So I just finished reading TSOA and it completely shattered me. I couldn't stop telling my friends about it, it was beautifully written imo. The only problem is: I want to read books that are somewhat similar to it. It doesn't have to be about greek mthology (I'd prefer it if it wasn't) I really like doomed endings. Books that will shatter my soul. I have If he had been with me, They both die at the end, and Circe in my TBR list. I've been seeing hate on they both die at the end so I'm kind of hesitant on buying it now😠kindly help a girl out
by jvl14d
14 Comments
I know you said you’d prefer it to not be greek mythology, I found Circe and Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati to be the same tier retellings as TSOA, just as beautiful but different undertones. I’ve read lots of others and they just aren’t as good.
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is absolutely heartbreaking.
Basically, you want tragic endings? Not that many in mainstream novels, people want happy ones in general but let’s see…
A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens had me weeping my eyes out when I first read it, so there’s that..
Spoilers, obv, but Villette by Charlotte Bronte has the sweetest, saddest ending.
If you like historical novels, Mary Renault’s wonderful trilogy about Alexander the Great has the saddest last book in the trilogy where awful stuff keeps happening and well, you know what happened to Alex in the end. I’d deffo rec that one.
I enjoyed Circe more than TSoA. If you haven’t read The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns, try them.
Never Let Me Go and Remains of the Day, both by Kazuo Ishiguro
Atonement
Circeeeeeee by Madeline Miller. It’s worth it! It’s less heartbreaking
Not related at all by theme or genre, but if you want a book that will devastate you, Bewilderment by Richard Powers. I read it in 2021 when it was up for the Booker Prize and I’m still not over it.
The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
I really enjoyed Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel.
If you want to go all in on the Trojan War thing, Troy by David Gemmell is a great read! It’s basically a reimagining of the Trojan War mythos without the gods playing an active role, just human pride and greed and cruelty.
There are heartening moments here and there and not *everybody* dies, but like…..most of them do, lol.
Ok this is a deep pull, but Romeo and Juliet? It’s about two Italian teens who fall in love…
Shattered? I would read the Angle of Repose. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1971. A great book
Demon Copperhead
The Book Thief
The Last Letter
A Man Called Ove
I Who Have Never Known Man
My Friends, Fredrik Backman tears of joy and sorrow
Tuesdays with Morrie
Mans Search for Meaning (non fiction)
My Sisters Keeper
Do read They Both Die at the End
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn will tug at your heart strings
Stoner
The Art of Racing in the Rain
I liked Circe more than The Song of Achilles. Also try Klara and the Sun or Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.