3 books that drive home gratitude and thankfulness

SALT LAKE CITY — A good book makes you think. A good book drives home a lesson. And, a good book can set a mood. For all of those reasons, Cheri Fries said a book is the perfect way to bring the spirit of gratitude into your heart this month and beyond. Fries is an avid reader of all genres. She offers regular reviews on her Instagram page, "Late Night Library." She shared three different books from three different genre categories that each drive home the theme of gratitude and thankfulness. The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eger This memoir follows Eger’s journey from surviving Auschwitz at age 16 to rebuilding her life in the United States and earning a doctorate in psychology. The central message of this book is no matter what happens to you, you can choose how to live each day. "What I love about that is she just says, 'The things that you practice, you get better at,'" Fries shared. "If you practice gratitude, if you choose each day to live your life with gratitude and let go of the things that bring you down, then you will become better." As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh This historical fiction novel follows a young pharmacy student navigating war-torn Syria, torn between joining the revolution and escaping to safety. "This is so amazing because this is not a historical event. This is a current event, what's going on in Syria. What's happening right now," Fries explained. “When I finish reading a book like this, I’m just so grateful for the simple, like, everyday luxuries that we enjoy in life ... It really puts our problems in perspective.” The Good Part by Sophie Cousens

This feel-good fiction book f0llows Lucy, who is dissatisfied with her job and relationships. She discovers a wishing machine that fast-forwards her to life’s “good part.” The story reveals that true joy comes from earning life’s highs through its lows. “What she learns is like, the good part is only good when you’ve earned it,” Fries said. "You gotta go through the bad stuff."

Find more book reviews from Cheri Fries on Instagram, @late.night.library.

KSL has affiliate relationships, so we may get a small share of the revenue from your purchases. Items are sold by the retailer, not by KSL. All prices are subject to change.