To ask for recommendations for bedtime reading to help me through a dark time

[OlderMummy1]

We have been through a difficult 6 months with serious illness in the family, losing a loved one and coping with a refluxy baby. Mumsnet has helped me so much, answering a lot of questions that I had and giving me support in this difficult time.

I now feel as if we are coming out the other side. Last week I looked at my baby and felt absolute love for him for the very first time. It was a long time coming but completely overwhelming and made me very happy. We are getting a bit more sleep and moving on with life as a family.

However, I am still finding night times hard. When I'm lying quietly in the dark I just start thinking about things and getting upset. I have to read until I am so tired that I nod right off.

Which leads me to my question. Can anyone recommend any books to me. I need something funny, fairly pointless and very easy to read, nothing heavy. I have read all the Karl Pilkington books which I really enjoyed as well as a lot of the 'Confessions of' series. My latest one was In Rude Health which was amusing. But..... I can't find anything else.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Dave Barry books are pretty funny.

I personally love the "Chicken Soup for the _ Soul" books.

Peter Kay autobiography be prepared to stifle laughter to not wake baby
Victoria clayton clouds among the stars- funny romantic murder mystery with a happy ending( as do all her books)
The grand sophy by georgette heyer
A walk in the woods by bill Bryson always has my crying with laughter and makes me glad to be in bed and not walking/camping
The business by Ian banks
Anything by sheri s tepper
Yes to cold comfort farm. TV adaption with Kate bekinsale is fab too

I reread these again and again in times of need

I read Jilly Cooper whenever I need to escape and get lost in her crazy world of shagging and show jumping.

Agree with harry potter, but on audiobook read by Stephen fry, it's just brilliant.

Catherine alliott the old girls network. Her other stuff is okay but that was a belter

Olivia goldsmith - in particular the first wives club

500 Mile Walkies and Boogie up the River by Mark Wallington. Man walks coastal path with farty dog. Man finds source of Thames with farty dog.I love these and reread them at low moments.

Annie Hawes - Extra Virgin, Ripe for the Picking and Journey to the South. She bought a house in Italy with her sister. Very funny! And odd bits if interesting stuff.

Gerald Durrell's My Family and Other Animals series.

I can second 'The Diary of a Provincial Lady' mentioned up thread, it's my favourite book of all time and one you can dip into.

Hi OP. When I went through similar dark time, I read like a maniac. Trisha Ashley literally saved my mental health. She writes is a really comforting homey way, she is predictable but i found that comforting. And she incorporates food - baking- a lot. She has also written a fair few books which is nice as they become like a bunch of friends, all set in the country in the same area. Obvs Sophie kinsella is great brain fluff, Lindsay Kelk is also really funny. Nick Spaldings "love from different sides" and following books made me snort my tea constantly. Hope you feel better!

Also agree that the Enid B's are comforting. Also the Chalet school if you can get hold of any. Agree with Harry Potter too. I recently read the hunger games trilogy despite not being 13, and found I loved it. Easy to read, gripping and intelligent. If you want to escape , albeit to to darker place , the girl with the dragon tattoo trilogy was amazing. Not happy reading but the story is amazingly written, will whisk you away from your own misery to Scandinavia where people always drink really good coffee and eat simple but mouthwatering sandwiches !

Another nod for Jilly Cooper! I also went through a shit time last year and although Candy Crush Saga helped my brain switch off it did little for my phone battery

What I found helped was (don't laugh) omg, can't believe I'm about to fess up (don't judge me) was (oh god oh god) the (I seriously am clever and read war books and shit) the (here goes) Jordan's collection of autobiographies...sorry

It was all marshmallow bum guff that I didn't have to think about (well duh) and got me through a bad time.

Don't judge me, don't judge me...!!!!

My go to books when I'm anxious and can't sleep are similar to the above: Enid Blyton and I Capture the Castle are frequent favourites.

I also read the following:
Tamora Pierce's Tortall books (writes young fantasy - my ultimate favourite author!)

• The Bagthorpe Saga
• The Saddle Club
• Pride and Prejudice
• The Bartimaeus Trilogy

Holly's inbox...only sad bit is she breaks up with her boyfriend due to a mis understandly but I don't want to ruin the ending it will have you in tears..and laughter...I lve the ending. Dam op I'm going to read it again.

Hollys inbox...Ever wanted a peek at someone else's emails?

Meet Holly Denham. It's her first day as a receptionist at a City investment bank and, with no cooperate front-of-house experience, Holly is struggling to keep up. Add to this her mad friends, dysfunctional family and gossipy colleagues, and Holly's inbox is a daily source of drama, laughter, scandal and even romance. But Holly's keeping a secret from everyone - and the past is about to catch up with her...(less)

Stupid head, I am not judging and am off to download the Jordan books right now!!!!!!!!

I was going to suggest Georgette Heyer but have been beaten to it. I've reread them so many times but love them!

I'm astounded at how many of you love the Shopaholic books...I hated the first one with a passion! I know we're all different

old fashioned girls books are my favourite duvet read
Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Pollyanna, Daddy long legs, What Katy Did- these are all free on your kindle

The Timewaster Letters by Robin Cooper. Seriously - they're the funniest things I've ever read.

Would also highly recommend Bill Bryson - A Walk in the Woods is very, very funny. I love Bill Bryson I do.

I so agree with many of your suggestions EF Benson (Mapp and Lucia series), PG Wodehouse, Bill Bryson, Nora Ephron, Tina Fey but it's nice to come across new recs as well. Just downloaded an Alice Munro collection; I've never read her.

I must be in the minority on this one, but when I'm REALLY low, I do find reading sad books makes me feel much better. Last year was a difficult one, and a book, for example, on survival in a Cambodian labor camp made me feel stronger about the challenges I was facing.

I'd like to add good wishes to the OP for brighter days (and more restful nights) soon. I'm an older mummy too.

When I'm in that sort of place, I prefer reading non-fiction, as it's often in chunks smaller than a chapter so I can pick and choose. By my bed I have:

Castaway by Lucy Irvine
Body of work
Looking for Transwonderland
The poem and the journey

Can I recommend Jenny Colgan: The Little Beach Street Bakery. I read it recently and it is such a feel good, heartwarming story of a lady who has to rebuild her life from scratch, and it is such a lovely, positive read, I found it really raised my spirits when I was reading it.

Adrian Mole , anything by Christopher Brookmyre or The Stephanie Plum detective series (US author whose names just gone awol in my head, fantastically funny)

Oh, I also recommend Bill Bryson, his 'Down Under' book had me in stitches, and I'm an Aussie!