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Comforting reads for the middle of the night

60 replies

Ladybird37 · 10/03/2020 15:24

I've had terrible trouble sleeping for the last year or so and I've been slowly rereading through all the jilly coopers, starting with riders and now on Pandora. They've lasted me a year as I only read in the middle of the night on my kindle when I'm feeling anxious. They're such chatty and fun books, I can read them when I can't focus on anythibg else i would read in the day. I'm worried what I can do next, as I think Jc books go a bit wobbly after pandora. I'm looking for something light and positive, but easy to follow at 2am...and 3am... any thoughts? I've not really been a fan of many of the light 'chick lit' type of books that I've pick up, but I know that's a bit sweeping

OP posts:
Fyzz · 20/08/2020 21:23

My middle of the night reads recently have been anything by Maeve Binchey and I just finished A Farmer's Diary by Sally Unwin which is an adorable tale of life on a sheep farm.

Standrewsschool · 20/08/2020 21:19

‘In Farleigh Fields’ by Rhys Bowen is good.

Also her Royal Spyness series.

Breastfest · 15/08/2020 19:02

Bridget Jones always cheers me up :)

AngryPrincess · 15/08/2020 18:59

Fannie Flag books.

StellaOlivetti · 15/08/2020 17:46

I truly recommend Colonel Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonsen (sp?) It is gentle, witty and wise. Would be perfect for sleepless nights.

EspressoX10 · 11/08/2020 16:42

Another vote for PG Wodehouse.

Also Angela Thirkel, Barbara Pym and Rosamund Pilcher.

These are my "middle of the night" choices. I pop these Audiobooks on, close my eyes and just chill.

DopamineHits · 09/08/2020 20:54

Anything by Barbara Pym. Her novels are mostly set in the 1950s featuring women who do the flowers at the local church, and have tea with the vicar, and gossip about their neighbours. Excellent Women is considered her best book.

Allthegoodnamesweretakenalread · 29/03/2020 18:25

I find Christina Jones very comforting to read. My favourites are the ones set in Milton St John and Tickled Pink. It was very refreshing to have a heroine who was a size 14 who didn't have to diet to have love interests.

homemadecommunistrussia · 19/03/2020 19:48

When times are really tough, I reread The Wind in the Willows or old Peanuts comic books.
like these

eachtotheirownnow · 19/03/2020 18:07

Lesley Pearce books are good

KeithLeMonde · 19/03/2020 15:11

I'm currently reading Mudlark by Laura Meiklem which I am finding beautifully comforting

ABetterOblivion · 19/03/2020 08:37

Don’t forget JC’s earlier novels - the girls’ names series.

AdaColeman · 19/03/2020 08:34

Another sleepless one here!

I’ve been rereading the Brother Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters, medieval detective mysteries, not at all gory, and everything works out for the best eventually!
I’ve moved on now to the Marcus Corvinus Roman detective series by David Wishart, again no gore. I like the gentle humour in them, and that the same characters such, as the household slaves, reappear across the years that the books cover.

FrancisCrawford · 19/03/2020 08:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TellItLikeItReallyIs · 17/03/2020 19:59

Caro Fraser's Caper Court series - barristers having lots of sex amid legal intrigues - very readable and there are about 8 of them I think, a new one due later this year

I'd forgotten about those book - they are great and very readable. Really is there a new one coming???? I love the character Leo he is so great!

Inkpaperstars · 15/03/2020 21:31

I find Alexander McCall Smith quite comforting, Ladies Detective Agency etc

Thanks for reminding me about Riders and Rivals! Going to have to reread those.

Rhapsodyinpurple · 14/03/2020 20:38

Milly Johnson, Carole Matthews and Cathy Bramley are all easy, middle of the night comfort reads. Relatively easy to pick up and put down.

TeaAddict235 · 14/03/2020 20:32

Happy birthday and all that by Rebecca Smith.

Comforting and reassuring.

TheMemoryLingers · 14/03/2020 11:16

Caro Fraser's Caper Court series - barristers having lots of sex amid legal intrigues - very readable and there are about 8 of them I think, a new one due later this year.

Xylophonics · 14/03/2020 11:12

Freya North describes herself as writing updated JC type novels.. might be worth a try? Read Polly by FN and that was quite good.

Am going to read a Bill Bryson myself next , to try to de-stress.

fairislecable · 13/03/2020 10:07

I also find sleep evasive after 3:00 am so I use audible books with ear buds in. Bill Bryson has such a lovely soft voice anything by him will lull you back to sleep.

Honeywort · 13/03/2020 10:04

Georgette Heyer all the way! Am just reading a biog & there’s a great story of how a former soviet prisoner wrote to Heyer saying what a solace her books had been for her and her former inmates when they were imprisoned. Fridays child was a particular favourite apparently.

PhilODox · 13/03/2020 10:00

I don't think chalet school will fulfill your desire for more/better JC! I'm afraid I couldn't get further than a third through "Riders"...

LucyLatimer · 13/03/2020 09:55

I might give chalet school a go, I never read them but wonder if they might have some of that Jc feeling. Love Adrian mole too, but only the old ones. Getting sone great ideas! Finding a gentle read a great way to feel calmer

PhilODox · 13/03/2020 09:26

I like Jeeves and Wooster too Smile
Bill Bryson is also good because he's very funny, but it's a gentle humour not sharp or scathing. I've also learnt a lot from his books because they're not fiction, so that's a bonus.
The novels of Nancy Mitford are also a lovely read- humourous, interesting, but not taxing.
Of course, when I'm ill I revert to Chalet School or Malory Towers.

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