Uplifting joyful and happy books

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I thought a list of books to perk us all up might be a good idea right now. I'm fed up of thrillers and crime novels and feel the need to escape all the doom and gloom going on in the world.

I adore Cider with Rosie so that's top of the list for me.

Any more?

Jilly Cooper's Rivsls is one of my favourites.

Rivals !!

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
84 Charing Cross Road

Someone else will be along to say I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith in a minute, but I wasn't so keen on that myself. I mean, I liked it, but I didn't think it was as good as everyone said.

My Family and Other Animals, anything by PG Wodehouse

Cold Comfort Farm

And yes, as above, Jeeves and Wooster is perfect escapism.

PG Wodehouse Jeeves and Wooster stories are always fab. My favourite is "The Great Sermon Handicap," in which they are stuck in a country house and bored so start betting on which of the local vicars will do the longest sermon the next Sunday. The next story continues with the same spirit applied to the village fete and sports day.

Children's classics:
Charlotte Sometimes
Ballet Shoes
Tom's Midnight Garden

Yes, children's books! Wind in the Willows, Paddington, Winnie the Pooh.

Diary of a Nobody - hilarious. Mr. Pooter is a Victorian version of David Brent.

For me any Austen except Mansfield Park. Also Wilkie Collins

For others possibly Dickens.

Chalet School books would be good. I am sad I didn't keep mine. We could do with a bit of Joey right now.

Nancy Mitford

Marion Keynes maybe. The only chick lit I think has really stood up over time. Funny but not facile.

There is an article in the Guardian yesterday which had some suggestions

Come tell me how you live by Agatha Christie.

It's a superb, very funny, gentle read of her travels to Syria with her archaeologist husband in the 1930s.

She begins with a description of the difficulties of clothes shopping for the expedition and how embarrassing it is to be immediately recognised by shop assistants as OS (out size - XL), but on a good day in a slimming black coat she can pass for merely a Full Woman. They knew how to flatter in the 30s!

The book continues with their journey on the Orient Express and details daily life and tribulations of living in camp.

Just thought of another - Diary of a Provincial Lady.

Loving all these, thank you! I'm having fun adding new books to my shopping list.
Childrens books are a great idea. Dd has a lot of Judy Blume so I can take a trip down memory lane with those.

Three Men In A Boat (Jerome K Jerome). Victorian but not remotely heavy and never fails to make me laugh.

Mr Golightly’s Holiday (Salley Vickers). A lovely read with a major twist which I didn’t get until nearly the end 1st time, but still enjoy revisiting.

Crampton Hodnet (Barbara Pym, who’s been described as a cross between Mrs Gaskell and Jane Austen)
It’s set in pre WW2 North Oxford, so almost as much a period piece as Jane Austen now. It pokes gently wicked fun at both academia and the clergy. One of my all-time keepers.

All the William books (Richmal Crompton) - still have the aeons-old that belongs to my DF.

I’m sure many others I can’t think of ATM.

The Martian- Andy Weir.
Astronaut stuck alone on Mars. Sorts shit out with such a positive frame of mind (and pleasingly sweary) that it's very uplifting.

In times like these, the William books are a great shout. They are perfect because they were actually written for adults but offer that "children's book" escapism.

I love them.

Sophie Kinsella books are a very easy read - the earlier shopaholic ones weren’t too bad ... I like Lisa Jewell as well - have read Vince and Joy a hundred times over I think . Anything by Sue Townsend too . Cecelia Ahern, although can be quite moving in places .

I love a good classic as well (my degree is in English lit) - Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Tess, Emma all good for a bit of escapism .

Finally - Bill Bryson . Could not recommend him more . Notes From a Small Island is a good starter .

I love Jill Mansell and Marian Keyes books. Milly Johnson is great too.

Rosamunde Pilcher is lovely comfort reading.

Thanks so much everyone. Great recommendations