Books that aren't depressing

[dark fuschia]

Hi My housemate wanted me to ask you guys what books you would recommend for her? She is sick of depressing novels.

My suggestion was number one ladies detective agency but she already read those...

Your help will be much appreciated

[Corvus Corax]

Some Discworld, H2G2 or some Red Dwarf.

If she likes the genre though.

What genre does she like to read?

[Anita Blake]

The Sookie Stackhouse books aren't depressing. Plus then you can watch along with True Blood and have sexy Eric dreams. ~sigh~

Uh. Otherwise, I'd say Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, or Stardust by Neil Gaiman, or pretty much anything by Neil Gaiman.

But yeah, I guess it depends on what you classify as "depressing". In my opinion, pretty much any book on the Oprah bookclub or similar type lists are basically a one-way trip to depress-o-ville.

[dark fuschia]

she refuses to watch true blood with me cos she's scared it will give her ightmares!

oooh I will suggest stardust!

CC I think comedy is not exactly what she is looking for. Comedy in its own way is often highly depressing. For instance my Uncle classes Red Dwarf as the most depressing story of all time and gets upset whenever anyone laughs... "Are you all insane??? WHy are you laughing?? Can't you see how awful it is?" then he tugs at his beard in horror and frustration and runs and jumps out the window.

Okay he doesn't jump out the window, that was poetic license, but the rest is true.

I tend to agree with him. Red Dwarf is HUGELY depressing, but thats part of why it's so funny.

btw what is H2G2?

[sir archely]

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

[Amos]

So by "not depressing" does she mean "fluctuates a little but is generally uplifting and has a happy ending"? Or "is facile and only depressing if you were hoping for something better"?

[dark fuschia]

I think she means choice A

Have you guys noticed that a dark mood of cynicism and meaninglessness permeates almost all modern literature?

[Amos]

That was a trick question. Both answers are the same type of book. If reading the title of the novel or the name of the author doesn't make you want to kill yourself immediately, it isn't worth your time.

And yes, even though I don't read most modern literature, I had inexplicably noticed how unpleasant it all is.

[dark fuschia]

LOL I did wonder...

There used to be such lovely books written that expressed such nobility and beauty! Or am I overly nostalgic? Or does it only seem like there used to be more because the good books that touch such themes have survived to find classic status, which hasn't happened to the modern ones that are like that yet so I can't find them? Or do people no longer want to write/read/publish about courage and love etc?

Old books I can think of right now that I find falls into Amos category A (&B?)... lol

Lord of the Rings
Watershipdown
Brideshead revisited

I can't think of any modern ones!

[Eyreplenh]

Hmm... I have a few that are pretty good and not that depressing.

Life of Pi, Yann Martel
The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint, Brady Udall
Indecision, Benjamin Kunkel
What is the What, Dave Eggers

Maybe I can think of some more later on...

[dark fuschia]

oooh thanks EP!
I have only heard of Life of Pi. I kind of liked it but... did you really not find it depressing?

[Eyreplenh]

Bah, sure the guy loses all and everything he loves, but he gets to have some awesome hallusinations and survives in the end to become a friendless immigrant? Depressing? Can't see what you mean

Naw, but seriously, it's been some years since I last read it but I've always thought of it as a book that makes me feel pretty good...

[dark fuschia]

I really liked the tiger but in the end I felt duped

[Eyreplenh]

Heh

Anyway, I thought a little about it, and I think maybe Indecision is a bit flawed depression-wise... The Edgar Mint one is pretty much pure joy though.

Marish Pessls Special Topics in Calamity Physics is pretty good and not very depressing -although the cover art might make you want to vomit. Ummm... How about Don Quixote?

Or 100 years of Solitude? There's an infinite amount of melancholy in there, but I don't think that's the exact same as depressing?

[dark fuschia]

Hmm agreed.

She is going to look for a copy of "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith.

I hav a 100 years of solitude on the shelf and haven't gotten around to it yet. Maybe I will throw that at her.