Life-affirming novels: what do you recommend

[BugBearisBugBear]

Sometimes, when I'm feeling despondent, it would be nice to have a really life-affirming novel to read.

Hope that doesn't make me sound suicidal - I'm very much NOT - but I'd like ideas of novels that make you feel glad to be alive.

Hi Kitkat9 - shall have to swap other titles as I'm always on the lookout. Loved Fannie Flagg too. I have tried Bill Bryson but just didn't get on with him, maybe I have to be in the right mood? I'm always too tired these days!
Have you read David Sedaris 'Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim'? I kept seeing it recommended here and its laugh out loud funny.
Other life changing books are Kahil Gibran 'The Prophet' and any Richard Bach books.
I've recently discovered Sally Beauman and all her books are a joy - not life affirming, just a bloomin good read - awful titles and covers but hey who's judging!

Oh crikey, have forgotton to write down the very bestest most life affirming novel ever, I don't think I went out for a week while I was reading it.

The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexander Dumas

84 Charing cross road, helene hanff anyone? John Irving owen meany and others.

also just read a really pick-me-up book called a redbird christmas. i googled to see who it was by and guess what, fannie flagg. must read more by her....

Mr Maybe

Babyville

both by
Jane Young

Ooh, redbird Christmas is brilliant.
Makes you feell all warm insdie.

THE VAN by Roddy Doyle. Tis so funny. Also THE SNAPPER. And THE COMMITMENTS, too. The Barrytown (Barrowtown?) Trilogy.

I read THE VAN just before going on honeymoon to Dublin. One of my all time fave books ever.

I don't know about life affirming as such but I could re-read Memoirs of a Geisha every year and still enjoy it.

jAYSUZZ, you didn't go to 'Barrytown' for your honeymoon didya?

Dublin. Stayed in a B&B in Clontarf owned by a lady named Carmel Drain.

Jean-Dominique Bauby - The Diving Bell & The Butterfly. Extraordinary writing, all the more so when you remind yourself how he wrote it.

Alice In Bed, by Cathleen Schine, made me realise that you can face serious, painful situations and still be a smart-mouthed, sarcastic woman with a thriving sex life Alice is a brilliant heroine, and the book is very moving without being in the slightest bit sentimental.

+1 vote for This Book Will Save Your Life - AM Homes. Brilliant, and really uplifting.

The Grapes of Wrath- John Steinbeck

I second Danny Wallace - The Yes Man
Ron McLarty - The Memory of Running here
Might have helped that I read these both on holiday in Sorrento where we celebrated our first wedding anniversary .

I went to Sorrento when I was 14 - have always wanted to go back, it was beautiful

There are so many aren't there? The most lifeaffirming novel I've read this year is Random Acts of Heroic Love - worth a try - see what you think

www.amazon.co.uk/Random-Acts-Heroic-Danny-Scheinmann/dp/0552774227/ref=pd_ts_b_11/026-0854881-359080 3?ie=UTF8&s=books

Also Empire of the Sun I think is life-affirming, though not in the traditional sense

We loved it Flame although I have heard some people say it is too touristy?

I picked that book up the other day Quattro but couldn't make up my mind, I'll look out for it at the library. It explains how to make links shorter next to the "add your message here box" (I tried to explain it but gave up - I was making it more complicated than it needed to be!).

Thanks GG

Just put a space and what word you want to call the link before you do the closing ]]

Couldn't have put it better myself Flame!

'the accidental tourist' anne tyler. Also 'back when we were grown ups', same author.

Ah yes, I love Anne Tyler.

We had our honeymoon on the Amalfi coast [sigh]

Thanks for the latest recommendations. It's me, btw, the OPer, I mean

Anne Tyler fab. Also PG Wodehouse and your fave childhood books always good. Have recently reread Diana Wynne Jones Joan Aiken and Madeline L'Engle and really enjoyed them

any of the romantic novels of Georgette Heyer. So fluffy and silly they cheer me up every time.

oregonian 'a tree grows in brooklyn' was the first novel i ever read and i think it has a huge influence on my entire life, it is one of my favourite books for that reason