The premise is that for every physical and emotional ailment or challenge, there is a book to ''cure'' it - or at least offer solace. The format - an A to Z of ailments with blurbs about their one or more literary cures - makes the book easy to read either conventionally from start to finish, or to dip into according to your current ''malady''.
Some of the authors' cures are simply to read the book which features that ailment as its theme (and feel better by comparison, in good company in your misery, or be warned against further indulgence); some are more of an antidote as they contain the opposite theme so might uplift or enlighten. While the cure for some ailments are a bit far-fetched (the book should certainly be taken with a healthy dose of bath salts), the cures for others are pithy and on the button.
Books and authors range from the classics to modern-day greats, popular and much-loved favourites, to obscure and lesser-known writings. Familiar or obvious book-cure matches may bring a wry smile, unknown ones the desire to become acquainted.
An ABC ''taster'' of the authors' medical cabinet (read bookshelf) suggests the cure for adolescence is J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, adultery Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, alcoholism Malcolm Lowry's Under the Volcano and the antidote to anger is to read Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.
For boredom, try Room by Emma Donohue. A broken heart, Niall Williams' As It Is in Heaven, or Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.
When it comes to claustrophobia, a dose of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie should do the trick and - one of my favourites - the cure for ''Children, under pressure to have''? Lionel Shriver's We Need to Talk about Kevin. Enough said!
As well as the A to Z of ailments and cures, the book is peppered with lists of ''The Ten Best Novels'' (to cheer you up etc) ''Reading Ailments'' (such as reading-associated amnesia or being too busy to read) and humorous footnotes.
There are indices of the lists, ailments, novels and authors, which makes finding the perfect book for every affliction a cinch.
This impressive literary resource is probably more ''girly'' in appeal, but certainly makes you want to read more. I think I feel a sick day coming on...
Win a copy
The Otago Daily Times has five copies of The Novel Cure, by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin, (RRP $40), to give away courtesy of Text Publishing. To go in the draw to win a copy, email helen.speirs@odt.co.nz with your name and postal address in the body of the email and ''Novel Cure Book Competition'' in the subject line, by 5pm on Tuesday, October 8. Winners will be notified.
- Helen Speirs is ODT books editor.
