inspiring/soothing books?

[snugglekitty]

What books would you recommend to someone who wanted to be cheered up? I'm not talking about self-help titles, but easy, gentle reads that might lift you up a bit when you need it. They shouldn't be graphic. They can be fiction or nonfiction. They can range from "older child/YA" on up. They can have spiritual overtones, but shouldn't be strongly Christian and definitely shouldn't be about Christmas.



Some things I've already read that I think fall into this category include Found Dogs by Elise Lufkin, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson, Matilda by Roald Dahl, and The Safe-Keeper's Secret by Sharon Shinn. New titles that more may recognize might include House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones, Here if You Need Me by Kate Braestrup and Dewey by Vicky Meron. (NoI am aware of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, but that sort of thing is a little over the top for what I'm looking for at the moment.)



A little romance or mystery is okay - again, as long as it's not graphic. Mostly I'm looking for some cozy tales to get me through the winter, since it's never been my best time of year, as I think most of you are already aware.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

[devoken.livejournal.com]

An Abundance of Katherines is a good cheer up book, imo. It's smart, geeky, and the main character spends the book cheering up, so he's easy to relate to. Also, there's plenty of really interesting linguistics, math, and odd history trivia.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

That looks interesting. It might be too geeky for me, because I'm not really a geek, but I will give it a try.

[katjamama.livejournal.com]

i always read tamara pierce in the winter. round about february. i start with alanna and read all the way through to the end of keladry. (i never made it through trickster's) it doesn't take much time to read, but it's really enjoyable!

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Good call. Actually, part of my plan is to read a chapter a day of Melting Stones, which is the sequel to Will of the Empress, which I thought was one of her best books.

I bet you and Amber would really like Wise Child by Monica Furlong if you haven't read it before.

[katjamama.livejournal.com]

do you know, someone gave me a copy of that a long time ago and i blew it off. i wonder if i still have it around....

i don't know melting stones or will of the empress - are they from the younger series - circle of magic or somewhat? i never got into those...

[abilouise.livejournal.com]

For me: Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver and anything by Fannie Flagg qualify. They have darker moments, but move past them.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

I've read Animal Dreams - what would you especially recommend by Fannie Flagg?

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

I loved Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. That's the only one of hers I've read.

[abilouise.livejournal.com]

I like Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! it's my I-have-the-flu go-to book. I like Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Cafe, and I like Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man.

[tsuj.livejournal.com]

To Say Nothing Of The Dog by Connie Willis

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Gannett

Anne Of Green Gables by LMM

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

I recommend L.M. Montgomery. Yes, she wrote Anne of Green Gables, but I particularly like her less well-known books for adults: A Tangled Web and The Blue Castle. She also wrote Among the Shadows, which is a collection of ghost stories, but being Montgomery, even these are heartwarming and nice.

Have you read the Mrs. Pollifax books? Nothing more cheery to me than the thought of an elderly woman in a fantastic hat karate-chopping her way through the KGB to deliver a superspy message.

[catskillz.livejournal.com]

Yotsuba&!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yotsuba%26!

It's *adorable* manga about a little girl and her adventures learning about the world. I can't even open the book without giggling and grinning my jaw off.