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Original poster

Easy to read book that isn't a love story

62 replies

Adollop · 24/10/2019 18:57

I'm looking for a new book. I loved Eleanor Oliphant and also just finished The Lido, great book.

So long for something like that, not keen on love stories these days. I'm in my fifties and find them a bit sickly. I've enjoyed a lot of Marian Keyes books, also Lisa Jewell, although not as much her latest ones. I prefer books set in Britain.

So what have you read recently and enjoyed that fits the bill?

OP posts:
Papergirl1968 · 24/10/2019 23:57

I was going to suggest Liane Moriaty but she’s Australian so her books tend to be set there.
Dorothy Koomson writes some good ones, usually set in Brighton.

Papergirl1968 · 24/10/2019 23:59

Liane Moriarty, sorry.

Original poster
Adollop · 25/10/2019 00:39

Thanks, I'll look at those.

I've read one of Liane Moriartys books. It was ok.

I've read some of Dorothy Koomstons earlier books, they were quite good.

I struggled with Gerald Durrell.

Loved Harold Fry, I'm not sure if I've read the sequel, so will look for that.

I've read all David Nicholls books, loved them.

OP posts:
Springfern · 25/10/2019 15:32

Anything by Elizabeth Strout or Meg Wolitzer - Womotzer wrote The Wife (which was made into a film last year) but all her other books are great as well

Springfern · 25/10/2019 15:32

Wolitzer**

Original poster
Adollop · 25/10/2019 16:07

Thanks, that sounds good, I've downloaded a few samples into my kindle.

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 25/10/2019 16:09

This is Going to Hurt - Adam Kaye

HuckfromScandal · 25/10/2019 16:11

Came on to say Chronicle of St Mary’s
Really really enjoyed
Funny escapism.
Can’t recommend enough!

raisinseverywhere · 25/10/2019 16:15

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

drspouse · 25/10/2019 16:18

I loved The Help but it IS sad.
I've also loved almost all of Barbara Kingsolver.
I read a lot of mysteries. I've loved the Lewis series (as in, Island of)

JoinTheMicrodots · 25/10/2019 16:20

The sequel to The Rosie Project was a bit shit but worth reading so that you can read the third in the series, which was excellent.

The Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. You have to bear with the slightly dubious attitudes (in places) of the characters to start with - the first ones were written in the 70s and they’re set in the 1880s-1920s. They were supposed to be tongue in cheek and taking off a certain style of victorian adventure novel. They’re funny and it’s a long series, so something to get your teeth into. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Peabody_series

astridstar · 25/10/2019 16:59

I loved the 5 books in the Cazelet Chronicles by Elizabeth Howard:-

•	All Change
•	Casting Off
•	The Light Years
•	Confusion
•	Marking Time

Suggested then to friends who have really enjoyed them as well. They begin in the late 1930s and follow the various family members through to the fifties.

BigFatLiar · 26/10/2019 08:58

Not particularly long but I enjoyed it
'Of Mice and Men' Steinbeck

highheelsandwitcheshats · 26/10/2019 10:19

Of Mice and Men is excellent, short and easy to read in terms of being taxing, but it does stay with you afterwards.
This Is Going To Hurt is laugh out loud funny but takes a dark turn.

I enjoyed The Cornershop in Cocklebury Bay by Nicola May. It's the first in a series, but I didn't like the second one.

Tableclothing · 26/10/2019 10:25

Would you read non-fiction?

The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery is fab. She's a naturalist who develops an interest in the titular creature. The book is quite episodic, and she describes lots of amazing things about octopuses, her learning to scuba dive and then diving to see octopuses in the wild, getting to know some (they definitely have individual personalities) in an aquarium, pen portraits of some of the people she meets along the way. It's a very readable, enjoyable, often funny book.

squashyhat · 26/10/2019 10:25

The Woman at the Window by Jenny Eclair and The Keeper by Graham Norton. I usually give celebrity authors the swerve but these are quite well written and enjoyed by my book club (although the very end of The Keeper is a cop-out).

BigFatLiar · 26/10/2019 11:55

May not be your scene but you could try
We Never Make Mistakes, or/and
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch
both by Solzhenitsyn

I was a bit doubtful about reading Solzhenitsyn but actually enjoyed most of his books (same with Steinbeck & Hemingway)

Just give authors a try. Sometimes you find yourself enjoying the most unlikely reads.

Tried any Sci-Fi (even if you don't like fantasy, some sc-fi is good)

Shockers · 26/10/2019 12:02

I was also going to suggest Graham Norton as easy reads.

I enjoyed Elenor Oliphant too OP.

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 26/10/2019 12:50

I've just reread The Shell Seekers. A big, comforting, winter day book.

Deecaff · 26/10/2019 13:41

Reading The Word is Murder and have read Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz- both whodunnits but with an original angle on the genre.

InvisibleWomenMustBeRead · 26/10/2019 14:08

Baking cakes in Kigali was also very good.

Crystal87 · 26/10/2019 15:11

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon and the Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan were a couple I really enjoyed a while ago.

AnnaNimmity · 26/10/2019 15:25

My sister the serial killer
Convenience store woman

I loved Circe

Original poster
Adollop · 26/10/2019 15:46

I've read some Jenny Eclair Eclairs and enjoyed then, but don't recognise that one. I'll look at the Graham Norton one too.

I'm not keen on sci-fi books.

Yes, The Shell Seekers is wonderful, I've reread it many times.

I've read and enjoyed This is Going to Hurt.

I'll look for the Rosie Project sequels.

Thanks everyone, I'll look at all the suggestions.

OP posts:
MotherForkinShirtBalls · 26/10/2019 17:24

How about The Night Circus? More magical than sci fi but a lovely read.