Best book for curling up in bed with a hot waterbottle?

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

So, my very first new thread! It's freezing here, I'm off to bed early - probably before the teenagers - what to read? What does everyone else recommend? I'm not a chicklit or a scifi person though..

Hope - A tragedy by Shalom Auslander
Brilliant, brilliant book about a bloke who finds Anne Frank living in his attic. I know, I know, it sounds dreadful. But it's so unbelievably funny, and sad and clever and thought-provoking.

Mr Penumbra's 24 hour bookstore or Ready Player one. Both very readable but with interesting ideas.

Oh scratch that they are a little bit sci fi.

Skallagrigg by William Horwood.

Cherrypi - thank you, perhaps I'll look at reviews of those two, I'm sure there are different types of sci fi. I like the sound of a 24 hour bookshop!

Nivet - yes, a good story, read it years ago, not sure I've still got it, but will look. Have you read Horwood's The Stonor Eagles?

How about The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, or The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce? I read both recently, and enjoyed them.

I always think that old favourites work best in that situation -

Ballet Shoes
Little Women and the rest of the series
What Katy Did and the follow ups
Daddy Long Legs
Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day
Any Jane Austen

I read The Darling Buds of May recently, very heart-warming if you like that sort of thing.

Anything on Remus' list - or Night Watching by Sarah Moss if you want something gripping and real. It's not comfort reading though.

Margaret Drabble, The Radiant way

Any P.G. Wodehouse

I hated, 'Nightwatch.' Staggered my way through about 70% of it and then decided that life was too short. I just couldn't get on with it and had zero interest in the characters or their situations. Am surprised now though, Clary, because we clearly like the same comfort reads at least!

Ooh yes to Wodehouse.

Also, The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.
Agatha Christie.
Evelyn Waugh - I like, 'A Handful Of Dust' best.
Maybe some Raymond Chandler?

I love 'She's Come Undone' by Wally Lamb. Recommended to me on MN

Any nancy Mitford.
Agree with a bit of Austen too

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Literally the best book I have read in years - beautifully written and completely intriguing. I couldn't put it down

OP I struggled with the Stonor Eagles and the wolf ones, enjoyed the Duncton Tales though.

Other suggestions:

The Prince of Tides - Pat Conroy
Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin
The Far Pavillions - M M Kayes
The Loving Spirit or Frenchman's Creek - Daphne Du Maurier
Any of the Bryant & May books by Christopher Fowler or the Lord Peter/Harriet Vane series by Dorothy L Sayers

And seconding the recommendations for Agatha Christie, read the entire Miss Marple series when on maternity leave with PFB, Nancy Mitford is fabulous.

Persephone Books is a great source of inspiration - here

Last night I snuggled up by the fire with the dogs and 'Rebecca' by Daphne Dumaurier. I didn't get to sleep until 1 am because I just HAD to finish it .

Hercule P way better than doddering old Miss Marple though!

I adore Poirot.

I also recommend Somerset Maugham' short stories. Mysogynistic, yes. But so deliciously written...

Wow! So many interesting replies, thank you everyone. Some books I've read, some I haven't. Several new-to-me authors to explore, I'll have a pile of new books which will last much longer than the cold weather!

I'm reading The Long Walk at the moment by Stephen King/Richard Bachman.

'The Long Walk' is superb. Deffo not a cosy read though! :) Only read it when you're feeling strong because it's v v v bleak.

Winter in madrid or the Shardlake series by CJ Sansom great reads and hope you get snowed ito finish them ! there addictive

Schizophrenic Rainbows - Addison Maitland - I read this sooo quick. Surprisingly thought provoking.