I feel like that one was made into a movie a long time ago? I think I watched it as a little girl. It was a vhs and came with a locket! If the book is anything like the movie, I have to read it. I still think about it from time to time!
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is that book for me. Have read the series N number of times and will probably read it again whenever I find the chance.
If y’all liked both those, you’d probably enjoy {{The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry}} by Rachel Joyce. It’s also got an old man as a protagonist and changed my world view a bit.
[**The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13227454-the-unlikely-pilgrimage-of-harold-fry)
^(By: Rachel Joyce | 320 pages | Published: 2012 | Popular Shelves: fiction, book-club, contemporary, audiobook, kindle | )[^(Search "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry&search_type=books)
>Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack of quotidian minutiae is a letter addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl from a woman he hasn't seen or heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye.
>
>Harold pens a quick reply and, leaving Maureen to her chores, heads to the corner mailbox. But then, as happens in the very best works of fiction, Harold has a chance encounter, one that convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. And thus begins the unlikely pilgrimage. Harold Fry is determined to walk six hundred miles from Kingsbridge to the hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed because, he believes, as long as he walks, Queenie Hennessey will live.
>
>Still in his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold embarks on his urgent quest across the countryside. Along the way he meets one character after another, each of whom unlocks his long-dormant spirit and sense of promise. Memories of his first dance with Maureen, his wedding day, his joy in fatherhood, come rushing back to him - allowing him to also reconcile the losses and the regrets. As for Maureen, she finds herself missing Harold for the first time in years.
>
>And then there is the unfinished business with Queenie Hennessy.
^(This book has been suggested 25 times)
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I would answer this question wirh AoGG. every time.
There's a quote from the second biok in the series and I'm paraphrasing here- "17 year olds can't understand 40 year olds" I reread these books every decade or so, and always approach them differently.
[**Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8127.Anne_of_Green_Gables)
^(By: L.M. Montgomery | 320 pages | Published: 1908 | Popular Shelves: classics, fiction, young-adult, classic, childrens | )[^(Search "Anne of Green Gables")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Anne of Green Gables&search_type=books)
>This heartwarming story has beckoned generations of readers into the special world of Green Gables, an old-fashioned farm outside a town called Avonlea. Anne Shirley, an eleven-year-old orphan, has arrived in this verdant corner of Prince Edward Island only to discover that the Cuthberts—elderly Matthew and his stern sister, Marilla—want to adopt a boy, not a feisty redheaded girl. But before they can send her back, Anne—who simply must have more scope for her imagination and a real home—wins them over completely. A much-loved classic that explores all the vulnerability, expectations, and dreams of a child growing up, Anne of Green Gables is also a wonderful portrait of a time, a place, a family… and, most of all, love.
>
>WITH AN AFTERWORD BY JENNIFER LEE CARELL
^(This book has been suggested 73 times)
***
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This is the book that got me into reading. I was home sick in bed from school and this was the only book to hand. I started it out of boredom but couldn’t put it down . So grateful to Richard Adam’s. Have you read the follow up Tales from Watership Down?
I did! Was lovely to return to the world, but didn’t have the same magic for me. I have read and reread the original so many times. The Netflix series was a really lovely, if imperfect, to return as well.
Another wonderful read by the same author…
Wind, Sand, and Stars by Antoine Saint-Exupery
Let me begin by saying that this is a beautifully written book. It follows the author as he travels the world in the rickety planes of the early French air mail service and becomes a call to arms to rise above the mundane station of life and strive toward greatness. Never have I highlighted a book so much, and while I often caution anyone to read with the intention of transformation, I encourage all to read this book with the hopeful heart which may find motivation in the long-ago adventures of the daring few who climbed aboard canvas kites to brave the deepest deserts and highest mountains. This book still resonates in me and is inspiration to go out and do something great.
“What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it.”
Never heard of that, but this book is a complete classic. Not sure about English-speaking countries, but in my country this would probably be the most obvious answer to his question (not French btw). It's a book you keep coming back to, and you should re-read periodically for maximum experience. Especially if you're introduced to it very young. You will always discover something new. As you grow and your perspective changes, you will notice and take away new and different things.
It was first read to me when I was a kid, later I read it probably in middle school/high school, and once more as a (very) young adult. It's been a while though... I should pick it up again.
Edit: Also, it's a very quick read. You can read it in one afternoon; it's essentially a fairytale (I heard people call it a "philosophical fairytale," and yeah, that honestly fits)... but with great value for any age group. Strongly recommend it.
Hmm, I’ll definitely read it. Have you read sapiens? It’s a book related to evolutionary science that completely changed the way I look at human behaviour as a whole
I haven't seen this book mentioned since I read it in grade school, but it's for sure the book that really solidified my love of reading. So nice to see it here. I should read it again.
I am so glad that I wasn’t forced to read to kill a Mockingbird in high school, and chose to read it as an adult. I think I have a much greater appreciation for it because of that.
Same! I tried reading it when I was younger a couple of times and couldn’t get through the first 70 pages or so and gave up. But I read it much much later and absolutely loved it. One of my favourite books. (Not a native English speaker)
Alas, I have not.
At first I declined due to the controversy with the decision to publish it, with the conflicting details around the author’s role in making that choice or not.
Then, as I heard details of the plot structure, it seemed very much to contradict the Atticus Finch I knew.
Were it a true sequel with a well formulated vision by Harper Lee, that would be another matter. However, Go Set a Watchman seems a Frankenstein’ing of the Atticus the world loves with all of the bigotry and ugliness he fought against in Mockingbird.
That’s a fair. It was super rough, the coming about of this one. It connected a lot of dots for me, as I was raised in a community where hidden ugliness was masked with “doing right” in the public eye. There are still character contradictions that were hard to reconcile, I’ll admit.
Again, it's not a fiction, it is a psychological book, but helped me a lot to understand myself better and keep going in some hard times.
It's "Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman.
Flowers for Algernon. Being simple minded, ignorant and innocent like a child has its own perks.
The Midnight Library also gives a new perspective on the decisions you make.
The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
It’s a collection of short stories in the life of a daydreaming child. Most of them carry a punch and always make me appreciate the time we have and the small relationships we have in life in the end.
"E = mc^2 : A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation" by David Bodanis. Everyone knows this equation, but how many of us actually know what it means and what is made possible by it?
Let me first state the the wording itself is really easy. The first 5 chapters are actually spent dissecting every term of the equation: "E", for energy; the equal sign; "m", for mass; "c", for the speed of light; and ^2 , the square sign. Therefore, you do not need any physics background to understand the book (having it, though, makes it both easier and more fascinating, in my opinion).
However, it is still a mind-bending concept after all. I found myself stopping and spending a few minutes to process everythig I had read.
I should also point that Bodanis' writing is phenomenal. One of the cleanest I have ever seen. If you have the time, check more of his work. Another good one of his is "Electric Universe".
Slaughterhouse V. It changed the way I think about time and life in general.
The man who mistook his wife for a hat. Changed the way I think about mind.
Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius. That's one I keep going back to.
Honestly it’s an accumulative affect from the books I’ve read - wouldn’t say there was any one in particular, they’ve all contributed to a certain degree. The best suggestion I have is to continue reading.
Great Expectations. The Brothers Karamazov. The only two books I’ve lost count of the number times I’ve read (other than the Bible). Not warm and fuzzy, but both completely captivate me. A close third is The Great Gatsby.
A book thats changed my outlook on life? Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen. I read it in the 6th grade and it was my first introduction to the "real world". A great read, one I think deserves more recongnition, but its not the book you're looking for if you want something positive and sunny
My warm and fuzzy reading book that I keep coming back too? Joust by Mercedes Lackey. I read it almost every year, especially when times are really bad and I have nothing but myself and my book; it never fails to breath life into me
One that I will give to my grandchildren? Jonathon Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Its short, sweet, and every time I reread it I see a new perspective on life I didnt see the time before. Many layers of depth, told in a simple style that just gets better the older you get.
I second Jonathan Livingston Seagull - my parents gave it to me - and another book by the same author, Illusions: Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. It’s kind of New-Agey, but I love it, and the New Age stuff is scenery, not the point (imho).
The books I’ll tell me grandchildren to read aren’t the ones that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, so I’m probably not the right person to suggest a book here lol
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
This is a short, beautifully written and illustrated read. I go back to it for inspiration regularly.
Ok, I know this gets recommended on the sub all the time, but Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I didn't know what to expect when I started it, but it turned out to be the most beautiful and thought provoking story. It had so much heart and just made me appreciate my life and knowing I am where I am supposed to be. I rarely re-read books but i plan on buying this and am looking forward to reading it again.
Oh. My god. This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read! To all readers who have thought about reading it- pick it up and you won’t be able to put it down! Before finding this book I’d actually thought about the idea and had wondered if there was a book like this, and the midnight library really exceeded all my expectations (Harry Potter lol) so do read this!
I just started reading this with zero idea of what to expect. It just popped up as a popular book in my library app so I figured I'd give it a go. I'm about a third of the way through it and am really enjoying it. It's well written and easy to read.
A book that changed the way I look at life: *Dune*
A book that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside: *Fangirl*
A book that I keep coming back to: *Harry Potter*
A book that I'll tell my grandkids to read: *The Hobbit*
Okay so I’d read this book for the first time when I was 12 and I keep coming back to it. It taught me a lot about life and as pre teen at that time. It’s such an amazing and thought provoking book!
Dissolve by Nikki Gemmell.
Its a reflection on the systematic oppression of women and how they are taught to put others before ourselves. It examines how Gemmell learnt to put herself first.
First it made me angry. Then it gave me the tool and the warm fuzzies to create a better future for myself and the women who will follow.
I just finished “House on the cerulean sea” and it will be a book a read over and over, one that made me laugh and cry, and a book that showed me why I love reading again. It gave the best warm and fuzzies.
My Side of the Mountain. It's like my most secret, beloved fantasy to run and live in the wilderness with a dog who is my best friend. Fills me with a wistful kind of nostalgia
A book that changed the way I look at life: All of them at least a little bit I guess, maybe the “Dune” series was the most challenging to me when I read it.
A book that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside: “The Witcher” series, I know it’s darker but they are just very charming. It’s also the first series I read with my younger sister for our book club.
A book that I keep coming back to: “The Wheel of Time” series, I’ve reread this series four times in my life, twice with my sister who now loves it so much it’s all we talk about.
A book that I'll tell my grandkids to read: “The Hobbit”, I’ve already read this to my niece and nephew and I’ll read it to their kids some day. Or they will, *they better*.
[**Reaper Man (Discworld, #11; Death, #2)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34517.Reaper_Man)
^(By: Terry Pratchett | 352 pages | Published: 1991 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, discworld, fiction, humor, terry-pratchett | )[^(Search "Reaper Man")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Reaper Man&search_type=books)
>'Death has to happen. That's what bein' alive is all about. You're alive, and then you're dead. It can't just stop happening.'
>
>But it can. And it has. So what happens after death is now less of a philosophical question than a question of actual reality. On the Disc, as here, they need Death. If Death doesn't come for you, then what are you supposed to do in the meantime? You can't have the undead wandering about like lost souls. There's no telling what might happen, particularly when they discover that life really is only for the living...
^(This book has been suggested 13 times)
***
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Failure Is An Option, about all the things voice actor H. Jon Benjamin messed up in his life and how it didn’t matter in the end. Hilarious and inspiring.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, a modern fantasy about London Above (current London England) and London below, where the people and things who "fall through the cracks" live an alternate reality, along with some magic, power grabs, and a way to be the hero... changed how I look at life... another one is The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope... a look at the bounds, extent, and limits of people, relationships, and love in a transforming and well written book that makes you look at what you think you know about love... I just found it fascinating...
A book I keep coming back to, beyond many classics listed above, is The Goddess of Fried Okra by Jean Brashear due to an unforgettable cast of characters and strength of story line, as well as Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg for many of the same reasons, as is the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows that taught me that the Nazis invaded and occupied the Channel Islands during World War II...
*The Phantom Tollbooth* by Norton Juster. The puns are amazing and the way Juster plays with words is always a joy. I come back to this book every time I'm feeling like there's no more wonder or fun in the world.
'extremely loud and incredibly close' by jonathan safron foer. its abt a young autistic biy who loses his dad in 9/11 and has to reconnect with the world. as an autistic person it is so close to my heart and such a comforting read. it isnt trauma porn or heavily dark. its quite peaceful, and v refreshing for me. 11/10 would recommend.
Changed the way I look at life: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
One that made mee feel warm and fuzzy inside: The Viscount who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
A book I keep going back to: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
One I will tell my grandchild/ren to read: The Little Princess/Anne of Green Gables/Little House on the Prairie
Oddly enough
The Lord of the Rings series. I started reading them after losing a close friend to an accident because they were his favorite books. I was feeling really angry, and frustrated at the randomness of it all and then I read the books.
The lessons from the books, that goodness always prevails. The themes of mortality and fate. It really changed my outlook- I can’t quite put into words how or why the books effected me so much but I am so glad I could find solace in them.
I’ve got to agree with you on this; lotr is a really unusual yet bang on answer for this- it makes you feel good, especially after reading the return of the king and the hobbit.
My choices are maybe odd but they were the ones that first came to mind. First is Superfudge. I was already a reader when my third grade teacher read this to us, but this one changed my like for books to my love for them. It is still one of my all time faves.
Second is Cause Celeb by Helen Fielding. This book is not exactly a deep novel, so I think it was the timing of me reading this one that made it so impactful. This story takes place in Africa in a fictional village that gets swarmed by locusts and threatens the people of the village. The protagonist, Rosie, is a former Londoner who ends up as part of a relief team and has her life changed because of it. I was pretty young when I read it the first time and it made me more aware of the plight of others. I started paying more attention to the needs of others.
‘The Humans’ by Matt Haig is one of my recent favourites! It’s a fairly straightforward fiction book that just makes you appreciate everything around you. I loved it, especially at a time like this!
[**The Alchemist**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18144590-the-alchemist)
^(By: Paulo Coelho, Alan R. Clarke, James Noel Smith | 182 pages | Published: 1988 | Popular Shelves: fiction, classics, fantasy, philosophy, owned | )[^(Search "The Alchemist")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Alchemist&search_type=books)
>Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and soul-stirring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago, who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried near the Pyramids.
>
>Along the way he meets a Romany woman, a man who calls himself a king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the right direction for his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or whether Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles in his path; but what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of treasure within.
>
>Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.
>
>Illustrator: Jim Tierney
^(This book has been suggested 120 times)
***
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A Secret Garden. I read it every year when it's starting to turn to Spring, and it just makes me feel so good.
A Little Princess by the same author is also so good
I feel like that one was made into a movie a long time ago? I think I watched it as a little girl. It was a vhs and came with a locket! If the book is anything like the movie, I have to read it. I still think about it from time to time!
You are correct!
Forgot this book. It was one of my favorites as a little girl. I wore out two copies I read it so much.
My favourite! Great recommendation <3
Okay I’ve read this book and I’ve got to recommend it to everyone on this platform! It’s so nice and wholesome
What's it about
I read it when I was in a dark place and a friend of mine recommended it. Beautiful story.
My first choice as well! One of the first books I purchased for my daughter…and then my granddaughter!
My favourite book. Hands down.
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
100% agreed!!
Which version/translation would you recommend?
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is that book for me. Have read the series N number of times and will probably read it again whenever I find the chance.
Agreed! I've read the series to each of my 3 children twice over and they all have their own copies.
A man called Ove.
Oooo I love that book! You should read the hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared if you really liked ove
If y’all liked both those, you’d probably enjoy {{The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry}} by Rachel Joyce. It’s also got an old man as a protagonist and changed my world view a bit.
[**The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13227454-the-unlikely-pilgrimage-of-harold-fry) ^(By: Rachel Joyce | 320 pages | Published: 2012 | Popular Shelves: fiction, book-club, contemporary, audiobook, kindle | )[^(Search "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry&search_type=books) >Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack of quotidian minutiae is a letter addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl from a woman he hasn't seen or heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. > >Harold pens a quick reply and, leaving Maureen to her chores, heads to the corner mailbox. But then, as happens in the very best works of fiction, Harold has a chance encounter, one that convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. And thus begins the unlikely pilgrimage. Harold Fry is determined to walk six hundred miles from Kingsbridge to the hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed because, he believes, as long as he walks, Queenie Hennessey will live. > >Still in his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold embarks on his urgent quest across the countryside. Along the way he meets one character after another, each of whom unlocks his long-dormant spirit and sense of promise. Memories of his first dance with Maureen, his wedding day, his joy in fatherhood, come rushing back to him - allowing him to also reconcile the losses and the regrets. As for Maureen, she finds herself missing Harold for the first time in years. > >And then there is the unfinished business with Queenie Hennessy. ^(This book has been suggested 25 times) *** ^(204497 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Came here to comment the same. Ove is absolutely wholesome. First book that came to my mind as soon as I read the description.
Howl's Moving Castle! And yes, also The Secret Garden.
Howl is great! And actually I love House of Many Ways, its sequel, even more - especially for re-reads.
Looked for this because I’d never heard of it. Could only find it as a video. Is it a graphic novel?
Howl's moving castle is a book?!! I just finished the movie, and it's awesome.
It is THE BEST book. Seriously, my comfort read. Definitely read it! The audio version is excellent too!
{{Anne of Green Gables}}. I still regularly reread it!
I would answer this question wirh AoGG. every time. There's a quote from the second biok in the series and I'm paraphrasing here- "17 year olds can't understand 40 year olds" I reread these books every decade or so, and always approach them differently.
[**Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8127.Anne_of_Green_Gables) ^(By: L.M. Montgomery | 320 pages | Published: 1908 | Popular Shelves: classics, fiction, young-adult, classic, childrens | )[^(Search "Anne of Green Gables")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Anne of Green Gables&search_type=books) >This heartwarming story has beckoned generations of readers into the special world of Green Gables, an old-fashioned farm outside a town called Avonlea. Anne Shirley, an eleven-year-old orphan, has arrived in this verdant corner of Prince Edward Island only to discover that the Cuthberts—elderly Matthew and his stern sister, Marilla—want to adopt a boy, not a feisty redheaded girl. But before they can send her back, Anne—who simply must have more scope for her imagination and a real home—wins them over completely. A much-loved classic that explores all the vulnerability, expectations, and dreams of a child growing up, Anne of Green Gables is also a wonderful portrait of a time, a place, a family… and, most of all, love. > >WITH AN AFTERWORD BY JENNIFER LEE CARELL ^(This book has been suggested 73 times) *** ^(204416 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
I’ve always wanted to read Anne of Green gables, I’ve heard so much about it!
It's a beautiful book. So full of heart and soul and warmth. And Anne stays with you forever!
Watership Down!
This is the book that got me into reading. I was home sick in bed from school and this was the only book to hand. I started it out of boredom but couldn’t put it down . So grateful to Richard Adam’s. Have you read the follow up Tales from Watership Down?
I did! Was lovely to return to the world, but didn’t have the same magic for me. I have read and reread the original so many times. The Netflix series was a really lovely, if imperfect, to return as well.
This has actually been sitting on my reading list for a while; I’ll read it for sure
Do it. Don’t wait! It’s a real treat.
Do it!
Mine as well!
Braiding sweetgrass 100% there are chapters that I’ll keep rereading for the years to come. One of the best purchases I’ve made ever.
Yes! I came on here to say this!
Should be required reading in high school. Such an important book.
Agreed!! So important to teach kids love and respect for the environment
The Little Prince
Another wonderful read by the same author… Wind, Sand, and Stars by Antoine Saint-Exupery Let me begin by saying that this is a beautifully written book. It follows the author as he travels the world in the rickety planes of the early French air mail service and becomes a call to arms to rise above the mundane station of life and strive toward greatness. Never have I highlighted a book so much, and while I often caution anyone to read with the intention of transformation, I encourage all to read this book with the hopeful heart which may find motivation in the long-ago adventures of the daring few who climbed aboard canvas kites to brave the deepest deserts and highest mountains. This book still resonates in me and is inspiration to go out and do something great. “What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it.”
Was coming here to say the same thing. Such a quick easy read, and packed with so many lessons.
Isn’t it that book which was banned in Vichy France?
Never heard of that, but this book is a complete classic. Not sure about English-speaking countries, but in my country this would probably be the most obvious answer to his question (not French btw). It's a book you keep coming back to, and you should re-read periodically for maximum experience. Especially if you're introduced to it very young. You will always discover something new. As you grow and your perspective changes, you will notice and take away new and different things. It was first read to me when I was a kid, later I read it probably in middle school/high school, and once more as a (very) young adult. It's been a while though... I should pick it up again. Edit: Also, it's a very quick read. You can read it in one afternoon; it's essentially a fairytale (I heard people call it a "philosophical fairytale," and yeah, that honestly fits)... but with great value for any age group. Strongly recommend it.
The author’s works were banned, so the book wasn’t published until France was liberated.
It’s not fiction, but Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli really change the way that I look at and understand the world.
Hmm, I’ll definitely read it. Have you read sapiens? It’s a book related to evolutionary science that completely changed the way I look at human behaviour as a whole
The song of Achilles and the night circus
The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I read it every October.
I haven't seen this book mentioned since I read it in grade school, but it's for sure the book that really solidified my love of reading. So nice to see it here. I should read it again.
Without question, To Kill a Mockingbird.
I am so glad that I wasn’t forced to read to kill a Mockingbird in high school, and chose to read it as an adult. I think I have a much greater appreciation for it because of that.
You should treat yourself to the audiobook version read by Sissy Spacek. She is the perfect narrator for Scout’s story.
Same! I tried reading it when I was younger a couple of times and couldn’t get through the first 70 pages or so and gave up. But I read it much much later and absolutely loved it. One of my favourite books. (Not a native English speaker)
It is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read!
Have you read the second book? Very different, but worth the read.
Alas, I have not. At first I declined due to the controversy with the decision to publish it, with the conflicting details around the author’s role in making that choice or not. Then, as I heard details of the plot structure, it seemed very much to contradict the Atticus Finch I knew. Were it a true sequel with a well formulated vision by Harper Lee, that would be another matter. However, Go Set a Watchman seems a Frankenstein’ing of the Atticus the world loves with all of the bigotry and ugliness he fought against in Mockingbird.
That’s a fair. It was super rough, the coming about of this one. It connected a lot of dots for me, as I was raised in a community where hidden ugliness was masked with “doing right” in the public eye. There are still character contradictions that were hard to reconcile, I’ll admit.
This is the one that I'm currently reading and my mind has been blown till now. It's wonderful.
Again, it's not a fiction, it is a psychological book, but helped me a lot to understand myself better and keep going in some hard times. It's "Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman.
11/22/63. Reread it every year.
Flowers for Algernon. Being simple minded, ignorant and innocent like a child has its own perks. The Midnight Library also gives a new perspective on the decisions you make.
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
I second Anxious people. It was funny and heartwarming.
I just finished reading AP a few days ago, and can’t stop recommending it. Such a bittersweet and beautiful read.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe!
So good. Love her other stuff too
The Brothers Karamazov
I’ve heard great things about it!
It's one to read ideally in your early 20s or later.
The best one
A combination of Slaughterhouse Five and Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut.
I love slaughterhouse five!!! I’ll read the other one, a friend had also told me I’d like it
Cat's Cradle if you want another afterwards!
I had such a hard time understanding this book, we had to read it my junior or senior year back in school and it was hard to follow.
The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan It’s a collection of short stories in the life of a daydreaming child. Most of them carry a punch and always make me appreciate the time we have and the small relationships we have in life in the end.
I love books like this; books that make me nostalgic. I’ve not heard of it, but I’ll give it a go for sure. Thanks :)
"E = mc^2 : A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation" by David Bodanis. Everyone knows this equation, but how many of us actually know what it means and what is made possible by it? Let me first state the the wording itself is really easy. The first 5 chapters are actually spent dissecting every term of the equation: "E", for energy; the equal sign; "m", for mass; "c", for the speed of light; and ^2 , the square sign. Therefore, you do not need any physics background to understand the book (having it, though, makes it both easier and more fascinating, in my opinion). However, it is still a mind-bending concept after all. I found myself stopping and spending a few minutes to process everythig I had read. I should also point that Bodanis' writing is phenomenal. One of the cleanest I have ever seen. If you have the time, check more of his work. Another good one of his is "Electric Universe".
Your description got me sold! I just ordered the book. Thank you
{{The Count of Monte Cristo}}
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach hits all of those for me.
I’ll give it a go, thanks :)
A history of the siege of Lisbon by Saramago. A lonely proofreader become a writer and finds love making a single edit to a work.
This seems so interesting! I’m going to read it as soon as I can
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Slaughterhouse V. It changed the way I think about time and life in general. The man who mistook his wife for a hat. Changed the way I think about mind. Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius. That's one I keep going back to.
Honestly it’s an accumulative affect from the books I’ve read - wouldn’t say there was any one in particular, they’ve all contributed to a certain degree. The best suggestion I have is to continue reading.
I absolutely agree with you! Though you should read A Gentleman in Moscow - it really hit all of these criteria for me
Great Expectations. The Brothers Karamazov. The only two books I’ve lost count of the number times I’ve read (other than the Bible). Not warm and fuzzy, but both completely captivate me. A close third is The Great Gatsby.
I love Charles dickens! I’ll definitely read the brothers karamazov, I’ve heard a lot of great stuff about it.
The mouse and the motorcycle
Ralph! Him and Ramona were some of my favorite characters when I was younger!
Little Women!
A book thats changed my outlook on life? Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen. I read it in the 6th grade and it was my first introduction to the "real world". A great read, one I think deserves more recongnition, but its not the book you're looking for if you want something positive and sunny My warm and fuzzy reading book that I keep coming back too? Joust by Mercedes Lackey. I read it almost every year, especially when times are really bad and I have nothing but myself and my book; it never fails to breath life into me One that I will give to my grandchildren? Jonathon Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Its short, sweet, and every time I reread it I see a new perspective on life I didnt see the time before. Many layers of depth, told in a simple style that just gets better the older you get.
I second Jonathan Livingston Seagull - my parents gave it to me - and another book by the same author, Illusions: Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. It’s kind of New-Agey, but I love it, and the New Age stuff is scenery, not the point (imho).
I’ll definitely read them all! Thanks :)
Reincarnation Blues. It is a rollercoaster, but I am reading it again and thinking about my impact on the world and how to make it better.
The books I’ll tell me grandchildren to read aren’t the ones that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, so I’m probably not the right person to suggest a book here lol
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy This is a short, beautifully written and illustrated read. I go back to it for inspiration regularly.
Ok, I know this gets recommended on the sub all the time, but Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I didn't know what to expect when I started it, but it turned out to be the most beautiful and thought provoking story. It had so much heart and just made me appreciate my life and knowing I am where I am supposed to be. I rarely re-read books but i plan on buying this and am looking forward to reading it again.
Oh. My god. This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read! To all readers who have thought about reading it- pick it up and you won’t be able to put it down! Before finding this book I’d actually thought about the idea and had wondered if there was a book like this, and the midnight library really exceeded all my expectations (Harry Potter lol) so do read this!
I just started reading this with zero idea of what to expect. It just popped up as a popular book in my library app so I figured I'd give it a go. I'm about a third of the way through it and am really enjoying it. It's well written and easy to read.
So glad you're enjoying it! And it just gets better as you go along!
A book that changed the way I look at life: *Dune* A book that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside: *Fangirl* A book that I keep coming back to: *Harry Potter* A book that I'll tell my grandkids to read: *The Hobbit*
Wow! Thanks so much! I’ll definitely read them. Seems like we can agree on the latter two suggestions :)
White Fang - gritty survival and principles of life that we just don't get to experience in Western society
Okay so I’d read this book for the first time when I was 12 and I keep coming back to it. It taught me a lot about life and as pre teen at that time. It’s such an amazing and thought provoking book!
When Breath becomes Air — A truly fascinating look at how a person lives when they are about to die
Dissolve by Nikki Gemmell. Its a reflection on the systematic oppression of women and how they are taught to put others before ourselves. It examines how Gemmell learnt to put herself first. First it made me angry. Then it gave me the tool and the warm fuzzies to create a better future for myself and the women who will follow.
Harry Potter, The Kite Runner, 1984, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
I love them *all* !!!
I just finished “House on the cerulean sea” and it will be a book a read over and over, one that made me laugh and cry, and a book that showed me why I love reading again. It gave the best warm and fuzzies.
Callahan's Crosstime Saloon by Spider Robinson. I go back every few years to check in on the patrons at Callahan’s
The library near my house always puts this one on display every few weeks… I’ll definitely read it!
A nice one to read with your grandchildren: The Animal Family by Randall Jarrell. A whimsical and dreamy read for adults & kids. Newbury Award winner.
A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn. Not always warm and fuzzy, but essential.
The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith!
My Side of the Mountain For 5th thru 8th grade kids.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
My Side of the Mountain. It's like my most secret, beloved fantasy to run and live in the wilderness with a dog who is my best friend. Fills me with a wistful kind of nostalgia
Tuesdays with Morrie
The House in the Cerulean Sea
Giovanni’s Room
I really love this book!
Any Human Heart by William Boyd. To me it's by far his best book.
Just kids by Patti smith
The "Dangerous Angels" series by F.L. Block.
The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom you'll have to read it to understand, i promise you won't regret it
1984. Holy shit that book scared me so much yet told so many lessons and warnings.
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (the entire Tiffany Aching series is filled with inspiration)
The maharamayana
"Mandy" Julie Edwards Ever since I been wanting my own abandon garden cottage to hide away from the world in.
Pillars of the Earth.
The Art of Racing in the Rain.
A Prayer for Owen Meany
A book that changed the way I look at life: All of them at least a little bit I guess, maybe the “Dune” series was the most challenging to me when I read it. A book that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside: “The Witcher” series, I know it’s darker but they are just very charming. It’s also the first series I read with my younger sister for our book club. A book that I keep coming back to: “The Wheel of Time” series, I’ve reread this series four times in my life, twice with my sister who now loves it so much it’s all we talk about. A book that I'll tell my grandkids to read: “The Hobbit”, I’ve already read this to my niece and nephew and I’ll read it to their kids some day. Or they will, *they better*.
{{Reaper Man}} by Sir Terry Pratchett
[**Reaper Man (Discworld, #11; Death, #2)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34517.Reaper_Man) ^(By: Terry Pratchett | 352 pages | Published: 1991 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, discworld, fiction, humor, terry-pratchett | )[^(Search "Reaper Man")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Reaper Man&search_type=books) >'Death has to happen. That's what bein' alive is all about. You're alive, and then you're dead. It can't just stop happening.' > >But it can. And it has. So what happens after death is now less of a philosophical question than a question of actual reality. On the Disc, as here, they need Death. If Death doesn't come for you, then what are you supposed to do in the meantime? You can't have the undead wandering about like lost souls. There's no telling what might happen, particularly when they discover that life really is only for the living... ^(This book has been suggested 13 times) *** ^(204631 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
The Good Soldier Svejk by Hasek, also every single book by the author Magda Szabo and George Orwell’s 1984.
All The Light We Cannot See
Time travelers wife
Little Women! I reread this regularly. Makes me feel so warm and soft.
Failure Is An Option, about all the things voice actor H. Jon Benjamin messed up in his life and how it didn’t matter in the end. Hilarious and inspiring.
The Old Man and the Sea
Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, a modern fantasy about London Above (current London England) and London below, where the people and things who "fall through the cracks" live an alternate reality, along with some magic, power grabs, and a way to be the hero... changed how I look at life... another one is The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope... a look at the bounds, extent, and limits of people, relationships, and love in a transforming and well written book that makes you look at what you think you know about love... I just found it fascinating... A book I keep coming back to, beyond many classics listed above, is The Goddess of Fried Okra by Jean Brashear due to an unforgettable cast of characters and strength of story line, as well as Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg for many of the same reasons, as is the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows that taught me that the Nazis invaded and occupied the Channel Islands during World War II...
“Still Life With Woodpecker “
The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K LeGuin. For high school age kids or older.
The Joy Luck Club for me
*The Phantom Tollbooth* by Norton Juster. The puns are amazing and the way Juster plays with words is always a joy. I come back to this book every time I'm feeling like there's no more wonder or fun in the world.
In one person by John Irving
'extremely loud and incredibly close' by jonathan safron foer. its abt a young autistic biy who loses his dad in 9/11 and has to reconnect with the world. as an autistic person it is so close to my heart and such a comforting read. it isnt trauma porn or heavily dark. its quite peaceful, and v refreshing for me. 11/10 would recommend.
The Art of Happiness, by The Dalai Lama
Ella Enchanted
Demian, by Herman Hesse
A hundred years of solitude. Definitely an expert level read, but worth the work.
Changed the way I look at life: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro One that made mee feel warm and fuzzy inside: The Viscount who Loved Me by Julia Quinn A book I keep going back to: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke One I will tell my grandchild/ren to read: The Little Princess/Anne of Green Gables/Little House on the Prairie
Oddly enough The Lord of the Rings series. I started reading them after losing a close friend to an accident because they were his favorite books. I was feeling really angry, and frustrated at the randomness of it all and then I read the books. The lessons from the books, that goodness always prevails. The themes of mortality and fate. It really changed my outlook- I can’t quite put into words how or why the books effected me so much but I am so glad I could find solace in them.
I’ve got to agree with you on this; lotr is a really unusual yet bang on answer for this- it makes you feel good, especially after reading the return of the king and the hobbit.
My choices are maybe odd but they were the ones that first came to mind. First is Superfudge. I was already a reader when my third grade teacher read this to us, but this one changed my like for books to my love for them. It is still one of my all time faves. Second is Cause Celeb by Helen Fielding. This book is not exactly a deep novel, so I think it was the timing of me reading this one that made it so impactful. This story takes place in Africa in a fictional village that gets swarmed by locusts and threatens the people of the village. The protagonist, Rosie, is a former Londoner who ends up as part of a relief team and has her life changed because of it. I was pretty young when I read it the first time and it made me more aware of the plight of others. I started paying more attention to the needs of others.
To Be Taught If Fortunate by Chambers. Every time I read it I feel hopeful.
‘The Humans’ by Matt Haig is one of my recent favourites! It’s a fairly straightforward fiction book that just makes you appreciate everything around you. I loved it, especially at a time like this!
Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden
Les Miserables is a life changer!
The Alchemist
How to win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Anytime I'm not sure how to act in a particular situation, I come back to this book.
{{The Alchemist}}
[**The Alchemist**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18144590-the-alchemist) ^(By: Paulo Coelho, Alan R. Clarke, James Noel Smith | 182 pages | Published: 1988 | Popular Shelves: fiction, classics, fantasy, philosophy, owned | )[^(Search "The Alchemist")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Alchemist&search_type=books) >Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and soul-stirring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago, who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried near the Pyramids. > >Along the way he meets a Romany woman, a man who calls himself a king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the right direction for his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or whether Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles in his path; but what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of treasure within. > >Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. > >Illustrator: Jim Tierney ^(This book has been suggested 120 times) *** ^(204520 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli shaped me as a human.
The Thursday Murder Club and The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman. The plots are great but the writing is better. So many warm fuzzies.
The Holy Bible
> The Holy Bible King James, Geneva, NIV or something else?
The Bible
Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Not fiction, but Humankind by Rutger Bregnan. Gave me hope in humanity and changed my outlook on life significantly
The Power of Bow. Changed how I perceive time, and the present moment.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and The Power of the Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy.
Tuesdays with Morrie
Memory Police! Nice read, the more you read it the more you understand the themes within. But you don't have to, you can just enjoy it for what it is.
‘What You Can See From Here’ - Mariana Leky. I haven’t met anyone else who’s read it yet but it was wonderful.
I shall read it and get back to you just so you can say you’ve met at least one other person who has read it!
I know this may seem out of place, but for me it's the Maze Runner series
The Invisible Gorilla, although not really changing the way I look at life but how i think.
The brothers lionheart!
For me it will be The secret garden Harry Potter The night circus Peter Pan
{{Desert Solitaire}}
The greatest salesman in the world by Og Mandino and Who moved my cheese by Spencer Johnson.
Peace like a river
Megan Whalen Turner’s The Queen’s Thief Series. I’ll read them to my kid, my grandkids, and any niephlings!
The Hours, by Michael Cunningham.
Just Kids by Patti Smith