Suggestions for Happy Endings? - Page 2

jenieliser · 09-30-2010, 06:56 AM

I tried to pick up P&P again, but for some reason just couldn't do it. I want something I don't know every detail of.

I have read P&P probably 5 times and watch the Colin Firth movie when I'm sick or just a couple 5 hours to sit and enjoy and good movie. Perhaps that's why?

jenieliser · 09-30-2010, 07:02 AM

jdh-I notice this is in with the Barchester Chronicles. Should I begin at the beginning with The Warden or is it still good if I were to skip around?

Shayne Parkinson · 09-30-2010, 05:36 PM

Jen, have you read any Elizabeth Gaskell? Her work's grittier than Austen's, but not overly dark. Three I'd recommend:

- Cranford. An affectionate portrait of village life that was already old-fashioned by the time Gaskell wrote it. Gentle and kindly, sad in parts but ultimately cheering. The closest to Austen of Gaskell's works, but still very different.
- Wives and Daughters. Romance, misunderstandings, ultimate happiness for the deserving.
- North and South. Social commentary, a brilliant portrait of an industrial town contrasted with a clear-eyed view of rural life, a strong heroine, and sizzling chemistry between the main couple.

jdh · 09-30-2010, 08:38 PM

Jenieliser - The individual Barsetshire series novels can be read and enjoyed individualy. I think The Warden and Barchester Towers are the most closely coupled. Of these two I enjoyed Barchester Towers more and it can easily be enjoyed without first reading The Warden. My favorites in the series are Barchester Towers, Dr. Thorne, and Framley Parsonage. They are all set about 50 years after Austen's novels, and I think they appeal to many of her readers. One reason I think of Trollope in connection with happy endings is that he occasionally inserts an aside to the reader saying in effect "don't worry, all will end well". For example at one point in Barchester Towers he tells the reader (I'm paraphrasing) "I know the heroine has three suitors and two of them are cads, but be assured that she will make the right choice in the end".

Incidentally, there is a nice BBC mini-series on DVD of The Warden and Barchester Towers (called The Barchester Chronicles). It features Alan Rickman and Susan Hampshire in prominant roles, but not as hero and heroine.

And if you like the Barchester series, you can continue with the more recent series of Barsetshire novels, written by Angela Thirkell, a relative of Trollope.

jenieliser · 10-01-2010, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Parkinson

Jen, have you read any Elizabeth Gaskell? Her work's grittier than Austen's, but not overly dark. Three I'd recommend:

- Cranford. An affectionate portrait of village life that was already old-fashioned by the time Gaskell wrote it. Gentle and kindly, sad in parts but ultimately cheering. The closest to Austen of Gaskell's works, but still very different.
- Wives and Daughters. Romance, misunderstandings, ultimate happiness for the deserving.
- North and South. Social commentary, a brilliant portrait of an industrial town contrasted with a clear-eyed view of rural life, a strong heroine, and sizzling chemistry between the main couple.

I have! I love Gaskell's work! I devoured North and South similar to when I read P&P the first time. I couldn't quite get through Wives and Daughters though, still not sure why. Cranford was a nice relaxing read. North and South is by far my favorite. Thank you for the suggestion, do you have any other suggestions you think I'd like similar to Gaskell?

Shayne Parkinson · 10-01-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenieliser

I have! I love Gaskell's work! I devoured North and South similar to when I read P&P the first time. I couldn't quite get through Wives and Daughters though, still not sure why. Cranford was a nice relaxing read. North and South is by far my favorite. Thank you for the suggestion, do you have any other suggestions you think I'd like similar to Gaskell?

Hmm, you're making it tricky by being so well-read.

How about

Spoiler:

LoveReading · 10-01-2010, 04:29 PM

Hi,
I also agree that Jane Austin's books for happy endings. You may also want to try Maeve Binchy's book Quentins (good love story - happy ending for all)!

SeaBookGuy · 10-01-2010, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenieliser

I don't do well with sad endings. But something possessed me to read Message in a Bottle. I know, dumb, no really dumb. I cried-not a few tears, not ladylike sobs, we're talking ugly faced crying.
If anyone has any suggestions of a good happy ending book, preferably a love story, please pass them along. I have a tendency to get way too involved in what I read and I think I won't be able to stop thinking about Message in a Bottle until I start something new.
Thanks in advance!

Try The Ha-Ha by Dave King -- the protagonist can hear and understand the world around him, but cannot speak, read or write! He's not physically disabled, but a psychological problem from war experience. Even better on audio, hearing his words when no one else can! I'd call the ending more "optimistic" than "happy", a minor distinction.

doreenjoy · 10-05-2010, 01:39 AM

Reviving an old-ish thread in the interest of providing a few other suggestions for upbeat stories.

Dorothy Sayers, Murder must Advertise (Hilarious mystery set in the advertising industry in the UK)

Nicole Jordan, The Seduction (easily her best book)

Italo Calvino, If on a Winter's Night a Traveler (very clever and inventive)

Walter Tevis, Mockingbird (may not be available as an ebook, but worth finding. Dystopian love story with a happy ending)

jenieliser · 10-05-2010, 07:19 AM

Thanks! I have a great To Be Read list now!

HarryT · 10-05-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenieliser

jdh-I notice this is in with the Barchester Chronicles. Should I begin at the beginning with The Warden or is it still good if I were to skip around?

You really should read them in order. I've uploaded an "Omnibus Edition" containing all six books here at MR.

Sandra Edwards · 10-05-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenieliser

True! I am thinking I may read P&P...again.

P&P is one of my fav books :-)

Sandy

dfigueroa · 10-06-2010, 11:07 AM

One I liked a lot was Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by ummm, ummm, Beth Hoffman

Very happy ending.

I cried through parts of Karen McQuestion's A Scattered Life, but overall found it to have a hopeful ending.

I chuckled through Russell Wiley is Out to Lunch, but that one isn't out yet (had an ARC).

If only Straight Man would come out in an e-version. Sigh. Favorite comedic novel ever.

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09-30-2010, 06:56 AM	#16
jenieliser Groupie Posts: 165 Karma: 2136526 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Device: Kindle PW, Kobo Libra Color	I tried to pick up P&P again, but for some reason just couldn't do it. I want something I don't know every detail of. I have read P&P probably 5 times and watch the Colin Firth movie when I'm sick or just a couple 5 hours to sit and enjoy and good movie. Perhaps that's why?

09-30-2010, 07:02 AM	#17
jenieliser Groupie Posts: 165 Karma: 2136526 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Device: Kindle PW, Kobo Libra Color	jdh-I notice this is in with the Barchester Chronicles. Should I begin at the beginning with The Warden or is it still good if I were to skip around?

09-30-2010, 05:36 PM	#18
Shayne Parkinson Author Posts: 1,532 Karma: 5447804 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab	Jen, have you read any Elizabeth Gaskell? Her work's grittier than Austen's, but not overly dark. Three I'd recommend: - Cranford. An affectionate portrait of village life that was already old-fashioned by the time Gaskell wrote it. Gentle and kindly, sad in parts but ultimately cheering. The closest to Austen of Gaskell's works, but still very different. - Wives and Daughters. Romance, misunderstandings, ultimate happiness for the deserving. - North and South. Social commentary, a brilliant portrait of an industrial town contrasted with a clear-eyed view of rural life, a strong heroine, and sizzling chemistry between the main couple.

09-30-2010, 08:38 PM	#19
jdh Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle3, Voyage	Jenieliser - The individual Barsetshire series novels can be read and enjoyed individualy. I think The Warden and Barchester Towers are the most closely coupled. Of these two I enjoyed Barchester Towers more and it can easily be enjoyed without first reading The Warden. My favorites in the series are Barchester Towers, Dr. Thorne, and Framley Parsonage. They are all set about 50 years after Austen's novels, and I think they appeal to many of her readers. One reason I think of Trollope in connection with happy endings is that he occasionally inserts an aside to the reader saying in effect "don't worry, all will end well". For example at one point in Barchester Towers he tells the reader (I'm paraphrasing) "I know the heroine has three suitors and two of them are cads, but be assured that she will make the right choice in the end". Incidentally, there is a nice BBC mini-series on DVD of The Warden and Barchester Towers (called The Barchester Chronicles). It features Alan Rickman and Susan Hampshire in prominant roles, but not as hero and heroine. And if you like the Barchester series, you can continue with the more recent series of Barsetshire novels, written by Angela Thirkell, a relative of Trollope.

10-01-2010, 04:29 PM	#22
LoveReading Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 14 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	Hi, I also agree that Jane Austin's books for happy endings. You may also want to try Maeve Binchy's book Quentins (good love story - happy ending for all)!

10-05-2010, 01:39 AM	#24
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	Reviving an old-ish thread in the interest of providing a few other suggestions for upbeat stories. Dorothy Sayers, Murder must Advertise (Hilarious mystery set in the advertising industry in the UK) Nicole Jordan, The Seduction (easily her best book) Italo Calvino, If on a Winter's Night a Traveler (very clever and inventive) Walter Tevis, Mockingbird (may not be available as an ebook, but worth finding. Dystopian love story with a happy ending)

10-05-2010, 07:19 AM	#25
jenieliser Groupie Posts: 165 Karma: 2136526 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Device: Kindle PW, Kobo Libra Color	Thanks! I have a great To Be Read list now!

10-06-2010, 11:07 AM	#28
dfigueroa La Guera en Manzanillo Posts: 33 Karma: 50 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico Device: Kindle 2 Global	One I liked a lot was Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by ummm, ummm, Beth Hoffman Very happy ending. I cried through parts of Karen McQuestion's A Scattered Life, but overall found it to have a hopeful ending. I chuckled through Russell Wiley is Out to Lunch, but that one isn't out yet (had an ARC). If only Straight Man would come out in an e-version. Sigh. Favorite comedic novel ever.

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