IN MY LAST NEWSLETTER, I wrote about what I called “the happiness problem”: readers often say they want uplifting books, but such volumes are in scant supply for a reason. Lengthy prose requires tension which requires complications; a happy reader may not prove to be a hooked reader.
I asked for your recommendations, and you’ve supplied them in spades. So much so that we’ve filled the first bookcase of the shop with your suggestions, under a big sign promising “Books to make you smile”. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
Read on for the full list, any of which you can pick up in the shop or order from our website with free UK delivery.
Read on, too, for details of our upcoming event with Michael Rosen, as well as the scoop on why we chose A Little Trickerie as August’s book of the month.
Books to make you smile
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THE LIDO by Libby Page
“My first port of call for ‘up lit’. There is one sad thing (that I can remember) but it is handled well and gently and the whole book is full of kindness.” — Claire
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MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY by Winnifred Watson
“A downtrodden governess goes for a job in error, and ends up as as an assistant to a flapper with a penchant for inappropriate men. She rises to the occasion and new opportunities with aplomb.” — Isabel
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RED CARPETS AND OTHER BANANA SKINS by Rupert Everett
“I was once told off on a beach in Majorca where I was reading it, as I was laughing so much, and so raucously. We love people (and authors) who make us laugh, don’t we? And he can really, really write. I re-read the book quite recently, and a friend commented ‘Is that your guilty pleasure?’ I had to put them right on that one. Pleasure? 100%. Guilty? Emphatically not.” — Kate
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STILL LIFE by Sarah Winman
“My go-to recommendation, in general, but particularly for an uplifting read. I passed it to my mum (notoriously hard to please), who passed it to my aunt (more happy go lucky) but most remarkably my dad (who might occasionally read a Lee Child over the course of a year) and it scored well across the board.
“It is not without struggle or tension but I think she manages (with the skilful writing ability you alluded to) a warm read of fuzzy vibes, without the usual associated cliché or saccharine tinge. Plus, it’s set mostly in Florence.” — George
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THREE MEN IN A BOAT by Jerome K Jerome
“For a happy read, I’ll take Three Men in a Boat any day of the week.” — Deb
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GUARDS! GUARDS! by Terry Pratchett
“The best Discworld novel. Sam Vimes goes back in time and finds his younger self facing a corrupt Watch and the battle of Cable Street. More than the sum of its parts!” — Isabel
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HONEYBEES AND DISTANT THUNDER by Riku Onda
“A happy book with stakes which keep adding to the happiness. It also contains the best description I have ever encountered of the experience of listening to a truly brilliant piano performance.” — Emma
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ANYTHING BY DAVID SEDARIS
Prescribed by “TC” and heartily endorsed by me. For the shop display, we’ve gone for ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY.
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COLD COMFORT FARM by Stella Gibbons
“The ultimate choice” — Roz
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RACHEL’S HOLIDAY by Marian Keyes
“When I want some relief from the endless grief, assault and death, I turn to the ever reliable Marian Keyes. Rachel’s Holiday, whilst a story about a recovering addict, is really funny in places.
“All of her books are written with a degree of depth, but humour, that I personally find relatable. People write her off as a chick lit or fluffy, but there is a reason that so many women resonate with her and it’s that we too have drunk the water we have put our contact lenses in on a hungover morning by mistake or we too have battled with a crazy but lovable family. Rachel and the Walsh family are some of my fav characters. I read everything Keyes writes.” — Nicola
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LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus
“The most joyful novel I've read recently. I know it has dark bits but mostly I found it really uplifting and life-affirming.” — Jo
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PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir
“My recommendation is a little leftfield and will probably put off many people who can’t get past the space theme, but I defy anyone to finish reading Project Hail Mary and not have a massive grin plastered over their face. It's such a beautiful, uplifting ending.” — Mark
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THE FORTNIGHT IN SEPTEMBER by RC Sherriff
Looking for something laugh out loud funny, and truly uplifting? Try RC Sherriff...not Journey's End of course, but his later comic novels, Greengates and The Fortnight in September, about a perfect English summer holiday! — Sarah
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84 CHARING CROSS ROAD by Helene Hanff
As recommended by Roz
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FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry
“She gets written off as “just” a romance writer but I truly adore Emily Henry’s work. She has a lightness of touch and a wonderful spirit of place (or fillet of plaice as I always think of it, thanks to Gerald Durrell). IMO You, Me on Vacation is her weakest but Happy Place, Funny Story and Book Lovers are fab.” — Harriet
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THE ENCHANTED APRIL by Elizabeth von Arnim
“Gloriously sunny and uplifting” — Kelly-Ann
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THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE AGED 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend
“I'd always recommend the Adrian Mole books for people who want a funny read, especially the first two which are my go-to books if I need a laugh.” — LN
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I CAPTURE THE CASTLE by Dodie Smith
“From the opening line, it’s fab! Not without sadness, but never fails to cheer me up.” — Isabel
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RIGHT HO, JEEVES by PG Wodehouse
“Gussie Fink-Nottle presenting the prizes at Market Snodsbury School is one of the comic greats” — Mark
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THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL by Abbi Waxman
“Feels like a warm hug” — Claire
Michael Rosen at Backstory
We’re thrilled to welcome Michael Rosen to Backstory on the eve of publication of his new book, Rosen’s Almanac: Weird and wonderful words for every day of the year. Rosen will take us on a tour of the British Isles and all its vernacular idiosyncrasies, as well as reflecting on the joy of words, both their uses and abuses. This is a book for anyone who loves language — whether following its rules or breaking them.
Upcoming events
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11 September, 7.30pm Tim Shipman, Out SOLD OUT
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18 September, 7.30pm David Hepworth, Hope I Get Old Before I Die: Why Rock Stars Never Retire
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6 November, 7.30pm Andrew O’Hagan, Caledonian Road SOLD OUT
Our book of the month
I don’t often seek out historical fiction but Darby insisted I read this and I’m delighted I did. I really enjoyed it.
Set in Tudor England, A Little Trickerie is a unique and engaging read. It follows the life of Tibb Ingelby, a vagrant who experiences the best and worst of humanity as she grows up on the margins of society. As fun and adventurous as it is deep and moving, Pike’s debut explores a vast range of human emotions, particularly love, guilt, otherness, and hope.
The Backstory chart
Hardback
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Evenings and Weekends by Oisin McKenna I devoured this book, set over the course of one sweltering weekend in London, as the deeds and desires of several interconnected characters collide.
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Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors The author of Cleopatra and Frankenstein returns with the tale of three siblings coping with their sister’s death.
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A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike Our book of the month. See above for details!
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There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak She’s back! From the author of The Island of Missing Trees, this is the story of one lost poem, two great rivers, and three remarkable lives — all connected by a single drop of water.
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Long Island by Colm Toibin The sequel to Brooklyn is still riding high.
Paperback
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Butter by Asako Yuzuki We’re still replenishing our in-store butter mountain every day
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Tom Lake by Ann Patchett This is a gorgeous read, about two grown-up daughters who finally have the time to ask their mother about her first love.
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Kala by Colin Walsh One of my favourite books of last year. A dark, twisty tale of friendship and suspicion set on the Irish coast, perfect for the beach.
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Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshananthan Winner of this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction. She’s coming to our fiction book club in November - why not join our gang?
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Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano Denise loved this book, an homage to Little Women set in Chicago
Kids
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Amy Gets Eaten by Adam Kay and Henry Paker
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Harriet, The Strongest Girl in the World by Ben Lerwill and Beatrice Blue
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Three Little Monkeys and the Grand Hotel by Quentin Blake and Emma Chichester Clark
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Kitchen Disco by Clare Foges and Al Murphy
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Dig, Dig Dinosaur by Anjali Goswami and Maggie Li
Join our club
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Subscribe to our gorgeous and irreverent magazine all about books and bookshops. From as little as £9 a year.
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Join our fiction or non-fiction book clubs, which meet every month on Zoom with each book’s author. We’ve heard from winners of the Pulitzer, Nobel and Women’s prizes, and big names like Patrick Radden Keefe, Caleb Azumah Nelson and Christina Lamb. Join for £15 a month or come to a one-off session for £16.
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Take out a Backstory book subscription, tailored to each individual recipient. These start from £60 for three months (or £45 for kids) and make brilliant presents.
Happy reading!
Tom