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Original poster

Please recommend me a gentlly entertaining book

34 replies

BikeRunSki · 09/12/2016 20:44

I'm working very hard at the moment, lots of work on. DC 5 and 8 are hard work and DH is away a lot. I'm shattered and need something nice and easy to read to relax at the end of the day. Something like the Adrian Mole Diaries, Bridget Jones or Tales of the City - easy, undemanding and interesting enough story. But not actually these series, as I've read them all 1000 times! Diary or letter format is good (but not a must) as there are frequent natural breaks...

Thank you

OP posts:
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KurriKurri · 16/12/2016 22:15

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society - it's a lovely book.

Sonotkylie · 16/12/2016 11:09

Cold comfort Farm?

booellesmum · 10/12/2016 19:00

The 100 year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared.

beatricequimby · 10/12/2016 18:47

Love Nina was on TV but I didn't see it so I don't know how faithful it was to the book.

How about I Capture the Castle, Cold Comfort Farm or Hons and Rebels? Not the right formats but engrossing and easy reads.

fatowl · 10/12/2016 15:08

I'd second 84 Charing Cross Road

I've also enjoyed Remains of the Day recently

TimTamTerrier · 09/12/2016 22:35

I like the St Mary's Cronicles, the first one is Just One Damned Thing after Another. Very understated, British, sort of humour.

susie2999 · 09/12/2016 22:31

I would recommend The Diary of a Nobody - brilliant brilliant brilliant.
My go to chill out book is wind in the willows!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/12/2016 22:26

Ooh - what about James Herriot? Some are better than others.

bookbook · 09/12/2016 22:17

well, as a retired book seller Blush - if everyone liked the same stuff, I would have been out of business......Grin

cdtaylornats · 09/12/2016 22:15

Anything by Gervaise Phinn

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/12/2016 22:12

I couldn't read Diary of a Provincial Lady - found it really irritating.

bookbook · 09/12/2016 22:08

By the way - I started on Alan Bennett via The Uncommon Reader , and fell in love with his writing.

AmberEars · 09/12/2016 22:01

I would describe Anne Tyler as gently entertaining.

Also how about Nancy Mitford?

Sadik · 09/12/2016 21:42

YY to Love, Nina - exactly that type of book. I have to say I didn't like Miss Pettigrew at all, but I think I'm in the minority.

Thinking of different sorts of things I'd read in the same mood - The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe kind of hits that spot for me as it just kind of carries you along with the road trip without too much effort on the reader's part.

AlabasterSnowball · 09/12/2016 21:42

Any Ladies Detective Agency books, I can feel the sun shining on my face as soon as I pick them up
I like Carl Hiassen too, completely different but lots of fun
Like Bill Bryson and Agatha Raisin too

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/12/2016 21:38

84 Charing Cross Road - a delight from start to finish.
Miss Pettigrew
Daddy Long Legs or its sequel Dear Enemy
Jane Austen

bookbook · 09/12/2016 21:38

Love Nina looks lovely !
I also love Alan Bennett - have you tried him?

Original poster
BikeRunSki · 09/12/2016 21:34

The Diary of a Fainthearted Feminist sounds right up my street.

Is that the book that was serialised on BBC1 earlier this year beatrice? (Actually you've inspired me, I might just reread the Ramona books 😄)

OP posts:
SaladDressing · 09/12/2016 21:28

Have you read '84 Charing Cross Road'? Easy to read and rather lovely.

bookbook · 09/12/2016 21:27

Its triggering my brain now - Miss Pettigrew Lives for A Day by Winifred Watson

bookbook · 09/12/2016 21:25

hah - x post with Sadik :)

bookbook · 09/12/2016 21:24

ooh - forgot I really enjoyed Diary of a Provincial Lady by E M Delafield

Sadik · 09/12/2016 21:23

The two that come to mind immediately if you've not read them (both originally newspaper columns) are Diary of a Provincial Lady by EM Delafield and Letters from a Fainthearted Feminist by Jill Tweedie.

beatricequimby · 09/12/2016 21:20

Love Nina by Nina Stibbe, incredibly funny letters from an au pair to her sister about life in a posh London publishing family in the early eighties.

bookbook · 09/12/2016 21:18

I absolutely adore Bill Bryson, though all the Babe Ruth stuff in 1927 was just too boring for me :)

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