What do you like to read when you are depressed or lonely?

Question

A favorite book. Title and author please.

Answer 1

Personally, I think the funniest book I've read is A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.

I pick up paperbacks at used book stores or library sales, choosing books which are either thrillers or schlocky romances. I keep them on hand in case I have an "emergency" when I desperately need a book but can't get to the library. Let's face it, one single book isn't going to do if your depression lasts any length of time. That's why I keep a stash of emergency medicinal light reading. You need anything which will catch your interest long enough for some moments of escape, and hopefully arrest the downward spiral of the depression. Are you a woman? Read anything by Georgette Heyer. Read Amanda's Wedding (can't remember author's name.) If you've read a lot of literature, parodies of famous books can be hysterical. Have you read "Bored of the Rings?" It's a little dated by now, but still uproarious. If there's a movie you've seen which is based on the book, read the book and see how much better and more enjoyable it is. If you find an author which you like, lap them up. You can't beat Grisham for escapism. Here's another idea: When I was depressed about 20 years ago I would go to the library regularly and check out one novel, one biography and one non-fiction book. Now I find that very well researched historical fiction is great. I love a window into the past. Remember, it's all about escape.

Answer 2

I like to read books that have a depressed atmosphere(like Marin Preda--Romanian author--or Jean-Paul Sartre). Anything happy and lively at those moments would make me feel worse. So I sink into the mood, let it take over, and by the time I lift my head and look around me again, I'm back on track. It's better to accept a state of mind than reject it. This way it doesn't accumulate and overflow.

Answer 3

Anything by Barbara Michaels or her alter ego Elizabeth Peters. Not too long, not too heavy, but still well written and suspenseful, with a little humor. One of my favorites is The Seventh Sinner.
That's been my long term standard, she takes up a whole shelf in my bookcase, but I recently found another book that's starting to take over: Folly by Laurie King. Simply wonderful.

Answer 4

Weekly magazines like
Womans day
New Idea,
Famous etc
It makes me feel better knowing that these famous people are so fich & famous & their more lonlier & more miserable than me.
Yeah they have money, but no true friends & can be kicked off their pedestal in 5 seconds.Who would want to live like that everyday
I think, my lifes not that bad after reading those messed up mags

Answer 5

mm I don't know about depressed and lonely but one of my favorite books is called Elsewhere.
It's about a girl who dies and goes to "elsewhere" where you reverse age until you're a week old and get sent down the river back to earth :]
It's by Gabrielle Zevin

Answer 6

It is "The Consolations of Philosophy" by Alain de Botton. It's amusing with good accompanying photos, graphics, diagrams, etc. since it's meant to 'console' anyone in doubt of life itself or some chief sufferings.

Answer 7

depressed or lonely.............ummmmm........probably the Anne of Green Gables series, by L M Montgomery. I have so many favourites, it all depends on what i feel like reading, but those books make me smile. Also Harry Potter by J K Rowling............they make me laugh. All those one liners.

Answer 8

I generally like science fiction and/or fantasy books under those circumstances; I have 'way too many favorites to list them here!

Answer 9

American Psycho, Notes from Underground, and Man Crazy.

Answer 10

"The Disappearance of the Universe" by Gary Reynard -- it'll knock your socks off. I haven't looked at the world the same since I first cracked it open ;)