Most of what I read isn’t all that positive (a fair amount of horror among other things that don’t leave you feeling happy) and I want to read some books that are more positive and uplifting. I tend to like to stick to books that are realistic and books revolving around nature tend to be books that I enjoy.
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Any recommendations would be appreciated.
by photographer0121
5 Comments
Braiding Sweetgrass (nonfiction) is written beautifully, and it fits the requirement around nature.
If you’re open to a bit of magical realism, [Garden Spells](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/127d934c-4d7e-448c-adfd-2bdb7a7209de) by Sarah Addison Allen is a nice one!
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed gives me something new every time. And her voice (written and otherwise) is so gentle and kind.
I often feel like I’m left with the choice of intelligent and grim or positive and slightly stupid. Since I can’t stand grim, I read a lot of silly books. The books that I have found that I love, that are positive and intelligent, are usually Fantasy, and thus not very realistic. Some Romances are also surprisingly well-written but that doesn’t sound like it would interest you. But here’s a few high-brows that I found not super grim: Quichotte by Salman Rushdie, The Dog of the North by Elizabeth MacKenzie, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. You might also try some Bill Bryson. Not fiction, but very intelligent and so funny!