Are you one of those people

I don't read chick lit but do tend to read to relax and avoid depressing stuff. My recommendations:
Jane Austen (P & P or Persuasion my faves)
Cranford
Three Men in a Boat
Wilkie Collins The Moonstone or The Woman in White
My Family and Other Animals
Gaudy Night by Dorothy L Sayers - possibly my favourite of all old-fashioned detective fiction as it has a bit of romance and feminism. I think it probably still works if you haven't read the previous couple of books.
I also read Ellis Peters to unwind and love Terry Pratchett though that's hardly highbrow!

Hi

Surely as individuals we should read what we enjoy, it is a pleasurable activity after all not a chore to be suffered.

What about trying some Maeve Binchy, I love her writing and dont think it is trashy chick lit more a well rounded look at life, I find her stories emotional and uplifting. I also really like Marian Keyes again a bit more substaintial that chick lit (although some may not agree).

I also quite like historical novels - fiction with an element of realism and also you feel like you are getting a insight into peoples lives. Also stories that are a bit creepy!

Some of my favourite authors are

Diana Gabaldon - the "Outlander" series
Barbara Erskine - supernatural/historical fiction
Phillipa Gregory - historical fiction "The Other Boleyn Girl" was fab

I also like a lot of stories set around the WW2 era as I am quite interested in this. Typical romance/saga type stories a favourite of mine "One Summer at Deer's Leap" by Elizabeth Elgin set in WW2 with supernatural element.

I hope you find my suggestions useful, read what you enjoy and sod everybody else, if you want to stretch your mind then choose a subject that is of interest to you not what somebody else thinks you should be reading

I read a variety of books but love chick lit/romance! Let me know if you ever want to discuss Gorgeous. :)

I agree with that actually

juney - re "It is perfectly fine to read ONLY chick-lit because it's always a good idea to enjoy what you're reading"

So it's perfectly fine to eat ONLY candy, sweets, and deserts because it's always a good idea to enjoy what you are eating? You and DH would really get along

Nora - I "still haven't come up with suitable book recommendations", have I? Because I promised to?

Read my post that comes right before yours.

My local library has a chicklit reading group. And of course there's still time to read The Black Moth, in time to join in the inaugural meeting of the Ultimate Mumsnet Georgette Heyer Reading Group (Monday 30th, Adult Fiction).

Reading fulfills a lot of my needs.

If I want to be amused and entertained I come on here. I read the chick mags in our office tearoom, gleefully too.
When I want to fuel my obsession, I read history.
When I want to be engaged and soothed to sleep, I listen to an audiobook.
When I want to find out about something, I research.

Whatever floats your boat OP, if you are enjoying the chick-lit, make no apologies for it. If something makes you happy, that's good, no?

It is perfectly fine to read ONLY chick-lit because it's always a good idea to enjoy what you're reading.

:)

CoteDAzur - you still haven't come up with some suitable book recommendations for the OP. Why don't you go away, make a list of suitable books, and then come back with that rather than more arguments. If you're not able to do that perhaps you should seek out a different thread on which to debate with people.

MizK - I wasn't intentionally repeating my point, but only explaining it for of us juneybean who didn't understand it.

I would be happy to suggest books to OP but I don't read chick-lit and books I like would be too far out of her comfort zone for now. However, once she is comfortable with at least popular fiction (those not aimed only at women like Memory Keeper's Daughter, 1000 Splendid Suns, etc) I'd be happy to help her further broaden her horizons.

Nobody said "there's anything wrong with liking chick-lit". What has been said is that reading ONLY chick-lit is not a terribly good thing.

If you people disagree with this sentence, answer it with a reply that starts with "It is perfectly fine to read ONLY chick-lit because..." rather than call me names. All that has done is show that you can't debate without ad hominem.

Ilovedaintynuts - It's CoteDAzur not CoteDAzure, and there was no "arrogant reader theory" which you seem to think has been proven. I'd rather be arrogant than foul-mouthed, by the way. HTH

I do hope the OP comes back or at least joins us on the unofficial mumsnet goodreads group

Another way to read books out of your comfort zone, as I've found, is to sign up for the Mumsnet book club and if you're quick enough claim the free copies!

Well said dainty. (whispers - I think CoteDAzure just wanted a bit of an argument, as they haven't come back with any book recommendations :o).

To reiterate - there's nothing wrong with liking chick-lit. I think the poor OP has been scared off by the way this thread turned. I hope she's still reading and knows that most of us on here enjoy wide and varied reading, including chick-lit and can come up with some good recommendations when asked to do so.

BTW for your information my sister is a surgeon.
She spends so much time reading research/articles/test books that she wants to relax with chick-lit.
OP please believe most people on here aren't pompous, arrogant or patronising. Enjoy your chick-lit

Cotedazure I think you clearly illustrated the arrogant reader theory.
Up your own arse much?

GorgeousGirlie - I've just remembered a site called Literature map here - you type in the name of an author you enjoy, and it will give loads of suggestions of other authors you might like from popular to classic, and then you can click on any of the suggestions and get even more authors. It might give you some more ideas

No, not really, just think that you rammed your point home repeatedly and that it added little to this particular discussion by the end. I'm sure that you're a very well read person, therefore you'd probably be well placed to recommend some good books that might wean people off their chick lit habit. I just think that you could have offered something more positive to the discussion rather than a sweeping dismissal. That's all.

You seem to think that contrarian views can only be voiced on AIBU threads. I assure you that is not the case. I answered a question. If you think my answer is wrong, argue against it. Or if you feel I am breaking MN rules, report it.

If you can't do any of the above, kindly keep your opinion on what I should and shouldn't say to yourself. Thank you

CoteDAzur - As far as I am aware this thread is not in AIBU - perhaps instead of being slightly condescending and judgemental, you could consider recommending some books that the OP might enjoy?
I know people who, after leaving school, rarely pick up a book again. IMO that is the real shame, not people sticking to books with pink glossy covers which they know they'll enjoy....

i have enjoyed quite a few chick-lit - in particular Polly Williams. i usually read a chick-lit easy read in between something different. i recently read 'Room', 'No Turning Back', the Host, and today finished 'Before i Go To Sleep'.

The Other Boleyn Girl is brilliant and one of my favourite books well worth a try.

Another i really enjoyed (and may be shot down here for suggesting it) was the Twilight books. I never thought i would like them but i absolutely loved them - mostly for the love story running through it but also because they are something different to the normal chick-lit. It was also an easy read so not too hard to get into although you have to go into it with an open mind!

well worth a try

I feel a tad sorry for the op here who wrote a very sweet admission and asked for suggestions to ring the changes. I hope you find people who you can swap like minded suggestions with and see little wrong with your post or preferences! Plenty of space on MN for all likes.

If you fancy a change, you might enjoy maggie o Farrell. Me before you is also very enjoyable. Goodreads is a great place to start to find new things and groups and lists, it's fired me to read all sorts of things. Have you read the other Boleyn girl?

Apologies, rather you think I only read superficial books :)

It's completely book snobbery as you've now assumed I only read chicklit because I didn't understand your "allegory".

Maybe not a dying art but perhaps a victim of our modern busy lives perhaps?

With two young children I have to make myself find the time to read. I love to read many different genres - some chick-lit which, I admit, I find often lacks depth. I read somewhere that reading chick-lit/romance novels inbetween more challenging books could be seen as a palate-cleanser :o. Maybe that denigrates the chick-lit genre, which I certainly don't mean to do.

I also enjoy classics and modern classics, non-fiction, crime novels etc etc.

As my mother, who was a librarian, used to say "all reading is good reading".
Enjoy what you enjoy :).