A Book Therapist Prescribed Me 9 Books

[@chris-wolak]

I've often wondered about Bibliotherapists and how they work. Thanks for sharing your experience with Bijal Shah and also your booklist. I've read the Tolstoy and Winterson and enjoyed both, although it's been a while. What I remember about Winterson's memoir is the religious abuse and the pain of rejection. I flipped through The Celestine Prophecy years ago, but it didn't grab me. A few friends have loved it. I suppose it depends on where the reader is on their spiritual journey (as well as style preferences, no doubt). LESS is on my TBR, and I've yet to read any Anne Tyler novel. The Accidental Tourist sounds like an excellent place to start with her.

[@RickMacDonnell]

From everything I’ve heard I think I’ll start with Tyler and Winterson and go from there. Consensus! Thanks for the great comment, Chris.

[@Leoslittlebooklife]

Rick, I think you will love Anne Tyler’s The Accidental Tourist. It was the first novel by her that I read and it got me reading book after book by her for months on end. Colm Tóibín is another favorite author of mine, he never fails to deliver. Although The Magician is still on my tbr. And Thomas Mann was an intriguing man, also his children, two of them openly gay while he himself anxiously hid that part of him. I believe the name “the magician” was originally given to him by his wife Katia. I have a book by her in Dutch, titled “Memories of the magician” (I believe it was not translated into English). This therapy sounds really great. Good luck, my friend 💪🏻! Super interesting. And a great addition to our daily therapy: 🐕😉!

[@RickMacDonnell]

I *think* I will be starting with the Tyler book first. It just feels the most up my alley 😊

[@melissamybubbles6139]

The bibliotherapy idea sounds fascinating. There have been some books that have been therapeutic to me. I wonder if you'd like Here if You Need Me by Kate Braestrup. It's about a woman suddenly widowed who decides to become a search and rescue chaplain to help other traumatized and grieving families, while dealing with being a single mother. It's not religious in the way you'd think. It has a sort of nature feel. For me, The Soul of An Octopus by Sy Montgomery helped with a period of depression and helped heal my chronically ill inner teenager.

[@Johanna_reads]

This was an amazing video idea, but it went next level when you explained the themes you selected in such an honest, candid way. I can relate to so much of what you shared, and maybe it’s because I’m getting closer to never reaching 40. 😂 The Death of Ivan Ilyich was highly recommened from a friend who said it was for fans of John Williams’s Stoner. I’m curious!

[@RickMacDonnell]

I *love* Stoner, so this is great news!

[@Johanna_reads]

@@RickMacDonnell Stoner is one of my favorite books, so you'll have to let me know if you agree!

[@jocelyndun]

For spirituality, I think you should try "Why Buddhism is True" by Robert Wright. The title is a little overdramatic but basically it is a deep dive into meditation having evidence-based benefits. It's very philosophical and will make you think about how humans have evolved.

[@felipemedina7255]

Love the idea of keeping the recommendations before 2020. I seem to be bogged down by all the new releases and I know I’m missing out on some older greats.

[@RickMacDonnell]

I tend to read more “recent backlist” books than anything else. Apparently I’m not interested in a book until it’s 5 years old 😂

[@toasted_.coconut]

Your videos haven't popped up in a long time. So happy to see your face and hear your bookish thoughts. Happy Holidays.

[@RickMacDonnell]

I took an extended break a while ago. Happy to be back!

[@aboutchuckb3031]

I read The Death of Ivan Ilych after my father passed away from cancer. It was very cathartic for me. Anne Tyler is a wonderful writer. She is my pallet cleanser. When I need help out of a slump I reach forTyler. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all of these recommendations.

[@jorvikreads]

Less is such a wonderful book! Definitely a fitting book for the theme. It makes me tempted to give the recommendation service a go.

[@RickMacDonnell]

Good luck if you do!

[@ephrussi9765]

I'm so glad you're back!!! You've intrigued me - I'm going to explore Book Therapy.

[@RickMacDonnell]

Good luck! Let me know how it goes!

[@jenniwhatsbookin]

I just read Anne Tyler earlier this summer for the first time, and found her absolutely delightful and I think she will definitely touch on the themes you are interested in exploring!

[@TheBookBully]

Such an interesting experience and I'm so glad you did it so I don't have to :) Very much awaiting your review of these, especially the short story collection and The Love Makers. And Winterson, of course. The thing you may enjoy or connect with on Oranges is Winterson is struggling with her identity in a Very Strict Christian household, so that dynamic is interesting.

[@RickMacDonnell]

Ooooooh that’s great to know. Damn. Moving toward the top of the list…

[@chocolatechristie]

Thanks for sharing this experience and list, Rick. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on these books. It's good to have you back!

[@irenemax3574]

The Accidental Tourist is excellent. Other books by Anne Tyler are worth reading also. Oranges is the only Winterson book I enjoyed, though I have enjoyed reading a very funny essay about Winterson.

[@robertkramp4426]

Call me curious, here, Rick: but it being some time since you posted this, how did the list work out? I’ve added Less and You Think It, I’ll Say It to my list. Currently a voracious Audible fan (about a 12-15 hour book a week) due to my commute and travel schedule, but honestly crave and miss the days of hard copy reading. I am approaching my 55.5 birthday and plan to hang up the shingle 13 mos from now and have every intention of picking up that delicious habit. (Our decorator is presently designing/planning what to do with this large bay window to make it a reading nook). SO, needless to say, deeply curious if these suggested readings had an influence, surprising or profound or just a gee whiz, who would have thought? Side bar: I recently re-read The End of the Affair purely based on your review, that I just happened to have stumbled upon about a month ago. Loved it - and only because I could understand it so much better based on the insight you had provided.

[@erindillman]

Im not sure if youve read it yet but The Art of Loving is the perfect reflectio on relationships, one with yourself your family, friends, strangers. Leading with love and understanding why most people dont/cant! Ill be interested to see what you think of the books selected

[@RickMacDonnell]

I haven’t read Fromm’s book yet but I will definitely get to it now! Always appreciate our chats about this stuff, so I’ll take this rec to heart 😊

[@bookishmelody]

What an interesting concept; thanks for sharing!

[@julianareads]

Not me peeping The Bee Sting the background. :) This is such an interesting idea, and I love the parameters you set (especially focusing on backlist books). Winterson is a fantastic writer, and also explores themes of religion and spirituality from being raised in a pretty extreme household. I think you'll like her. Anne Tyler is on my list too, and you've got me totally intrigued by The Love Makers and Hummingbird. I love how under-the-radar most of these titles were! Can't wait to hear the results. And the speed with which I clicked on a new video from you should be studied. Seriously, so glad you're back!

[@RickMacDonnell]

Have you read The Bee Sting yet? I’m about 400 pages in and I’m so shocked at how I find the book susprisingly … meh. Still holding out hope but thus far I am underwhelmed. Heartbreaking! Lol Winterson is going to the top of the list thanks to this religion element. That’ll hit me so hard 😂 Tyler is probably going to be my first pick. A nice easy one out of the gate.

[@julianareads]

@RickMacDonnell I'm still waiting for my copy! That's disappointing. I wasn't piqued by his last book, but this one sounded like it checked a lot of the right boxes. I just keep hoping one will hit me the same way Skippy did. Good luck with this project! You might have inspired me to give it a try. 😅 I'll keep you posted if I go through with it!

[@RickMacDonnell]

@@julianareads My issues with The Bee Sting are almost exclusively with narrative voice. Some of the choices aren’t jiving with me but you may have no problems at all. Crossing my fingers for you.

[@CharliGirlMusic]

Looking forward to seeing the outcome of this, interesting!

[@EveningReader]

I've read You Think It, I'll Say It (I love Curtis Sittenfeld's writing), The Accidental Tourist (great), Less (good), Ivan Ilyich (in school...I should go back and read it again). Gosh, I remember that Celestine Prophecy book being everywhere in the early 90s and I did read parts of it. I think it was mostly banal. I'm not religious at all, but I do love Thomas Merton, especially No Man Is an Island and Seeds of Contemplation (although if you grew up Catholic, you probably already know/read these).

[@SupposedlyFun]

This sounds like a really fun service!

[@sandra7319.]

Okay, I'm catching up on videos (1) I just read the Death of Ivan Illich....it's gonna smack you in the face based on what you said. (2) I have read more Anne Tyler than any other author...I have a bunch of pocket paperbacks by her. She's reads very easily but time slows down in her books. The Accidental Tourist is fantastic and the movie with William Hurt and Geena Davis is even better and makes me tear up 😢; (3) not that you asked me but I would have recommend (on sex and sexuality) Becoming A Man by Paul Monette - I never hear anyone talk about this National Book award winner. He literally looks like he could be your brother on the cover if the paperback..It's a memoir published in '92 about the his first 29 years as a closeted man (socially) but not necessarily sexually....it is so real and true...said by a straight female....he later died in the Aids epidemic. I hope you keep us up on these books as you read them.

[@frannook]

This was so interesting. I can totally relate to the existential crisis every time my brain thinks of death and the whole concept of it and what it entails - and unfortunately it happens often. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on these books!

[@RickMacDonnell]

There’s a lot of fun stuff to dive into with the list, I agree! If even half of it pans out I’ll be happy

[@sarahmcdonough7713]

Very interested by the hummingbird recommendation. I hope you'll talk about it when you'll read it so I can see if I also want to add it to my tbr lol.

[@RickMacDonnell]

I plan to talk about all of these as I go along 😊 so stay tuned!

[@dqan7372]

Will be interesting to hear your thoughts. Like you, I've only read the Tolstoy, though I own a couple others. I'd be inclined to start with The Love Makers or Celestine. They sound the most 'out there', and the latter the least promising. They might shake up my thinking more, even if I end up rejecting it all. (The protagonist in Celestine is middle aged, so maybe that played a part in the choice.) Then I might start sprinkling in a Sittenfeld before getting into the others that seem more conventional.

[@RickMacDonnell]

I feel like I can’t really go wrong with where I start. Which is ironically preventing me from starting 😂

[@jasonmd1420]

Well, I know this is not what the purpose of the video was and I am very likely being highly narcissistic here, but I couldn't get the idea out of my head and have spent half a day involuntarily recommending books to you in my head. I might as well write them here at this point. Comedy Sex God by Pete Holmes. Ok, a book by a comedian. But it talks about being raised catholic, drifting away from such ideas while still maintaining some form of spirituality. It is about, as the title suggest, comedy, sex and god (in a not exclusively Christian sense of the word). I listened to the audiobook, manages to be easy and light while never being frivolous. Intimacy by Hanif Kureishi. Perhaps the side of ageing that interests you less (looking back), but I found it a frank if unpleasant look at a character dealing with age/his past. Similar to (but not as good as) Disgrace by J M Coetzee, but I know you already read that! Ties by Domenico Starnone. A family of four are broken up by the actions of one, as they navigate their relationships and what different actions mean. My main reason for recommending this is: it is similar to The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi, but much much better. The Elected Member by Bernice Ruebens. Going for family theme again. I'm not sure what you look for in the family dynamics, but what I found this novel did so well was show how a family can fall apart not because of evil members or hatred, but how too much love can damage them. Sort of opposite to the Starnone, but both good books. I think those would be my top recommendations, as secondary suggestions I would add: Politics by Adam Thirlwell Dysfunctional Males by Fernando Sdrigotti I'd rather leave it at that than force a longer list: better have a confident shortlist than a half-hearted longlist!

[@readandre-read]

This is interesting and makes me think about books I would recommend on those themes. From your list I have read: You Think It, I'll Say It The Accidental Tourist Less Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

[@RickMacDonnell]

Do you have a favourite of the four?

[@readandre-read]

​@@RickMacDonnell I loved The Accidental Tourist but I read it as a hot new release in the 80s so I can't guarantee that it holds up. I read Less more recently; it was funny and definitely about dealing (and avoiding dealing) with aging and relationship mistakes.

[@sorenkrane]

Wow 😲 looks like a great list

[@JessEsa90]

So interesting! I love the themes you chose. I’ve only read the Jeanette Winterson one because it was assigned at uni, and I enjoyed it (although I do wonder if it would hit differently now!). I’ll be eagerly awaiting your thoughts on the spiritual book, because I agree that they’re either life changing or shockingly bad 😂

[@RickMacDonnell]

Jess, I am not holding out much hope for that one 😂 But I’ll let you know if I think you should give the Winterson another go!

[@sarah-roadworthy]

The Magician is great. Yes, Mann's sexuality is present in this book, but I found the relationships in the family to be really fascinating. His wife and children are equally complex. Enjoy.

[@audreyapproved]

The only one I've read from this list is Less, which I liked but didn't find super memorable? I was taken aback when it won the Pulitzer Prize. I've heard of The Hummingbird because I was debating reading it as the Italy pick for a read-the-world challenge, but ended up choosing Ferrante instead. The rest I've never come across before!

[@RickMacDonnell]

Less always seemed like an unusual Pulitzer winner, I agree. Hummingbird was one of the pleasant surprises here, for me, I think. Very curious about that one.

[@vividgreenvegan9286]

Interesting. That makes me think of a book I read a while ago called The Secret, Book & Scone Society. In it there is a woman with a bookshop who is known for recommending people books as therapy. So basically what you are describing in this video. :)

[@angiejones5918]

The Anne Tyler books I've read👍 Ivan Ilych👍👍 Celestine Prophesy 👎 For spirituality in a lighter form, I'd recommended Braiding Sweetgrass or Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer. A scientist leans into her indigenous roots and the importance of simple acts to give back to nature, or, getting to be awestruck by moss - growing abundantly in the right conditions, which varies emensely, but fading quickly in the wrong places. The audio versions are very good too. I have read many books looking at spiritual topics but Wall Kimmerer's books go beyond nature writing. They are filled with meaningful lessons that quietly unfold.

[@RickMacDonnell]

This is such a great suggestion, Angie. Thank you!

[@rudy679]

What a coinkydink! I am also 37. I know it's not a competition but for the 8th time so I guess I win😁

[@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks]

Anne Tyler is a great writer. The Celestine Prophesy struck me as quite lame. Good luck on this adventure.

[@RickMacDonnell]

This is my exact feeling lol

[@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks]

For spiritual reading i can highly recommend The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris.

[@judybrown1624]

Booktube spin 😂

[@RickMacDonnell]

It’s coming 😉

[@judybrown1624]

@@RickMacDonnell I meant that's how you could choose which of the 9 to read next. 1🤓

[@RickMacDonnell]

@@judybrown1624 ha! Great point 😂

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

You know Booktube would have provided you with a list of books to help , for free. Those I’ve read? Less Oranges are Not the Only Fruit For Spirituality I’d have recommended Anam Cara ( hearts friend)

[@RickMacDonnell]

Anam Cara was a life changing book for my wife. I’m sure I’ll read it also. I love John O’Donohue.

[@castillomark]

For Aging and life choices: STONER by John Edward Williams

[@TheBookBully]

Such an interesting experience and I'm so glad you did it so I don't have to :) Very much awaiting your review of these, especially the short story collection and The Love Makers. And Winterson, of course. The thing you may enjoy or connect with on Oranges is Winterson is struggling with her identity in a Very Strict Christian household, so that dynamic is interesting.

[@RickMacDonnell]

Winterson is shooting up the list and FAST.