I find my mood is often affected by the book I'm reading at the time, can you suggest some books to lift my mood?

Keith Waterhouse - try 'Billy Liar', and he also did 'Mrs Pooter's Diary' which is a must for fans of the original! Most of his novels are comic, although there is a melancholy side to some of them given that his protagonists are usually sad losers. He did 'Office Life' long before anyone thought up 'The Office' - great twist in the tail to that one.

Forgot to add that the second one : "For A Smile" was only £1 on Kindle - bargain! It's a selection of short stories which I love because I can read one when I haven't got the time to get into a novel - like when I'm waiting around being Mum's taxi. This one really cheered me up! :)

I'm completely different from the above: I'm usually so exhausted I don't want anything that challenges the meaning of my life or makes me think too hard!!
I got a Kindle for Christmas and am enjoying downloading some great fiction really cheaply. Recent books that really lifted my mood were: "Never Can Say Goodbye" - Christina Jones and "For A Smile" - Lydia Jones. (I don't think they're related!) :)

Forgot all about David Sedaris until tonight. Have you tried his books yet NMP?

Well, I posted that I thought the book was really dull and seeing your name, I thought you were going to tell me you loved it and inspired you and everything you do and then I was going to feel like a philistine all over again .

Actually I am persevering with it and it is getting better. There is early 20t century middle Europe anti-semitic trouble brewing so there is some emotional connection now. The first bit was just boring art waffle

Just read Pursuit of Love followed swiftly by Love in a Cold climate: you need your tongue firmly in your cheek but they are fab as is anything by PG Wodehouse, don't think the politics just think the bonkers stories

haven't

Aah, margoandjerry, someone else mentioned that book in response to my username. I havent' read it actually - I have a picture of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild near my computer, which I visited on holiday a few years ago, and had no idea there was a book linked to it. Feel compelled to read it now, but, dare I ask... happy or sad?

I know what you mean Chubfuddler :). I never really "got" Adrian Mole, and stopped after the first book. It has recently been voted the best comedy novel, I believe. Personally I've read funnier books, but then we've all got a different sense of humour.

The book that made me laugh out loud was Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. I must get round to reading it again.

See I find Adrian mole quite depressing - his ghastly family and the way his own pretensions make him his own worst enemy. It's really sad to me.

Another vote for 'Starter for 10' made me laugh out loud and 'The secret dairy of Adrian Mole' is my all time favourite comfort book.

I found 'The Jane Austen Book Club' nicely uplifting

Any of Danny Wallace's books, they are all hilarious and great reads.
Highly recommended.

Oh yes, have to agree with The Van. Had forgotten all about that one.

Agreed about the Van - think I cried laughing at that one. Will have to hunt out my copy and read again!

Thanks for starting the thread Op as there are loads on here I want to try!

The Van is one of my favourites, Bibbity.

If you haven't already done so you should have a look at Persephone books.
Lots of variety and long forgotten gems including Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

www.persephonebooks.co.uk is the website.

I am a huge fan of Dorothy Whipple but I would say she is satisfying rather than uplifting.

The Persephone website has good descriptions and reviews to help you decide.

I am off to start the latest Joanna Trollope. Happy reading.

wintersnight, spooky - I just posted that very Angela Carter on another thread.

Loads of my favourites here. For truly brainless lovely reading I would recommend the Miss Read Village School books. Quite a lot of social history, but basically, as my son caustically says, "old women enjoying the countryside".

I beseech you to read The Van by Roddy Doyle. Infact, any of The Barrytown Trilogy, but The Van is the most wonderfully feel-good but non-schmaltzy, non-chicklit kind of book.

Also, Restoration by Rose Tremain - the final two pages will make you cry and cry in a very happy way.

I thought of a couple more: Nights at the Circus and Wise Children by Angela Carter are exhilarating if not without poignancy. And If on a Winter's night a Traveller by Italo Calvino is about the joy of reading.

"Spanish Steps - Travels with my Donkey" by Tim Moore.

Anything by Bill Bryson, but especially "Notes from a Small Island" and "A Walk in the Woods"

BridesHEAD revisited!

Another vote for bridesmaid revisited and indeed anything else by Evelyn Waugh.

Oh, I am so pleased to see another fan of Jilly Cooper's The Common Years, Popbiscuit.

at JJJ. So true.
I am only a few pages in to God/Rabbit - it didn't grab me either.