Reading has often been considered a cathartic experience. And the written word is one of the best ways to convey the depths of the human experience and the tragedies that often accompany them. I always seem to feel better after reading sad books; the time spent ugly crying at the hands of a paperback always helps refresh me and make me feel better about whatever situation I'm dealing with. So without further ado, here are 5 of the most heartbreaking books that you will ever read.

1. 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan

I don't know that any book has ever made me sob as much as this one has. It is perfectly executed and perfectly tragic. In McEwan's masterpiece, we follow Cecilia and Robbie, two lovers that the universe seems determined to keep apart. As a novel that combines hope and desperate heartache, I couldn't recommend this piece more.

2. 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' by John Irving

What is so tragic about this novel (which I think is one of Irving's best) is that the author perfectly leads up to the final blow, but it's still gut wrenching nonetheless. Owen Meany is destined for greatness, but a tragic greatness. And while he seems to look forward to fulfilling his destiny, his best friend and the narrator can't help but feel like he'll lose his best friend.

3. 'The Boy In the Striped Pajamas' by John Boyne

Since its publication in 2006, Boyne has made a name for himself through a novel that became an instant classic in World War II prose. There is nothing more heartbreaking than this honest and raw portrayal of the Holocaust from the eyes of two innocent children. Boyne has a way of punching you in the gut, but before even letting you catch your breath he hits you with something else just as depressing and equally frustrating.

4. 'The House of Mirth' by Edith Wharton

For the reader who likes classics, Wharton's famous work is a good novel for you. Like a bad car accident, you can't help but watch as the protagonist falls from grace, good society, love and wealth. It all seems so frustrating but totally inevitable. Yet, despite acknowledging that Lily Bart's trajectory can do nothing else but end in disaster, you can't help but root for this unfortunate heroine anyway.

5. 'Windows on the World' by Frédéric Beigbeder

This last novel is a work in translation that unflinchingly addresses the attacks of 9/11 and the last moments of a father and his two sons as they attempt to survive once the planes hit the World Trade Center. While this novel should come with a trigger warning, it is an incredibly tragic story of one of the most tragic events that has taken place in our modern society.

These five books are but a few in a long list that are heart wrenching and cathartic. So next time you feel the need to just get a random cry out of your system, try one of these. I promise, you'll feel much better afterward.