If I like Nancy Mitford, Jilly Cooper, Barbara Pym...

[bigkidsdidit]

who else would I like?

A few months of biographies, feminist book group books and Serious Tomes and I need some fun (but not crap) books for the tube journey to work.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

thanks :)

hey steamedtreaclesponge I was going to suggest 'Miss Pettigrew' too. And also I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith.

Cazalet Chronicles = amazing (in an easy to read, good story way)!

Sarah Waters - Fingersmith, The Night Watch

Penny Vincenzi - The Spoils of Time books (quite crapy but very addictive!)

whoops - crappy

Barbra Comyns!!!!

You MUST get her books, all that you can get hold of.

Can you report back and let us know what you think?

If you like Hermione Harefield, then you should love The Grand Sophy! And also because of that, I third the Amelia Peabody recommendation - the first one, Crocodile on the Sandbank, could be exactly what you are after. Harefield would seem mealy-mouthed in comparison to Peabody!

YY to Barbara Comyns, Cazalet Chronicles, I Capture The Castle, and Miss Pettigrew. Brideshead also excellent.

Does anyone love Monica Dickens?

She is my guilty pleasure.

I love Monica Dickens! And also most of the books mentioned here.

Barbara Comyns is new to me. What should I start with?

Only a few still in print. I would go for Our Spoons came From Woolworths or A Touch of Mistletoe.

They are all utterly fab. My least favourite is The Vets Daughter but its still worth a read.

Of course I will DDS!

Right mrs v have put Monica dickens and Barbra comyns on my list for next month!

If you like the Rosamund Lehman this month, I would definitely try Invitation to the Waltz next.

I haven't read much Monica Dickens but of what I have read, Mariana is definitely my favourite & I think would be a good one to start with.

She wrote two main autobiogs One Pair of Hands and One Pair of Feet. They are great too.

I like all her novels apart from one weird one she wrote in the 60s about some woman holed up with an escaped convict.

Kate and Emma is good
The Fancy

They are all very much of their time IYSWIM. MD is an obvious snob but she is equally as scathing about the middle and upper middle classes so I can deal with it.

Have a look at Stella Gibbons. She wrote Cold Comfort Farm but has also done a whole load of other novels which are quite noce and very Barbara Pym ish/. Also love Mavis Cheek and PD James

Oh. I like Monica Dickens too.

I liked Hens Dancing and Summertime more than A Perfect Life, add those too for next time .
Love Monica Dickens. Has anyone suggested Stella Gibbons yet? The Nightingale, Cold Comfort Farm and The Matchmaker are all good. Lovely and autumny somehow (maybe that's just me ).

And I just x posted wth azazello

Thanks, MrsDeV, will have a look for those.

I'd also suggest The Beautiful Visit by Elizabeth Jane Howard for those who like the Cazalet stuff but haven't tried anything else by her.

And Elizabeth Bowen, she's wonderful.

I have read The Long View by her. Its terribly brittle dont you know (that was me being all Noel Coward in case you were wondering).
It was ages ago but I liked it.

. Thanks Haberdashery! I loved the Cazalet Chronicles and was devastated when I finished them ridiculously quickly. I try to read things I like more slowly but it just doesn't work!

We should have a reading group!

I bought Conference At Cold Comfort Farm and another one by Stella Gibbons today and from dipping into them they look very good. They are on 3 for 2 at Waterstones if anyone's interested.

I've had those updated CCFs in my amazon basket for ages, do come and say if they're any good .
I am saving them for Christmas.

Came on here to say Georgette Heyer, Barbara Trapido, Cazalet Chronicles and Kate Atkinson but of course they've already been mentioned, doh.

But I am getting some wonderful inspiration, thanks! Going to try Rosamond Lehmann on your recommendations.