Every book I have downloaded from Audible lately has turned into a depressing, problem-filled chore to read. You might understand why I am already depressed by reality–be it the present state of the nation or almost weekly notices of the deaths of friends past or present–– and badly in need of an entertaining and upbeat book. Does anyone have suggestions? I like character-driven well-written books that do not just present problem after problem after problem. Even my favorite authors seem to have fallen into this pattern lately. If you don’t believe me, try reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperfield.
I need escape, not tales of war, Inquisitions, enslavement, child abuse, mass murders, cruelty toward animals, spousal abuse, molestation, death, poverty, colonial cruelty or illness. This is a true list of themes in the last few dozens of books I’ve read. No matter what I think they are going to be about, they end up being about one or more of these themes! I NEED HELP!!!! I NEED ESCAPE!!!! No Harlequin-type romance, Apocalypse tales, war stories, mysteries, detective stories or science fiction fantasy, please. I need escape. Engaging, well-written books that display intelligence and sense of humor. This may be too much to ask, given my recent experiences in ordering books. Yes, I’m turning into my mother. I don’t want to hear anything that will make me feel bad! I will be forever indebted to those of you who seek to assist me in my search. oxoxo Judy
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
Have you read Practicing Peace in Times of War by Pema Chodron?
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I’ll check it out.
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Very grounding.
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I’m not much help, as I immediately head to my music for solace in such situations. Still, my favorite novel ever will always be Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine. Always uplifting for me.
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I read it looooong ago but remember nothing..I’ll check it out.
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When I had surgery a few years ago, you sent me a wonderful list of ooks to read — since then I’ve been pretty busy, and am just coming to the end of the list! Bit this summer, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and have needed to spend all my spare time dealing with medical tests and appointments, and have not had time to read anything at all! Now that’s almost over, I’m hoping to spend the cold winter days reading again — will let you know if I find any books of the quality of what you included in that list!
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Thanks, Janet. So sorry to hear about your breast cancer. My daughter-in-law just had surgery for it and started chemo when she got back from visiting me this week.
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Thanks, Judy! I had surgery on 10/15 — no chemo this time — radiation and hormone blocking therapy “offered” but doctors decided not necessary because of my age and surgeon’s good job! Still healing, no pain, but I do tire fairly quickly if I do too much in a day! Best wishes to your DIL!
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I had both breasts removed in October 2010. I had two different cancers, one in each breast. What are the odds?
I have not had any problem since then, although the medications I had to take ballooned me up by 30ish pounds which I have finally lost. They did a great job on me, too. Terrific surgeons dedicated to women’s issues. The only problem is that my right (fake) breast has sort of collapsed. Theoretically I could have it replaced, but I can live with it as is and with a bra, it looks normal.
I am officially, as of 2020, cancer free. We all know we are never “cancer free,” only in longterm remission. Still, after 14 years I figure I’ve done the whole survival thing. There’s nothing that will prevent a future cancer, but my mother died of hers. They have come a long way in treatment since then.
Be well!!
I have two tee shirts: one in black, the other white and both say:
“Yes, they are fake. The real ones tried to kill me.”
If we aren’t crying, we might as well laugh.
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Thanks for the encouragement, Marilyn! I am hoping that I wil be able to avoid anothr cancer, with diligent vigilance, but am delighted that I don’t have to do chemo, radiation, or other medical intervention at this pint! Life will go on as normal!
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I didn’t have chemo either. Apparently they were very slow-growing, non agressive tumors. One was pretty big, like the size of an egg. The other was more like a very tiny egg and I was lucky they found it because they weren’t even going to check the other breast. I insisted. It was there. Whey don’t they ever LISTEN to us? Is it because we are women?
Not having to do chemo made life livable. They still gave me stuff to take and it made me so sick, he eventually said I might as well stop because that was no way to live — and the difference in survival rate was a very small percentage. I was willing to do ANYTHING to stop feeling nauseated all the time.
I know a lot of women friends who got through breast cancer and 20 years later, they are still cancer free. Not that they don’t have OTHER potentially lethal problems. That’s life, I guess. I just felt the heart surgery only 3 years past breast cancer was unfair. Who said life was fair?
Hang on in there. IF you aren’t doing chemo or radiation, the odds are very high that you will be just fine. It takes a long time to feel better and breasts still hurt me 14 years later. I consider myself lucky. I think you are lucky too.
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I agree — and I’m a real advocate for regular screening tests whenever they are recommended! We are both lucky — but it was only partly luck that for the second time in 4 years a cancer was discovered through routine screening! My sister had a similar experience 16 years ago, and she’s still doing well! Stay healthy!
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The Well at the World’s End, by AJ Mackinnon
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Karen Underdown
On Sun, 17 Nov 2024 at 11:44 am, lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown
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Try something by Dave Barry or Carl Hiaasen – at least they are funny. Have you read Terry Pratchett’s the Discworld series?
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Here’s one I loved and was uplifted by: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. Also recommend The Book of Delights, by Ross Gay. Not a novel, but a book of short essays..delightful.
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I think my suggestions went via email.
Well at the Worlds End
The Rosie Project
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You seem to have a few good suggestions. My review of this one might help you decide on it: https://derrickjknight.com/2024/08/16/the-secret-garden/
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One of my favorite fun series starts with the ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ by Sophie Kinsella. 🙂
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Judy, by now you must know that I seldom read fiction especially the “Sex” or negative, sad life stories related ones and lately it seems that everything I read, see, or hear is about the same terrible news. I am a nut on history and much of my reading is in that direction.
But I do keep at least one of the little Kahlil Gibran books in my car to read if I am in a waiting room. I read them over and over and each time get a lift out of his writing. Reading “The Prophet” to me is almost the same “Lift” that others seem to get out of reading the bible. Each passage gives me good thoughts to help me face life.
I am sure that by now you have read The Prophet, at least once, but he wrote many more “little books”, and if you get tired of that there are even books about Kahlil Gibran’s life.https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000AQ79G2/about
And then I also like to read such stories and poems that you write like the one about you or your mother. Then I may turn to re-reading my own writing which brings back memories of my past. Conceite, yes but we must admit that we also write for our own pleasure and I often find myself enjoying my own poetry.
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Gibran spent four whole years polishing The Prophet to perfection. He said he wanted every single word to count, and I believe he succeeded!
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Try Jodi Tayor’s “St, Mary’s Chronicles.” Time travel with a great sense of humor and a really good narrator. I’m rereading them.
IF you haven’t aready read all of Terry Pratchett (at least twice) — Funny AND he nailed reality without leaving another universe. Our universe. With a twist. And it is truly seriously funny — and ironic. You don’t have to start with book 1. You can start around book 5. I actually started with 10 and backtracked.
Kim Harrison’s Hallows series. Every one better than the last through #13. After that, she’s a trifle off-course but the last one was the best since 13 which was supposed to be the last of the series but publisher and fans.
Laurie King’s “Mary Russell,” the nice Jewish wife of Sherlock Holmes. ALL of them (with one exception) are GREAT. No fantasy. Just a feminine update to the old story. She is our age and STILL writing. I like her other books too, but I like the Mary Russell tales the best.
And finally, Jim Butcher and Harry Dresden, They are ALL wonderful and you get to watch the development of the central characters and he is an incredibly good writer. This is also fantasy — and although he uses magic, he often feels a gun gets the job done faster.
All of these books are essential gore and blood free. I have read and reread some of them to the point where I can recite big portions of them aloud.
I can’t read anything “meaningful” because everything “meaningful” is also very grim and gloomy and frankly, I’m grimmed and gloomied beyond my ability to cope. I can’t handle reality. I’ve got half a library full of well-intentioned audible purchases that I get a chapter into them and they are already too dismal. Maybe someday I will go back to them but frankly, I doubt it.
All of these writers are really good and ALL of them have at least a semblance of a sense of humor. Some, like Jodi Taylor and Terry Pratchett can be hilarious — and somehow, also deeply honest.
Good luck!
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Also, from Connie Willis, try “To Say Nothing of the Dog” and “Bellwether.” ALL her books are great but those two are very funny. Most of her short stories are also pretty funny. I don’t think she is writing much anymore, though she did turn out a novella last year.
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I’m a voracious reader ~ but after reading Erri de Luca’s God’s Mountain, I was so replete that I didn’t open another book for the unheard-of period of nearly six months…
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i hated Demon Copperfield. Read about 30 pages.
. heres a delightful book …
Little by Edward Carey. It has a lot of gross stuff in it but somehow it comes off light and trust me. It is terrifically entertaining with marvelous characters. I love the drawings too.
try it. It’s different. Fascinating.
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