Take a look at the last three books I’ve read and you may understand why I’ve been feeling a little, shall we say, unsettled lately. Let me qualify that before I go further: I would wholeheartedly recommend all three.
Admirable writing of gut-wrenching stories by startlingly talented women. I was fortunate enough to have taken a writing workshop with the author of A Friend of the Family, Lauren Grodstein. And after I finished each book (or, in Munro’s case, each story), I thought to myself, “How on earth did she do that?” Just really impressive stuff. Man.
But, in retrospect, I might have spaced them out a bit. Take a look at the descriptions on Amazon (click the book covers above) and maybe you’ll see what I mean. After being woken up at 5am this morning–the approximate hour that I finished So Much for That–to discuss how we might react if one of us were to fall terminally ill, Kris says I’m to read a “happy story” next.
Suggestions?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
My mother is always giving me these sorts of books to read. You really can’t read too many in a row, it’s just not healthy. Therefore I do NOT recommend “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, even though it’s an excellent book.
For light and fluffy: if you like vampires, try the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, those are really fun.
Actual literature that’s light and joyful and refreshing: I just finished Sarah Orne Jewett’s “The Country of the Pointed Firs” and really loved it. She published it in the 1890s and it’s just really great–a little reminiscent of L.M. Montgomery but on a higher level, definitely a minor classic of American lit. (There’s also L.M. Montgomery, too–I love her not for Anne but for her books that are geared toward adults, like “The Blue Castle” and the one about the jug.)
I also highly recommend Laurie Colwin. She died in the mid-1990s, but her work is really delightful. Try “Happy All the Time”.
Thanks so much for these recommendations. I just looked it up and “Happy All the Time” sounds perfect! : ) And I always did love the Anne books, maybe I will check out L.M. Montgomery’s other stuff after that.