List: 5 Mood-Boosters
/I sort of notoriously prefer books on the darker side, but occasionally I want to read something that doesn’t leave me disturbed for three days after finishing it. Here’s what to read when you need a boost.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie | The premise of this incredible classic is well-known by now (a group of strangers on an isolated island are killed, one-by-one, leaving the survivors choked with suspicion and desperate for escape), but the genius of Christie’s writing bleeds through in a way that’s thoroughly delightful and leaves me grinning. Sure, it’s a murder mystery, but it’s a witty, enjoyable and fun murder mystery sure to leave you amused and satisfied. Amazon | Goodreads
Emma by Jane Austen | I had an English Literature teacher in high school who swore that if you read 15 minutes of Austen every day, your writing would improve tenfold. Emma is a particularly easy one, and it’s ridiculously relaxing to read about the protagonist’s exploits as she navigates the world of matchmaking, sheds her naivete in the face of adulthood and discovers a love of her own. Amazon | Goodreads
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire | I cannot say enough about this magical novella. The young inhabitants of Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children are unusual - they’ve each traveled through a door to a magical world and back again - and struggle to re-establish a sense of identity in the wake of such journeys. This book really made me feel the possibility of magic again, in the way that Harry Potter did when I was a kid. Amazon | Goodreads
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison | This quiet political fantasy follows a young half-goblin forced into the role of ruler when his father, the king, unexpectedly dies. Maya is one of the most kind hearted, well-intentioned protagonists I’ve ever encountered, and it is truly a pleasure to read his coming-of-age story. In an age of political uncertainty thanks to an elected Toad President and his Toad Supporters, I absolutely revelled in this vivid, imaginative, uplifting book. Amazon | Goodreads