4 Books to Read When You’re Down
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Dear Literary Lady,
What books on your shelf do you actually, honestly, really read when you’re down?
—W.E., Chattanooga, TN
Dear W.E.,
As I sit here staring at my bookshelf and trying to answer your question, I realize that most of the books I own deal with difficult, emotionally heavy material. I never noticed that many of the books I own, love, and read regularly are actually kind of downers. But even reading the downers always make me feel better when I’m unhappy.
That said, there are a trusty few books in my collection that I turn to over and over again when things aren’t going well and I need a reason to smile:
The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker, by Robert Mankoff
This is the greatest coffee table book I own. When I don’t have much time, or don’t want to read too much text, opening this up to a random page always picks me up. I love seeing the New Yorker‘s cartoons evolve over the decades, and recognizing the humor in situations I usually take too seriously.
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, by Kurt Vonnegut
I read this book whenever I need my faith in humanity restored. Immersing myself in the adventures of an eccentric, philanthropic millionaire as he tries to do something meaningful with his inheritance always makes me feel a little better about the world. It’s funny, it’s satirical, it’s full of instances of human failings, but by the last page you’ll be feeling warm and fuzzy.
Hector and the Secrets of Love, by Francois Lelord
I pick up this philosophical novel every so often when I’m down, because I love how it’s written. It’s light, it’s charming, and it discusses the messy ups and downs of human emotion in a perfectly logical, nonjudgmental way. It reminds me that all humans are curious creatures, with our individual woes, faults, and vulnerabilities.
Essays of E.B. White, by E.B. White
I’ll end this list with a somewhat unexpected book. I never fail to flip through this one whenever I’m blue, because I just love E.B. White’s sentences. E.B. White’s perfect prose gives me a sense of order when the world has gone awry. Reading one of his essays is like visiting a favorite former professor for some dignified conversation. It’s not just that White is so likable, it’s also that there are little gems of universal observations hiding in his essays.
Now, to pass this question on to all of you—what book do you read to beat the blues?
Love and paperbacks,
Literary Lady