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Original poster

Please recommend a novel that will distract me from being anxious and intrusive thoughts

32 replies

Washinginthetimeofcovid · 08/06/2020 09:04

I love Peter James and those kind of books but since covid I've had terrible insomnia and nightmares. I usually read before bed.

I have kindle unlimited and have really enjoyed detective/crime type stuff but I had a horrific dream last night involving the stuff I'd read about. Anyway - I need to change the topic.

So - Id really like something engaging but nobody dies a gruesome death!

Maybe jojo moyes or Joanna Trollope type stuff would work?

Thanks for any suggestions Smile

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Original poster
Washinginthetimeofcovid · 11/06/2020 10:34

Brilliant recommendations Thankyou.

I loved the James Herriot stuff! I'd forgotten about those. So gentle and sweet. Smile

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Torvean · 11/06/2020 01:03

I have one favourite book. Its impossible to put down.

Jackdaws is an irresistible novel of the French Resistance, love, courage and revenge set in the Second War War.
A Failed Mission
Two weeks before D-Day, the French Resistance try to destroy a telephone exchange vital to Nazi communications. Heavily defended, the mission fails disastrously.

A Daring Plan
With invasion looming, Flick Clairet, a British secret agent, proposes a daring but perilous new plan. She, along with an all-female team – the Jackdaws – will infiltrate and neutralize the exchange before Allied Forces land in France.

A Race Against Time
However, unbeknownst to Flick, Rommel has assigned a brilliant spy-catcher – Dieter Franck – to crush the French Resistance. And now Franck is closing in . .

I believe he also has a tv series on Ch 5.I think it may be Pillars of the Earth with a load of famous British actors in it such as a young Eddie Redmayne.

ozymandiusking · 11/06/2020 00:49

Peny Vincencenzi writes some fabulous novels. You can loose yourself in them completely.

highlandcoo · 11/06/2020 00:29

Oh, and The Ladies' Number 1 Detective Agency is very unthreatening.

highlandcoo · 11/06/2020 00:28

I enjoyed The Dry but the death in it is pretty unpleasant.

What about the James Herriot vet books?

Also Adriana Trigiana's Big Stone Gap series is comforting stuff.

And Mary Wesley too.

Original poster
Washinginthetimeofcovid · 10/06/2020 11:11

I really liked Eleanor Oliphant!

Also loved Kate Morton's books.

The one I'm reading now is similar in Style - Belva Plain. Very long and detailed. Beautifully written.

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ChimpsInClothes · 10/06/2020 10:07

One of my friends recently recommended Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, and I was convinced I wouldn't like it. I normally read thrillers, horror, crime etc.
I loved it 😀

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 10/06/2020 09:30

I would second Agatha Raisin.

Try Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series - about a pretty incompetent bounty hunter with two very hot men in her life Grin

Emmapeeler1 · 10/06/2020 09:27

Ps if you like crime fiction but don't want gratuitously violent how about Morse or Agatha Christie? Also I liked The Dry by Jane Harper, and I have heard the Shetland books are really well written.

Emmapeeler1 · 10/06/2020 09:24

I am re-reading Little Children by Tom Perrotta. I have also recently re-read The Interestings by Meg Wollitzer and plan to read a Kate Morton book next. Also second Marian Keyes.

Original poster
Washinginthetimeofcovid · 10/06/2020 09:20

Thankyou Smile

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larklight · 09/06/2020 21:34

Washing ah, maybe not a good suggestion then. It’s just that I can’t cope with ‘proper’ thrillers at any time, but I enjoy a straightforward whodunnit. I saw someone suggested Agatha Raisin too - more about the puzzle & the characters than the horror & detail of the murder.

Original poster
Washinginthetimeofcovid · 09/06/2020 20:15

Really @larklight ? I would have swerved anything involving murder right now Grin

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larklight · 09/06/2020 17:01

Anthony Horowitz's three murder books - Magpie Murders, The Word is Murder and The Sentence is Death - not gory or disturbing, just really well-written, easy to read, page turning mysteries. They are like modern Agatha Christies, but better.

Original poster
Washinginthetimeofcovid · 08/06/2020 15:37

Thanks a million everyone. So many lovely suggestions Smile

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IncrediblySadToo · 08/06/2020 14:51

Alexandra Brown

The GreatChristmas knit off
The Great Village Show

Both lovely. Total escapism.

Quackersandcheese3 · 08/06/2020 14:45

Some gentle escapism , Lucinda Riley is good author .

blvdbrokendreams · 08/06/2020 14:19

The switch and the flat share both by Beth o Leary are really good

princesshollysmagicalwand · 08/06/2020 14:11

Ugh, so many typos. Sorry! 🙄

princesshollysmagicalwand · 08/06/2020 14:10

Try:

Marian Keyes
Jenny Colgan
Sophie Kinsella
Cecelia Aherne
Lucy Diamond
Katie Fforde
Milly Johnson
Erica James

None of these authors wrote books that are going to educate you in any way, but nether will the make you anxious or give you bad dreams!

Always my go to for bedtime reading when I just want to switch off.

Tatiannatomasina · 08/06/2020 14:08

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, what an amazing series of books to get lost in

Clarabellawilliamson · 08/06/2020 14:06

Anything by mhairi mcfarlane should distract you! I suppose they are classic chic lit but well written, genuinely funny and decent characters.

BabyMoonPie · 08/06/2020 14:05

I hope your insomnia improves soon

BabyMoonPie · 08/06/2020 14:03

Completely frothy escapism - the Lindsey Kelk I Heart Series (first one is I Heart New York)

The Agatha Raisin (by M C Beeton) books are easy to read and not gory murder mysteries

Marian Keyes books are fantastic but not always the cheeriest

Original poster
Washinginthetimeofcovid · 08/06/2020 14:01

Thanks so much everyone.

It's like nothing I've had before. Proper terrifying nightmares involving really disgusting stuff and people I haven't seen or thought about in years. So odd.

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