What to read with a broken heart

This is a topic I've debated from time to time with literary-minded friends.  You want to choose something engrossing--magazines are too lightweight, too easy to toss on the floor after a desultory rifling of the pages--yet nothing that touches on your own emotionally precarious situation.  So anything with love in the plot is out.  That's always been a tough one for me since it makes most of my beloved 19th century novels, or 21st century memoirs, off limits.  I remember selecting Chuck Palahniuk's Haunted during one difficult breakup.  It was thoroughly revolting and thus a perfect match for my own churning stomach.

I'm currently reading Nathaniel Philbrick's engrossing historical saga Mayflower, since I mention it in my book proposal.  The book is subtitled, "A story of courage, community and war."  Nary a word about love.  I can therefore confidently recommend Philbrick's book to any fractured heart in need of a tonic. (Added bonus--it will help you sleep!)

Of course, if you just need a good cry and a happy ending, Jane Austen is still your go-to girl.  (The real Austen, not the zombie or sea monster versions.)  Sense and Sensibility is guaranteed to open up the floodgates, though Emma Thompson improves on Austen in the dialogue she gives to Edward Ferrers (played by Hugh Grant) in the movie version.  What woman doesn't want her true love to declare, after many hurdles and misunderstandings, "I've come here with no expectations, only to profess--now that I am at liberty to do so--that my heart is, and always will be, yours." (Swoon!)

But if you'll excuse me, I fear it's back to the dour Puritans for me tonight.