A reading list for the broken-hearted

[Leah]

I found this rather charming post on HuffPo of readings for the broken-hearted and it seemed like a natural thing to share with the GFY book club, lovers of, among other genres, romantical problems set during wartime. I feel like there's no shortage of lists of songs or movies in this vein, but a reading list--now that's brilliant! If anyone has any suggestions to add, I hope they'll share them here. I really have enjoyed the various other threads you all are commenting on!

[Alicia]

Cookbooks I agree with!

Fortunately I haven't had my heart broken in about 10 years - and if he breaks my heart at this point the whole murder trial I will be going through might put me off reading. But when I am broken-hearted, I retreat to comfort reading. Laura Ingalls Wilder, CS Lewis, JK Rowling, Susan Cooper.

[Janine]

Alicia wrote: "Cookbooks I agree with!

Fortunately I haven't had my heart broken in about 10 years - and if he breaks my heart at this point the whole murder trial I will be going through might put me off readin..."

I'd agree with the comfort reads, Harry Potter would be on top of the list. Or something fantastical so you don't have to think about the real world for a while :)

[Bonnie G.]

It has been a good long time since I was broken-hearted but as I recall for me it has always been more about the music than the written word. The last time I can remember wallowing it was all about Mike Doughty's I Hear the Bells, Lou Reed's Berlin, Nick Drake's Pink Moon, Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart, and everything Leonard Cohen has ever written. To the extent I do read when I am sad it is about my favorite writers, Phillip Roth, Dickens, Graham Green, Alice Munro, Jane Austen, John Cheever, Fitzgerald. Totally familiar and immersive.

[Amy]

It's also been a long time since I've been broken-hearted (at least in the romantic way), but I always went to my "go-to" book, "Heartburn," by Nora Ephron. Actually, anything by Nora would probably do the trick, her books being both hilarious and comforting by each measure. I was always such a fan of her writing; her movies left me cold, for some reason. How I miss her!

[Lori]

Currently somewhat broken-hearted (not romantically; I have a sick cat who had emergency surgery and it turns out she has cancer), so I'm re-reading Pride and Prejudice. I love that book so much that it's just comforting to read when I'm sad.

[Bonnie G.]

Lori wrote: "Currently somewhat broken-hearted (not romantically; I have a sick cat who had emergency surgery and it turns out she has cancer), so I'm re-reading Pride and Prejudice. I love that book so much th..."

So sorry Lori. Few things are more heartbreaking than a seriously ill pet. I was all about historical romance when we lost our 15 year old schipperke last November. Elizabeth Holt, Julie Anne Long, that sort of thing. It helped. Now we have a puppy and I need to read things that calm me when I find the latest thing she has destroyed.

[Lori]

Aw, thanks Bonnie. I'm hoping I get more time with her, but she's 15. I'm not sure how long she'll hang in there.

I might have to read some historical romance; I think I might enjoy that.