Books That Have Made Me Happy | October 2021

[@stittnancy1700]

The Boy, the Mole, The Fox and the Horse brings me joy. It is an inspirational book full of little lessons and lovely illustrations.

[@CosyMidlifeBookNook]

Such a gorgeous book, helps me so much when I am highly anxious and I can't retreat into my books.

[@gillian6530]

Matching shirt and don't forget the cushions in the background.

[@sheltercoordinator8387]

Two books that bring me great joy are the audiobook of "The Dutch House". It's narrated by Tom Hanks and listening to it is like a warm hug. The other one is "The House in the Cerulean Sea". I love this in either format--audiobook or physical book.

[@abookorten9319]

Oh I didn't know Tom Hanks had done the audio of The Dutch House - I loved that book, I may try the audio if I ever reread!

[@UKLeonie]

👌🏾As a Hanks fan I was super enthralled as his voice was magical, and to fair made me get through the story. Have you read his debut?

[@juliebigheartthompson3440]

That young folks are reading “Tales of the City” (as evidenced by your recommendation) makes my heart happy. Thank you for spreading the Maupin joy.

[@ShannonsChannel]

I have really bad anxiety as well and I love that you did this for mental health week.

[@jacqueshugo3784]

"Less" by Andrew Sean Greer is a deeply happy-making, lovely read! A rare reread for me earlier this year when I needed a pick-me-up.

[@cindyhaiken5644]

What a wonderful idea for mental health awareness day! Hooray for Nancy Mitford and for Miss Pettigrew! The Thursday Next series of books by Jasper Fforde have always brought me joy because they are so funny and so clever and meant to be read by book-lovers. And the best book I have read recently that focuses on mental health is Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason, which I definitely recommend.

[@miss_vix_reads9110]

Ooo I second that vote for Jasper Fforde ❤️ Thursday Next.

[@janedolman6691]

Jasper Fforde…. Love his books. So funny and so clever

[@lindakelly7430]

I adored Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day. Always cheers me up. Actually just thinking about it makes me smile!

[@hannahminx100]

Just what I needed this evening, thank you 🙏🏼 The Anne of Green Gables books give me joy, just thinking about them warms my heart 🥰🥰 Also, parp is one of my favourite words 👌👌😂

[@Book240]

This video made me happy. Added several to my list.

[@bookofdust]

The book I turn to again and again in the depths of my depression cycles is Franny & Zoey, as it shows a pathway out of that situation and reassures me that it can happen. Humor wise, it’s nonfiction essays from David Sedaris, Jenny Lawson and Samantha Irby. “Snowball was playing a dangerous game!”

[@Genitianadinarica]

Dead Djinn Universe series by P. Djeli Clark are a pure joy in the book form. I love the joyful alternate history, the characters are so much fun, and they're hilarious in places. There is nothing better than reading a book that seems written especially for you. On the other hand, I love a bit of Miss Marple on a rainy day in my soul. On the other other hand, there is a children's book author from my country who I always turn to when things are hard. Simon, have you tried Miss Bunkle's book? I can't explain it, but I always think about that one when I think about Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day. They're not similar at all but I had the same emotion when reading them.

[@Tinahgirl83]

Thank you for being a joy to watch. I really needed this today, as my fiancé’s father had to be taken to the ER today and my favorite cousin has been diagnosed with cancer. My anxiety and stress levels are through the roof, and your video brought me some peace. For books that bring me joy: anything by PG Wodehouse, the Miss Silver series by Patricia Wentworth, Radiance by Grace Draven, and my favorite Agatha Christie’s.

[@rebecca.reader]

I read The Hoarder earlier this year and loved it!!! So funny and heart warming!!

[@deanhill9370]

This channel is the best

[@stitchesinpink]

I am really missing your book hauls! They are always fabulous!!

[@kimswhims8435]

I knew Maupin would be really up there in your list! Alexander McCall Smith books have a real warmth and joy to them for me. Still Life was terrific too. Another one that you recommended a while ago, This Green and Pleasant Land by Ayisha Malik (2019), it was fabulous covered some issues in a really lovely way and was often a hoot! A couple of Aussie ones - There was still love by Favel Parrett and an older one The Household Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide. There's some terrific comedian memoirs too. 488 Rules for Life The Thankless Art of Being Correct and Burning Bridges and other Hobbies are Kitty Flanagan's hilarious offerings. William McInnes is another good one to look out for on audiobook.

[@galadriel101]

Anxious People is so worth reading. Deals with anxiety in many forms but also made me laugh out loud a lot x

[@SavidgeReads]

I’ll have to look it up. Thank you.

[@jillschroeder5553]

What a nice idea - thank you.

[@susanhaywardault3514]

Love all the Jack Sheffield books, nostalgia and chuckle's. If I close my eyes I can smell new crayola crayons 🖍.

[@emieloo76]

I also have a chronic illness and find that things like discussion groups or forums (which should be helpful) cause me so much anxiety. Instead of feeling less alone and more understood, I feel panicked and upset. The same is true of reading too much or too often about my illness.

[@unusualmagpie7030]

this is such a lovely video idea

[@janethansen9612]

Still Life was joyful, not overly deep but a lovely portrayal of family and friendships. I just finished Cloud Cuckoo Land which perhaps also fits this category. I very much enjoyed it. And it was another door stop of a book. Honestly this seems to be the year of big books!

[@UKLeonie]

1st let me say my 'joyful joyful' (Sister Act 2) books have a few extras newbies due to your channel, so thank you Simon 🐻.

[@SavidgeReads]

An absolute pleasure. Here’s to the joyful joyful. I must watch Sister Act 2 at some point. I only saw the first last year.

[@bookofdust]

Got to end before I posted my first comment, but in terms of chronic illness and anxiety, Jenny Lawson is phenomenal in doing it both with great humor and complete honesty and is a force of nature despite all the setbacks.

[@laughingallthetime8D]

this VIDEO is joyful

[@BrandonsBookshelf]

I need that first book. My whole friend group and family are so divided and its hard to find peace!

[@Ginanorth]

Thank you Simon. My happy books also include all the Tales of the City books; anything by David Nicholls; Love After Love; David Sedaris (reading). Mat Haig's books are powerful on mental health issues and wellbeing, and anything by Brene Brown plus her Netflix talk as a bonus because she's very funny. Happy reading 📚

[@alteriormotiveswithcarrie8546]

This is such a gift, thank you for making this list!

[@miss_vix_reads9110]

What a lovely video, thank you. I also adore the Tales from the City books and everything Nancy Mitford, I'm looking forward to a book of letters between Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh that I've got on my TBR. I visited the Persephone book shop in Bath this weekend but had no money to spend it was truly painful! I think I'll move the Maud West book up my TBR list. Still Life is my happy book of the year so far. 🧡💙 The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Armin was also a happy book for me this year. I use P G Wodehouse as a cheer up read particularly the Blandings books and also T.E Kingsley's Lady Hardcastle mystery series books are amusing bits of fluff.

[@CosyMidlifeBookNook]

I agree often books about anxiety can be triggering. I always go back to the Dalai Lama's Cat series when bad with my mental health. They are just gorgeous

[@SavidgeReads]

I haven’t heard of those I’ll look them up.

[@CosyMidlifeBookNook]

@@SavidgeReads the author David Michie is an ex Buddhist monk. The audio books are fab and read by him.

[@victoriaclark4913]

I love a good Agatha Christie...such pure joy. Try anything by Ruby Wax and her mindfulness books

[@jenisalwaysreading]

Aside from watching your videos if I need a little mental health pick-me up, I turn to two books: Tracks, by Robyn Davidson, and the Amelia Peabody Mystery Series (I'm counting this as one!). The first helps me put things into perspective and the second is just a warm, comforting hug of laughter and joy.

[@AthynVixen]

I'm joining you in #ArmisteadInAutumn and it's wonderful. I'd forgotten just how deliciously wacky some of the plotlines are.. I'm about to finish Babycakes.

[@penelopegough6050]

That’s a lovely list Simon. I love to read letters and essays: Virginia and Vita letters and Jhumpa Lahiri’s Whereabouts but my favourite for all time are the letters between the Duchess of Devonshire and Patrick Leigh Fermor, In Tearing Haste. . They are perennially delightful and always made me laugh and feel cheerful.

[@steelcutoaths3033]

I know the anxiety struggles all too well! I hope you're in a more calm period now :)

[@lizknope2156]

I really loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and find that’s my comfort, pick me up read. Similar themes likes found family and characters who are individual and fabulously so. Just finished Still Life and it’s definitely one of my favourites of the year. Fell in love with Evelyn and co and found myself wishing I was sitting outside an Italian cafe with them all

[@ScullyPop]

You have one of the best libraries.

[@amandainoak]

I know people will probably have mentioned The House in the Cerulean Sea BUT it really was a very bright spot for me in 2020. Other books that really make me smile are Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner, Far From the Tree by Robin Benway, and The Truth As Told By Mason Buttle by Leslie O'Connor.

[@QuickBookReviewsPodcast]

The Miseducation of Evie Epworth is my happy place. I’ve just started “Anxiety is your super power” as I’m interested in reading something positive about it for once!

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

The Anne of Green Gables series is my ultimate comfort read 💞 I also find Agatha Christie (and other Golden Age crime fiction) strangely comforting.

[@kdonaldson7308]

Great Video - I don’t get anxious really so I cannot advice but I think one of the best books about mental health struggles that is not too depressing is Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson it’s the continuing biography of Jenny but I read just the second and hugely enjoyed it without needing to read the first and really helped me with my empathy and understanding of some mental health struggles

[@Georgesmomsu]

Your videos always make me happy. Although I usually read murder, one of the books that always makes me happy is The Power of One by Bryce Courtney. The audiobook is fabulous.

[@leeh4343]

Loved loved loved Gold - haven’t heard of anyone else reading it until now 😊 also Finnish Literature Day on the 10th 😊

[@SavidgeReads]

Can you believe a coffee shop was giving copies of Gold away. It’s how myself and a few of my friends got copies and we all LOVED it.

[@demi6275]

What a great idea for a video 😊

[@amena7387]

Hi Simon ! Watching your videos is one of my ways of being in a good mood! So thank you very much for your hard work. Otherwise there a book that cheers me up everytime I think about it, but it is in French (I live in Paris) . It is called "De quoi sont-ils vraiment morts?" by Jacques Deblauwe and Franck Ferrand. You can translate by "How did they really died?". The two journalists inestigate on how famous people who had made the French history have died in light of today's knowledge in medical science. It is very interesting because it shows us how the medecine was practiced in old days, and all that we owe to these practitioners and to their patients. It makes me grateful to live in our time. Looking forward to your new uploads!

[@amesforbooks1343]

If sarcastic humour works for you as it does for me (I also deal with anxiety), I highly recommend any fiction by Douglas Adams if you need a giggle/cheering up. I've also found the Fran Lebowitz Reader very LOL- worthy. Both oldies but goodies 😊

[@karenshann]

The Rosie Project made me laugh out loud

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh ok. I found that book… underwhelming but I know loads of people loved it.

[@novellenovels]

Sooo many great books.. I will recommend you get Charles Heathcote’s our Doris books as they always make me smile and what’s best is he is a fellow Booktuber. His books make me laugh all the time. Matt haigs books are great on anxiety 🤗😍

[@alib8186]

I’ve just finished Richard Osman’s ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ and found it a lovely, cosy, uplifting read 😃

[@pippavanel4170]

Would love a video on mental stuff, but not if it would be upsetting to so. I also don't read about illness because it flips my lid, despite people often trying to force it! A book I recently listened to in audible (free in plus catalogue ATM) mindfulness, bliss and beyond by ajahn Bram - it's Buddhist but I don't subscribe to any religious group - just borrow ideas I like like.. a magpie or squirrel! He also has some pretty chilling youtube talks :) hope you (anyone reading) have a good day :)

[@wheresmybook6507]

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is one of my all time fav happy/comfort reads. There’s an audiobook read by Frances McDormand that I listen to to fall asleep when I’m really stressed out. A Still Life is a new joy read (thank you!). I am always looking for something that will hit the spot of MPLFAD but so far no luck though agree with commenter below that Miss Buncle’s Book is close in tone and lovely. In the meantime things that make me happy: The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill, The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (warning… swords AND cape action), The MurderBot Diaries series by Martha Wells (He’s snarky, swear-y, socially awkward and just wants to be left alone to watch tv but people keep needing saving), Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (the O. G. comfort read) and anything by Georgette Heyer ( you have to get past the cousins stuff plus people never “exclaim” instead they “ejaculate” which is … awkward) and ALL the Lord Peter Whimsey books by Dorothy L. Sayers. Oh… and The House on the Cerulean Sea is delightful. I read it on Xmas day this year and it was perfect!

[@leannepeacock1337]

Have you read Jessica Fellowes Mitford Murder series, I love them. X

[@miaarndt9501]

I don’t seem to read a lot of happy books either 😂 but I just finished The Guncle if you haven’t read it - it’s very sweet and brought me joy

[@carolcox9443]

Yes, me too! Quite lovely 😀

[@ametrinemoon]

Most dogs about doggos as a lot of them are dogs who have had a bad life then come to the recent family and live life to the full. Oh there is a cat one for you....Casper the Commuting Cat by Susan Finden and Dewey the Small Town Library cat by Vicki Myron.

[@aijagusare4709]

I can't recommend enough the satirical novel "The Twelve Chairs" by Ilf and Petrov. Its absolute classics in the Eastern Europe.

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooooh I shall look it up. Thank you.

[@aijagusare4709]

@@SavidgeReads Sorry, I posted this comment before you asked to share books which made us happy. This book promises a good laugh, but definitely doesn't help against anxiety. It just makes one forget about his anxiety for a moment :)

[@susprime7018]

Barry, Hiassen and Dorsey Florida books.

[@CosyMidlifeBookNook]

I have anxiety and depression and I highly recommend these Furiously Happy, Let's Pretend This Never Happened and Broken by the amazing funny and honest Jenny Lawson.

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh I’ll look these up.