The ability to break a heart

A wiser man than me once spoke of how the greatest books are great because of their ability to break one's heart. What he meant by that was not disappointment, but the ability for the story to speak to the inner reaches of your soul. Or if I were to put it in my own words: The ability of a story to play a tune on the strings of our hearts. Despite the heart reference, the story need not even be a romance to achieve this overwhelming effect.

Tolkien's Silmarillion did this for me years ago. I was taken by how the Ainur (later Valar) brought about reality through their song, how Beren and Luthien persisted though their love was denied, and how the great tree watched over the elves until the time of the simarils would corrupt one of their own. Perhaps though, you know little of this book and my references mean little.

I must admit, though, that I think very few books have torn at my soul like that one. However, I have noticed of late, that even movies must break your heart to be found excellent. Okuribito was one such movie, and I may have found another: The Time Traveler's Wife. The movie was awesome, and I don't mean say that because I was enamoured with some sweet action sequence or a drippy love scene. The movie had neither. The movie for me just felt so tangibly human. Artfully taking the twists and quirks of time travel and playing with them like a juggler, the author adds in normal people who are seeking only to live a normal life.

Now, I have one dilemma though. I overlooked the fact that this movie is based off of a book. A book that I have not yet read, which is something I don't usually do before seeing a movie based off of a book. Therefore, do I read the book in hopes that it will at least break my heart like the movie did?

I am far too curious, I find, and I believe that I must read the book for two reasons:
1. The book is always equal to or better than the movie. Therefore it will at least break my heart.
2. As the saying goes: Nothing ventured, nothing gained: so I'll adventure!

Tis' all.