Any good inspiring "gentle '' books ?

[sonic]

Hello people =)
I usually don't read many books . Most of the things that i have liked are shorter and carry some deep meaning . But my lack of desire to read anything different than scientific papers ,poems ,and novels started to puzzle me .
Thus, after some experiments ,I realized that it is because i don't like heavy books .
I am a very emotional person and I can't stand long read heavy books with lots of pain ,drama and poverty listed in them ,but it seems that they are more popular..
This is why I like animations so much ,because they can carry meaning and good thought without the need to be burdening .

Can someone please help me out to find any such books ?I want something gentle and beautiful that may have spiritual ( NOT religious) meaning ,thought i don't put too much stress on the spiritual part ,because i also like diversity. It may be in a fairy tale style ,or other .
If i can say it this way :"it has a soul"

I am currently studying for English exams.
I am a foreigner (not west ) ,but want to study English in a university in my country . This is why reading books ,and trying to think of some essays is also important to me . Any advice here will also be accepted with the best intentions .

Thank you in advance :)

[TheFifthElement]

You might like The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Armin, or Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons, or A Month in the Country by J L Carr. All nice, gentle books. Oh, and maybe anything by E M Forster, for example A Room with a View which is a lovely read.
Good luck with your studies :)

[Paulclem]

I was surprised to find in my early twenties that I enjoyed James Herriot's stories of being a Yorkshire vet out in the coutryside, and even more surprised about liking Lillian Beckwith's stories about living on the Shetland Islands. (I'd previously read a lot of pulp horror, so this was a big departure). They have a gentle humour about them which is relaxing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_16?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=lillian+beckwith+books&sprefix=lillian+beckwith%2Cstripbooks%2C209

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_16?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=lillian+beckwith+books&sprefix=lillian+beckwith%2Cstripbooks%2C209#/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=james+herriot+books&sprefix=james+herriot%2Cstripbooks%2C194&rh=n%3A266239%2Ck%3Ajames+herriot+books

[hawthorns]

Does it have to be a classic? If not, I'd recommend these in the fantasy/historical fiction/fairy tale:

Patricia McKillip
Guy Gavriel Kay
Lord Dunsany
Gene Wolfe
Ursula LeGuin

[Calidore]

Does it have to be a classic? If not, I'd recommend these in the fantasy/historical fiction/fairy tale:

Patricia McKillip
Guy Gavriel Kay
Lord Dunsany
Gene Wolfe
Ursula LeGuin

I wouldn't call Gene Wolfe "gentle." :-)

You reminded me of something, though. Zenna Henderson's stories of the People fit the OP's description perfectly, and are very, very good besides. You should be able to find the paperbacks easily and cheap in used bookstores (SF section, though they're only SF in their background). The titles are Pilgrimage and The People: No Different Flesh.

I'll also enthusiastically second the James Herriott books. The TV show was pretty good as well.

[Veho]

My recommendation isn't a classic but I find Alexander McCall Smith's Scotland Street series to be very gentle novels that are well written and engaging. I can't think of any other gentle books personally - I guess you are right most are filled with some drama or another. I do second TheFifthElement's A Room with a View recommendation though.

[Dark Muse]

The works of Jane Austen I think would work well for you. And hopefully you will not find this too religious, but I just have to mention Siddhartha, because it is a beautiful book full of meaning, that in my opinion any one from any background can relate to.

[Charles Darnay]

I recommend either Silk or ocean sea by Alessandro Baricco. Beautiful short novels that are funny and at times thought provoking.

[YesNo]

Can someone please help me out to find any such books ?I want something gentle and beautiful that may have spiritual ( NOT religious) meaning ,thought i don't put too much stress on the spiritual part ,because i also like diversity. It may be in a fairy tale style ,or other .
If i can say it this way :"it has a soul"

I recently read the short story "Gimpel the Fool" by Isaac Bashevis Singer which might fit the above description.

[novelsryou]

I recently finished My Antonia. I found it a very relaxing read. Now, onto The Country of the Pointed Firs

[jennypaul]

I suggest you Silk and ocean sea by Alessandro Baricco....

[kelby_lake]

I agree with My Antonia

[Seasider]

What about Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell ? It's a very gentle but engrossing book.

[Bastable]

how about 'how green was my valley'? it's quite good and not too taxing on the nerves, so to speak.

[Mutie]

Neil Gaiman -Coraline