Captivating and enthralling books are capable of transporting readers through the happiness, sorrows, and actions of the characters. One of the most frustrating and heartbreaking themes in a literary work is when the main character in a story dies of a disease.
Books, where the main character dies of a disease show the harsh reality of life and death and give a pathetic reflection on the weakness and shortcomings of human existence.
These types of books are capable of bringing out strong emotions in readers and helping them have a deep understanding of the human condition. In this article, we’ll explore books where the main character dies of a disease. So, dive in deeper!
Books Where The Main Character Dies of Cancer
There are so many books where the main character dies of cancer, and we have some recommendations below:
“The Fault in Our Stars”
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“The Fault in Our Stars” is a novel by John Green which explores the life of a 16-year-old girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster who was living with thyroid cancer that has circulated to her lungs.
Hazel Grace Lancaster later fell in love with Augustus Waters, who also happens to be a cancer patient and they began navigation through the difficulties of living with cancer and the pains that come with.
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”
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“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” is a novel published by Jesse Andrew in 2012 that follows the story of Greg Gaines, a high school senior student.
Greg and Earl, his friend, were compelled by his mum to spend time with a girl called Rachel, who was struggling with leukemia.
The novel teaches about morality, the struggles of adolescence, and friendship. It’s humorous, engaging, and poignant and It’s also a famous story where the main character died of cancer.
My Sister’s Keeper”
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Jodi Picoult published My Sister’s Keeper on April 6, 2004. The novel is about the tale of a family whose young daughter named Kate was struggling with leukemia.
Kate has a sibling named Anna, who her parents compelled to be her donor. However, when Anna decides to sue her parents for medical freedom, the family is ripped apart.
Stories Where The Main Character Dies in The Middle
There are a couple of stories where the main character dies in the middle, and the following will get you hooked on emotions:
“Romeo and Juliet”: This is a novel written by Willian Shakespeare. The book follows the story of two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, who committed suicide before the conclusion of the play.
“Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” is a book by J.K. Rowling. In this novel, Rowling told the story of Harry Potter, who witnessed the sudden death of his dear mentor, Albus Dumbledore, who died in the middle of the story.
The death of Albus Dumbledore forms a chain of events that results in the final battle between Harry and Lord Voldemort in the last series.
Books Where The Main Character Is the Villain
The following are some of the books where the main character is the villain:
- “Vicious” which was written by V.E. Schwab
- “Gone Girl,” published by Gillian Flynn
- “You” is a novel written by Caroline Kepnes
- “The Silence of the Lambs,” published by Thomas Harris
- “Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk
- “The Secret History” was written by Donna Tartt
Books Where The Main Character Dies In the End
There are numerous books where the main character dies in the end, and they include:
- “The Fault in Our Stars,” written and published by John Green
- “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck
- “A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway
- “One Hundred Years of Solitude” was written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- “The Stranger” by Albert Camus.
Romance Books Where the Main Character Dies
The following are summaries of two romance books where the main character dies:
1. “Me Before You”
“Me Before You” is a novel by Jojo Moyes that tells the story of a beautiful young woman named Louisa Clark. Louisa took up a job as a caregiver to Will Traynor, who happens to be a quadriplegic man.
However, along the line, the two fell in love, but Louisa became heartbroken and devastated after Will took his own life through assisted suicide.
#2 “Love Story”
“Love Story” is a novel published by Erich Segal that explores the tale of two college students, Oliver Barrett IV, and Jennifer Cavilleri, who have emerged from different backgrounds and experiences and fall in love with each other.
Along the line, Jennifer dies from leukemia disease leaving her lover, Oliver, to manage his grief and learn to carry on with life, thereby making the best out of it.
Final Thought
In conclusion, one of the most saddening and heartbreaking storylines in a book is that of a main character dying due to a terminal disease.
Stories like this only arouse powerful emotions from the readers but can also give a distinctive perspective on the human experience.
The books discussed above can also result in readers thinking about the fragility of life and the essence of making the most of the time available.
