In case the holiday season is already a bit overwhelming… or if you are lucky enough to be going on a tropical vacation any time soon… Here is Reader’s Advisory list of Uplifting Books! I starred the ones I’ve read (and LOVED)…
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About Kristen
I have been a high school teacher for 15 years and am ready to embark on a new project! I hope to promote classic literature and help book clubs rediscover these gems.
“Three Cups of Tea” and “Stones into Schools” are two sequential non-fiction books about a mountain climber (Greg Mortenson) who becomes inspired to build schools in remote parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It’s an amazing story, absolutely inspiring on every imaginable level,and a good read to boot. He is in Pakistan during 9/11, gets kidnapped by the Taliban and miraculously only goodness and kindness and evolution are the results. He also finds true love! Can’t beat these books for upliftment and inspiration.
Great addition, Linda! My family book club read Three Cups of Tea and really enjoyed it. Sounds like I need to add Stones into Schools to my TBR list, too! Thank you for the reminder!
Great list! I too loved a lot of those books. I also saw that you read “Dewey” if you liked it I’m sure you will LOVE the following-
Dog Days- Jon Katz. I am so in love with this book, every chapter makes me chuckle and im a cat person! It follows the lives of his dogs, cows, donkeys.
Wesley the Owl- Stacey O’brien. This book is beautiful, and hilarious. Following the life of the kooky but adorable wesley.
The pleasure slave- Gena Showalter. Pretty much anything by Gena Showalter! This one is the start of the Atlantis series, which is a particularly color and beautiful series, lighter than her even darker romance counterparts. Prepare to fall in love with some hunks. If you love her try Kresley Cole or sherrilyn kenyon.
Because I have a reputation for selecting depressing books for my book club, I’m looking for an uplifting book that is also really good literature, often a hard combination and there’s got to be meat for discussion. Any recommendations?
Hi Betsy!! I tend to be drawn to “darker” fiction, too, but I do have a few suggestions! First, The Help is lovely and would generate great discussion. Also, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand is both positive and definitely would spark discussion, too. I’ll keep thinking and add more titles to this post as I think of them!
photo credit: kevindooley
“Three Cups of Tea” and “Stones into Schools” are two sequential non-fiction books about a mountain climber (Greg Mortenson) who becomes inspired to build schools in remote parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It’s an amazing story, absolutely inspiring on every imaginable level,and a good read to boot. He is in Pakistan during 9/11, gets kidnapped by the Taliban and miraculously only goodness and kindness and evolution are the results. He also finds true love! Can’t beat these books for upliftment and inspiration.
Great addition, Linda! My family book club read Three Cups of Tea and really enjoyed it. Sounds like I need to add Stones into Schools to my TBR list, too! Thank you for the reminder!
Great list! I too loved a lot of those books. I also saw that you read “Dewey” if you liked it I’m sure you will LOVE the following-
Dog Days- Jon Katz. I am so in love with this book, every chapter makes me chuckle and im a cat person! It follows the lives of his dogs, cows, donkeys.
Wesley the Owl- Stacey O’brien. This book is beautiful, and hilarious. Following the life of the kooky but adorable wesley.
The pleasure slave- Gena Showalter. Pretty much anything by Gena Showalter! This one is the start of the Atlantis series, which is a particularly color and beautiful series, lighter than her even darker romance counterparts. Prepare to fall in love with some hunks. If you love her try Kresley Cole or sherrilyn kenyon.
Thank you for the recommendations!! I do love books about animals…
Because I have a reputation for selecting depressing books for my book club, I’m looking for an uplifting book that is also really good literature, often a hard combination and there’s got to be meat for discussion. Any recommendations?
Hi Betsy!! I tend to be drawn to “darker” fiction, too, but I do have a few suggestions! First, The Help is lovely and would generate great discussion. Also, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand is both positive and definitely would spark discussion, too. I’ll keep thinking and add more titles to this post as I think of them!