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Original poster

Easy reading - my brain is mush

48 replies

stainesmassif · 13/01/2011 21:21

Suggestions please? i like:
stephen king
not much chick lit
nancy mitford
elmore leonard
the secret history
armistead maupin

i want books to inhale - they need not have much literary worth. i recently read the free jane green book in under a day whilst thinking 'this is shit, why am i reading it?'

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Original poster
stainesmassif · 13/01/2011 21:27

i've just remembered - i like minette walters too - that kind of thing that would be be perfect

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evenkeel · 13/01/2011 21:27

Have you read Janet Evanovich's 'Stephanie Plum' books, Staines? not literary in the slightest, but great fun and you can indeed inhale them! They're very un-serious crime fiction, but funny, iyswim....

BikeRunSki · 13/01/2011 21:28

I have a soft spot for the "Shopaholic" (Sophie Kinsella) books in times of brain mush. Also Marian Keyes.

Original poster
stainesmassif · 13/01/2011 21:29

oooh, unserious crime fiction - , i love you!!

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coldtits · 13/01/2011 21:29

the janet evnovich and Marian keyes books are all fab, amusing, interesting and so digestible a 9 year old could read them

BelligerentGhoul · 13/01/2011 21:30

Don't read shit books - read 'easy reads' that have some merit!

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (if you like Nancy Mitford, you'll probably love it);
Cold Comfort Farm;
I Capture The Castle;
some Wodehouse maybe.

I'm currently re-reading King's The Gunslinger - I've told dp that I'm leaving him for Roland! :)

BelligerentGhoul · 13/01/2011 21:31

Jasper ffffffffforde is an easy read (pretend crime) but he irritates the hell out of me - still better than nothing though.

I like The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency books for absolute mindless comfort too.

evenkeel · 13/01/2011 21:32

I wouldn't call Janet Evanovich quite that bad actually Hmm........

Original poster
stainesmassif · 13/01/2011 21:34

BG - will certainly give miss pettigrew a go, have read Cold Comfort and I Capture and most of Wodehouse
I daren't read past Wizard and Glass - too sad!
coldtits - marian keyes would hit the spot too, but i think i've gone through them all.

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Original poster
stainesmassif · 13/01/2011 21:36

i couldn't get on with jf - v irritating, too silly for me.

i love the number one ladies, very comforting reading.

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Carrotsandcelery · 13/01/2011 21:37

I second "The Ladies No 1 Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith - infact anything by him. It all just washes over you in a very gentle, mildly entertaining manner. Perfect for porrige brains like mine.

Original poster
stainesmassif · 13/01/2011 21:39

oh, and before anyone suggests her, i just tried georgette heyer and we did not get on at all!

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TeaisForMugs · 13/01/2011 21:41

Under The Dome by Stephen King is excellent.

BelligerentGhoul · 13/01/2011 21:41

Oh no - you must, must read to the end of the series. It is so good and there are only a few really sad bits (okay - maybe a few more than a few!) but it is so exciting and clever and, and, and - look, just read it! :)

coldtits · 13/01/2011 21:42

I like the no 1 ladies detective agency too. I like the way my face gets tanned when I open the book.

Original poster
stainesmassif · 13/01/2011 21:46

and i found the scotland street books v disappointing too. why?

BG - i just daren't! i'm sure i gave up at the worst possible part, but i can't cope with the impending doom.

Tea - Under the Dome is one of the few books i've completed in the last year - v enjoyable

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Original poster
stainesmassif · 13/01/2011 21:47

evenkeel - have added the first six stephanie plums to my amazon wish list, ta!

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evenkeel · 14/01/2011 09:10

Hoorah! Hope you enjoy them or I shall be Blush

Wheelybug · 14/01/2011 18:59

If you liked The lady detective but didn't like scotland street series have you tried the Isabel Dalhousie series by McCall-Smith ? I am like you in that I like the lady detective but not Scotland Street but really like the Isabel Dalhousie ones.

Other than that, the Agatha Raisin series (Book People) is v. light crime fiction.

Carrotsandcelery · 14/01/2011 20:31

I like the Dalhousie ones too. Very gentle and mellow - great before bed.

Elk · 14/01/2011 20:41

I find the books by 'Miss Read' to be very easy reading. Also, anything by Rebecca Shaw or Joanna Trollope.

taffetacat · 14/01/2011 20:46

oh yes Agatha Raisin is beautifully soothing, kind of Sunday night telly reading equiv, iykwim.

I am also an A McCall Smith fan, but I love the 44 Scotland St series, the characters take a while to develop, imo. I've just received the London equiv one, Corduroy Mansions, which I am saving for a dark evening.

I've just read Room by Emma Donoghue, its easy to read but the subject matter is harrowing. Its done in such a way that focuses on the positive, though. I found it very hard to put down, read it in 2 days.

tillyfernackerpants · 14/01/2011 20:56

The Daisy Dalrymple books (Carola Dunn) are v light-hearted & easy reading, a socialite writer keeps coming across dead bodies etc.

But you must read the end of the Dark Tower series, its excellent!! Deep breath & plow through the sad bits Smile

Original poster
stainesmassif · 14/01/2011 22:30

lovely suggestions, thank you very much everyone! i have a considerable amazon wish list now.

wizard and glass has been on the passenger seat of my car for the last six months, making me feel guilty. i love roland, i truly do, but pregnancy and babies have made me a tad over emotional. maybe i'll cope with it once they've started high school.

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taffetacat · 14/01/2011 22:46

oh in that case DON'T read Room