My sister is genius level intelligent and reads constantly. Right now she is clinically depressed, one of her friends just killed himself, and we’ve had two weeks straight of gray weather. Any suggestions of something funny or uplifting for someone in this state?
I hear Tina Fey’s book is hilarious. Not intellectual but funny. Best to her.
I really enjoyed Tina Fey’s book and I can recommend along with any of the David Sedaris books.
Another title that is not funny but I personally found so moving and surprisingly uplifting is “Wild”. I wasn’t sure that I would be able to get into it, but I found it compelling and although I haven’t seen the movie, I can easily see why Reese Witherspoon quickly grabbed the film rights.
Not a new title either but many people have found “Eat, Pray. Love” very uplifting. I did too however I got bogged down in the “Pray” section. That however was my daughter’s favorite part of the book.
I find the Bill Bryson books to be humorous (maybe not really “funny”) and informative, both at the same time. “A Walk in the Woods” did make me laugh out loud.
VASTLY preferred Bryson’s A walk in the woods…have read it several times. But all my book clubbers loved Wild.
I second “Bossy Pants” and any David Sedaris books. Sorry to suggest this on book thread, but “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” on Netflix is laugh out loud - to me and my daughter anyway.
My coworker JUST recommended Kimmy this morning!
I hated “Wild”. I thought I was the only human that did.
“A Walk in the Woods” hooked me on Bill Bryson. Can’t wait for the movie later this year.
I suggested Bossy Pants and Amy Poehler’s boos, but she had already read them. She was about to start The Girl On the Train, but I didn’t think that was a great one given her circumstances. I’ll suggest the Sedaris books.
I suggest A Confederacy of Dunces. A classic and one of my all time favorites.
Love Confederacy! I’ve read it three or four times through the years. I’m not sure how the fact that the author committed suicide might affect someone who is clinically depressed, however.
I loved A Walk in the Woods and I also hated Wild.
@ignatius and @intparent. I went off to the library and got all the Jo Waltons they had. Unfortunately they only had Ha’penny without the Farthing, so I’ll have to see if it was just checked out or I need to go look in another library. I read Among Others despite ignatius’s bad review, because I was still intrigued by winning both prizes. Though I didn’t think it was brill, I thought it captured the voice of a 15 year old pretty well. And I really liked the vagueness of the magic and the fairies. I loved the idea that it might just all be in her head.
My understanding is the Nebula is award by a committee of writers while the Hugo is awarded by fans, but I do agree that I can see either group being swayed by her mentioning so many sci fi novels! It made me realized how many of the classics I really should go back and read.
But first the next Walton. I plan to read her latest The Just City since it’s a fourteen day book.
I’ve discovered why I couldn’t find Farthing, they shelved it under mysteries, but the sequel in sci fi. @@
I’m sorry to hear of your sister’s sadness. How about PG Wodehouse for silly fun? Or maybe children’s books that she enjoyed as a child?
For something with a bit more substance, how about Room with a View? Or Anthony Trollope’s Barchester Towers? The latter is long and engrossing and one of the funniest books I’ve ever read.
Have never read “A Walk in the Woods”, but I like Bill Bryson’s work. I loved “Wild”.
Currently reading “The Red Tent”. Somehow I missed it a few years ago. I had no idea that a miniseries was being made!
Speaking of “no idea” - I had no idea that there was gong to be a movie made of “A Walk in the Woods.” I don’t know how I feel about Robert Redford and Nick Nolte in the lead roles (aren’t they a little old?) but I’m sure I’ll go see it anyway!
^ I hadn’t heard that either, scout. Maybe I’ll read the book AND see the movie.
Does anyone know when the movie comes out? I want to make sure to read the book before it does!
The movie Wild was much better than the book IMHO.