Minnesota writer Sinclair Lewis’ “It Can’t Happen Here” may be on everyone’s lips these days, but is now really the time to read a dystopian novel about civilization collapsing?
May we suggest something with a little kindness and grace, instead, for a respite from the onslaught of terrible news? The following list includes picture books, middle-grade titles and novels intended for adults. All provide doses of empathy and joy:
“All That She Carried,” Tiya Miles
A book about a mother’s love that reverberates through centuries, “Carried” is Miles’ attempt to trace the history of a cotton sack that was found at a flea market in 2007 and subsequently displayed in museums. Miles writes about realizing there are details we can never know but also about an enslaved woman named Rose, who gave her young daughter Ashley the sack more than 150 years ago, filling it with treasured items to help her make her way in the world.
“Four Letters of Love,” Niall Williams
Irish writer Williams sometimes puts his characters through the wringer but always leads with kindness. That’s especially true in this character-rich book, where a breathtaking ending unites two people in a way that feels every bit as miraculous as love.
“House of Light,” Mary Oliver
There’s plenty of comfort to be found in Oliver’s poems, including her most famous, “The Summer Day,” which is collected here. That’s the one that ends with, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
