Help -- need something happy to read to wipe brain clean after 'Monster Love' by Carol Topolski

[paperdoll]

Just read this highly disturbing novel, and images from it are haunting me. Wrong thing for a new mum to read, basically, as horrible stuff is done to children. Has left me all creeped out, upset, angry and squirmily uncomfortable. I guess that is the idea, but still ...

I need something lighter and happier and fun -- any ideas? I'm not snobby about genre fiction or decently written fluff, but not scared of classics either.

Cheers!

[paperdoll]

hmm, re-reading the above I think perhaps I should be more specific. Apologies, I've never posted in this topic before. I have in my pile of unread library books "The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters" -- maybe that will do the trick? But I would be grateful for any other ideas for books that are escapist and cheering.

And also, to be honest, I'm hoping someone else who has read Monster Love will take pity on me and go 'I know, isn't it horrible' or something.

sniff

[southeastastra]

is it by Carol Topolski? if it is just read a review. what made you read that? sounds horrible.

[southeastastra]

oops sorry you said in the title

[cinnamontam]

paperdoll - i haven't read the book but it sounds disturbing

I always use to read an Enid Blyton after scary movies. Magic Faraway Tree was a fave

Anne of Green Gables maybe?

[paperdoll]

southeastastra, I read it sort of by accident. It had (I thought) an intriguing cover, and there were tall stacks of copies in Waterstones. So I picked one up and inadvertently opened it to pretty much the worst bit. Then I had to read the rest in the hopes that the bad stuff would somehow be resolved in a reassuring way, but it wasn't really. yeuch.

Anne of Green Gables, there's an idea. A book in which people are kind to children!

[Buckets]

I always read the latest Terry Pratchett in moments like that. Reassuring common sense prevailing, excellent satire and short chapters.
(Although am pregnant so have given up reading anything sad or with sad children in for a while.)

[weeamoomoo]

hi. one of the funniest books ive read in ages is STARTER FOR TEN but dont be tempted to get the film cos its crap. also the various adrian mole books are pretty funny

[paperdoll]

thanks for those suggestions. Wee, I have read both of your ideas already, but thank you! Buckets: maybe this is the time for me to try Pratchett, but there are so many - is it important to go in sequence? Otherwise, is there one you would recommend to a first-timer?

[PrettyCandles]

I enjoyed This and this so much, that I'm now on the look-out for more. Very lovely chick-lit.

[weeamoomoo]

i would say you can pretty much read pratchet in any order. i quite like the ones with DEATH (grim reaper) in them. otherwise its probably the old ones that are the best. if you like chick lit i'm sure you've read marian keyes, but if not, then watermelon is great, but all her stuff is good. i also think sophie kinsella (shopaholic books) is really good. and louise bagshawe writes great big books for a good read.

[paperdoll]

Great, thanks again to all. Horror of other book is receding now but still needs to be chased away properly and I now feel good about having all these new things to try out! oh, and if I haven't already made this pretty clear, I would advise all but the toughest customers to steer clear of Monster Love. (shudder)

[georgiemama]

Try anything by Nancy Mitford, they are scrummy, funny, romantic and the reading equivalent of a box of chocs in bed. The Pursuit of Love is the best one though.