Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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?'

OP posts:
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

OP posts:
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!!

OP posts:
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.

OP posts:
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.

OP posts:
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!

OP posts:
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

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

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

OP posts:
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.

OP posts:
taffetacat · 14/01/2011 22:46

oh in that case DON'T read Room