If You Like A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton ...

If you want an emotional tear-jerker like "A Map of the World" by Jane
Hamilton,  here are some titles sure to make you weep:

"A Death in the Family" by James Agee 

Jay Follet goes to see his dying father, who turns out to not be dying.
On the way home, Jay is killed in a car accident. This story shifts in
time as it tells the stories of various family members.

"The Last Unicorn" by Peter S. Beagle
Even if you think you don't believe in unicorns, and don't read fantasy,
this inventive, sweetly sorrowful story is a classic.

"Talk Before Sleep" by Elizabeth Berg
Ann goes to see her friend Ruth, who is dying of cancer. A wonderful
glimpse at what women talk about when they know they don't have forever.

"Rose's Garden" by Carrie Brown
Conrad is devastated by the death of his wife Rose and slips into a
profound depression. One night, he sees an angel in her garden. Has he
been crazed by grief, or has an angel really come to help him rejoin the
living?

"Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
A turn of the century circus, a traveling carnival man who wants to put
down roots and his wife who wants to see the world are at the heart of
this lyrical tale.

"Heart of the Valley" by Nigel Hinton
The story of a lowly sparrow, sure to make you weep.

"To Dance With the White Dog" by Terry Kay
When Sam's wife dies, his children don't think he should be on the
family farm alone. They worry when he talks about a white dog that no
one else has ever seen. A warm and moving tale about the "final rite of
passage".

"Flowers For Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
The first book that really made me cry. Charlie is a mentally disabled
man who undergoes an experimental brain operation that improves his IQ
dramatically.

"Oh My Stars" by Lorna Landvik
Set in the Great Depression, this story follows Violet - a tall, shy
girl from a poor and abusive family - as she "blooms" into a happy and
fulfilled woman. A marvelous read!

"Jewel" by Bret Lott
Jewel is the last child of family in rural Mississippi. Born with Down's
Syndrome, Jewel is a blessing and a burden to her family.

"The Memory of Running" by Ron McLarty
Smithy Ide is an overweight loser, drifting through life with no
friends, a mediocre job and no plans for the future. When both of his
parents are killed in a car accident, and he is notified of the death of
his long-lost sister, Smithy decides to bike across the country to
retrieve his sister's body. A moving and memorable book.

"Love Story" by Erich Segal
The classic "love means never having to say you're sorry" story.

"The Bridges of Madison County" by Robert James Waller
An almost legendary story of love that endures - through time and
distance.

"Good Grief" by Lolly Winston
Sophie is a young widow who can't seem to move on with her life. This
book will make you laugh out loud, even through your tears.

Two non-fiction titles that I've got to include:

"Expecting Adam" by Martha Beck
John and Martha are driven, highly educated and on the fast track to
success. When their second child is born with Down's Syndrome, all their
plans are derailed. Nothing better could have happened to them.

"Good Dog" by Jon Katz
What do you do about a much-loved dog who seems to be irreparably
damaged? This book is wise and touching and ultimately uplifting.

M. E. Raymond
Reference Librarian