[Melusine]

Barry, I totally agree!! Those are both good examples of just how nasty Banks can be. Especially Ken's death really shocked me. I thought the ending of Consider Phlebas was awful too, though - especially with Yalson being pregnant.

But the two most emotional moments in books for me are two others. They're the only two instances I can recall where I cried over a book. I think I'm more of a visual person - with movies, it's easier to cry for me - even though I prefer reading over watching movies, and even though most books I read were "deeper" and more poignant than most movies.

Anyway, SPOILERS AHEAD concerning Peake's Gormenghast and Pullman's The Subtle Knife.
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The two (or actually, three) character deaths that touched me most are
Fuchsia's death in Gormenghast and the deaths of Lee Scoresby and Hester in The Subtle Knife. I cried after both of these. Especially Fuchsia is one of the most likeable, life-like, sympathetic and realistic characters ever created.