The Novel Cure

July 8, 2013
In times of trouble, a good book can soothe any kind of pain. Longtime friends Berthoud and Elderkin take that notion to a new level in their delightful reference guide to “bibliotherapy”—“the prescribing of fiction for life’s ailments.” In each case, the authors (who have run a bibliotherapy service since 2008) prescribe a book or two to propel readers to action, bring about awareness or diversion, or show that things are not as bleak as they might seem. They tackle serious and not-so-serious ailments with equal verve, delving into such topics as “Scars, Emotional” (Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night or Antonya Nelson’s Bound), “Pessimism” (Robinson Crusoe), and “Burning the dinner” (Zola’s The Belly of Paris). Eclectic top 10 lists are peppered throughout, such as the “Ten Best Novels to Lower Your Blood Pressure” or the “Ten Best Novels to Make You Weep.” Abundant indices allow the reader to browse by author or title and to search for reading problem advice. Berthoud and Elderkin’s elegant prose and discussions that span the history of 2,000 years of literature will surely make readers seek out these books. Taking two novellas and calling the bibliotherapist in the morning sounds welcome indeed. Agent: Claire Alexander, Aitken Alexander Associates.

July 15, 2013
A comprehensive introduction to the fine art of "bibliotherapy," with a list of 751 books to soothe your aches and pains. It seems a bit whimsical to suggest that books are a cure for those conditions, both chronic and fleeting, that plague us through our collective lives. Yet the practice has long been an accepted form of treatment for conditions ranging from depression to PTSD. Having run a bibliotherapy service in London since 2008, Berthoud and Elderkin offer an A-to-Z guide to selected books, along with ailment-specific practices and helpful lists. "Some treatments will lead to a complete cure," they write. "Others will simply offer solace, showing you that you are not alone. All will offer the temporary relief of your symptoms due to the power of literature to distract and transport." Their literary selections run heavily to classics and contemporary literary fiction, unfortunately, but the disorders they've chosen are often clever, and the occasional a-ha surprise does pop up here and there. "Children, Under Pressure to Have" solicits a biting summary of Lionel Shriver's We Need to Talk About Kevin, while "Jump Ship, Desire To" naturally leads to John Updike's classic Rabbit, Run. Some, too, can be startling, like pointing to Luke Rhinehart's cult classic The Dice Man as a cure for gambling or to Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife as solace for miscarriage. There's humor, too, as in "Tea, Unable to Fine a Cup Of" (see: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams). Lists, meanwhile, run the gamut from "Best Books to Read in the Bathroom" to "The Ten Best Audiobooks for Road Rage." The authors also helpfully offer a variety of cures for conditions like "Guilt, Reading Associated," and "Overwhelmed by the Number of Books in the World." Something of a novelty collection of entries, but a fine remedy for bibliophiles and English majors who may be stuck in a reading rut.

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October 1, 2013

Whether the ailment is serious and psychological (abandonment), physical (constipation), or silly (determined to chase after a woman even though she's a nun), bibliotherapists Berthoud and Elderkin (founders, School of Life bibliotherapy service, London) have created a literary cure or at least a novel painkiller. While boasting scholarly trappings such as cross-references, indexes, and footnotes (though the latter are often more humorous than explanatory), this earnest guide prescribes titles that include, but also venture beyond, the white Anglo-Saxon protestant-dominated canon, published as recently as 2012. The entries for each complaint are part book report, part agony aunt, and contain a plot summary for each suggested read, as well as commentary on why the recommended treatment is effective. VERDICT Its unusual organization--by ailment rather than by the genre/theme of the proposed solution--sets this title apart from similar collections such as Nancy Pearl's Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason. This appealing and helpful read is guaranteed to double the length of a to-read list and become a go-to reference for those unsure of their reading identities or who are overwhelmed by the sheer number of books in the world.--Megan Hodge, Chesterfield Cty. P.L., Richmond

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