Tim Dorsey’s books are in the same vein as Hiassen, (the main character is a serial killer, but the people he kills really deserve it, and are usually killed in interesting and funny ways.)
I’m late coming into this thread, and someone else downstream may have already mentioned this, but…
I agree with EC. As much as I love Sedaris, I’ve noticed that sometimes (disturbingly often, in my view) his essays include bad and even horrible things happening to animals, which he tosses off with complete indifference.
I’d recommend him for a good laugh, but not for a “feel good” read.
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I been a fan of Tom Robbins since his first book, and for me Jitterbug Perfume is his best one.
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Those Jean Shepherd stories from the 60’s are pure gold. I read most of them when they first appeared in Playboy (teenage boy me bought Playboy for the pictures, always ended up reading the fiction); all of those stories appear in three compilations, and are highly recommended. “Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven Of Bliss” is probably my favorite story.
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However, he’s another writer who often has terrible things happening to animals.
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Make that I’ve been a fan…
Missed the edit window. Jesus. Me write pretty one day.
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“The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry” by Kathleen Flinn
beats “Eat, Pray, Love” with a big stick!
Yeah, I think the best genre to avoid it is the lighthearted innocent romance. And even then, you have to be selective. Fiction require plot, and plot requires change - death is a change.
Not a happy ending, and there is a death, but this one always helps when I need a change of persepctive:
Thanks to this thread, I’m now reading “Harpo Speaks” and it’s a delight. A much better book than I expected.
That is all.
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Shanna Swendson – Starts with “Enchanted Inc.” Funny,NOBODY dies!!
Any of Walter Farley’s books
Watch “The Black Stallion” That’s the best horse movie EVER!!
“The Nantucket Trilogy” by S.M.Sterling Lots of war tho
Linda Lael Miller – always a happy ending - romances,tho…
“How To Train Your Dragon” movie…
The proper Jean Shepard book for you is: “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.” Another Alexander McCall Smith series is the 44 Scotland Street books. Very warm and fuzzy.
You’ll either love or hate Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum mysteries: they get old quickly if read in a block.
Maeve Binchy’s “Circle of Friends.” “Scarlet Feather” and Night of Starry Skies (not quite sure of the title there) are also cheering.
I just finished The Summer of the Bear by Bella Pollen. Unusual story. Quick read–4-5 hours maybe. It has to do with a death but I didn’t find it depressing.
in addition to lamb anything by christopher moore is really funny
The Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary (all of which I have) have generally had happy endings.
I usually read science fiction, but I make an exception for Fannie Flagg - she just tells a really good story. I just finished “I Still Dream About You” by her, and it is an entertaining, light-hearted, engaging story (with a happy ending). I don’t want to give away the story or the ending, but trust me when I say it fits your criteria.
I dunno, I’m still traumatized from childhood about the one where Alec’s fiancee dies.
I loves me some Christopher Moore, but I’ve got to take an exception with Lamb, one of my fav’s by the way. I’ve read it 3 times and every time, even though I know how it ends, duh, I end up crying. NOT feel good.:dubious:
This site is so awesome. Just type in a name of an author you like and it will pull up the names of authors with similar writing styles.
Otherwise, I highly recommend The Seven Year Bitch by Jennifer Belle.