[JessasMilkMama]

The last several books I have read have been very bleak and depressing. The last 2 were The Memory Keepers Daughter and The Lovely Bones and I have about had it with the loss of a child theme! So give me some recommendations for some uplifting, happy, hopeful books please?

 

[alexsam]

Whenever I'm looking for a light read, I go to <b>James Herriot</b>. He is most famous for "All Creatures Great and Small". He wrote a whole series about his experiences as a country veterinarian in England in the 1930's-1960's. The books are thoughtful, intelligent, but easy to read and just enjoyable. Also, <b>Bill Bryson's</b> "A Walk in the Woods" was also a pleasant reprieve- funny, smart, interesting. Both authors may have occasional serious moments, but the feelings of the books are overwhelmingly positive and funny. Fun, but not fluff.<br><br>
My mother-in-law who only reads "pleasant" books has recommended to me "Red Tails in Love" a true story about hawks in Central Park, written by <b>Marie Winn</b> (of "Plug In Drug" fame!). She also likes the series of "The Cat Who ____" by <b>Lilian Jackson Braun</b>. They are apparently mystery novels, but I just can't bring myself to read them <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/bag.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Bag">: , so I really can't say if they are good or not.

 

[Bimmergal2005]

I also just read The Lovely Bones and while I don't really have a specific suggestion, I immediately dove into fluffy chick lit books. I needed something really light after that.

 

[BookGoddess]

I just ordered the <i>Lonely Bones</i> from my bookswap club. I know it will be bleak but I've heard such good things about the book. Ok...to your question..<br><br>
When I want light happy reading I open one of the Mitford Series books by <b>Jan</b> <b>Karon.</b> The books are humorous accounts about the life of an older Episcopal rector in a small North Carolina town. The characters are quirky. There's a neighborhood feel to the books. Problems don't see that great in Mitford. Check it out.<br><br>
Also, check out <b>Bill Bryson's</b> Neither Here Nor There - an account of his travels around Europe. He had me in stitches.

 

[Bimmergal2005]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>BookGoddess</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7983291"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Also, check out <b>Bill Bryson's</b> Neither Here Nor There - an account of his travels around Europe. He had me in stitches.</div>
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Thanks for the recommendation. I just looked up his work on Amazon and now have an even larger list of books to get or look for at the library. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">: <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[BookGoddess]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Bimmergal2005</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7985381"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Thanks for the recommendation. I just looked up his work on Amazon and now have an even larger list of books to get or look for at the library. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">: <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"></div>
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You'll just have to get more bookshelves. Can't be helped. Those books *have* to be read. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[Traci mom23boys]



When I want light happy reading I open one of the Mitford Series books by <b>Jan</b> <b>Karon.</b> The books are humorous accounts about the life of an older Episcopal rector in a small North Carolina town. The characters are quirky. There's a neighborhood feel to the books. Problems don't see that great in Mitford. Check it out.<br><br><br>
Oh Bookgoddess, here we are loving the same books again! I read the Mitford series years ago. My sister and I always said we would go to church if Father Tim was there. Loved them!<br><br><br>
I was thinking of recommending *The Secret Life of Bees* but there are some<br>
*hard* parts in there too.<br><br>
Blessings,

 

[JessasMilkMama]



<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">When I want light happy reading I open one of the Mitford Series books by <b>Jan</b> <b>Karon.</b> The books are humorous accounts about the life of an older Episcopal rector in a small North Carolina town. The characters are quirky. There's a neighborhood feel to the books. Problems don't see that great in Mitford. Check it out.<br><br><br>
Oh Bookgoddess, here we are loving the same books again! I read the Mitford series years ago. My sister and I always said we would go to church if Father Tim was there. Loved them!<br><br><br>
I was thinking of recommending *The Secret Life of Bees* but there are some<br>
*hard* parts in there too.<br><br>
Blessings,</td>
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<br>
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone, I will check them out!<br><br>
I read the Secret Life of Bees and loved it, I think its more uplifting than anything else <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[BookGoddess]



<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">When I want light happy reading I open one of the Mitford Series books by <b>Jan</b> <b>Karon.</b> The books are humorous accounts about the life of an older Episcopal rector in a small North Carolina town. The characters are quirky. There's a neighborhood feel to the books. Problems don't see that great in Mitford. Check it out.<br><br><br>
Oh Bookgoddess, here we are loving the same books again! I read the Mitford series years ago. My sister and I always said we would go to church if Father Tim was there. Loved them!<br><br><br>
I was thinking of recommending *The Secret Life of Bees* but there are some<br>
*hard* parts in there too.<br><br>
Blessings,</td>
</tr></table></div>
<br>
Ok, now I'm going to get the <i>Secret Life of Bees</i>. I've read her other work - <i>The Mermaid Chair</i>. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[Thalia the Muse]

More happy books -- Cold Comfort Farm, I Capture the Castle, anything by Laurie Colwin, My Family and Other Animals, The Short History of a Small Place or Call and Reponse by T. R. Pearson, the Jeeves and Wooster books by Wodehouse.

 

[Traci mom23boys]



<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;"><br><br>
Ok, now I'm going to get the <i>Secret Life of Bees</i>. I've read her other work - <i>The Mermaid Chair</i>. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"></td>
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*Secret Life of Bees* is so much better in my opinion!<br><br>
Enjoy!

 

[TranscendentalMom]

"Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert was very uplifting.<br><br>
When I want to read something light I usually read something by Nick Hornby -"About a Boy", "High Fidelity" and "A Long Way Down" were all really funny or David Sedaris "Me Talk Pretty One Day" is a very funny, light read.<br><br>
Not only was "Memory Keeper's Daughter" depressing, it was terrible writing as well, don't you think?