Are you weary in brain and body? Do you desire a positive cure for your pessimism? Do you require Brontë to re-boot your broken heart? Do you despair of your nose? Can Fielding open your flood gates? Or Pynchon purge your paranoia? May we administer Austen to curb your arrogance? Hemingway for your headache? An injection of du Maurier for your low self-esteem? Are you shy, single, stressed or sixty? This is a medical handbook, with a difference. Whether you have a stubbed toe or a severe case of the blues, within these pages you'll find a cure in the form of a novel - or a combination of novels - to help ease your pain. You'll also find advice on how to tackle common reading ailments - such as what to do when you feel overwhelmed by the number of books in the world, or you have a tendency to give up halfway through.