In kind of a funk; can anyone recommend some uplifting (but not happy-happy or preachy) reading?

It’s been a bad month, primarily because of two unexpected deaths, and also – although far less seriously – the departure of all three of my kids for at least the next four months. My youngest son is studying abroad this semester so it’s the first time since the oldest left for college that I don’t have some kind of campus visit planned for the fall. I realize this is just what happens as life goes on – people die (although neither of these deaths was in the natural course of things), and kids are supposed to grow up and leave home. But I have to admit that I am having a hard time with it. On the other hand, I do have time to spend on books now, but nothing in my to-read pile appeals to me. So, I am wondering, does anyone have any reading to recommend?

One zentangle a Day by krahula

If you like animals, I really like James Herriot, who is a vet in the UK. He has a nice warmth to his stories of rural life as a vet, treating mostly larger farm animals. I’ve enjoyed several of his books and they are easy reading–lots of chapters that can serve as stand alone stories.

Don’t know your tastes but I am reading The Martian by Andy Weir-- it is a stranded on the surface of mars story but is kind of fun anyway as the guy “McGuyver’s” his survival with a great attitude. Soon to be released with Matt Damon in a Ridley Scott movie.

Mathildamae- you will get wonderful suggestions from CC- are you a member of
goodreads? You can join groups, compare books you rate with other memebers to discover your compatibility ability, which then helps you find someone with similar interests. I highly reccomend Goodreads.
How about Bill Bryson-" a walk in the woods", then you can see newly released moviie. Keep busy, sorry for your losses

Mathildamae - have you read Heather Lende’s books? “Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs” and Find the Good". Very enjoyable stories about Lende’s life in a small Alaskan village.

Life Is So Good by George Dawson. From Amazon: “One man’s extraordinary journey through the twentieth century and how he learned to read at age 98.” A very nice book that will make you smile.

Also, if you’re into it, any of the Chicken Soup books. They’re full of easy-to-read, happy stories.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Just fun and silly In a good way. The heroine is an 11 year old chemist who is good at solving crimes but not so good at dealing with her older sisters.

I don’t know if I’m on the right track here, because there is great challenge in this one: Learning to Breathe by Alison Wright. But it’s just heart-warming the way she deals with and overcomes - plus I love the travelogue part of it. Non-fiction.

I just started reading “The Boys in the Boat” and it looks like it will be an inspiring story about the University of Washington rowers who went to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. If you’re looking for a good distraction, “The Rosie Project” is funny and lighthearted.

I love books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Rachel Gibson. Phillips makes me laugh. For goodness sakes stay away from Eat Pray Love or anything by Jodie Piccoult…they make me cry.

I found “Job: A Comedy of Justice” (Robert Heinlein) to be a terrific, light, funny read.

For inspiration with an historical bent, try “Space” by James Michener.

Second the suggestion to read “A Walk in the Woods”. It is my go to book when I need to laugh. It isn’t just a humor book, though, it has moments of history lessons about the Appalachian Trail, and it gives a more realistic detail of daily life on the trail. And it has a friendship angle as well…how far you go to help your friend, even when he is driving you crazy.

I have delusional moments when I think about spending 3 days on the AT, just a leisurely stroll to say that I have been on the trail. And then I reread the sections in the book about the overnight camping conditions and I am brought back to reality!

I just picked up a book called “The Novel Cure”. It purports to identify books to help for lots of problems and moods. II haven’t read much but so far I’m not sure. For example, for ‘vanity’ they pick “Gone With The Wind”. Now Scarlett was very vain, but a cure for vanity is not the central message of the book.

I think any good book that takes you away from reality is a good temporary respite from depression.

I like the “Ma Ramotswe” books by Alexander McCall Smith. They’re pretty uplifting.

This book made me laugh a lot. “Dear Committee Members”, author is Julie Schumacher. It is written from the viewpoint of an embattled Creative Writing professor in the form of recommendation letters.

Almost anything by Laurie Colwin.

Thirding A Walk in the Woods and seconding The Rosie Project.

I’ll see if I can come up with some of my own…

The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific Paperback – June 8, 2004
by J. Maarten Troost (Author)–very funny book, he’s got a very dry/British humor.

A kind of serious suggestion, a really insightful book that can be read in small doses and then meditated on all day or over a couple of days: Wherever You Go, There You Are.