holiday reading, lighter but not trashy anyone? (No chick lit no serial killers)

[TinyBit]

Books I've enjoyed that are the right vibe:

The Goldfinch (I'm jealous of anyone who's not read it yet!)
I Am Pilgrim
Jon Ronson
David Sedaris
Perfume
The History of Love
The 19th Wife

Any recommendations please?

[VivaLeBeaver]

the night rainbow. Is very good.

[Oscarandelliesmum]

Watching with interest

[Bunbaker]

I am not familiar with those books at all, so my suggestions might not suit, but I really enjoyed Philippa Gregory's Wideacre trilogy. It is completely different from her other historical novels about various members of royalty. The first book is set in the 18th century.

[AnonymousBird]

The Cazalet Chronicles. Not exactly a natural fit with your list, but it fits "holiday reading, light but not trashy" and is certainly not chick lit nor has any serial killers.

[Essexgirlupnorth]

Read the miniaturist on holiday set in 17th century holland

[lljkk]

omg, that Goldfinch book is 864 pages?!

I think you might enjoy Russian classic novels, OP.

[Bombinate]

Philippa Gregory

[petitdonkey]

The Night Circus - so beautiful, a really enchanting tale
The Snow Child - also beautiful but maybe not a summer read
Wonder - everyone should read
The Book Thief - clever and engaging
Still Alice - a potentially depressing topic but it stayed with me so much. I am currently re-reading it only a few weeks after finishing it.

All of the above are very easy reads but not at all trashy.

[petitdonkey]

viva - have just added that to my basket!

[Ubik1]

Stoner

Anything by daphne du Maurier

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

The Poisonwood Bible

[Figmentofmyimagination]

"We were all beside ourselves" - well written, great twist.

[TinyBit]

thanks for these.

Spot on with suggestions of Poisonwood Bible, The Book Thief and We Are all... I loved them!

I'll have a mooch through the other suggestions now

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

My Cousin Rachel by DDM is a cracking read.

I also really like Lianne Moriaty, really good story telling, female author but not chick lit. Ideal for holiday/ plane reading .

[MehsMum]

Alan Bennet: The Uncommon Reader.
Really, really funny.

Any interest in Ancient Greece? Then maybe try Mary Renault.

[TinyBit]

oh lovely, some more suggestions!

[KanyesVest]

I came on to recommend the night circus, one of my very favourite recent reads.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

YY Alan Bennet!

[Trooperslane]

David Niven's autobiography.

Anything about the Mitford sisters.

[FallingGoldfinch]

Just rereading 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell' - have you tried that? It belts along, absolutely fantastic (even on third reading!).

You've reminded me of 'The 19th Wife' - that was such a good book, must dig it out again.

[CoteDAzur]

OP - I think you would really like:

The Luminaries (beautifully written and exquisite like The Goldfinch)
Cloud Atlas (as above)
Shantaram (going by your interest in I Am Pilgrim)

I also second the recommendation for Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell.

[RayofSun]

Also recommend Liane Moriaty. Brilliant, brilliant author.

[Pootle078]

Jojo Moyes books I think fall into this category. Have enjoyed all the ones I've read. Also Margaret Forster. And for a great story, not heavy but the dialect takes a bit of getting used to, how about Gone with the Wind. Or (also not a recent book) A Suitable Boy? Or books by Ken Follett - Pillars of the Earth (and the sequel), or the Century trilogy?

[Stevie77]

Station Eleven? I'm about a third of the way through and it's beautifully written. My reading has slowed down a bit since I started it, I think it requires too much effort from my very tired mind. Because of that, later this week I will also be taking an "easy" book to read on holiday.

[TinyBit]

thanks so much for all these suggestions

I've downloaded a load of kindle samples of lots of these and my wish list is looking very healthy.