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[hippywife]

This message was self-deleted by its author (hippywife) on Wed Apr 8, 2015, 07:22 AM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[scarletwoman]

2. I don't know that I can be of any help with what you're looking for.

Ever since I read your OP I've been wracking my brain to come up with anything I've read that I would consider "uplifting". Edifying, thought-provoking, yes. But "uplifting" - I don't know. I'm not into "uplifting", I guess.'

I'm good with dark and tragic. My favorite genre is mystery/crime fiction (although I abhor and avoid overly gruesome and bloody examples of the genre). But while these are intellectually stimulating and diverting, I can't imagine categorizing them as "uplifting". It's satisfying to read through a police procedural and observe the step-by-step process of solving a crime, but it's not what I would call uplifting.

The non-mystery/crime fiction books I've been into lately have been largely tragic. They are emotionally moving studies on the human condition which have often left me in tears. But I cannot say that have left me feeling uplifted, they simply leave me sad and thoughtful.

The most memorable books I've read in recent months/years:

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Strange Shores by Arnaldur Indriðason
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
Safe from the Sea by Peter Geye
The Sea Runners by Ivan Doig
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (a re-read, many years after the first read)
At Play in the Fields of the Lord by Peter Mattheiessen (another re-read)

None of these books are memorable to me for being uplifting, they are memorable to me for the empathy I have felt for the protagonists as they face suffering and sorrow and loss.

[scarletwoman]

4. Then I'm afraid I can't help.

I simply can't think of anything I've read that I would call "feel good", it's just not my thing, I guess.

I'm a Scorpio, dark and tragic is how I roll.

[hippywife]

6. Thanks for trying. eom

[Nay]

5. Here's an obscure work for you --

Islandia by Austin Tappan Wright. It's a utopian novel set back in the 1920's. I found it in the 1970's and fell straight into it, as I found that its world building built a world that I would actually like to live in. I've had a copy since the 70's and have read it several times.

I also recommend Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach as a more modern utopian novel, which also depicts a world I could easily live in. I've read this many times and have always owned a copy.

As you can see, my definition of 'uplifting' is a book that imagines a world much different than the one we are in at present. However, these utopian novels depict worlds that seem very possible to create, so I find them very happy and hopeful.

[hippywife]

7. Thank you, Nay.

But I've given it up.