Up Lit Book Recommendations (and an Up Lit definition)

As far as I can tell, the term Up Lit was invented by the publishing industry in 2018.  I first heard it last fall in a discussion with my publicist who described my book, Boop and Eve’s Road Trip, as Up Lit.  At this point, I don’t think the term has picked up much steam, but really it’s too bad because it perfectly describes a certain kind of book. And it’s the kind of book that might really resonate in the middle of a pandemic, with an uncertain economic outlook, hurricanes, wildfires, murder hornets, and a contenious election.  Up Lit books address real, meaningful topics but in a way that is hopeful. They often, but not always, incorporate humor.  So here’s my small attempt to spread the Up Lit word with five Up Lit books you won’t want to miss.

Harold Fry “lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does.  One morning a letter arrives, addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl, from a woman he hasn’t heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. But before Harold mails off a quick reply, a chance encounter convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. In his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold Fry embarks on an urgent quest. Determined to walk six hundred miles to the hospice, Harold believes that as long as he walks, Queenie will live.“

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a powerful tale that beautifully captures the themes of regret and redemption.  Harold and the cast of quirky characters whom he encounters are brought together by their belief that Queenie will stay alive to say goodbye if they walk the 600 miles to visit. The entire premise is illogical but their faith in it is inspiring and the power of that inspiration just might be enough to keep Queenie alive. As Harold walks and his body breaks down, his mind is left to wander and memories of his son return to haunt him.  Each step brings him closer to Queenie and closer to reconciling with his past.

“Willow Havens is 10 years old and obsessed with the fear that her mother will die. Her mother, Polly, is a cantankerous, take-no-prisoners Southern woman who lives to chase varmints, drink margaritas, and antagonize the neighbors – and she sticks out like a sore thumb among the young, modern mothers of their small conventional Texas town. Willow is desperately hungry for clues to the family life that preceded her, and especially Polly’s life pre-Willow. Why did she leave her hometown of Bethel, Louisiana, 50 years ago and vow never to return? Who is Garland Jones, her long-ago suitor who possibly killed a man? And will Polly be able to outrun the Bear, the illness that finally puts her on a collision course with her past?“

You’ll never meet a mother quite like Polly, who makes The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall a memorable gem.  The stakes are high as Polly faces cancer and her past, and Willow deals with an alcoholic uncle, a child molester, first love, and an ill mother. The loveable characters will have you turning pages and rooting for a happy ending for them.

“Rosemary Peterson has lived in Brixton, London, all her life, but everything is changing.  The lido, an outdoor pool where she’s swum daily since its opening, is threatened with closure by a local housing developer. It was at the lido that Rosemary escaped the devastation of World War II; here she fell in love with her husband, George; here she found community during her marriage and since George’s death. Twentysomething Kate Matthews has moved to Brixton and feels desperately alone. That is, until she’s assigned to write about the lido’s closing. Soon Kate’s portrait of the pool focuses on a singular woman: Rosemary. And as Rosemary slowly opens up to Kate, both women are nourished and transformed in ways they never thought possible.“

I don’t know what I expected when I opened Mornings with Rosemary (also called The Lid0), but it wasn’t the incredible book that found. The simple story was so beautifully wrought and so very touching that after listening to the audio book I wanted to own a hard copy so that I could interact with the text in a different way. For more about this book, see my previous post on Book Recommendations with Fantastic Friendships.

“Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.”

But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time? Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.“

Ove in A Man Called Ove will be remembered as one of the great characters of modern literature. This grumpy old man stole my heart about half way through the book.  Prepare to cry. Want to gift this book? Sign up for my newsletter below and get a free eguide gifting books which included ideas for Ove theme items to pair with the novel. 

“Miriam hasn’t left her house in three years, and cannot raise her voice above a whisper. But today she has had enough, and is finally ready to rejoin the outside world. Meanwhile, Ralph has made the mistake of opening a closet door, only to discover with a shock that his wife Sadie doesn’t love him, and never has. And so he decides to run away. Miriam and Ralph’s chance meeting in a wood during stormy weather marks the beginning of an amusing, restorative friendship, while Sadie takes a break from Twitter to embark on an intriguing adventure of her own. As their collective story unfolds, each of them seeks to better understand the objects of their affection, and their own hearts, timidly refusing to stand still and accept the chaos life throws at them. “

Whispers Through the Megaphone by Rachel Elliot brings together Miriam and Ralph at a time of change and each helps the other work through this change.  If you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, you’ll love this funny, moving book too.