Additional information
| Author | Susan Elderkin |
|---|
Novel Cure
By Susan Elderkin (2001)
What the internet says
Aggregated insights from reviews and discussions across the web.
Overall reception: Mostly positive
The Novel Cure by Susan Elderkin and Ella Berthoud is generally well-received as an innovative bibliotherapy guide that prescribes fiction for life's ailments. According to Goodreads data, the book has an average rating of 3.86 from 2,628 ratings, indicating positive reception. The concept originated from the authors' bibliotherapy service at The School of Life in London in 2008, where they prescribed novels to help people cope with various challenges. The book was published in 2013 and has been translated into over 20 languages, triggering what the authors describe as a 'global re-birth of bibliotherapy.'
What readers loved
- Innovative concept combining literature with therapeutic recommendations for life's challenges
- Comprehensive coverage with 751 book recommendations organized alphabetically by ailment
- Includes helpful reference features like 'Ten Best' lists, cross-references, and multiple indexes
- Broad international scope covering authors from multiple continents and over a century of literature
- Well-researched with both lighthearted and serious recommendations appropriate to different conditions
- Praised by reviewers as 'whimsical and erudite' (Sydney Morning Herald) and 'eclectic and infectious' (Kirkus Reviews)
- Useful for discovering new books and seeing familiar ones with fresh perspective
Common critiques
- Best read in small doses rather than cover-to-cover, limiting its use as a traditional narrative book
- Some ailments and cures vary by edition and geography, suggesting inconsistency in the core concept
- May be more entertaining than genuinely therapeutic for serious conditions
Reviews
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