holiday reading, lighter but not trashy anyone? (No chick lit no serial killers)

[TinyBit]

Books I've enjoyed that are the right vibe:

The Goldfinch (I'm jealous of anyone who's not read it yet!)
I Am Pilgrim
Jon Ronson
David Sedaris
Perfume
The History of Love
The 19th Wife

Any recommendations please?

the night rainbow. Is very good.

Watching with interest

I am not familiar with those books at all, so my suggestions might not suit, but I really enjoyed Philippa Gregory's Wideacre trilogy. It is completely different from her other historical novels about various members of royalty. The first book is set in the 18th century.

The Cazalet Chronicles. Not exactly a natural fit with your list, but it fits "holiday reading, light but not trashy" and is certainly not chick lit nor has any serial killers.

Read the miniaturist on holiday set in 17th century holland

omg, that Goldfinch book is 864 pages?!

I think you might enjoy Russian classic novels, OP.

Philippa Gregory

The Night Circus - so beautiful, a really enchanting tale
The Snow Child - also beautiful but maybe not a summer read
Wonder - everyone should read
The Book Thief - clever and engaging
Still Alice - a potentially depressing topic but it stayed with me so much. I am currently re-reading it only a few weeks after finishing it.

All of the above are very easy reads but not at all trashy.

viva - have just added that to my basket!

Stoner

Anything by daphne du Maurier

The Poisonwood Bible

"We were all beside ourselves" - well written, great twist.

thanks for these.

Spot on with suggestions of Poisonwood Bible, The Book Thief and We Are all... I loved them!

I'll have a mooch through the other suggestions now

My Cousin Rachel by DDM is a cracking read.

I also really like Lianne Moriaty, really good story telling, female author but not chick lit. Ideal for holiday/ plane reading .

Alan Bennet: The Uncommon Reader.
Really, really funny.

Any interest in Ancient Greece? Then maybe try Mary Renault.

oh lovely, some more suggestions!

I came on to recommend the night circus, one of my very favourite recent reads.

YY Alan Bennet!

David Niven's autobiography.

Anything about the Mitford sisters.

Just rereading 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell' - have you tried that? It belts along, absolutely fantastic (even on third reading!).

You've reminded me of 'The 19th Wife' - that was such a good book, must dig it out again.

OP - I think you would really like:

The Luminaries (beautifully written and exquisite like The Goldfinch)
Cloud Atlas (as above)
Shantaram (going by your interest in I Am Pilgrim)

I also second the recommendation for Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell.

Also recommend Liane Moriaty. Brilliant, brilliant author.

Jojo Moyes books I think fall into this category. Have enjoyed all the ones I've read. Also Margaret Forster. And for a great story, not heavy but the dialect takes a bit of getting used to, how about Gone with the Wind. Or (also not a recent book) A Suitable Boy? Or books by Ken Follett - Pillars of the Earth (and the sequel), or the Century trilogy?

Station Eleven? I'm about a third of the way through and it's beautifully written. My reading has slowed down a bit since I started it, I think it requires too much effort from my very tired mind. Because of that, later this week I will also be taking an "easy" book to read on holiday.

thanks so much for all these suggestions

I've downloaded a load of kindle samples of lots of these and my wish list is looking very healthy.