Which Inspiring Books Would You Recommend?

[Stevie B]

As a person who has gravitated towards gloomier books in the past, I am doing an about-face. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with cancer in my tonsils and lymph nodes three weeks ago and go in for surgery on Monday. The recovery period following surgery is supposed to be quite unpleasant so I definitely want to avoid depressing literature. Does anyone have any novels they'd like to recommend that are humorous and/or inspiring?

A few more details on my situation. Doctors are hoping my throat cancer was caused by the HPV virus since it responds much better to surgery and radiation. Since I'm 48, a non-smoker, and otherwise healthy, they say I am not a good fit for the cancer normally found in smokers or those who have worked in certain kinds of factories. I am fortunate to be having my surgery done at the Mayo Clinic, a 5-hour drive from my home, but I'm worried nonetheless.

[Liam]

Hey Stevie,

Best of luck to you during this difficult time; my thoughts go out to you and please keep us informed how things go--

Hmm, as to your request, I am perhaps not the best person to recommend inspiring novels to others--usually when I'm down, or there's a family tragedy (or whatever), I go straight to my King James for consolation. I also read lots of poetry and listen to classical music: like, non-stop.

In terms of novels, dunno. Marilynne Robinson, maybe? Woolf's To the Lighthouse, which I think is the greatest piece of prose in English. Bradbury's Dandelion Wine.

And remember, as Dame Julian of Norwich sayeth, All shall be well, .

[Liam]

OK, looking at my own shelves for a moment, here are two madly funny books I simply LOVED as a kid: Gerald Durrell's My Family and Other Animals and Birds, Beasts and Relatives. I have read each one perhaps six or seven times; I never grow tired of their wicked humor, .

[Stiffelio]

I am sorry for the difficult situation you are going through. I wish you all the best. As for inspiring books that may also lift your spirits, I was thinking of David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest, if you haven't read it already, that is. You're going to have a lot of time to read and this is one brick of a book, but worth a bullion for every page you read. It's hilarious and deep and cast with unbelievable characters. Along similar lines you have A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Another hilarious novel is Mario Vargas Llosa's Captain Pantoja and the Special Services. If you'd rather read stories, try Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber.

[Stevie B]

Thanks for the thoughtful suggestions, Liam and Stiffelio. I stopped by our humble town library yesterday where the pickings can be slim. In the end, though, I was able to pick up A Confederacy of Duncesand A House for Mr. Biswas (Naipaul). They had Captain Pantoja, as well, but I've already read (and enjoyed) that one. I'm also bringing my copy of How I Came to Know Fish (Pavel Ota) so I'm more than well-stocked with books as the doctors have said I should anticipate a three-night stay if everything goes well. I'm heading down to the Mayo today for my surgery which will take place on Monday. Wish me luck!

[Stevie B]

Spent all that time deciding which books to bring to the hospital and I didn't read a page. I was in too much pain to concentrate. Simply laid there like a slug for four nights and five days.

[Liam]

I hope you are feeling better now, my dear friend!

FYI, though, I'm still a little pissed at you for not picking Durrell!!! You would have pissed your pants, if you had.

[Stevie B]

I hope you are feeling better now, my dear friend!

FYI, though, I'm still a little pissed at you for not picking Durrell!!! You would have pissed your pants, if you had.

I'll add it to my list of books to read with my 12-year-old son. Of course, we'll have to wait until we finish Coetzee's DISGRACE. j/k!

[Liam]

Be warned though, they're wicked. I hope your 12-y.o. is OK with light sexual humor.

[Stevie B]

One of the books we most enjoyed reading together was Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, a book that has no shortage of sexual humor. Durrell might seem tame by comparison?

[Liam]

I've never read the one you mention, so can't say.

In the second book, a queer friend visits their Greek villa one summer (a Swedish writer-friend of the elder brother Larry, of course) and Mother has a heart attack when she hears that he's been helping the young (aged 12 or 13) Gerry hunt for animals in the olive groves, LOL.

In the first book the family visits a country wedding where the bride is already visibly pregnant. A couple of guys then exchange sexually-charged jokes about her "proven fertility."

So yeah, that type of thing, on the level of suggestion, but always humorous and never quite spelled out. I mean, the books WERE generally aimed at a younger audience, so...

[pesahson]

I wish I had something to recommend. I've been thinking about it since I saw that thread, but just nothing comes to my mind as particularly inspiring.

I'll think about it again, and in the meanwhile, best of luck to you, Stevie!

[Stevie B]

Thanks for words of encouragement, pesahson. Let me know if something later comes to mind.

[Hamlet]

StevieB, I just saw this thread, and wish you the very best for your recovery. A book I loved was The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, I get the impression that just as many adults read it as children, it's definitely magical and escapist, one of the few young adult/chidrens' books I'd return to without hesitating. Also, it's easy, if you are in recovery, it may do the trick, impossible to recommend as I don't know your tastes, but at least it's there for you to select or reject, Sir!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery from over the pond.

[Stevie B]

StevieB, I just saw this thread, and wish you the very best for your recovery. A book I loved was The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, I get the impression that just as many adults read it as children, it's definitely magical and escapist, one of the few young adult/chidrens' books I'd return to without hesitating. Also, it's easy, if you are in recovery, it may do the trick, impossible to recommend as I don't know your tastes, but at least it's there for you to select or reject, Sir!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery from over the pond.

Many thanks, Hamlet, for the kind words and book recommendation. I'm afraid that my recent surgery was not reassuring, but I'm still hoping for the best.

[Hamlet]

Well you just take good care of yourself, hey, it's a damn damn rough thing to go through, the initial surgery is out of the way, okay, so just try to keep up your spirits, and find some pleasureable reading, leave off any miserable stuff, and that's an order btw Private StevieB!



edit to add- did you ever get a chance to read Fire Season, I think we discussed it briefly a while back, I quite enjoyed it, soulful, relaxing and informative, interesting to hear about the USA's fire-burning policies with regard to wildlife conservation, and the raft of other literature it kind of belongs within and to.

I suspect if you didn't get hold of it, that book might be one you'd enjoy.

At some point I'll probably reread it, or get some Jack Kerouac, or similar fiction.

A few years ago I visited the USA and was lucky enough to see part of Alaska, I'm a big outdoors fan, so it blew me away. I enjoy cities but anywhere "big" or vast and remote, Canada, the northern states, fascinates me.

We have a painter/decorator contact whose has helped out at my mum's house, you know, the usual repaints, etc, and after 9 mths of work, he downs tools and spends around 3 months of each year in New Zealand with his sister, I quite envy that, what a contrast. Some people have these outlets.