'Light' reading that's not absolute crap?

I second rivers of London and anything by Jasper Fforde. Douglas Coupland uplifting? The world always ends. The Agatha Raisin books are good. I recently enjoyed Pear Shaped by Stella Newman. Chick lit with a bit of bite like Marian Keyes.

William Trevor short stories. He's great, his novels are sometimes creepy but in short form, have wonderfully written characters.

Childhood nostalgia: Ballet Shoes, Railway Children, Secret Garden.

Some Nancy Mitford? That is definitely frothy fun.

And the other bit, that happened in England in the middle of the night with our heroine which I can't actually go into any detail about because the OP might be reading?!

NOT NATION

No no no not Nation. Did you skip the bit where everyone dies and he has to bury them all?!

I would also place a vote for Jasper Fforde - I loved Shades of Grey. Terry Pratchett's Nation was really good too, and set in the real world. On a completely seperate note have you ever read The Tent The Bucket and Me? www.amazon.co.uk/Tent-Bucket-Me-Emma-Kennedy/dp/0091926793/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330127490&sr=1-1
I read this when I was pregnant and could barely manage anything above take a break, and it made me cry with laughter. I then made everyone I know read it, and they also cried with laughter. It is awesome. Also, if you like McCarthy's Bar, try Round Ireland With a Fridge, and Playing Tennis With the Moldovans by Tony Hawkes - excelent and very light indeed. Hope this helps!

Isn't Moon over Soho the second one in the series (if I've got the right book in mind) I thought Rivers of London was first.

Another vote for Jasper Fforde as well OP :)

Chronicles of narnia, easy to read brilliance, marking place on thread as my head is addled too and i cant cope with much more than childrens literature just now. I cant abide chick lit but need something light too

LOL dilys. You are quite right. Perhaps the Matthew Swift books might be a bit bloodthirsty and all, now I think about it!

Second vote for Susan Howatch's Starbridge novels, also Penny Vincenzi's The Spoils of Time trilogy.

If you fancy some Carl Hiaasen (recommended up-thread), try Sick Puppy - very, very funny.

Any of the Cazalet novels by Elizabeth Jane Howard are great - about a family living in Sussex in the 1930s and through the war. The Light Years is the first one. I also really love India Knight's books - they made me snort tea out of my nose on a train, they are so funny - but I know that some people really hate them; I think she's a bit marmite-y. Last recommendation is She-Wolves by Helen Castor. It's a non-fiction history book about queens before the Tudors, covering Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France and Margaret of Anjou. It's serious history but told as a narrative and I couldn't put it down - very easy to read and interesting.

It's not grim by normal people's standards, but the OP is hormonally challenged and therefore people struggling to come to terms with the fact that their face has been ripped off are contraindicated.

I s'pose it is a bit bleak. I just know I've got this guy on my 'pre-order' list. I just like the whole ghost thing and thought it was written with great humour. I suppose the bleak bits kindof passed me by slightly..

I dunno about Moon Over Soho - I liked it a lot but it's a bit bleak in places.

I've done Tom Holt too. Like it a lot. Slightly different, but on a fantasy/supernatural vibe, I loved the Hunger Games trilogy (soon to be a major motion movie) and a series of novels about supernatural beings in London...they start with A Madness of Angels. They focus on a hero kindof anti-hero Matthew Swift. I love these...perhaps cos they're British and set in places I can visualise.

Also loved Moon over Soho. Very odd and quirky but definitely light.

What about a bit of PG Wodehouse to cheer you up. Short and silly.

Georgette Heyer, defo. And CC farm. And any Pratchett except Wintersmith or Nation (too emotional).
For those who've read all the Pratchetts and the Ffordes and are looking for more in that vein I'd recommend Tom Holt - some of his stuff is better than others so check the Amazon reviews.

My ultimate comfort reading is Noel Streatfeild, truly excellent books.

I'd recommend Terry Pratchett also. Specifically, anything with Sam Vimes or Granny Weatherwax in.
Surprised nobody has mentioned Georgette Heyer yet. A Civil Contract is a favourite, but just dive in anywhere - The Grand Sophy, These Old Shades - if you haven't come across her before you're in for a treat.
I've just finished Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell. It's about Nell Gwyn and I rather enjoyed it, though you may find the early scenes of child prostitution too much for you in your delicate situation.

I was gonna say Brookmyre. Love his stuff. Also read a lot of Agatha Raisin books. They are pure candyfloss...not good for you, over in two bites, but somehow all the sweeter for it. Gaiman is great and I love Fforde too. Am loving the Pratchett too.

If you haven't already - Cold Comfort Farm.

If you're in to crime dramas the Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters are quite easy.

I love Terry Pratchet for light reading and Wee Free Men is definitely a good start or just start at the beginning with The Colour of Magic.

Niel Gaiman is great too - Neverwhere is the one that I really could not put down.

If you liked Christopher Brookmyre...try Carl Hiassen, he's an American writer and writes in a very similar vein

I also like Paul Theroux's books on travel, Happy Isles of Oceania, Riding the Iron Rooster, Pillars of Hercules