i want something reassuring and warm with a happy ending that's not just lite/fluff for my paranoid friend who's going thru tuff times right now. women protagonists a plus! 'nihilism' strictly forbidden, no creepiness.
she wants something that will make her happy. think: the movie aladdin, apple juice, houses full of people
― jeremy jordan (cruisy), Friday, 6 February 2004 01:14 (twenty-two years ago)
Jurgen, by James Branch Cabell. I'm not kidding. It's the most high-spirited American novel ever. Nothing whatsoever bothers Jurgen.
There's also Frank Baum's Glinda of Oz.
― otto, Friday, 6 February 2004 03:43 (twenty-two years ago)
Tim Farrington -
The Monk Downstairs - a sweet love story that's not too goopy or gacky.
Michael Faber - The Crimson Petal and the White - a female prostitue in Victorian Britian - a feminist manifesto - brilliant.
Jasper Fforde - The Eyre Affair and Lost in a Good Book - alternative history/parallel world with a strong heroine and lots of funny incidents and insights.
R. G. Gelman - Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World - middle-aged woman walks away from a marriage and her normal life, to live with various native peoples around the world, not to study them, but to be a part of their lives and they a part of hers - wonderful and life affirming.
Emily Jenkins - Mister Posterior and the Genius Child - a bit of a lighter book, a delightful coming-of-age piece with a plucky young heroine and lots of laughs.
Alexander McCall Smith - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls - set in Botswana with a beautiful, intelligent, insightful female heroine/detective, who loves the land and her culture and peoples.
A. Nittenegger - The Time Traveler's Wife - a bit odd, a love story across time - I thought it was beautiful.
L. Notaro - Autobiography of a Fat Bride: True Tales of a Pretend Adulthood - a modern collection of essays/memories that rival Sedaris' collection for their hillarious insights and truths.
Susan Straight - I Been in Sorrow's Kitchen and Licked Out All the Pots - a black woman growing-up in the Gulah culture - she tough and smart and independent and wonderful.
A little lighter - the Bridget Jones books, Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux which are children's books. The Series of Unfortunate Events series - dark and dismal and funny - makes one feel better because their life isn't nearly as bleak or threatened as the Baudelaire childrens'.
― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Friday, 6 February 2004 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)
Er - and the
Anne of Green Gables series, my L. M. Montgomery, of course.
― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Friday, 6 February 2004 03:50 (twenty-two years ago)
jeremy- sorry can't think of anything right now but you know, book threads on ILE are not allowed anymore ;)
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 6 February 2004 09:10 (twenty-two years ago)
two weeks pass...
"Fried Green Tomatoes At the Whistle Stop Cafe" by Fannie Flagg. I've re-read this several times, and it still makes me smile. Has *several* women protagnonists.
― Natalie (Penny Dreadful), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)
Walking Across Egypt, by Clyde Edgerton. (I laughed out loud!--It has nothing to do with Egypt.) It has a sequel, Killer Diller. Not as funny as the first, but ... if you want a real hoot, try this!
― pepektheassassin (pepektheassassin), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 18:41 (twenty-two years ago)
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (not a dalmatian in sight). I haven't seen the film, and I don't really want to - the book's just really lovely and heartwarming and positive. If it doesn't have your friend wanting to swim in a moat she should ask for her money back. I'll also second the Alexander McCall Smith books - lady power at its best (and most sedate).
― Cathryn (Cathryn), Thursday, 4 March 2004 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)