I find my mood is often affected by the book I'm reading at the time, can you suggest some books to lift my mood?

[NotMostPeople]

I don't know if I'm alone in this, but it's got to the point that I've stopped reading anything gloomy as I'll start to feel down. Its been ages since I read anything, so what you you suggest is a good uplifting read?

I know this is in fiction but travel/non fiction always tends to lighten my mood.

Bill Bryson, Tony Hawks, Pete McCarthy all have made me properly LOL and the travel element helps with fantasising about doing the real thing.

McCarthy's Bar made me cry with laughter in parts.

I thought it was just me that this happened to - so glad I'm not alone

Can't think of uplifting fiction right now though, so will watch this thread with interest!

I think it's really hard to find good happy books. Cold Comfort Farm is one of my favourites as is I Capture the Castle.

Other feel good writers I can think of are Jane Austen, Barbara Pym and PG Wodehouse.

JoJo Moyes Me Before You. A cracking easy read and quite an unusual topic but written in an uplifting and very romantic way. Tear jerker but in a kind of a good way.

Ah yes I've just realised it doesn't happen with Classics, I wonder why? Have read all Jane Austens many times but I do love a Trollope (Anthony) and there are millions of those.

Sponkle - I've just downloaded a sample of that on my kindle!

EM Delafield: diary of a provincial lady.

I also second Barbara Pym and my favourite, Pg Wodehouse.
I also love re reading Katherine Mansfield's short stories, even if it' s not exactly light reading.

It is really tricky though isn't it? Particularly to find modern books. Whatever you do don't read Flowers for Algernon; I've just finished it and it had me sobbing.

Have you read The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler. Diary of a Nobody? Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?

Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels always make me laugh (lightweight crime novels with loads of comedy moments). If you haven't tried them, start with One for the Money.

Georgette Heyer. If I'm ever ill, or just a bit depressed, one of her regency novels cheers me up every single time. A bit like comfort food in reading form

Another vote for PG Wodehouse, and I'll raise EF Benson (the Mapp and Lucia books). And Georgette Heyer, both historic and murders.

And the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. The indomitable Peabody makes everything possible.

Diplomatic Baggage - Brigid Keenan. Its not fiction, but its really interesting and funny.

'Starter For 10' is really funny especially if you happened to be a teenager in the 80's. (There was a film of it but it was rubbish and nothiing like the book)

I keep The World of Jeeves by P G Wodehouse (a compilation of short stories about Jeeves and Wooster) by the side of my bed for when I'm feeling the need for something light-hearted. Never fails to amuse.

"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" by Winifred Watson is great, lively and lovely like a glass of champagne

Another classic back in print is "The Caravaners" by Elizabeth Von Arnim - it's caustic but extremely funny and well ahead of its time.

On the non-fiction side, if you like rock music/metal/pop culture generally then "Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey" by Chuck Klosterman made me burst out laughing on an inter-city train en route to a funeral.

Or maybe "The Alone to the Alone" by Gwyn Thomas, which showed me the humour of the South Wales valleys, which I'd never known about before. It's quite wordy, shaggy-dog-story kind of storytelling but very sharp at the same time and hilarious too.

Jasper Fforde books always cheer me up.

I noticed that dh was particularly horrible while he was reading American Psycho, and then realized that I'd been in a foul mood while I was reading it. Steer well clear if it's not too late.

sponkle can't quite believe that you suggested Me Before You as an uplifting read. Yes its easy to read, yes it is a great suggestion for someone who hasn't read for a while but don't quite get the uplifting bit, haven't cried that much at a book or anything else for ages

OP how do you feel about Chick Lit? A Winters Tale by Trisha Ashley is a lovely read and its set at this time of year or how about something like Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith? Its not chick lit but is easy to read and does have has a lovely ending.

Try The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, also by Alexander McCall Smith.

Diary of a Nobody still makes me laugh too.

You can't beat Adrian Mole, whatever is happening, your life will never be as tragic as his!

You need Nancy Mitford. My go to comfort read is The Pursuit Of Love.

ooh yes Diary of a Provincial Lady is lovely.

Great thread topic. I got fed up with reading slightly depressing books (gave up on Room for that reason - child locked in a room, not ideal bedtime reading) Have been reading Marian Keyes ever since but would like to move on to something a bit meatier but still cheery. Something redemptive. Doesn't have to be funny, just uplifting. I'm not up for Dickens right now but a David Copperfield, boy comes good type story would be right up my street.

Maybe I'm just a bit different then JiltedJohnsJulie I really did find this book uplifting. I liked the way the perspective was all about the female character and her understanding/coming to terms with things and how positive she was about it all being proactive and fiesty, and refusing to give up. I also thought the ending was inspirational because she changed so much for the better...she grew up a lot and broadened her horizons and even though he helped her, she got there mainly by herself on the back of what she had learned about herself by getting to know him. I also thought it was really romantic, but it made me think. I loveboks that challenge my ideas about things.

I hate chick lit with a passion, so don't really do light and fluffy.

Try Jilly Cooper's "The Common Years". Very funny with lovely descriptions of the changing seasons. Not like her usual fare.

Avoid at all costs anything by Rachel Cusk. Her books are like a black hole of despair.