>>24669862 (OP)
Flaubert did the trick for me. I would read Bovary, Salambo, Sentimental Education and St. Anthony in this order. Also do read the letters, pic related is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
Other than him, Joyce and Proust. If you want to go a bit back in time, Gogol and Tolstoj. Anything that can really talk deeply about the facts of everyday life - the kind of life that stirs indifference, apathy and numbness - and make it look alive is a absolute miracle and a gift to mankind. I am thankful to thse writers every day for making my life more bearable.
Otherwise you can go the opposite direction and read adventurous things. There's a great selection of travel literature in the wiki. An anon posted about Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle some days ago and I can confirm that it's a great book to read. Flaubert's letter from Egypt are somewhat similar if you'd like to read about exotic places.
I'd generally stay away from philosophy because I have a feeling it tends to make apathy worse. Philosophy works better when you want to work in an intensive direction - i.e. strengthen or examine a feeling. In this sense, if you're feeling down, it gives you means to intellectualize and dissect the feeling, but not often means to get out of it. In order to get out of a negative emotion, at least in my experience, what works best is change of environment and perspective: imagination is the closest you can be to physically go away, see new things, feel new things and feel new thoughts.
Good luck with life anon.
