Book Recommendations Please! - Positive Wellbein...

Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation

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Book Recommendations Please!

52 Replies

I genuinely would like to know what books folks have been reading during isolation. I have gone through all of my feel-good reads, so I am in desperate need of suggestions regardless of genre.

What book(s) kept your spirits up?

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52 Replies
Fabiodgl profile image
Fabiodgl

Before I fall, Lauren Oliver

in reply to Fabiodgl

Wow, I just looked it up and it definitely sounds interesting. Thank you!

Elizabethhampson profile image
Elizabethhampson

The Shepherds Life by James Rebanks, so inspirational and uplifting. Following that a book which was a present The Tattooist of Auschwitz which makes one think how lucky we are and how awful the world can be. You are willing people to survive.

in reply to Elizabethhampson

Thank you! The Tattooist of Auschwitz just brought to mind "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl who was a concentration camp prisoner. Very short, but significant read.

We certainly are lucky, despite everything. I appreciate these recommendations that put things into perspective

Elizabethhampson profile image
Elizabethhampson in reply to

I have to say I have read thousands of books professionally and personally, The Shepherds Life is one of the very few I would read twice. To go from being illiterate to Oxford University and yet treasure where you were born is unique.

Prunes profile image
Prunes

I've just finished reading Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and really enjoyed that.About to reread The Island by Victoria Hislop so that I can read the sequel which has just been released.

in reply to Prunes

I’m 126 on the list in Hampshire for One August Night by Victoria Hislop 😱Di

Prunes profile image
Prunes in reply to

I hadn't thought about that problem!

in reply to Prunes

It’s not as bad as it sounds, they usually buy multiple copies.

Thank you so much!

wiserlady profile image
wiserlady

I love Milly Johnson - she is a feel good writer - so you may have tried her already -and the Agatha Raisin books, have you tried any of them?

I am ashamed to say that I have not read the books of either of these authors! But the fact that there is a book entitled "Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death" means it HAS to be on my reading list! Thank you so much for bringing these books to my attention ❤️

wiserlady profile image
wiserlady in reply to

your welcome - they made some of the agatha raisin books into sky dramas

Read all the Agatha Raisin as so light. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles is very good and I’m enjoying Miss Austen by Gill Hornby. Also The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

Thank you Hylda! So many great suggestions. And Miss Austen is certainly a fascinating read 😊

Activity2004 profile image
Activity2004

Hi Hidden ,Each month, we have a monthly book posting that is pinned to the Pinned Posts section called Reading Rabbits: healthunlocked.com/positive...

In the comments section, there’s some interesting suggestions for different types of books by the other members of the group and myself. Enjoy!😀👍🌈📖🐇

in reply to Activity2004

WHAT?! This is great! Thank you for being so helpful 😆👍

Activity2004 profile image
Activity2004 in reply to

You’re welcome! We also have book postings on the Healthy Eating and Diabetes India groups.😀👍🌈📚📖🐇

Catmad10 profile image
Catmad10

I’ve been re-reading John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series. Not for the faint hearted. A splendid mix of thriller, supernatural and horror.

in reply to Catmad10

I actually love supernatural thrillers! Thank you for the recommendation 😊

Catmad10 profile image
Catmad10 in reply to

Then you will love these books. I may be wrong but I think he has written over 20 so far.

in reply to Catmad10

I just briefly glanced at his works on the google and it looks like he's written more than 20 books... I'm going to be busy!

Catmad10 profile image
Catmad10 in reply to

I can guarantee you will be addicted. I’ve got them all on Kindle now.

thara9643 profile image
thara9643

Lots

Entela15 profile image
Entela15

Valentina by S. E. Lynes. Psychological thriller. Unputdownable

in reply to Entela15

Thank you for the suggestion AND for my new favorite word (unputdownable)! ❤️

mrmonk profile image
mrmonk

Most of my new reading in recent days has come in the form of daily poems I receive by email through various sources, but I did finish a couple of books of poetry by Michael Laskey, Thinking of Happiness and The Tightrope Wedding. Currently, I'm reading a couple of books on prosody -- Paul Fussell's Poetic Meter and Poetic Form and a book called All The Fun's In How You Say A Thing by Timothy Steele.

I'm not sure if any of those books would qualify as "feel-good reads" necessarily (though I feel good in reading them), but there are poets whose work I return to routinely to nourish my spirit, like Elizabeth Jennings, Donald Justice, Philip Larkin, and my HealthUnlocked avatar, Sir John Betjeman.

Ahh poetry! I'm an awful poet, but I write anyway because it's soothing. Thank you for all of these suggestions! Maybe I can use them as inspiration and guidance as I try to write poetry myself 😊

mrmonk profile image
mrmonk in reply to

You're welcome! 😺 I wish I could recommend something more recent -- the books and poets I cited are older -- but the contemporary poems I read are generally from those daily email digests I mentioned, or just stuff I find randomly online.

Do you like to read poems, too?

Reading poetry, for me, has always been the best guidance for writing it. I admire your humility, self-awareness, and persistence -- no poet can be awful with those qualities.

So good to find a kindred spirit who also uses cat emojis instead of people emojis 😸

I don't mind that they aren't contemporary. I like reading poetry, but when I try looking for poetry books on my own, I don't know where to begin and I get a bit overwhelmed, so I appreciate you pointing me in a good direction.

I've also found that reading poetry is the best guidance for writing it! I get a bit analytical with poems... I spend a lot of time examining the pauses and patterns. It's fascinating!

And you are far too kind. Those sweet words have made my day and I hope to live up to them ❤️

mrmonk profile image
mrmonk in reply to

Ah, in light of your emoji preference, I'm guessing you, too, have a special feline friend? Do tell, do tell. 😻

One of the great things about reading poetry is that each poem is its own universe, so I can spend hours or days with a single poem I come across online or in an anthology, returning to it repeatedly to reexperience and rediscover. A single poem is like a book that never really ends.

But there's just so much poetry out there! It is overwhelming, as you say. I just wrote to another friend from HealthUnlocked (a gifted writer, whose posts are often wonderfully vivid excursions in the British outdoors) and I suggested the idea of starting a poetry reading group chat, where we'd select some poems (from anthologies or collections or what have you) and talk about them -- how they make us feel, memories or experiences they conjure, the significance of those pauses and patterns you mentioned (we must be kindred spirits because I'm shamelessly obsessed with how poems work, the magic trick's slight of hand.) I haven't heard back from my friend yet, but I was wondering if it would be something in which you'd be interested?

I used to organize local poetry readings and discussion groups, and it was such a joy to see how sharing thoughts and feelings about poems could bring a community together. I think it could do the same remotely for folks in self-isolation during the pandemic.

And hey, maybe, it could be a boon to those of us writing poems, too? Feel free to message me if you'd be interested. 😺

FearIsALiar profile image
FearIsALiar

“Empty Bottles Full of Stories” by R.H Sins

in reply to FearIsALiar

Ooo Yes! Thank you. Are there any poems I should pay particular attention to?

FearIsALiar profile image
FearIsALiar in reply to

I say all of them are good so I can’t just choose one 🥰

Kainan profile image
Kainan

The lost continent by Bill Bryson. It’s hilarious; I can turn to any page and have a nice chuckle or even silly laugh

Activity2004 profile image
Activity2004 in reply to Kainan

How long is the book?

Kainan profile image
Kainan in reply to Activity2004

Just short of 300 pages

Activity2004 profile image
Activity2004 in reply to Kainan

Thank you! When I get done with breakfast tomorrow morning, I will look it up.😀👍🌈📚🐇📖

in reply to Kainan

Awesome! Humorous books are great 😄 Thank you!

sashaming1 profile image
sashaming1

Author Laura Levine for humerous murder-solving books by an amature PI.

in reply to sashaming1

Humor and murder! Perfect combo 😄 Thank you!

Adlon57 profile image
Adlon57

How about "The Works" by Beryl Cook [works of the artist, good for a giggle!]or "Rogues, Villains and Eccentrics" by William Donaldson [An A-Z of Roguish Britons through the Ages] (I like black humour!) that last one will keep you up?

in reply to Adlon57

Dark humor is always welcome 😄 Thank you for the suggestions!

Adlon57 profile image
Adlon57 in reply to

The Rebus collection written by Ian Rankin, I have about eighteen of them, the Scottish detective set in Edinburgh, probably my favourite Fleshmarket Close . A favourite read from my student days The Prince [translated by George Bull] by Niccolo Machiavelli 🤓🤓🤓

Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003

Hmm 🤔 in front of the class

Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003

I only watched the movie and it’s about a teacher with Tourette’s syndrome the movie made me cry

in reply to Hb2003

If you remember the name of the movie, let me know so I can look up the book 😊

Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003 in reply to

IN FRONT OF CLASS

Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003 in reply to Hb2003

😁

in reply to Hb2003

Thank you!

Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003 in reply to

Your welcome 😊

Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003

But there is a book

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