'Light' reading that's not absolute crap?

[HamblesHandbag]

I have a short attention span at the moment - too much to think about. I could do with some 'easy' reading but I can't do chick lit or even anything with that kind of cover.

Can you recommend me something lighthearted, gripping, interesting or fun?

Things I've read recently that fit the bill were Adrian Mole's diary, a Christopher Brookmyre novel, How to Be a Woman and surprisingly, Nothing To Envy (factual about North Korea, but accessible and fascinating). Currently reading McCarthy's Bar which is on the right lines.

I have ditched a lot of novels recently including, Room (a marmite book that I hated), Eat, Pray, Love (enjoyed the Eat section!) and The Help (which just didn't grab me).

No misery stuff or graphic murders - I'm pregnant and hormonal!

I'd really appreciate recommendations that I would never have thought of.

TIA

Oh wow, thank you so much! I'm loading up my kindle right now

I'm convinced I'm going to be admitted into hospital at some point in this pregnancy, so I feel the need to be prepared.

Conincidentally, Percy I just bought Cold Comfort Farm before I started this thread as I see it recommended on here all the time.

Georgette Heyer, defo. And CC farm. And any Pratchett except Wintersmith or Nation (too emotional).
For those who've read all the Pratchetts and the Ffordes and are looking for more in that vein I'd recommend Tom Holt - some of his stuff is better than others so check the Amazon reviews.

My ultimate comfort reading is Noel Streatfeild, truly excellent books.

What about a bit of PG Wodehouse to cheer you up. Short and silly.

I've done Tom Holt too. Like it a lot. Slightly different, but on a fantasy/supernatural vibe, I loved the Hunger Games trilogy (soon to be a major motion movie) and a series of novels about supernatural beings in London...they start with A Madness of Angels. They focus on a hero kindof anti-hero Matthew Swift. I love these...perhaps cos they're British and set in places I can visualise.

Also loved Moon over Soho. Very odd and quirky but definitely light.

I dunno about Moon Over Soho - I liked it a lot but it's a bit bleak in places.

I s'pose it is a bit bleak. I just know I've got this guy on my 'pre-order' list. I just like the whole ghost thing and thought it was written with great humour. I suppose the bleak bits kindof passed me by slightly..

It's not grim by normal people's standards, but the OP is hormonally challenged and therefore people struggling to come to terms with the fact that their face has been ripped off are contraindicated.

Any of the Cazalet novels by Elizabeth Jane Howard are great - about a family living in Sussex in the 1930s and through the war. The Light Years is the first one. I also really love India Knight's books - they made me snort tea out of my nose on a train, they are so funny - but I know that some people really hate them; I think she's a bit marmite-y. Last recommendation is She-Wolves by Helen Castor. It's a non-fiction history book about queens before the Tudors, covering Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France and Margaret of Anjou. It's serious history but told as a narrative and I couldn't put it down - very easy to read and interesting.

"the OP is hormonally challenged and therefore people struggling to come to terms with the fact that their face has been ripped off are contraindicated"

ARF! and I appreciate your protective stance Dilys!

Second vote for Susan Howatch's Starbridge novels, also Penny Vincenzi's The Spoils of Time trilogy.

If you fancy some Carl Hiaasen (recommended up-thread), try Sick Puppy - very, very funny.

LOL dilys. You are quite right. Perhaps the Matthew Swift books might be a bit bloodthirsty and all, now I think about it!

Chronicles of narnia, easy to read brilliance, marking place on thread as my head is addled too and i cant cope with much more than childrens literature just now. I cant abide chick lit but need something light too

Isn't Moon over Soho the second one in the series (if I've got the right book in mind) I thought Rivers of London was first.

Another vote for Jasper Fforde as well OP :)

I would also place a vote for Jasper Fforde - I loved Shades of Grey. Terry Pratchett's Nation was really good too, and set in the real world. On a completely seperate note have you ever read The Tent The Bucket and Me? www.amazon.co.uk/Tent-Bucket-Me-Emma-Kennedy/dp/0091926793/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330127490&sr=1-1
I read this when I was pregnant and could barely manage anything above take a break, and it made me cry with laughter. I then made everyone I know read it, and they also cried with laughter. It is awesome. Also, if you like McCarthy's Bar, try Round Ireland With a Fridge, and Playing Tennis With the Moldovans by Tony Hawkes - excelent and very light indeed. Hope this helps!

No no no not Nation. Did you skip the bit where everyone dies and he has to bury them all?!

And the other bit, that happened in England in the middle of the night with our heroine which I can't actually go into any detail about because the OP might be reading?!

NOT NATION

Childhood nostalgia: Ballet Shoes, Railway Children, Secret Garden.

Some Nancy Mitford? That is definitely frothy fun.

William Trevor short stories. He's great, his novels are sometimes creepy but in short form, have wonderfully written characters.

I second rivers of London and anything by Jasper Fforde. Douglas Coupland uplifting? The world always ends. The Agatha Raisin books are good. I recently enjoyed Pear Shaped by Stella Newman. Chick lit with a bit of bite like Marian Keyes.

So, I have just hammered my amazon account and bought LOADS of these:

Stephanie Plum,
Armistead Maupin,
Wodehouse,
Fforde,
Kate Atkinson,
Bill Bryson...

I've also read a fair few of the others suggested, so wanted to say thanks for the help and I hope this list will be useful to others

Happy reading, I hope rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly :)

Three Men In A Boat!

Yes, thank you, I'll be having a look at some of these too sometime soon. Never heard of Stephanie Plum or Cazalet, and I might enjoy those suitably light while I'm studying.

Someone mentioned Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but even better are the Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency books - fantastic and light and funny and useful (I can always find my way by following buses now) - also by Douglas Adams. I so need to re-read these.

I think Douglas Coupland IS quite uplifting, in a strange sort of way. Girlfriend In A Coma, Life After God and Miss Wyoming all worth a read.

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day

Anything by Bill Bryson except the History of the World one (good but too heavy both physically and intellectually!)

I Capture The Castle

The What Katy Did series or the Little Women series

Any Jane Austen

I find Tony Parsons books light but not fluffy - steer clear of The Family Way though, it's a good book but not one to read while pregnant (which I stupidly did and cried buckets).

The To Do List by Mike Gayle is easy reading and inspiring (in a practical get stuff done kind of way) .

Tony Hawk (Hawks?) Round Ireland With a Fridge is very amusing.