The Novel Cure

Berthoud, Ella and Elderkin, Susan. The Novel Cure: From Abandonment to Zestlessness; 751 Books to Cure What Ails You. New York : Penguin 2013. Print.

First Sentences:

This is a medical handbook -- with a difference. First of all, it does not discriminate between emotional pain and physical pain -- you're as likely to find a cure within these pages for a broken heart as a broken leg....But there's another difference, too: our medicines are not something you'll find at the drugstore, but at the bookshop, in the library, or downloaded onto your electronic reading device. 

 

We are bibliotherapists, and the tools of our trade are books.

Description:

Want suggestions of books to read which understand what you are feeling at a specific time? Which can provide characters undergoing the same emotions you are feeling? Which might relieve your mind through laughter, wisdom, or just escapism? Which even can possibly suggest courses of action to ease your mind (or demonstrate roads not to take)?

 

Then check out The Novel Cure: From Abandonment to Zestlessness; 751 Books to Cure What Ails You by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin. Here you will find one to five titles and short descriptions of several books each relevant to whatever mood you are in and which expand plots and characters facing similar emotions. The authors consider themselves bibliotherapists, playing a similar role as doctors who prescribe specific medicines for specific illnesses of patients.

 

Taking some random flips through this book, I found:

• Flying. Fear of: (see Night Flight by Antoine de Saint-Exupery) - describes the fears of a aviator mail carrier wrestling in a flimsy two-seat plane with a cyclone in South America;

• Happiness, Searching for: (see Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) - describes the conflict of direction faced by a fireman of the future assigned to burn books;

• Pessimism: (see Robinson Caruso by Daniel Defoe) - describes one man shaping his own destiny rather than giving in to circumstances; 

• Risks, Not Taking Enough of: (see The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes) - describes "being drenched in regrets for an underlived life."

There are other special categories with corresponding suggested books and descriptions as well as words of wisdom to deal with each Topic, such as:

• 10 Best Lists - including Audiobooks; Big Fat Tomes; Best Novels for Fortysomethings (every decade milestone is covered); Shocking Novels; Novels to Cheer You Up; For When You're Locked Out; To Drown Out Snoring; For Plane Journeys; To Read in a Hammock"; etc.

• Reading Aliments - including Being a Compulsive Book Buyer, Too Many Children Requiring Attention, Refusal to Give Up Halfway, Put Off By Hype, Seduced by New Books, Tendency to Skim, Desire to Seem Well-Read, Tendency to Read Instead of Live, etc.

Of course, the book is carefully indexed so you can quickly find books by title, author, ailment, or Ten Best lists. 

 

So many book titles I had not heard of but, with their detailed, easy-to-read, often humorous annotations, made me expand my To Be Read list by many, many new temptations.

 

Give it a browse. No need to read it cover to cover as I did just because each new section seemed compelling and full of interesting titles for me. Skim through it and see if you don't find the exact book you need for whatever you are feeling. I'm certain you will find multiple gens just right fir you.

[If this book interests you, be sure to check out:]

 Prose, Francine. What To Read and Why.

Thirty-three short chapters on specific, can't-be-missed books by titles and lucid descriptions, as well as special sections for highly recommended books by subject. (Previously reviewed here.)

 Happy reading.

Fred

[P.S. Click here to browse over 500 more book recommendations by subject or title and read the introduction to The First Sentence Reader.]