I may have asked for recommendations like this before but looking for some fresh takes.
I won’t go into my situation at the moment, I’ll just say it’s really bleak (seeing a psychologist in March).
I read 50 books last year but haven’t read at all in January, trying to get myself back on the horse.
Has anybody got any recommendations for this kind of headspace? I really don’t want something upbeat or escapist – I want something that’s written by somebody who seems to get what it’s like. I’m not looking for self help.
Books I’ve read in the past that feel like good examples would be Everyone In This Room Will Someday be Dead and My Year of Rest and Relaxation.
They’re darkly funny and relatable to me. They’re dry, easy to read and don’t require a lot of brain power or memory. They’re not overly sappy or optimistic and they’re not just escapism through fantasy or sci fi.
I’m fine with fantasy or sci fi as long as it meets the other requirements.
Thanks so much for the taking the time 🙏
by KingsBishop96
2 Comments
You might like The Bell Jar if you have not read it already. It is heavy, but it feels honest about that headspace without trying to fix it. Another one that felt similar to what you described for me was Convenience Store Woman. It is quiet, a bit dark in its own way, and easy to sit with without needing much emotional energy.
Frederik Backman books, but specifically A Man Called Ove, might be just what you’re looking for. A Man Called Ove, as well as one of his other books, Anxious People, manage to be both dry and witty, and also heartwarming. Trigger warning for suicide being a pretty prevalent topic in both, but both these books are about people struggling in all sorts of ways, and the ways their lives overlap. Would definitely recommend!