Can someone please help me find a book of short stories to buy?

[pobletsmum]

Hello,

I'm due to have my 2nd baby in Feb, and would like to find a book of short stories that is easy to read for when I'm in hospital/early days & weeks at home. I don't have the brain power right now to read 'normal' books, and have previously enjoyed a collection of short stories (although I can't find it or remember what it was called).

I would like to find something that is:

• paperback
• mix of authors in one book to give variety
• easy reading, not horror or sci-fi (although it doesn't matter if a small proportion of the stories fall into these categories)

I very rarely allow myself the time to read, but enjoy most contemporary authors (I mean the sorts of books in the bestseller charts). I would read most things from Danielle Steel to Daphne du Maurier, and have enjoyed things like 'the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time' and Harry Potter. In the early days after having a baby, probably the 'cheesier' the better!

Does anyone know of a book that might suit me? I went into Borders this morning thinking there might be a 'Short Stories' section, but was disappointed. I asked 2 members of staff for advice with no luck. Both said I need to have a title/author in mind. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack!

Please help!

I like Rosamunde Pilcher short stories - I think they'd suit you - but I don't know if they are still in print.

Thanks stleger. I'll have a look online. I am really hoping for a mix of authors though, cos there are bound to be some I like more than others.

What about those Girls'/ Boys' Night Out/In charity collections? DW enjoyed those.

Or for something a little more cerebral try
this

aha, great minds!

How do you feel about library books? (I know some people prefer to have everything New about them with a new baby ...) - if that's OK, I should think library is perfect for what you're looking for - you can pick up a volume of Katherine Mansfield, one of PG Wodehouse, the marvellous Helen Simpson, some Chekhov, a Virago collection, and then just dip from one to the other.

what about jackie collins or jilly cooper very very easy reading

Am not very impressed with your Borders staff, they should have had some ideas.

If you want a mixture of authors, I have enjoyed collections such as 'Short stories by women' 'Stories about mothers and daughters'etc etc- gives you a variety of eras and styles.

Sheena MacKay used to be very good, down to earth, funny and sad.....

Annie Proulx writes lovely short stories - try the Bad Dirt collection.

Thank you all so much!

The Girls night in books look perfect! I'll also look into all the other suggestions, thanks.

Bink - using library books is a great suggestion. I have just renewed 3 library books (all birth/labour-related) that were 5 days overdue - whoops! Around the time of having this baby, I don't want to have to think about returning books on time/worrying about them being covered in baby sick/milk etc. Also, I really want one book that has a variety of stories that I can choose according to my mood (without having to lug several books to hospital/around the house). Plus... I very rarely spend any money on myself, and have some Christmas money, so was hoping to find a really good book to buy myself as a treat. There's something very special about owning a brand new book that hasn't been read by anyone else.

After my shopping trip today I thought I was asking for something that didn't even exist. Mumsnet to the rescue again!

Ok, not a mix of authors in one collection but Maeve Binchy has 2 short story books

The Lilac Bus
Victoria Line, Central Line

If you want 'cheesy' or imo 'cosy' you can't go far wrong with Miss Read (considered old-fashioned, twee etc but who cares!). Can get some titles if you are interested.

One of my favourite books is 'Dubliners' but maybe not what you are after atm - maybe later on!

oh yes yes

The Farenheit Twins by Michael Faber

so good I started a thread about it! and you can read one of the stories on there

I like Helen Simpson and Alice Munro for short stories.

pobletsmum now is the time to get yourself arranged online with the library. with mine you can search, order, renew and be emailed when books are ready to collect, all free. with all that nightfeeding i found myself with odd reading crazes in the middle of night so varied short stories is an excellent idea. large print is especially helpful although books a bit heavy (weight).

Chickensoup for the soul!

fishie - the sad thing is that I DO renew etc online - I just have a brain like a seive right now!

sieve?

Yes pob. I before E except after C.

Rosamund Pilchers short stories are excellent as stleger said,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
www.amazon.co.uk/Bedroom-Other-Stories-Coronet-Books/dp/0340540214/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=11 99802350&sr=1-1

heres a link to one.............

Try this collection of short stories about pregnancy and birth, some of them are better than others but I enjoyed reading them around the time my second was born - i couldn't concentrate on much other than babies and labour, and was devouring any stories about them i could find - though you may wish to have your mind taken off the subject instead!

Good luck with the new baby!

I thought Helen Simpson was a bit up herself to be honest, and seems to have problems with men.

highly recommend The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Helen Simpson a bit up herself?

Can you give an example, UQD?

Men do not come out well from her descriptions, but they are all too recognisable. Not her fault if they give her ammunition.

She just really seems to have it in for men in general. The guy who is a teacher and doesn't have a "proper job" where he is home late is made fun of by the mother, and there's all that stuff about his not repairing the door handle. Why the feck should it be just HIS job? And of course the difficult children in the first story just HAVE to be boys, don't they?...