I’ve been on a depressing read binge. My latest book really affected me and looking at my bookshelf, I only see depressing and bleak stories – genocides, depression, racism, suicide, climate change…
I need recommendations for uplifting books, fiction or nonfiction. What do y’all have for me?
@chat@literature.cafe
Many books I read last year seem to have at least a trace of these subjects in them, however I might suggest as some light-hearted books:
– Asimov / Foundation (sf)
– sport biographies tend to be easy reads.
– not free of murder, but I enjoyed the works of Simenon
– Soft City – on urban design by David Sim.
Thank you! I love that you included a murder on the list − I tend to feel like crime novels don’t count as depressing, because the structure usually has everything ending in a very tidy and « achieved » way, with justice having been brought and all being well in the world again!
Replied to Need happy book recommendations by Alex (alexsirac.com)
I too find myself reading lots of books on the grim end of the scale, with a TBR chock-full of gloom in a time of scary and depressing politics 😐
These are some books that I recall having a warmer vibe throughout and an uplifting ending:
And a couple uplifting non-fiction:
And these are some books on my TBR that I’m hopeful about:
I could stand for some more on my list too!
Oh wow, thanks Tracy! The only one I have read on this list is Act your age, Eve Brown, so I’m adding all the others to my to-read list and I’ll see what I do with them!
Posted in reply to Alex (Need happy book recommendations)
Alex, I am not sure if I hit the right tones of the books. But here are some of the ones I would recommend in that general area.
Cosy:
The Ladies of Almack – The cosy, historical, mystery series, the mysteries in the first couple of books were non-violent and it is fun to read the women with supernatural powers dealing with everyday problems.
Holmes of Kyoto (author site) – The cosy mystery books of the pair of people working in the antique shop, solving people’s problems. Based on the spoilers, it is also a slow burn romance, but it has to be in the books I did not finish yet.
Restaurant to Another World – a short story collection about the outworldly patrons to the modern restaurant. It generally includes the light atmosphere and people being impressed by our food.
The Case Files of Jeweler Richard (author site) – I did not read this one yet, but I am expecting this to join the ranks of another cosy mystery series I enjoy.
Funny:
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (author site) – I only read the comics, but I heard the novels have the same story. A romantic comedy, though I read it for the mysteries and the funny way they are solved and the situational comedy.
Red, white & royal blue – A romantic comedy with two idiots in love, that made me laugh the entire time. There is a political background, but even if any of the problems (like homophobia) are mentioned, they always end up getting resolved in the positive and hopeful manner.
The Genius Prince’s Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt – I would usually recommend this among the funny ones. And it is a light read. But it is a political saga, so there are mentions of some of your not preferred topics, but it is not the main part and it is usually how people find the way to live without effecting them.
Ascendance of a Bookworm – an mostly uplifting story about a girl who redesigns the society because she want to read books. There are mentions of some of you topics that you want to avoid. But usually in how to make sure they don’t happen anymore.
Uplifting:
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Author Website) – It has been a couple of years since I read it, but I have in the memory as very uplifting and meditative story.
Baker Thief – While it deals with the crime in line with the topics you want to avoid, I did get the feeling from it that it was mostly positive and uplifting.
This Is How You Lose the Time War – Again, the topic of the book might not be the most positive, but it still left me with the feeling of being uplifting.