Books about issues / dilemmas

[Gertieblue]

I know schadenfreude is a horrible thing in real life, but I sort of need to think about other people's problems, albeit in fiction 😳. I'm having such a miserable time, I find myself wanting to read books about other people's (not too unbearable) issues and dilemmas, but only in a fictional way. Not misery reads about childhood trauma or anything like that - more like 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' where I could just empathise with his desire to escape. Or 'Rachel's Holiday', by Marian Picoult. A good story, but with some real life, recognisable problems thrown in.

If this makes any sense, can anyone recommend anything, please?

Sorry to hear things aren’t great for you atm. After a while of just not being able to get further than first few pages of any book, The Herd gripped me from the start. The theme is around vaccination for children and sets out both sides of the debate really well. Hope it takes your mind off things for a while.

The One Hundred Years Of Lenni and Margot. I forget the author, but I’ll never forget the book, it’s a fantastic book.

Thank you both. I have actually read The Herd @Hometownhero , and enjoyed it. That's exactly the sort of thing I had in mind, so thank you.

@TuneInThisTimeNextWeek I'm going to go and look for this now!

A Man Called Ove / Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper - Phaedra Patrick
The Reading List - Sara Nisha Adams

Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro might fit. It's 'crime' so very readable but has more too it, the central character has a chronic health condition.