional
So Much To Tell You is a children's book, but I'd still recommend it to anyone

Anything by Laurene McDaniel. I read a lot of them in middle school and early high school. Cried without fail everytime.

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Blurrystar1 I edited my post, I simply wasn`t sure if I should delete it or not. My post was concerning a "book" by a certain sadistic french "writer" and after reading it I decided that even mentioning the "books" name wasn`t really suitable for a site that children visit.

Oh ok, well thanks for clearing that up then.

One of my favorite books is not a total tear jerker, but it will take you through EVERY emotion. It's called "Mara, Daughter of the Nile" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw. I loved it so much, I can't bear to read it again. I'm afraid the spell will be broken. It is out of print now, but I managed to find a copy.

Another one that isn't really a tear jerker but I remember finding emotional was "The Catcher in the Rye."

I don't know if any 'Organisational Behaviour' (HRM is a close substitute) text book qualifies as a 'book' but it can make you cry even in your sleep (Some call it Nightmares...).

If anyone is daring enough, I will mail my copy (Mcshane or Luthans)to him/her/it ASAP. Please Oblige me

Years and years ago, it was the Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough. More recently, Nicholas Sparks' books bring tears to my eyes, especially The Notebook.

I have to agree with the others who said "April Fool's Day" by Bryce Courtney. I didn't want to read this book as I am not into tear-jerkers but my friend, who works with AIDS patients, made me read it.

Bryce Courtenay's son, Damon, suffered from haemophilia and he acquired AIDS from a tainted blood transfusion. Damon died on April 1, 1991, hence the title. On his official website (http://www.brycecourtenay.com/bryce.asp), Courtenay states "in the countries where it was published, it unequivocally changed the public perception of AIDS". He is very proud of the fact that his book is now compulsory reading in a number of medical schools.

It really is a worthwhile read and I recommend it.

After reviewing the interesting posts in this thread I realise that at various times of my life I have been moved by a wide variety of books. Starting with "Lord of the Rings" as a 1960's teenager, C V Wedgwood's biography of "Stafford" (university), the early bitingly funny satirical novels of Tom Sharpe exposing apartheid in South Africa and the double standards of British capitalist colonialists and his more recent "Wilt" (don't care too much for his others, though). More recently the double trilogies of "Thomas Covenant" have underlined to me the plight of many less fortunate.
I visited Sydney and NSW last year and partially read a moving account of "The Rocks" but unfortunately had to leave it behind with my hosts before making a note of its title. Does anyone know?