{"id":121955,"date":"2020-03-27T15:41:40","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T04:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/?p=121955"},"modified":"2020-04-07T10:33:45","modified_gmt":"2020-04-06T23:33:45","slug":"bright-books-to-lift-your-spirits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/2020\/03\/27\/bright-books-to-lift-your-spirits\/","title":{"rendered":"Bright books to lift your spirits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I think we could all use some hope and happiness right now, and my go-to fix for that is a book. Right now is a good time to discover the solace that a really good book can give you, especially if you’re cooped up at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some books that I’ve gathered together that will hopefully lift your spirits. Read on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FICTION<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Saving Missy<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Beth Morrey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Uplifting<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Prickly 79-year-old Missy Carmichael is a loner who is perfectly content with her little world, until a chance encounter with two women leads her to an opportunity that might just change her life for the better. This sparkling debut novel is perfect for fans of Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Seasonal Quartet – Autumn<\/a>, Winter<\/a>, Spring<\/a> & Summer<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Ali Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Uplifting<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve so enjoyed reading Ali Smith\u2019s sparkling Seasonal Quartet–Autumn<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, Winter<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, Spring<\/em><\/strong><\/a> and Summer<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (out 2 July). While they’re mostly a reaction to the post-Brexit turmoil in the UK, I think that the way in which they deal with human discord, uncertainty and isolation, and how hope can be found in any situation, is the perfect thing for right now. Plus, they\u2019re just beautifully written.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One can only imagine the kind of novel that Smith is probably furiously working on right now \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy them here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Howards End<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by E. M. Forster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Howards<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The epigraph of this book is an impassioned plea to “Only connect!”, to reconcile the divisions within yourself but also to reach out to other people and recognise the humanity in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is perhaps the ultimate book about human connections and one which I think is quite relevant right now. Plus, you can use it as an excuse to get stuck into E. M. Forster’s backlist (I’ll take any excuse to read A Room With a View<\/em> again).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NON-FICTION<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Phosphorescence<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Julia Baird<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This is a much-loved book here at Booktopia, with our reviewer Joel Naoum calling it<\/a><\/strong> \u201ca beautiful, moving memoir about what makes us happy and how to survive the dark times.\u201d With this book, Julia Baird reminds us that happiness comes from finding the beauty in the little things, and we cannot recommend it highly enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reasons to Stay Alive<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Matt Haig<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Reasons<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to Stay Alive<\/em> is a memoir but it’s also a book about making the most of your time on earth. (It was a huge bestseller, too.) If you’re feeling dejected about the world or about staying cooped up inside, this book is just the thing to give your spirits a boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Little Weirds<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Jenny Slate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Uplifting<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I am grateful for the fact that Jenny Slate exists every single day. She\u2019s an actress and a comedian who takes supreme delight in the joy of the little things in life and it\u2019s always a pleasure to see the world through her eyes, whether it\u2019s through her Netflix comedy special, Stage Fright<\/em> (if you haven\u2019t yet, you must!), or through this essay collection, Little Weirds<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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COOKING<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nothing Fancy<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Alison Roman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Nothing<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It isn\u2019t a good idea to have people over for dinner right now, but you can still use this cookbook from the New York Times\u2019<\/em> resident foodie Alison Roman to make a feast for you and your fellow socially-isolated housemates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love Alison Roman and her recipes, and while Nothing Fancy<\/em> doesn\u2019t have the recipe for The Caramelised Shallot Pasta (if you know, you know<\/em>), you will find a bunch of other equally incredible ones to get you cooking and feeling all the better for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Community<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Hetty McKinnon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Community\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You might be staying in, but you can still celebrate community spirit with Hetty McKinnon. This cookbook made up of delicious salad and vegetarian recipes has achieved cult status and is filled with healthy dishes that will make you feel happier in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Baking with Kim-Joy<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Kim-Joy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Baking<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Anyone else using repeated viewings of The Great British Bake Off <\/em>as a coping mechanism? This is the book for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bake Off<\/em> finalist and fan-favourite Kim-Joy\u2019s baking book has recipes for basic cake mixes, biscuit doughs, fillings\/frostings and decorating techniques, all peppered with little messages of positivity and the cutest illustrations ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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YOUNG ADULT<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Red, White & Royal Blue<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Casey McQuiston<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Red,<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Can love save the world? It sure can, according to the hugely popular YA novel Red, White & Royal Blue<\/em> in which when the charming First Son of the United States of America falls for the Prince of Wales across the pond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funny, romantic and full of heart, this is blissful reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Emergency Contact<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Mary H.K. Choi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Emergency<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If your main form of communication with your friends and would-be lovers right now is via text message, this is a book you should read. In Emergency Contact<\/em>, not-quite adults Sam and Penny Lee are living lives that are anything but glorious when they meet accidentally and strike up an online friendship. It\u2019s a perfect friendship, and one that might just be something more–that is, if they ever get over the excruciating awkwardness of hanging out in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I absolutely adore this book and I think you might too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aurora Rising<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"9781760295738\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d rather be light years away from planet Earth right now, join the merry band of misfits that is Squad 312 of the peacekeeping Aurora Legion as they set off on an adventure in which they might just have to save the entire universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is another Booktopia favourite, and with the sequel, Aurora Burning<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, heading your way in May (full disclosure, I\u2019m \u00be of the way through it and LOVING IT), there\u2019s no better time to get stuck into this series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KIDS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here We Are<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Oliver Jeffers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Here<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s impossible to read an Oliver Jeffers book without coming away feeling absolutely delighted and enraptured. Think of Here We Are<\/em> as a little kid\u2019s guidebook to planet Earth, but with a joyous thread of hope running through it. Totally gorgeous and uplifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Florette<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Anna Walker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"florette\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

CBCA-winning author Anna Walker\u2019s lovely picture book about finding pockets of joy in unexpected places is one that a lot of little kids (and, I suspect, adults) will really appreciate right about now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The illustrations in this book are so beautiful, you might just get lost in them \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kindness Makes Us Strong<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

by Sophie Beer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kindness<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If there’s one thing we need to hold onto right now, it’s kindness and this book shows little readers that all acts of kindness–no matter how big or small–make the world a better place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are you reading right now? Tell us in the comments below!<\/strong><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A social isolation reading list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":121986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[442,10818,519,8814,9684,11206,11201,10695,7007,1416,7851,11209,1974,11211,7008,7852,2750,11205,11103,7394,11207,11212,11204,11210,3575,7172,10817,11102,7966,4438,11208,11202,11203,11213,5072,8141,6649],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/UpliftingBooks-Social.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121955"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121955"}],"version-history":[{"count":116,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":122731,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121955\/revisions\/122731"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}