Annndddd, I’m back! I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t resist sharing the fiction books that have been healing to me as I’ve written Light After Darkness, and healed and grieved my chronic illness. (To read the nonfiction version, click here.) I know these are more personal and touched me in ways that might not be as relatable to everyone, but these books were healing for me to read. Maybe they will be for you, too. (Either way, you should read them. They’re good anyway.)
- Decree by Tricia Mingerink
I still can’t explain why this was so healing. It’s just a collection of short stories about characters from the Blades of Acktar series, but it made me laugh and cry and grieve and . . . heal.
- Samara’s Peril by Jaye L. Knight
Throughout my illness the Ilyon Chronicles touched my heart so deeply, but in healing, Samara’s Peril hit me hard. I found myself sobbing over scenes and sections that had never affected me before. But watching Jace find freedom from such darkness, and watching Kyrin struggle through it along with him . . . yeah.
- Healer’s Bane by Hope Ann
This book was about a girl who heals by taking on other’s pain. And in so many ways as a chronically ill friend, sister, daughter, and writer, I related to her. Having gone through my own pain, I find it hard not to dive into the pain of those around me. But this book was a reminder that I don’t have to heal the world.
- Porch Swing Girl & Sand Castle Dreams by Taylor Bennett
Ahh! These books were so healing. I cried through Porch Swing Girl, I totally related to the blow after the blow. And Sand Castle Dreams, I really appreciated the fact that even though things were better, there were still struggles. That it wasn’t overnight. So relatable.
- Blank Mastermind by Rosey Mucklestone
This hit so close to home, despite my life-situation being completely different from the MC’s/. (I mean, I’m not a supervillian.) But it was amazing how honest and relatable it was. I wish it had been a little more healing — the redemption could have been a lot more powerful. But I did appreciate the humor.
- Live Without You by Sarah Grace Grzy
This story is beautiful in the most heart-touching way. Even though I was so emotionally numb as I read this because of other life situations, it brought me to tears. I was telling a friend about this, and she said, “It sounds too painful to read right now!” and while I understand, the truth is that this is a book about hope and healing and learning to trust and love again. I . . . there are so many reasons this book was healing to me, you’ll just have to read my full review.
- Fallen Leaves by Tessa Emily Hall
Though I had not read the first book, Fallen Leaves was so realistic. I loved the themes and the imagery as one teenager girl struggles to heal and figure out how to live in life when all she knows is brokenness.
- Ashes of Glass by E.J. Hill
I didn’t intend to read this all in one sitting. But somehow, I did. Though this is a basic Cinderella retelling, something about it that I can’t quite put a finger on influenced my healing journey and my writing in Light After Darkness.
- Bitter Winter by Jaye L. Knight
Okay, so these last two were healing in a different way
Most of the above books were healing in more than one way. But both this book and the next one were healing in that they helped me grieve. Of course, Bitter Winter coupled with Lacy helped round out that for this one.
- Hope Heals by Jay and Katherine Wolf
But to be honest, I struggled through Hope Heals. Perhaps it’s just because of all I’ve seen and been through, but I didn’t find as much hope or healing as I’d hoped for in Hope Heals. However, it did help me grieve and struggle through some messy, nasty emotions while reading the authors share their own messy emotions. Also… this is nonfiction. But I included it here instead of last week’s post because I wanted to talk about the grieving in this one and Bitter Winter together.
Well, those are the books that have been healing to my heart and influenced my book 2 writing. 🙂 Have you read them? Will you read them? *stares pointedly* I want to point out two more things before signing off:
- This list is not all comprehensive. Choosing was hard, which is why I specified that it’s the books I read in a specific time frame. 😉 I also want to point out that there are many books yet to be published that were just as healing (if not more so) than these ones here, but I’m not supposed to talk about them yet. Someday, I’ll get to share them with you once their authors are published.
- If you’ll notice, each title has a link. That link will take you to my full review of each book if you want to know more. (Like content warnings and favorite quotes and such.)
Anyway, that’s it for now. What books what be on your list that have helped you heal, mourn, or process hard things in your life?
P.S. Okay, so then there’s also Romanov. Which I did not include in the list, because I read the book after finishing writing it. But reading the book in just 3 days, sobbing and laughing my way through it, I realized it deserved an honorary mention. It was healing to me, even if it hasn’t yet had time to influence my writing of Light After Darkness.
Have fun storming the castle
But this post, Sarah! I’m so glad these books helped you and mean so much to you. The only one I’ve read is Live Without You, and I can see why it was so powerful for you!
If I made a list like this, The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff and Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret would be at the top of the list. Although the latter is a memoir, that makes it even more powerful.
😀 I process the world through fiction, that’s just how it is XD Yes, I really liked Live Without You. IT was a random splurge, but it was worth it. What did you think of it?
I had a feeling The Eagle of the Ninth might be on your list. 🙂 (It’s on my list to read as soon as I scrounge up the book money. I already checked the library and everything.) Oh cool! I hadn’t heard of that one, it sounds good.
AHHH SARA! I CAN’T WAIT TO READ LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS!
There are so many books up there I really want to read, they all sound SO awesome, sadly, I’ve only read Samara’s Peril and Romanov (which I so agree about it being great! I think it’s Nadine’s best book yet!)
*beams* That means a lot! Yesterday I (finally) finished round 4 of edits… this book is even more vulnerable than HMD if that’s even possible. It makes me both more excited and more terrified to share it with people. XD
They are! You should. 😉 (Not that I’m at all biased…) Aw, fun! Are you another Ilyon fan? (Yes! I… am partial to the Out of Time trilogy, but I do think Romanov was even better than Fawkes!)
Oh my, this is a great list!!! Ilyon Chronicles is amazing and Lacy just ripped this reader’s heart out and patched it back together. 😉
Ikr?! It was a nice break after Bitter Winter though… That was intense!