# Uplifting fiction **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 24, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336 "2009-09-24T03:54:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/1 "2009-09-24T03:54:25Z")
Due to recent [circumstances](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=532957) I am interested in finding some uplifting fiction. I read a lot but generally like (good\*) horror or science fiction. One of the requirements that might make this kind of hard is I would prefer books with little to no romantic issues. I need to read something inspiring. Any ideas? \*Sadly there isn’t all that much good horror these days. King, Straub, etc are the kind of writers I like. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/2 "2009-09-24T04:47:42Z")
The most uplifting books I’ve read in recent years are the _No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency_ novels, by Alexander McCall Smith. There’s a bit of a romantic subplot, but it’s very sub-plotty. Oh and, the opposite of uplifting? King, Straub, etc. Maybe what you need is a break from such stuff? I know reading too much of that kind of thing can affect my outlook, personally. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/3 "2009-09-24T14:05:58Z")
I always recommend James Herriot’s _All Creatures Great and Small_ series as uplifting books. Not only are they funny, but they’re about a man who realizes over and over again that he’s living exactly the kind of life he wants to be living. Here are a couple of old threads that might be helpful: [Needed: Books or dvds with happy endings that aren’t love stories](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=504088) [I need the BEST non-depressing sci-fi](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=491684) ---
**Author:** ![lynne-42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lynne-42/32/3138_2.png) [@lynne-42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynne-42)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/4 "2009-09-24T14:06:01Z")
_The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time_ by Mark Haddon. It isn’t a long read and is written for young adults, but it is simply brilliant. Don’t skip over the math - it is simple and inspiring in itself, and you will lose the brilliance if you do. And please don’t let the mention of math put you off. I have had many non-mathematical people absolutely adore this book. Really inspiring ending. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/5 "2009-09-24T14:23:52Z")
I was going through a bad spot a few years ago and [Cliff Walk](http://www.amazon.com/Cliff-Walk-Memoir-Lost-Found/dp/0316803480) helped out a lot. ---
**Author:** ![prettydorky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@prettydorky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prettydorky)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/6 "2009-09-24T14:28:56Z")
Hitchiker’s Guide, The Alchemist, and don’t judge me but when I’m down I like to reread _Superfudge_ ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/7 "2009-09-24T14:34:22Z")
_Life of Pi_ by Yann Martel comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/8 "2009-09-24T15:42:57Z")
I don’t usually associate ‘uplifting’ with sci-fi or horror. But Asimov’s _Foundation_ novels always get my mind off of whatever’s bothering me. You can find the full list [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_series). Look for the heading ‘List of books within the Foundation Universe.’ When I need someting uplifting, I usually turn to movies and comic books. _Gattaca_ is uplifting sci-fi and _Fright Night_ is uplifting horror (kind of). For uplifting comic books, I’ve enjoyed _Daredevil: Born Again_ and _Batman: The Cult_. Good luck to you. We’re all pulling for you! ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/9 "2009-09-24T16:02:54Z")
I may be in a minority, but I find John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany to be very uplifting. It has some very sad moments (as well as several funny moments), but the overall message is that everything, even bad things, happen for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/10 "2009-09-24T16:22:11Z")
“The Man Who Traveled in Elephants,” short story by Robert Heinlein, available in several of his collections. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-fiction/511336/11 "2009-09-26T19:06:32Z")
Terry Pratchetts DiscWorld series are comedy sword and sorcery. Bloody good reads and will make you laugh out loud as well. Hope things look up for you.