What is ‘up-lit’?
The Guardian describes this new trend in publishing as having kindness at its core, in response to the turbulence and trauma of our modern world. Although Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine [link to review] is the book which started me thinking about up-lit I realise that several books which I’ve read in the past few years fit this category.
Books which are sad in parts, focussing in on difficult themes like grief and loneliness but ultimately reveal the strength of human kindness and, crucially, remind the reader that we are all interconnected.
This is just a short list of up-lit books I’ve compiled, some I have read and others I want to read. It’s a style of writing which, now I’ve recognised it, will help me through the long dark months of winter, the stress of exams and the anxiety surrounding new experiences. When I was reading Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine I genuinely felt that it improved my mood and settled my nerves about moving to London. Comment if you have more books you think I should add and let me know your thoughts.
[I have attached links to the Guardian article about up-lit as well as to my review of Honeyman’s novel and some notes from the audience with her I attended]
*Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine: Gail Honeyman
*A Man Called Ove: Frederick Backman
My Name is Leon: Kit de Waal
The Lido: Libby Page
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: Rachel Joyce
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared: Jonas Jonasson
[I have read the books marked with an asterisk]
Links
Beth's Books (and other bits and bobs) 
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