I've lost my concentration span, please help me find something 'easy' but not trashy

[LowLevelBlinging]

My favourite book recently by a million miles was The Goldfinch. In fact, I loved it so much that I've struggled to follow it.

I'm also studying and working, so by the time I get DCs to bed I find my concentration span is pretty poor.

So, can anyone recommend me something easy but not trashy? Non-fiction recommendations welcome too.

If it helps, these are the kind of books I've enjoyed:

The Nineteenth Wife
The Psychopath Test
All of David Sedaris' books (devoured!)
Nothing to Envy
How to be a Woman
The Song of Achilles
This Thing of Darkness (LOVED this)
The Lewis trilogy

I've just ditched a James Ellroy book as I couldn't follow who was who and the slang was hard work for me.

Any recommendations gratefully received!

Anything by Jojo Moyes, in particular The Ship of Brides.

Didn't mean that to come up as a link!

Also try My Year of Meat by Ruth Oseki

Oh, and Nothing to Envy: real lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick

Technically a YA book but I loved A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge.

I think I'm prejudiced against Jojo Moyes; I always lumped her in with chick lit and Jodie Picoult. Is that unfair?

I loved Nothing to Envy

(what's with the accidental links happening around MN at the moment btw?)

I just finished I Am Pilgrim and it's exactly what you need. I don't normally go in for thrillers, but it was such a great read. Again, the term 'page turner' would normally put me off, but it wasn't trashy at all.

Goldfinch is next for me.

Oh I'd love a 'page turner'! It happens so rarely.

LowLevel we have a lot of crossover. I also LOVED 'This thing of darkness'.

Have you read Sarah Waters? If not, DEFINITELY try.

Short stories are good for concentration - Annie Proulx (brilliant but bleak); anthologies which always have something.

Later William Boyd - Waiting for Sunrise, for example?

I recently loved TC Boyle's 'Water Music', which is fiction-biography along the lines of 'Thing of Darkness', tells the story of Mungo Park in Africa. It's riotous and bawdy, though, not calm and measured like 'Darkness'.

White fever - sorry can't remember the author bit if you enjoyed nothing to envy this is about life in rural Russia - I found it fascinating.

Why don't you try We're All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler?

It's on the Booker long list, but skips along merrily, has enough long words and unravelling plot/twists to make you feel it's intellectually stretching, but has a chatty, first person narrative that I find very engaging.

The Cuckoo's Calling is an easy, enjoyable read.

OhGood, Any particular Sarah Waters you'd recommend? I read about half of The Night Watch and ditched it, I think I just found it quite slow, but I'd love specific suggestions.

The Amazon reviews of Water Music definitely sell it to me!

Timeforabiscuit, White Fever looks right up my street, thank you.

Start with 'Fingersmith'.

All the best bits of Victorian England / fiction, twistily plotty, really good fun.

OhGood, I'd forgotten I've read Fingersmith donkey's years ago - really enjoyed it!

this is going to cost me a fortune

What about Notes on a Scandal?

You might enjoy the lighthouse by Alison Moore

What about something by Bill Bryson? Notes from a Small Island and Thunderbolt Kid are particular favourites of mine.

The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling is a non taxing read.

The Edible Woman or Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood - I've always found them an easy read.

if you want a Sarah Waters it's got to be the Little Stranger.

I second We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves - it sounds like we have similar taste, OP, so on that basis this thread is also going to cost me a fortune .

I've just read Elizabeth Is Missing - absolutely superb.

James Meek, especially The People's Act of Love and We Are Now Beginning Our Descent.

The Sisters Brothers?

If you like David Sedaris have you read Augusten Burroughs?

oh brilliant, more recommendations, thank you!

My wish list is looking particularly healthy