To ask you to recommend a good novel?

[Ansumpasty]

I’m going through a bad time health wise at the moment and it’s triggering awful anxiety.

Having a hard time switching off and looking for a good book to read to escape from my own mind for a bit!

I don’t like crime/murder mystery or sci-fi.

Thanks

Another for Elinor Oliphant/Man called Ove (or similar) and def Henrietta Bird or Dear Mrs Bird...

I mentioned this on another thread but I just finished The Corner Shop at Cockleberry Bay, pretty light and a quick read.
Agree with the Kate Atkinson rec and Dear Mrs Bird ☝️

Like lots of the above, but most aren't crime.

Ian Rankin are gripping.

And I like Gaslight crime (downloadable for free because they're out of copyright). Surprisingly entertaining!

@Puddingmama2017 I've just finished reading ALL of Lucinda Riley's books off the back of reading the seven sister series. I loved them!

I really liked white teeth by Zadie Smith. It's quite old now but still good. I've got her second book here I keep meaning to start.

I also really liked the Clifton chronicles by Jeffrey Archer.

@redhatsdonotsuitme

Like lots of the above, but most aren't crime

that's probably because the op said she didn't like crime

If you like a gentle romance novel,you can't go wrong with something by Rosamunde Pilcher. I've read all of her books,and can recommend:-

The Shell Seekers.
Winter Solstice.
Voices in Summer.
The Day of the Storm.
September.
Snow in April.
The Empty House.
Another View.
The Carousel.
Under Gemini.
The end of Summer.
Coming Home.
Wild Mountain Thyme.

The Keeper of Lost Things is a lovely light read.

The woman in the window by A J Finn. Page turner.
Books by Liane Moriarty. She wrote Big Little Lies which was a hit TV series. Her books are about people and their relationships.

I recommend The Thirteenth Tale. I couldn't put it down.

I like Terry Pratchett for times of stress.

Jane Gardam's "Old Filth". If you like it, there are 2 more in the series to look forward to ("The Man in the Wooden Hat" & "Last Friends").

For similar reasons, Elizabeth Jane Howard's Cazalet series. "Marking Time" is the first, and there are 5 altogether.

When I'm feeling low, I always resort to PG Wodehouse, especially the Blandings novels. So bloody funny, they cure all ills imo.

I second the Blandings novels. They got me through finals!

I love Diary of a Provincial Lady - it's a bit Bridget Jones but from the 1930s.

Another one I often recommend is Property by Valerie Martin, about slavery in the US from the point of view of a slave owner. Beautifully written, totally gripping and -best of all - short!

The Light Years is the first of the Cazalet series - agree, totally brilliant. Absolutely forensic detail about domestic life and emotions. So great.

@ GottenGottenGotten opps

Barbara Pym (Jilly Cooper’s favourite author I believe), especially Some Tame Gazelle or Excellent Women. Very funny and comforting.

PG Wodehouse is great for sheer escapism.

The James Herriot books are very comforting although there are tear-jerking moments.

Hope you feel better soon.

Just seen that PG Wodehouse has already been recommended!

I second the recommendation of the Diary of a Provincial Lady. It’s very amusing.

Also, Jerome K Jerome, Three Men in a Boat and Three Men on the Bummel (the sequel in which they go cycling in Germany). Hilarious and extremely well written.

I always love a bit of Adrian Mole when I want something funny and lightweight. On the same note, The Queen and I, also by Sue Townsend, is ace for a bit of easy reading.

A Town like Alice.
On Chesil Beach.
The bridges of Madison county.

I wanted to hate it but I loved it - Eleanor Oliphant was really uplifting in a quirky way. I think it would be a good one if you are feeling a bit down (as I did when my lovely dad was dying last year) .

I loved Sue Townsend's books .. would love to find more like them.

Agree about Eleanor Olliphant, also A man called Ove and Life behind the scenes of the museum. I've just read Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, also good.

Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen, anything by Marianne Keyes.

I have recently read The Wonder by Emma Donaghue who wrote Room.
Eleanor Olliphant is great too.
Barbara Erskine’s early books were good, The Lady of Hay for example.
The Dandelion Clock by Guy Burt is also worth reading.

Some great ideas from other posters.

Also if you like Dawn French, her books are good light reading.