Parallel Worlds
October 18th, 2011
I have been gobbling up some interesting literature recently, and as you'll know if you've read Through the Dark Woods, I am a believer in the mental health benefits of fiction. If you are feeling low and need an escape, I recommend "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I have been reading it at all sorts of inappropriate moments because although technically I could have put it down, I didn't want to. Last night I even read on through past my bedtime with reckless disregard for the next day's weariness: that's how good it is! It is the story of Skeeter (she looked like a mosquito when she was born), a white woman living in Mississippi in the 1960s who writes a controversial book about the experiences of black maids. It is about facing down injustice, about love across great divides, about the cost of non-conformity. There is caramel cake in it, and a pivotal chocolate cream pie. It made me feel angry, and hopeful, and fizzy with thoughts and ideas of my own.
A book that I might have recommended to you if you'd asked me around page 400 (it is 933 pages long) is Shantaram. Having slogged my way through the whole thing, my enthusiasm has shrivelled. It is a portion of the life story of a man who escaped an Australian high security jail, where he was serving a sentence for armed robbery, and fled to India. It promised me redemption and it failed to deliver. I was left feeling immensely frustrated with the author for his stunningly impervious ego, which allowed him to look in the mirror and feel great pleasure and pride at the sight of the violent, unpleasant criminal looking back. So don't read that one. But if you want a good laugh, go and read the one star reviews on Amazon, which are hilarious.
The question is: what should I read next?
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Your comments
Veronica Zundel~ October 18th, 2011 ~ 16:10Read absolutely anything by Jane Gardam, especially The Queen of the Tambourine. Her books are short, eccentric, funny and ultimately redemptive. Barbara Trapido is good for a wacky but uplifting read as well.
Jo
~ October 18th, 2011 ~ 17:10Thanks for the suggestions. Will track them down forthwith.
L. Ron Hubbard~ October 18th, 2011 ~ 17:10You have most likely already read the greatest selling self help book, "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health" Which has had at least 60 printings in 32 languages, with over 83 million copies sold.
Although the author claims to have invented his method, he really borrowed from known methods in regression psycotherapy. Regardless of the terminology or the stigma that a "chruch" has grown out of this work, reading it has changed the lives of millions of people of all religions.
Jo
~ October 18th, 2011 ~ 18:10Hello Mr Hubbard. Thanks for reading my blog. I haven't read your book, and in all honesty I don't intend to. I am more of a Bible kind of girl. Have you read it? It is great stuff.
paula
~ October 18th, 2011 ~ 21:10I loved reading Francine Rivers 'mark of the lion' trilogy. Her other books are what I'd call christian fluff - but not as fluffy as some!! However mark of the lion was more historical fiction.
L. Ron~ October 19th, 2011 ~ 21:10Have I read the Bible? Why an impertinent question? I have read the Bible many times. I am not a closed-minded person like yourself.
Helk
~ October 20th, 2011 ~ 21:10Calm down L.Ron, you'll have a stroke.
Jo
~ October 21st, 2011 ~ 09:10Everyone's mind is closed to certain things, and I am sure yours is too L. Ron, otherwise you would have no opinions, values or substance to your character.
Essie
~ October 30th, 2011 ~ 18:10I just read "Blind Faith" by Ben Elton - unputdownable. Not sure if it's one for when you're feeling depressed, but a definite call to be counter-cultural
