Good book about good people

[barleywood]

Currently reading 'Calebs Crossing' by Geraldine Brookes. Cross cultural Indians and early American settlers.

Dreading finishing it as I having nothing lined up.

Had my fill for the moment of crime, vampires and fantasy. Keeping away from family breakdowns, divorce etc and other issue led books I.e Jodie Picoult.

Looking for a good books about good people trying to live good lives in a complicated world ( I do realise that this could be a description of Picoult's books)
Any suggestions?

Try Run, State of Wonder and Bel Canto, all by Ann Patchett.

Also The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville, and Thin Air by Sue Gee.

There is a warmth and humanity about these authors' view of the world which might be what you are looking for in a book at the moment.

Kent Haruf, he wrote a series about a fictional town in Colorado (?) Very good, human.
Justin Cronin's The Summer Guest is good, no vampires at all.

Ah, a bit of family drama though. Are there books without family breakup and drama? Not issue led as such though. Life.

Have you read, 'Little Women' and its sequels?

Ruth Ozeki - a tale for the time being

Anna Quindlen - Still life with bread crumbs

Ann Tyler - St Maybe and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.

Thanks for the suggestions....

I second Anne Tyler. Her books are great.

the No.1 ladies detective agency books by Alexander mcCall Smith are about good people.

I so agree with Kent Haruf. His books are amazing, and this is exactly what they are.

Try Diana Athill's memoirs - fascinating reading, she lived a relatively unconventional life for her time and class, but I would say "good books about good people trying to live good lives in a complicated world" is an excellent description.

The Bishops Man - Linden MacIntyre (remote Nova Scotia, the priesthood and morals and ethics)
Brixton Beach - Roma tearne (immigrants from Sri Lanka)
The death of Mr LOve - Indra Sinha
Star of the Sea - Joseph o Connor
Elizabeth Jane Howard - any.
Saville - David Storey
Nobody's Fool - Richard Russo
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
he Bean trees - Barbara Kingsolver
Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese
Property - Valerie Martin
The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
Of Marriageable Age - Sharon Maas

The Universe versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence

Definitely Anne Tyler. Also anything by Amy Tan.

The Grapes of Wrath
Adam Bede or Silas Marner

Delighted to see some Kent Haruf fans on this thread. I love his books, especially Plainsong and Eventide and never seem to meet anyone who has read them.

I highly recommend his books.

Another one agreeing with the Anne Tyler recommendations. Drxrox has chosen two of my favourites but I also love The Clock Winder and Morgan's Passing.

Also Carol Shields. I love Happenstance, The Republic of Love and Unless.

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg is that sort of book too, as are The Sugar Queen and Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen.

Ah, I'm delighted to see this thread. I'm always happy to read a book where good things happen to good people.

I totally agree with No 1Ladies Detective Agency. And the Cazalets. I like Joanne Harris's books as they always have good (and interesting people) in them

Cutting for Stone.

Made my husband read it too. He reads about 1 non-fiction book per decade.

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City.

What about the Jane Austen novels? I love them.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. One of the reviews actually praises Robinson for managing to create a protagonist who is both good and interesting.

Empire Falls by Richard Russo. Very funny book about a nice guy doing his best.

I second Marilynne Robinson and 'Gilead'. There's a sequel, called 'Home', which is also wonderful but a bit more family trauma/drama in the plot.

OP, have you read any of Geraldine Brooks's other books? I think she's a terrific writer. Year of Wonders is excellent.

Not sure it matches your request for books about good people living good lives, though. That's quite a tough call! I find Alison Lurie and Elinor Lipman hugely enjoyable if you like stuff that is lightly comic (and the characters are basically good). Ditto David Lodge.