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Original poster

In hospital, please recommend me a good, light hearted audiobook.

59 replies

Snozzlemaid · 01/04/2025 19:07

I’m currently recovering in hospital following a ruptured brain aneurysm and all though I’m on a small ward with 3 others, two of them are annoying the fuck out of me.
Could you please recommend a good audiobook that may even make me laugh a little, so I can plug in my noise cancelling earplugs and shut the noise out.
And if I can get it from Borrowbox even better.

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RampantIvy · 11/04/2025 07:27

LadyCrumb · 01/04/2025 21:16

I love Terry Pratchett books, my favourite is witches Abroad but they’re all good tbh. There are abridged versions if you want to dip your toe in
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B004EXEWEE?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp
hope you feel better soon 🍇

Terry Pratchett is very much an acquired taste.

I appreciate that his writing is clever and there are some funny moments, but I can't stand him.

teentantrums · 11/04/2025 07:13

Dawn French - Twat files (I think!)
Hope you feel better soon!

Dappy777 · 09/04/2025 22:04

Nothing comes close to P G Wodehouse. Pure light and air and beauty and joy. He is sublime (“a balm for hurt souls,” as Stephen Fry called him). Right Ho Jeeves is his masterpiece, imo.

Douglas Adams always cheers me up as well, and so does Patrick Fermor. Evelyn Waugh, weirdly, cheers me up too, even though he’s often vicious and dark.

As for non-fiction, Bill Bryson is a go to. I also love Brian Blessed’s autobiography. If you can get him reading his own stuff on audiobook it will make you laugh out loud. I also like the essays of Bertrand Russell, Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. Oh, and Robert Graves’ Goodbye to all That. It’s full of suffering, but the stoicism and courage of that WW1 generation never fails to inspire me.

MissJeanBrodiesmother · 09/04/2025 19:02

I have just had Heroes by Stephen Fry off borrow box. V entertaining.

SapatSea · 04/04/2025 19:19

David Nicholls - You are Here

Hope you get well soon

mulchtheflowerbeds · 02/04/2025 13:05

I find unabridged Dick Francis stories can get me through miles of driving or housework. Not funny but decent books and gripping. Break in and Bolt are good and are linked by the same characters.

2024riot · 02/04/2025 12:53

I always recommend shit my dad says for laugh out loud

LollyWillow · 02/04/2025 09:12

I'm listening to Green Dot by Madeleine Gray at the moment. I'm decorating and it's fun enough to keep me going without having to concentrate. Think Bridget Jones retold by Gen Z.
Lot's of sex and swearing - so you have to not mind that.

supercalifragilistic123 · 02/04/2025 08:53

I have recently worked my way through the back catalogue of cabin pressure after a recommendation on here and thoroughly enjoyed it

notatinydancer · 02/04/2025 08:49

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a sweet book.

CurlewKate · 02/04/2025 07:11

Elisabeth Jane Howard’s Cazalet saga. The first one is called The Light Years. So long and gripping! Remember to check to make sure you get the unabridged version.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 02/04/2025 06:52

The Island on BBC Sounds -lighthearted and funny. Get well soon OP.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m00282hl?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

In hospital, please recommend me a good, light hearted audiobook.
AlwaysFreezing · 02/04/2025 06:52

Perhaps not quite as lighthearted as some of the suggestions here, but The Bee Sting by Paul Murray made me laugh out loud when I listened to it. Nice and long too.

Not funny at all but you could listen to The Salt Path before it comes out at the cinemas?

stayathomer · 02/04/2025 06:47

A colourful countryside escape by Anita Faulkner or Welcome to Seabury by Beth Rain. Any books at all by Fiona Gibson! I will warn you to listen to the samples first in case the voices irritate you, I tried an audiobook last year that had a narrator that grated too much and I ended up reading the book instead!! Hope you feel better op

BlondiePortz · 02/04/2025 06:40

Latenightreader · 02/04/2025 06:32

There are 14 I think, plus the adjacent Time Police series (but you need to read most of St Mary's first). They make more sense in order, starting with Just One Damn Thing After Another. There are some short stories which are prequels or fill in the gaps, but these have mostly been collated into books and don'tneed to be read at the right point in the series.

Edited
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Thanks for that

Latenightreader · 02/04/2025 06:32

BlondiePortz · 02/04/2025 03:18

sorry for butting but this sounds good I forgot about it, What is the best order to read them in please? I know there is a sequel so should that be read first or book 1?

Show quote history

There are 14 I think, plus the adjacent Time Police series (but you need to read most of St Mary's first). They make more sense in order, starting with Just One Damn Thing After Another. There are some short stories which are prequels or fill in the gaps, but these have mostly been collated into books and don'tneed to be read at the right point in the series.

brittanyfairies · 02/04/2025 05:53

I'm another one popping in to say The Chronicle of St Mary's Books by Jodi Taylor also the Rivers of London by Ben Aaravonitch

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 02/04/2025 05:29

I once spent a very enjoyable long drive listening to Anthony Bourdain read his own Kitchen Confidential.

BlondiePortz · 02/04/2025 03:18

Songlines · 02/04/2025 02:50

Another vote for Jodi Taylor's Chronicles of St Mary's

sorry for butting but this sounds good I forgot about it, What is the best order to read them in please? I know there is a sequel so should that be read first or book 1?

Songlines · 02/04/2025 02:50

Another vote for Jodi Taylor's Chronicles of St Mary's

reversegear · 02/04/2025 02:36

Placemaking as I have a few long flights coming up. Best wishes for your recovery OP

Wigtopia · 02/04/2025 02:08
  1. the man who died
  2. palm beach Finland

both by a Finnish chap. The humour is quite subtle and dry but funny. If you do end up listening to and liking those, be warned that he also writes more serious Nordic noir so do check the blurb if you try any of his others as not all are so lighthearted/ tongue in cheek

tobee · 02/04/2025 02:02

ErrolTheDragon · 01/04/2025 19:24

Any of the Bill Brysons. They’re the sort of thing where it doesn’t matter too much if you miss a bit or nod off.

Yes! I especially recommend At Home - A Short History of Private Life. Fascinating and funny.

Get well soon!

Needlenardlenoo · 01/04/2025 21:20

Tales of the City

LadyCrumb · 01/04/2025 21:16

I love Terry Pratchett books, my favourite is witches Abroad but they’re all good tbh. There are abridged versions if you want to dip your toe in
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B004EXEWEE?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp
hope you feel better soon 🍇