1. An easy read.
2. A book that will make me feel like everything will be okay.
I’ve been reading a bunch of books that have made me feel like my brain is turning to mush. Also, in my personal life, I’ve had to deal with a loss of faith and I find myself obsessing over death and the end of the universe.
The book can be religious or non-religious, as long as it’s not fundamentalist or exclusionist on who is “saved” (not just heaven, can be reincarnation or whatever positive ultimate fate there is) or doesn’t outright state that God or life after death does not exist.
Romance is good, as long as it’s not one of those “alpha male is a dick to the heroine and she finds herself unable to resist” romances. Please, no hard sci-fi or fantasy that’s going to make my head spin.
What I’m looking for is a feeling. Something like, even if the universe ends, it’s not *the* end, you know? And it doesn’t have to say is much in so many words. In fact, if it did, my overly-cynical and logical brain might not accept it.
I’m not religious, but I like religion–I think it’s beautiful, as long as it’s that kind of feel-good, inclusive religion. But again, it doesn’t have to be religious or even spiritual.
Anyway, I’d appreciate, if you suggest a book, that you tell me a little bit about why it made you feel good. I will also research the book myself, so you don’t have to worry about triggering material; I’ll decide based on my research.
Sorry if this was either too vague or too specific. It’s fine if your idea doesn’t completely fulfill every one of these conditions. As long as it’s an easy read *and* feel-good, you can recommend it. The rest is just stuff to narrow it down. (Although please let me know if it *does* say “There is no God” or “God is exclusive” or whatever.)
by rachaelonreddit
11 Comments
One of my favorite books , The First Immortal-James Halperin. About cryogenics, family , the future and the possibilities.
I enjoyed the many feel good moments throughout the book . Do your research, maybe you will enjoy it as much as I did
Read Walt Whitman’s *Leaves of Grass*. Or Wendell Berry’s “The Peace of Wild Things”. Or Mary Oliver’s selected poems (vol. 1 & 2).
I feel similarly to you with brain mush and life right now! As silly as it might sound, I read Britney Spears’ book The Woman in Me last night and it might fit the bill for you too. Despite everything she has gone through in her life, she still writes with an air of hopefulness. It was just the palate cleanser I needed.
you could try, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, it’s a light hearted book about traveling the world in the first century AD and experiencing diverse cultures
Some of my personal recommendations based on your criteria:
1) Sorta like a rock star by Matthew Quick
Why I like it: it’s a really feel good story with a super enthusiastic and positive female mc who battles through her difficult life. she’s constantly a source of sunshine and joy to her whole community. and at the end when she’s at her lowest, her community shows her how much she means to them.
Other stuff: the mc is a Christian girl in high school. And she has a good relationship with the Korean priest in her church so there are many Christian themes being discussed but I don’t think there was anything super exclusive or religious about it. the book also explores a rape and murder.
2) The book thief by Markus Zusak
Why I like it: the story is narrated by death which is a really unique take for me. it takes place in nazi germany and revolves around a young girl who steals books. she’s surrounded by a community of loving parents and good friends, all while war wages around them. the mc’s family also end up helping a Jewish guy escape the nazis.
Other stuff: since it’s told from the pov of death in nazi germany it does unfortunately involve people dying. but since death is personified it has a more humane feel to it.
3) Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Why I like it: the story is told from multiple povs all revolving around the life of a boy with a facial deformity. it’s a super heart warming read to see how the mc’s family supports him through everything he goes through.
Other stuff: it’s really interesting to see how other students respond to the mc joining fifth grade in a physical classroom for the first time.
4) In 27 days by Alison Gervais
Why I like it: a romance where a girl goes back in time to stop a boy from committing suicide. it’s a really wholesome story to see the girl bonding with the guy and his family while also battling supernatural forces that want him dead.
Other stuff: the scenes with the guy and his fam are great but some areas of the story are kinda flat.
5) Vicious by V. E. Schwab
Why I like it: story of a an angsty broody guy who gets superpowers and breaks out of jail to fight against his ex-best friend who also has superpowers. along the way he teams up with an 11 year old with superpowers and his jail mate.
Other stuff: the story basically involves people getting superpowers through near death experiences.
These are just some titles I came up with. You could always try a Roald Dahl or chronicle of narnia book which are always guaranteed to be wholesome and feel good.
The House on the Cerulean Sea is an easy feel-good book. It covers some heavy topics in the guise of fantasy, but it makes you feel like there is good in the world.
May be an odd suggestion but Project Hail Mary. It’s sci-fi and not really what I normally read but so many people recommended it and I finally gave in and read it. And I really really enjoyed it. Has a really good ending and left me with positive vibes for the world. I enjoyed it so much that bought the paperback, ebook, and audiobook.
If you like audiobooks at all then I highly recommend that version because it does add more to the story.
Growing from the Ashes by Shelia Lowe
It’s about a woman’s dealing with her daughter’s murder and learning about life after earth. It’s a pretty thought provoking read.
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg. Trust me
It’s a quaint little book about someone who has given up all hope and ends up in a very eccentric little town. Reading it, you get this incredible sense that everything will work out somehow.
“Space Opera” by Catherine Valente. On one level it’s a ridiculously wacky story about an aging glam rocker yanked out of obscurity to save the Earth by performing in an intergalactic EuroVision.
On the other level it’s about overcoming failure, loss, and pain and finding hope and a reason to live again.
In the night garden by Catherynne M. Valente.
It’s basically about a character telling tales of other characters which lead into other tales. Stories within stories.
I have just finished it, and it’s probably my favourite book now. It gave me a very peaceful feeling. It makes you think about how stories/people interconnect, and sets up what I thought of as a beautiful mythology for the world it’s set in.