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?

As a fellow sufferer of book-induced gloom, I find the 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith uplifting (although it's a bit pithy). I read the first five in a row very happily! I'm on the most recent (maybe eighth?) and I think they've gone downhill, but recommend the first ones for a light laugh...

Margoandjerry have you read Brideshead Revisited? The novella Breakfast at Tiffanys is a lot better than the film, that's another rainy day read for me.

I also love crime fiction for this sort of mood- not modern serial killer nastiness - Christie, Ruth Rendell etc. some really gripping writing and quite insightful.

No but I will try Brideshead chubfuddler. I have read and enjoyed Breakfast at Tiffany's. I think that's just the sort of thing I need. And good call on Christie. Why Didn't They Ask Evans, type thing. Lovely. VillaEphrussi, dare I ask for your comments on my Hare with the Amber Eyes thread?

Maybe I'm just in a "light reading" phase right now.

sponkle have to agree with you on all of those points. Still cried buckets though, to the point where DH kept asking me to put the book down.

Do love the book and have recommended it to lots of people, also thinking of buying it for my mum as part of her Mother's Day present.

Another vote for No.1 Ladies Detective Agency.

I picked up that Winters Tale novel in a bundle of Christmassy light reads and it made me want to hurt people, I was so angry that something so terrible had been published. Trees died for that? Stabby rage.

YY to Stella Gibbons and Diary of a Provincial Lady. I also like Mrs Miniver, Mavis Cheek and Georgette Heyer, or the modern Regency RipOffs. Nothing in any of them to trouble the mind or depress the soul .

I am going through a highly inducing phase of reading everything Julia Quinn has ever written; they are formulaic and you can tell they are written by a modern American.

There are some silly mistakes that just scream that it's not really Regency.

But they skip along a treat and I find myself eating with the book in my hand!

I would second PG wodehouse who I worship as a deity.

Also hitchhikers (and the wonderful Dirk Gently books also by the late great Douglas Adams), Georgette Heyer, Jasper FForde, Terry Pratchett and I quite like Liilan jackson Braun's Cat detective novels which are also nice and light.

Sorry folks I got distracted by half term. Lots of your suggestions are a amongst my favourites, The Persuit of Love is one of the few books I've read more than once, all Alexander McCall Smith books, Dickens are all fab. However some other good suggestions that I'm not so familiar with, so thank you all.

As I find any non depressing reads I'll post.

at Sue. MN wouldn't be MN if we all agreed now would it. I felt the same about When God was a Rabbit. Also am the first to admit that it is chick lit and probably trashy chick lit at that .

at JJJ. So true.
I am only a few pages in to God/Rabbit - it didn't grab me either.

Oh, I am so pleased to see another fan of Jilly Cooper's The Common Years, Popbiscuit.

Another vote for bridesmaid revisited and indeed anything else by Evelyn Waugh.

BridesHEAD revisited!

"Spanish Steps - Travels with my Donkey" by Tim Moore.

Anything by Bill Bryson, but especially "Notes from a Small Island" and "A Walk in the Woods"

I thought of a couple more: Nights at the Circus and Wise Children by Angela Carter are exhilarating if not without poignancy. And If on a Winter's night a Traveller by Italo Calvino is about the joy of reading.

I beseech you to read The Van by Roddy Doyle. Infact, any of The Barrytown Trilogy, but The Van is the most wonderfully feel-good but non-schmaltzy, non-chicklit kind of book.

Also, Restoration by Rose Tremain - the final two pages will make you cry and cry in a very happy way.

wintersnight, spooky - I just posted that very Angela Carter on another thread.

Loads of my favourites here. For truly brainless lovely reading I would recommend the Miss Read Village School books. Quite a lot of social history, but basically, as my son caustically says, "old women enjoying the countryside".

If you haven't already done so you should have a look at Persephone books.
Lots of variety and long forgotten gems including Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

www.persephonebooks.co.uk is the website.

I am a huge fan of Dorothy Whipple but I would say she is satisfying rather than uplifting.

The Persephone website has good descriptions and reviews to help you decide.

I am off to start the latest Joanna Trollope. Happy reading.

The Van is one of my favourites, Bibbity.

Agreed about the Van - think I cried laughing at that one. Will have to hunt out my copy and read again!

Thanks for starting the thread Op as there are loads on here I want to try!

Oh yes, have to agree with The Van. Had forgotten all about that one.

Any of Danny Wallace's books, they are all hilarious and great reads.
Highly recommended.

I found 'The Jane Austen Book Club' nicely uplifting

Another vote for 'Starter for 10' made me laugh out loud and 'The secret dairy of Adrian Mole' is my all time favourite comfort book.