Easy Reading/Page Turners to start 2021

[ritzbiscuits]

I'd welcome suggestions of easy reading/page turners to start 2021. I've read a paltry 7 books this year and want to aim for at least 20.

I've just started Away with the Penguins last night which seems an easy reader. Please can you suggest any others as I need to build a habit over Christmas/January without anything too heavy.

Thanks and Happy Christmas you lovely bunch

I really enjoy Jenny Colgan.

Sorry @ritzbiscuits no useful suggestions but to say that I need to up my reading too. If anyone had told me about lockdown I would have instantly said what a wonderful opportunity to read, however, the reality has been very different. My concentration has gone out the window and I miss the "routine" of selecting my reading from library shelves and charity shop shelves.

What type of book do you like? What were the 7 you read and that might help us give you some ideas?

Normal People by Sally Rooney is fairly easy reading and you can watch the TV series as well.

Convenience Store Woman is very short and quirky.

What about some graphic novels? Persepolis and Fun Home are both excellent. Both heavier content than the other two but quick reads.

@Kazplus2 I tend to read more non fiction, memoirs about people who have had interesting lives. I'd like to read more fiction but I can't say I read anything particularly high brow. I like the idea of a thriller (and seem to get through these quickly) but often disappointed by them.

My favourite books from the last two years were:

The Cut Out Girl - Bart Van Es
The World I Fell Out Of - Melanie Reid
Unnatural Causes - Richard Shepherd
Somebody That I Used to Know - Wendy Mitchell

(All memoirs!)

@gailforce1 Yes my concentration is shot after the trials of this year. I'm often back to back on Zoom most work days now and feel exhausted on an evening.

I am sure others will suggest this but This is going to hurt abd the sequel are both easy reads.
I also reread Adrian Mole this year which was easy and diaries are good to pick up and put down as well.
Somebody on here recommended The song of a achilles too which was easy and quite broken up so could dip in and out of it.

My favourite autobiography is ancient, David Niven. There's two- Bring on the Empty Horses and The Moon's a Balloon. Very funny and full of Hollywood gossip from years ago.
I also liked the Tony Curtis one called American Prince.
It depends what you like hearing about. I'll read anyone if they are funny and witty. That's more important than an exciting life.

Non fiction, biographies and memoirs I have enjoyed this year are
Kick- Paula Bryne - biography of John Kennedy's sister
The Century Girls- Tessa Dunlop- life stories of a varied group of centenarians
Ladies Can't Climb Ladders- Jane Robinson Women who were among the first of their sex to join a range of professions
The Life Challenge -Helen Pearson - Longitudinal population studies and the people who set them up and ran them-far more interesting than it sounds!
On Chapel Sands Laura Cummings - author investigates a mystery in her mother's early life
The See Through House Shelley Kline - memoir of a woman who was bought up in a unique, modern house in Scotland and the impact it had on her and her family's life.

I enjoy non fiction too.
Ones I have particularly enjoyed this year include Wilding and Factfulness.

Thanks back online after Christmas, will take a look at these further suggestions now.

I've been in a bit of a slump all year too... my focus is shot! However I did start reading The Wives by Tarryn Fisher last night and stayed up reading until 4am (for the first time this year!).

Someone who reads a tonne of thrillers might come along and tell me there are better ones out there but it's not a genre I read at all so I was impressed.

Maybe try switching up genres completely?

For memoirs, I really recommend With The End In Mind and Uneducated.

What about Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner for memoirs? She was a lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, she was on the Graham Norton show and was hilarious for an elderly, upper-class lady. I was given the book at Christmas and although I have only read about 15 pages I am finding it engaging and not heavy going at all.

For ease to dip in and out of, I’ve really enjoyed Veronica Henry this year. She used to be a screen writer for heartbeat and the archers, so while it’s all quite chick lit, it has a bit more backbone than some with some good character development and I’m finding them really enjoyable escapist books without concentrating or feeling frustrated that I have to switch my brain off to enjoy

If you're looking for more memoirs Born a Crime by Trevor Noah is brilliant

I usually read something light over Christmas. I've just read and enjoyed Away with the Penguins which I think would fit your description.

A Christmas Carol is also an easy and entertaining read

Whoops, I can see you've already started on Away with the Penguins.

Liane Moriarty - Nine Perfect Strangers was easy and entertaining; I also enjoyed Big Little Lies.
Little Fires Everywhere.
For mysteries, you can't do better than Dorothy Sayers.