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Where would this list be without the king of inspiring literature? In this memoir, Albom recounts the time he spent with his 78-year-old sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, who suffered from motor neurone disease.
A sweet tale of an unlikely friendship between a solitary curmudgeon and the young family that moves in next door. (It’s pronounced OOVA, by the way. It’s Swedish.)
Recently retired Harold Fry sets out on a journey to deliver a letter to an old friend who is dying of cancer, meeting strangers on the way who stir up memories of his past. His “one foot in front of the other” mantra will inspire you too.
A novel for anyone who has ever loved a dog, Lily and the Octopus is about a middle-aged man and his beloved dachshund. It’s funny and sweet without being terribly cheesy.
A laid-off Silicon Valley techie starts a new job in a quiet, dusty old bookstore, only to discover all is not as it seems… The perfect book for people who aren’t ready to give up their physical books for e-readers just yet.
A classic of the feel-good canon, The Alchemist is beloved by many – it tells the tale of a shepherd boy who travels from Spain to the Pyramids of Egypt in search of treasure, and of course learning about life on the way.
You may have already heard of The Moth, a travelling storytelling event that turns 20 years old this year. This book collects some of the best stories told at these events, from the heartbreaking to the hilarious.
Sick of waiting for the 100th birthday party he never asked for, Allan Karlsson climbs out the nursing home window and heads off on an adventure involving criminals, murders, and a suitcase full of cash. A fun read.
The actress’ second book of essays touch on everything from being a woman of colour in Hollywood, to female friendship, to body image. Funny and life-affirming.
Still Life… is billed as a ‘modern fairytale’, and don’t we all need a little escapism sometimes? It tells the story of a love affair between an environmentalist princess and an outlaw, and touches on topics as broad as aliens, redheads, and consumerism.
Marian Keyes is a queen, and this, her first novel, is a quirky little beaut. Claire Walsh is abandoned by her husband on the day their child is born, and moves in with her family in Dublin to recover – but he soon tries to worm his way back in to her affections.
This sprawling novel follows two cousins in WWII-era New York, Joe Kavalier and Sammy Clay, as they dream up a story for a comic book. It’s long, yes, but you’ll get sucked right in to it.
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Friday 27 December, 2024
Friday 27 December, 2024
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13 mood-boosting books to get you through the dark winter nights
JANUARY IS A tricky month, and this one is shaping up to be very cold and gloomy indeed. These books will give you the lift you need.
1. H Is For Hawk by Helen Macdonald
This unusual memoir chronicles how Macdonald coped with the loss of her father by training a young goshawk, whom she called Mabel. Beautiful writing.
2. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Where would this list be without the king of inspiring literature? In this memoir, Albom recounts the time he spent with his 78-year-old sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, who suffered from motor neurone disease.
3. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
A sweet tale of an unlikely friendship between a solitary curmudgeon and the young family that moves in next door. (It’s pronounced OOVA, by the way. It’s Swedish.)
4. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Recently retired Harold Fry sets out on a journey to deliver a letter to an old friend who is dying of cancer, meeting strangers on the way who stir up memories of his past. His “one foot in front of the other” mantra will inspire you too.
5. Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
A novel for anyone who has ever loved a dog, Lily and the Octopus is about a middle-aged man and his beloved dachshund. It’s funny and sweet without being terribly cheesy.
6. Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloane
A laid-off Silicon Valley techie starts a new job in a quiet, dusty old bookstore, only to discover all is not as it seems… The perfect book for people who aren’t ready to give up their physical books for e-readers just yet.
7. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
A classic of the feel-good canon, The Alchemist is beloved by many – it tells the tale of a shepherd boy who travels from Spain to the Pyramids of Egypt in search of treasure, and of course learning about life on the way.
8. The Moth by Catherine Burns
You may have already heard of The Moth, a travelling storytelling event that turns 20 years old this year. This book collects some of the best stories told at these events, from the heartbreaking to the hilarious.
9. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Sick of waiting for the 100th birthday party he never asked for, Allan Karlsson climbs out the nursing home window and heads off on an adventure involving criminals, murders, and a suitcase full of cash. A fun read.
10. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
The actress’ second book of essays touch on everything from being a woman of colour in Hollywood, to female friendship, to body image. Funny and life-affirming.
11. Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins
Still Life… is billed as a ‘modern fairytale’, and don’t we all need a little escapism sometimes? It tells the story of a love affair between an environmentalist princess and an outlaw, and touches on topics as broad as aliens, redheads, and consumerism.
12. Watermelon by Marian Keyes
Marian Keyes is a queen, and this, her first novel, is a quirky little beaut. Claire Walsh is abandoned by her husband on the day their child is born, and moves in with her family in Dublin to recover – but he soon tries to worm his way back in to her affections.
13. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
This sprawling novel follows two cousins in WWII-era New York, Joe Kavalier and Sammy Clay, as they dream up a story for a comic book. It’s long, yes, but you’ll get sucked right in to it.
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