Cheering Recs

[kerravonsen]

Okay. I've reached a point where I shatter under stress. So as a matter of survival, I need defences against stress. And one stress-defence is happy-making things.

So, please, peoples, can you give me recs? Recs for fic, recs for music, recs for novels. Ones which are uplifting, happy, cheering. Maybe even fluffy.

Comments

Okay...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Original fluff: Hart's Farm

Fanfic fluff: Love Is For Children

Re: Okay...

[kerravonsen]

Thank you!

[vilakins]

Have you read Alexander McCall Smith's No. Ladies' Detective Agency books? They're light and an engaging look at a different culture, and the main characters are charming and lovable and full of goodness. You need to read them in order though as Precious Ramtotswe's life situation gradually changes.

[kerravonsen]

I've just finished listening to audio plays of the first few books, and I was thinking of re-reading the books themselves (if I can find where I've stashed them!) I agree that they are light and lovable, yes. 8-)

[fred_mouse]

I have just chewed through 'Thresholds' by Nina Kiriki Hoffman - cheery YA novel. No idea where it is readily available, as I bought my copy online.

As for fic - are there tropes that make you happy? I'm a sucker for accidental dating, animal transformation, and soulbond fics, so I have lots of these bookmarked. Of those, I have a couple of animal transformation ones that I would definitely rec, but would have to find the links for. However, they are crack, through and through. Also, RPF, so I would want to know that you would be comfortable with that too.

Editing to add - my current happy making music is They Might Be Giants 'Here Comes Science' album. In particular, I keep finding myself singing the one that starts "A Meteor is not a star, is not a star at all..." .

[kerravonsen]

I have just chewed through 'Thresholds' by Nina Kiriki Hoffman - cheery YA novel.
Noted.

I am definitely not into RPF. I do like soulbonds, though.

my current happy making music is They Might Be Giants 'Here Comes Science' album. In particular, I keep finding myself singing the one that starts "A Meteor is not a star, is not a star at all..."
Oh that sounds like fun!

[fred_mouse]

Hmm. Will have to see if I have any cheerful non-RPF soulbond fic marked.

Thing to note with Thresholds, which I forgot - is book one. I have not sourced book 2, but there are many many issues set up in book one that could be followed up on, so I have great hope. It does work well as a stand alone, other than a thirst to know What Else?

And on humorous music - my eldest likes Bernard Bolan's 'An Eclectic Collection', which is about half and half outright funny/somewhat melancholy serious (songs about getting old, and so on. They don't hit my 'that's distressing and stressful' response, but selective listening might be the go. I recommend 'Basingstoke' as a good example of the humour).

[fred_mouse]

Apparently I don't book mark cheery fics much :(

However, there is one fabulous series at http://archiveofourown.org/series/90958 that I love - Avengers movies, where Captain America gets rescued by a woman in a superman outfit, who tells him to call her Kal-El. Bashful/wholesome Steve, surprise!superhero.

[kalypso]

communicator has just reminded me of The Young Visiters, written by Daisy Ashford, a nine-year-old Victorian. If you don't know it, it seems to be available via Gutenberg. Actually, now I think about it, the storyline has tragic elements, but those of us who love it still end up feeling quite cheerful.

[kerravonsen]

I've heard of it, but never read it. (goes off to download)

[kalypso]

Oh, and have you watched Space Girl recently? That always makes me feel happy.

[kerravonsen]

Oh, I hadn't seen that before. FTW!

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

For fluffy music, I can't beat Mika. I have his "Life in Cartoon Motion" in my music list, and have actually used it to cheer up someone else in the doldrums.






Some of his stuff can be a bit more serious, but usually it's bouncy.

Otherwise, I can recommend afternoon tea at Brunetti's. You free any day this week?

[kerravonsen]

8-)

[kittylefish.livejournal.com]

love today! my super happy happy song, lol. :D

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

Oh, and thank you - you've just given me the closure I needed for a certain ... ahem ... piece of writing I was stuck on. I'll explain later.

[kerravonsen]

Now you've made me curious.

[marta-bee.livejournal.com]

I'm always up for a bit of fic reccing. Do you have any preference? I could probably dig up something for just about any Sherlock Holmes character, and quite a bit in the Tolkien fandom.

In the mean time, enjoy the Helsinki complaints choir. They always make me smile.

[kerravonsen]

8-)

I'm very behind on Sherlock, so if you could find things that aren't related to specific episodes...

I haven't read very much Tolkien fic, so anything you rec is likely to be new to me. Good Faramir fic would be appreciated.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

I'd almost forgotten I bookmarked this: Friendship is Love with Understanding: http://sunnsea.livejournal.com/10640.html#cutid1

~~~~~

Apparently, "fluffy happy things" means Amy/Rory to me these days; these are some of my favorite vids.

"Olive You:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i75KVCyh9O0

"You Told the Drunks I Knew Karate"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f1pC8-YGGI

"Read My Mind"
http://purplefringe.livejournal.com/48387.html

And my favorite DW fic of all time, "Don't Rain on My Parade":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcwbP8vSR-4&feature=channel

More later (especially fic) if I think of them....

[kerravonsen]

*hugs*

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

I've recently found these, where someone has uploaded clips from Murphy Brown - the crazy temp secretaries that were a running joke. Made me laugh like anything, maybe they'll give you a giggle?

There's also this Lego Lord of the Rings musicvid

[kerravonsen]

There's also this Lego Lord of the Rings musicvid
!!

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

That's what I thought when I found it...

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. I hope your stress lets up soon! In the meantime, recs.

Books:

Redshirts by John Scalzi is silly but thoughtful and full of geeky inside jokes.

Fanvids:

"You'll Be Bright," Doctor Who. Rose, Martha, Donna, and Amy go on journeys and are fantastic. This always reminds me why I love this show.



"I Love the World," Doctor Who. Oodles of RTD-era characters (plus a few bits of Torchwood) set to a song (originally from a Discovery Channel ad) about what a brilliant place the world is.



A collection of attractive men from Regency-era dramas set to "It's Raining Men":



Fanfic:

First, do you have any interest in Avengers/Marvel Cinematic Universe fic? Because that fandom has been my happy place lately.

I see in the other comments that you are open to Sherlock fic if it doesn't reference recent episodes. I recommend the wonderfully goofy Road Trip series (http://archiveofourown.org/series/10114) by stupid_drawings. Sherlock, John, and Lestrade on long road trips. Hijinks ensue.

Music:
Marian Call (self-professed geek and singer of folky pop) has a lot of happy-making songs. Examples include "Good Morning Moon"



and "I'll Still Be a Geek After No One Thinks It's Chic (The Nerd Anthem)"



Vienna Teng's "Level Up" is wonderfully inspirational.



Randomosity:

Orlando Bloom sings along to "They're Taking the Hobbits to Isengard".

[kerravonsen]

Oh thank you for reminding me of Redshirts! It was on my book wishlist for a while, but I must have taken it off.

First, do you have any interest in Avengers/Marvel Cinematic Universe fic? Because that fandom has been my happy place lately.

Alas, it has passed me by.

Thank you for the recs!