Heartwarming 'restore your faith in humanity' books

[rantypantss]

As the title says, I'm after recommendations of heartwarming, surviving in the face of adversity, restore your faith in humanity type books to escape into.

The last few months have been tough emotionally - coming to terms with DS' autism diagnosis, family difficulties, a family bereavement, plus my own health concerns.

I could really just do with some lovely books to get lost in, take my mind off reality for a moment.

If you don't mind an older book, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is lovely. I'm also reading the last of Lissa Evans trilogy which starts with Crooked Heart.

Books can definitely lift your spirits. The Miss Read books basically got me through lockdown.

Sorry, I should have said the Lissa Evans books have lots of flawed characters facing adversity, and the good ones prevail, but not necessarily in predictable ways.

I was going to say miss read! Lovely books.

An Enchanted April, Elizabeth von Arnim. Pure Italian sunshine, friendship and charm.

I've thought of some more - Miss Buncle's Book, Rebecca, My Name is Lucy Barton (and Anything is Possible, both by Elizabeth Strout). Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Hotel, The Future Homemakers of America, True Grit, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Tales of the City

Thank you  I will be looking these up today! @TheYearOfSmallThings spirits lifting is exactly what's needed

The one miranda Hart wrote about her dog - think it's called Peggy and Me.

I like the Joe Pickett series ,lots of sense of place (wyoming)and an ordinary man doing the right thing as a game keeper .

Right triumphs over wrong .

Humankind: a hopeful history by Rutger Bregman. It's nonfiction, but very compelling and will change the way you see people.

I used to love the chicken soup for the soul books, they have really sweet, real life stories

I love the book of lost things. Is it a humankind type of book? Well that would be telling but it’s my ‘go to’ book when I need to just stick my head in a book that leads me along.

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

Seconding @meringue33 - Tales Of The City is my go-to comfort read

Anything by Fannie Flagg, or the Big Stone Gap series by Lucia Trigiani.

@Arbadacarba

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

I was coming to say this. Its beautiful. The sequel, 'The Wild Silence' is equally brilliant.

Goodnight Mr Tom

A bit contentious, but I've always found The Cancer Ward by Solzhenitsyn a heart-warming and positive book. Life's dealt Kostoglotov a really shitty hand, but he keeps going. He manages to find friendship and happiness in every situation.

I've always found The Cancer Ward by Solzhenitsyn a heart-warming and positive book.

I haven't read it but I must say this suggestion in itself made me laugh

I was coming to say this. Its beautiful. The sequel, 'The Wild Silence' is equally brilliant.

Oh, good! I've got The Wild Silence in my pile of books to read when I'm on holiday in a couple of weeks time - glad to hear it's as good as the first one.

Anything by Betty Macdonald.

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. Not usually a fan of his books but this one was lovely.

The Choice by Edith Eger. She's a Holocaust survivor so her early story is obviously depressing to read but her way of dealing with it later in life is extremely inspiring.

The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner. I actually haven't read the book yet but the film is amazing.

Hope you're doing ok, OP

I loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and the sequel The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy.

Both beautiful, heartwarming books.

@TheYearOfSmallThings

I've always found The Cancer Ward by Solzhenitsyn a heart-warming and positive book.

I haven't read it but I must say this suggestion in itself made me laugh

I know!

I said it was a contentious suggestion.

How to be brave by Louise Beech