For Comfort While Facing a Storm

Focus for this List: A dear friend of mine asked for a list of books that would be light, fun reads, with minimal romance.  My friend is going through a really challenging time, and so, I also recommended some books that I've found helpful when the world comes crashing down.  E, this list is for you. 

Nonfiction that has Saved My Sanity (more than once):
1.  Laurence Gonzales: Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why
This is far more than a book on how not to die while camping -- it's a survival guide for life. No, really. In fact, it's a bit of a genre-spawning book, and one that is quite readable. Skip the overly science-filled parts if you wish, but focus on the lessons. They're essential.

2.  Viktor Frankl: Man's Search for Meaning
A small book, it is, in fact, the most truth-filled and helpful guide to living I've ever encountered.  Written by a psychologist who survived the Holocaust, this is a guide to living with meaning, even when it all seems meaningless.
And here's an official recommendation by someone other than me, "According to a survey conducted by the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Library of Congress, Man's Search For Meaning belongs to a list of "the ten most influential books in [the United States]." (New York Times, November 20, 1991)."  Thanks, Wikipedia!

It's a good book, and I think it will help.  Please read it?

Nonfiction that's just fun to read:
3.  C. S. Lewis: On Stories: and Other Essasy on Literature
Yes, I read C.S. Lewis for comfort - don't you?  :)

4.  Jane Yolen: Touch Magic: Fantasy, Faerie & Folklore in the Literature of Childhood
I'm not sure why faery-tales came so strongly to mind, E, when I was making this list for you, but they did.  Thus, my favorite collection of essays by one of my favorite authors.  In particular, I think the essay titled, "The Mask on the Lapel" will speak to you.  Page 53 in my book. 

Fiction for You:
5.  Jane Yolen: Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast 
Well, I could hardly let you escape without reading some of her fiction too, eh?  They are short stories for when that's all the time you've got!

6.  Louis Sachar: Holes
Some would say this is a book for teens and pre-teens.  I say that it's a modern fairytale with points to touch us all.  That, and it's set in West Texas.  You'll like it.

7.  William Saroyan: My Name is Aram
Another collection of short stories -- I find Saroyan's writing style to be uniquely calming -- almost a literary balm, at least for me!  You'll enjoy Aram; I think you'll recognize your boys in some of his stories!

8.  William Saroyan: The Human Comedy
This is on my personal top-ten of all-time list. I first read it when wildly homesick as an exchange student in Germany. I allowed myself to read only one chapter a night, and yes, that's how I survived that January. 

9.  Robert Heinlein: The Green Hills of Earth
Short stories to take you away, make you think, change your perspective, and leave you laughing, these are some of the best.

10.  Spider Robinson: Callahan's Crosstime Saloon
If all else fails, read this book (and its friends) until you're helpless with laughter and the light seems brighter.  I've linked it to the Kindle edition for faster access!  Why this book?  Because shared pain is lessened, and shared joy is increased.  Yes, that's a quote.  Go on now, you'll love it!

((((HUGS)))) + A Cup of Tea + A Good Book (or 10) = Better Times Ahead!

Love & Marriage

Nonfiction:
1.  Dr. John Gottman & Nan Silver: The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work 
2.  Po Bronson: "Why Do I Love These People?": Understanding, Surviving, and Creating Your Own Family
3.  Judith Wallerstein, Julia Lewis, Sandra Blakeslee: The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: A 25 Year Landmark Study
4.  Eric Weiner: The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World
5.  Laurence Gonzales: Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why

Fiction:
6.  Anne McCaffrey: Crystal Singer (series) & Freedom's Landing (series)
7.  Robert Heinlein: Friday
8.  Jennifer Crusie: Crazy For You

Something Else:
9.  Kahlil Gibran: The Prophet
10. Elizabeth Gilbert: Eat Pray Love

Focus for this list:
Yes, I'll admit, one can (fairly easily) see from this list that, as a child of divorce, I have some issues with love, commitment, and marriage.  My general approach when something scares me silly is to do research; thus the extensive nonfiction selections.  If the nonfiction list delves into the nitty gritty of what can go wrong (and how to avoid having things go wrong) then the fiction gives visions of what love can be. 

Relationship lessons I've learned from reading Anne McCaffrey's books? 
1. Things work out in the end, if both are willing to work hard at it, but it may take several books to get there. 
2. Partnerships work best when strengths are balanced and complementary. 
3.  Love pops up in some unexpected places!

Lessons from Robert Heinlein:
1. Family (& humanity) is what you make of it.
2. A little sexual mischief is always fun!

Lessons from Jennifer Crusie:
1.  Reach for happiness, even if you can't see how you'll there from here.
2.  Always adopt the stray dog.  ;)

 And that, my friend, is my list of books that have influenced my view of love and marriage.  I've been married (quite happily) now for 5 months and 9 days! 

Happy Valentine's Day, and may we all one day be free to marry whomever we love. 
-Mrs. Turkey Bird

Nonfiction for Those Who Love Fiction

1.  Lawrence Gonzales: Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why
2.  Stanley Bing: Rome, Inc.: The Rise and Fall of the First Multinational Corporation
3.  Olivia Judson: Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation: The Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex
4.  Gavin De Becker: The Gift of Fear (and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence)
5.  Karen Pryor: Don't Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training
6.  Po Bronson: "Why Do I Love These People?": Understanding, Surviving, and Creating Your Own Family
7.  Oliver Sacks: The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat: And Other Clinical Tales
8.  Dr. William Maples: Dead Men Do Tell Tales: The Strange and Fascinating Cases of a Forensic Anthropologist
9.  Lynne Truss: Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
10. Eric Weiner: The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World

Focus for this list:
I don't consider myself an avid reader of nonfiction.  Yet, I find myself drawn to nonfiction when flying.  These are the books that not only kept me happily absorbed during an airline ordeal, they're also the books I recommended to others once I'd touched down!