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Need recommendations for funny or absorbing but not too demanding reads for a hospital stay

50 replies

MrsJohnDeere · 23/02/2013 15:40

Nothing about babies/birth or cancer or death.

Not a fan of chick lit but not really likely to be in the mood for some tricky magic realism type literature either.

Authors I love (but have read all of) include Anne Tyler, Margaret Atwood, Iain Banks, Bill Bryson. Have read lots of Scandi crime stuff recently too.

Authors I can't get on with include Thomas Hardy, John Irving, and I thought that The Help and One Day were absolute drivel. No sci-fi.

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Bilbobagginstummy · 23/02/2013 15:48

Can I be the first to recommend practically anything by Georgette Heyer. Very funny historical romances. Not mushy though - and very well written.

TheOneAndOnlyAlpha · 23/02/2013 15:56

P G Wodehouse. My standby for any crappy moments in life. You can't beat Jeeves and Wooster.

happyAvocado · 23/02/2013 15:59

Three men in a boat, even though you are going to read it in hospital :)

MrsMiniversCharlady · 23/02/2013 15:59

The Diary of a Provincial Lady is my sick-in-bed-need-the literature-equivalent-of-comfort-food remedy.

hatchypom · 23/02/2013 16:02

damn was going to recommend bryson .... i tend to go low brow in hospital read all 3 hunger games during stay last year.

starsandunicorns · 23/02/2013 16:03

There is a book called A short history of tractors in the Ukaine that is good. Its a ficton.

MrsJohnDeere · 23/02/2013 16:43

All great ideas. Just the sort of thing I'm after. Keep them coming!

Have read all Jeeves but it could be time for a re-read.

Shockingly Diary of a Provincial Lady isn't available on Kindle.

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Wishiwasanheiress · 23/02/2013 16:47

I'm going to whisper this but Alan titchmarsh writes a decent enough book for holidays or this type of escapism. I've really enjoyed them all. Ill no doubt be laughed on here and I was surprised too in truth but they were really good!

MrsJohnDeere · 23/02/2013 16:50

Any in particular you'd recommend?

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TomArchersSausage · 23/02/2013 16:53

Unreliable Memoirs by Clive James. Watch out if you have stitches though, it's v funnyGrin

elvislives2012 · 23/02/2013 16:54

I just read the woman who went to bed for a year by sue Townsend. Really enjoyed it. Don't need to think too much and made me chuckle

TomArchersSausage · 23/02/2013 16:56

Starter For Ten is hilarious esp if (like me) you were a teenager in the 80's. I can remember crying with laughter reading it.

dapplegrey · 23/02/2013 16:57

Dear Lupin by Charlie Mortimer

DuchessofMalfi · 23/02/2013 17:16

WishIwasanheiress - I admit to scoffing at DH for picking up an Alan Titchmarsh novel and reading it recently, but he said it was (surprisingly) rather good. He can tell a good story, apparently. If you're interested, it was called The Haunting. I might even be tempted to give it a go myself :)

hugoagogo · 23/02/2013 17:38

How about 'Diary of a nobody' by George and William Grossmith? Very funny.

MrsJohnDeere · 23/02/2013 17:42

Free to download on the Kindle Wink . Excellent.

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hugoagogo · 23/02/2013 18:02

I thought it might be. Grin

I hope you enjoy it.

hugoagogo · 23/02/2013 18:05

PooH! it's Weedon not William, that's what I get for not checking. Blush

PotteringAlong · 23/02/2013 18:17

Have you read 'an American wife' by Curtis sittenfeld? Or I absolutely loved 'Marjorie Morningstar' by Herman Wouk.

Both well worth it but don't involve too much concentrating!

timidviper · 23/02/2013 18:20

I gave my DM A Short History of Tractors in the Ukraine when she was in hospital and she got so engrossed she asked us not to visit one day so she could finish it!

bumbez · 23/02/2013 18:27

How to be a woman Caitlin Moran . It's very funny.

MrsJohnDeere · 23/02/2013 19:36

Have read Ukrainian Tractor book, Caitlin Moran (found irritating, sorry), Clive James and American Wife.

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MrsJohnDeere · 23/02/2013 19:38

Like the sound of the Herman Wouk one but no Kindle edition.

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PotteringAlong · 23/02/2013 21:05

'Peyton place' - grace metalious?

difficultpickle · 23/02/2013 21:06

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. Best book I have read in years and totally absorbing.