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  • General Recommendations
  • Staff-Created List

Surprised by Joy

Surprised by Joy is a heartwarming celebration of the profound bonds of friendship, inspired by the enduring legacy of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia and Surprised by Joy, and famously became friends with Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, in 1926. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of that friendship, this initiative invites participants to behold the beauty of the unexpected and foster a sense of surprise and delight. HerrickDL AdultPicks

Library Staff
User from Herrick District Library

58 items

  • The Life Impossible

    Haig, Matt, 1975-
    Disconnection, transformation, and possibility.
    Book, 2024New York : Viking, 2024. — af Haig 10/24

  • Sipsworth

    a Novel

    Van Booy, Simon,
    A moving literary fiction about an unexpected friendship, found in the smallest of creatures.
    Book, 2024Boston : Godine, 2024. — af Van Booy 9/24

  • The House in the Cerulean Sea

    Klune, TJ,
    Unexpected love and found family.
    Book, 2020New York : Tor, 2020. — fan Klune 9/20

  • A Gentleman in Moscow

    Towles, Amor,
    Finding joy and wonder in the ordinary.
    Book, 2016New York : Viking, [2016] — Grab and Go: af Towles 8/24

  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane

    [a Novel]

    Gaiman, Neil
    Rediscovering the wonder hidden in plain sight.
    Book, 2013New York : William Morrow, [2013], ©2013. — fan Gaiman 8/13

  • The Book of Delights

    Gay, Ross, 1974-
    An inspiring memoir on life's joys and sorrows.
    Book, 2019Chapel Hill, North Carolina : Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2019. — 814.6 Gay 1/23

  • A Man Called Ove

    a Novel

    Backman, Fredrik, 1981-
    A feel-good, emotional story of finding chosen family after loss.
    Book, 2014New York : Atria Books, [2014], ©2014. — af Backman 12/25

  • Martita, I Remember You

    Martita, Te Recuerdo

    Cisneros, Sandra,
    Bittersweet + Letter writing + Friendship
    Book, 2021New York : Vintage Books, a division of Random House LLC, 2021. — af Cisneros 1/23

  • The Authenticity Project

    Pooley, Clare,
    Web of connections and honest conversations.
    Book, 2020[New York] : Pamela Dorman Books/Viking, [2020] — af Pooley 2/20

  • The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

    a Novel

    Cronin, Marianne,
    Embracing unlikely friendships.
    Book, 2021New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2021] — af Cronin 6/21

  • Jump and Find Joy

    Embracing Change in Every Season of Life

    Kotb, Hoda, 1964-
    Conversational + Lifestyle changes + Personal transformations
    Book, 2025New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, [2025] — 155.24 Kot 10/25

  • Joy

    a Novel

    Steel, Danielle,
    If you like relationship fiction with themes of finding joy after hardships, try this.
    Book, 2024New York : Delacorte Press, 2024. — af Steel 8/24

  • The Midnight Library

    Haig, Matt, 1975-
    Discover the unexpected joys life has to offer.
    Book, 2020[New York, New York] : Viking, 2020. — sf Haig 2/21

  • The 4 Habits of Joy-filled People

    15 Minute Brain Science Hacks to a More Connected and Satisfying Life

    Warner, Marcus,
    Practicing gratitude, intentional observation and appreciating the ordinary.
    Book, 2023Chicago : Northfield Publishing, 2023. — 152.42 War 12/23

  • Joy for Beginners

    Bauermeister, Erica
    Wanting to read a moving, gentle read? Give this a try.
    Book, 2011New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, [2011], ©2011. — af Bauermei 8/11

  • The Path to Kindness

    Poems of Connection and Joy

    If you like gentle, inspiring poems, read this.
    Book, 2022North Adams, MA : Storey Publishing, [2022] — 811.608 Pat 8/22

  • Crazy Joy

    Finding Wild Happiness in a World That Is Upside Down

    Backstrom, Mary Katherine,
    Non-fiction + Self-help + Humorous
    Book, 2022Nashville, Tennessee : Worthy Publishing, 2022. — 152.42 Bac 2/23

  • Once Upon An Eid

    Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices

    Joy, celebration, and community.
    Book, 2020New York : Amulet Books, 2020. — JF Once 7/20

  • Life of Pi

    a Novel

    Martel, Yann
    Longing for meaning, and discovering wonder through suffering.
    Book, 2001New York : Harcourt, [2001], ©2001. — af Martel 3/20