I am a very big proponent of sad stories. I enjoy books that are full of emotion and cause me to dwell on what they’re saying. Some of my favorite books have sad stories.
Not everyone likes this kind of book, but I believe that there is a great amount of emotional growth to be gained through them. As you grow older and become aware of the world around you in all of its brokenness, stories are an incredible first exposure to that.
Authors like Kate DiCamillo and Katherine Paterson are masters at this art. Their stories aren’t always cozy, but there is often a bittersweet and profound impact that comes from reading them. Books like Where the Red Fern Grows, Little Women, or Bridge to Terabitha might be the first exposure a child has to true sadness. This first taste of brokenness can have a profound impact on the way they learn to handle grief.
Sad vs. Hopeless
First of all, I need to clarify what I mean by sad stories. I am not talking about pessimistic stories, or stories full of darkness. These are hopeless stories, and I do not see the need for their existence. Even though there is darkness, there is also great light, and that light ought to be loudly proclaimed in the books that we read.
But there are some stories that are rimmed with sadness and yet with hope. These are the stories that don’t have perfect, happily-ever-after endings, but their endings look toward hope. While sad stories reveal beauty through our brokenness, hopeless stories present pain as the only thing in life.
Portray Real Life
One reason that sad stories matter is the way that they portray life in a genuine, honest way. Life is not all happiness and laughter, even though there is a lot of that as well. There is also hurt, brokenness, and deep sorrow. Tragic events take place and things happen that we wish never did.
By presenting life as all sunshine and smiles we are being untrue to life as it is. Life is not always pretty, but pretending it is does not change anything. In fact, it is likely to leave us feeling left behind and caught up in a sadness that isn’t presented in what we read. Honesty in what we read helps our hearts to feel not so alone in life or alone in our sorrow.
Look Beyond
My favorite reason to read sad stories is the way they have of guiding our gaze upwards. As a Christian, my hope is not in something that will be given to us in this world. My hope is anchored in the next world, and stories that end in a way of anticipation for the future remind me of this.
This is why I love a good ending that leaves me longing for something more. The stories that make me wish for something better are at the same time making me wish for heaven, and that is a truly beautiful thing to experience while reading.
Final Thoughts
Sad stories are truly some of my favorite kinds to read. They bring hope in a unique way that stories solely of joy cannot do.
Do you enjoy reading sad stories? What are some of your favorite ones to read?
For the Love of Stories 