Bibliotherapy, according to Merriam-Webster.com, is "the use of reading materials for help in solving personal problems or for psychiatric therapy." Even more fascinating, they list 1919 as the first known use of the word!
According to their bio, Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin have been running their own bibliotherapy service since 2008. And now they've put together a book - The Novel Cure - featuring suggested titles for every malignancy and problem you could ever think of. Seriously, they've included literary cures for everything from physical ailments like a broken leg and mental ailments like depression to more abstract ailments like failure to seize the day and even embarrassments like egg on your tie. Each entry even includes an explanation as to the particular recommended title(s). Some of the recs are a bit tongue in cheek (the recommended book for dealing with pressure to have children gave me quite a laugh), but all are pretty sincere.
In addition to the listed ailments, there are even sidebars on reading ailments: Inability to find your books... Being a compulsive book buyer... Fear of Sci-fi... Stuck on Sci-fi... you get the picture :) One of my favorite things the authors include, though, are lists. Top ten lists, to be specific! Top ten to read by age (teens, twenty somethings...) and top ten seasonal reads like "Top Ten Best Novels for When You've Got a Cold." Uh, considering the fact that I'll catch a cold pretty much if someone says "cold" this list is going to come in handy!
The paperback edition of The Novel Cure: From Abandonment to Zestlessness: 751 Books to Cure What Ails You is due out today and makes for a pretty handy tool, at least for this book junkie. Thanks to the publisher I'm able to offer up a copy for giveaway. To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below before Monday, January 12. US only and no PO boxes please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
4 comments:
I have to admit that the book sounds pretty fascinating
I am captivated with this intriguing book which cures all ails. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
It definitely sounds like an interesting book. I really like the part about fears. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Happy 2015, Becky! What a wonderful book to frame one's reading at the beginning of the year -- I'd love to have this volume handy at all times! Cheers, Kara S
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