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Original poster

Cosy, uplifting, but still "literary" novel to read in the evenings?

52 replies

Psm92 · 29/09/2022 18:03

^^ Just that. I'd like a novel to read in the evenings after work, but as of late seem to have been drawn towards dark-ish stuff, or at least novels with heavy themes. I'd like something a bit more relaxing, not trash nor chicklit/YAetc., but still on substance. Recommendations welcome!

OP posts:
Narwhaleahoy · 29/09/2022 21:25

Deffo recommend Georgette Heyer too. Love Cotillion and Arabella especially. Mary Stewart wrote really well, they are obviously of their time, 1940s - 60s, but are great. The Ivy Tree or Nine Coaches Waiting are both really good.

BadGranny · 29/09/2022 21:30

Elif Shafak ‘The Island of Missing Trees’ is wonderful.

CinnamonSweet73 · 29/09/2022 21:38

Still Life by Sarah Winman was very uplifting I thought

junebirthdaygirl · 29/09/2022 21:48

tunnocksreturns2019 · 29/09/2022 20:51

I was going to suggest this! My audiobook for my commute at the moment, I think it’s brilliant

Show quote history

I was coming on to suggest this too. Reading it at the moment and really enjoying it.

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 29/09/2022 22:24

EM Delafield's Diary of a Provincial Lady - like Bridget Jones in the country in the 30s.
Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
Possession - A S Byatt
Elizabeth Von Arnim - all of them!

I have been trying to think of something with a similar vibe by a man and coming up empty, and yet there must be something!

I'm off to find The Blue Flower because all the others listed by a PP are my favourites.

Arcadia · 30/09/2022 07:11

Lady's Maid by Margaret Forster

schmalex · 30/09/2022 07:13

Lessons in Chemistry is exactly this.

Squeezedsquash · 30/09/2022 07:15

Books nominated for the Women’s Prize for fiction tend to tick this box for me. Intelligent but not usually so literary I can’t get through it. I’ve just enjoyed the Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead. It’s a long one!

Haus1234 · 30/09/2022 07:15

CinnamonSweet73 · 29/09/2022 21:38

Still Life by Sarah Winman was very uplifting I thought

Seconded - really enjoyed this one!

TheSnowQueen · 30/09/2022 07:17

I have been enjoying Clare Chambers' books which I think fit this bill

ConnieSaks · 30/09/2022 07:19

Travels With My Aunt (Greene)

Any Human Heart (Boyd)

Fludd (Mantel)

dancingmice · 30/09/2022 07:19

Miss Pettigrew lives for a day

MagpiePi · 30/09/2022 07:24

Have you read any Terry Pritchett? It might be classed as Sci fi/ fantasy but I think they are more a commentary about our world...with some groan-worthy puns
The ones with the witches are brilliant - start with Wyrd Sisters.

HappyMediocreTime · 30/09/2022 07:27

If you don’t mind at times a quirky writing style, Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (may have got spelling wrong) is a recent book that was just lovely. A bunch of people thrown together after a crime that wasn’t a crime.

ZenNudist · 30/09/2022 07:28

HaggisBurger · 29/09/2022 20:53

the Cazelet Chronicles - Elizabeth Jane Howard - I’ve read and reread these.

This this this. So compelling, cosy, a bit soapy (all sorts of affairs and intrigues) plus historical / social history around WW2 and beautifully written. 5 books to go at. I'm on 3.

LikeAnOldFriend · 30/09/2022 09:57

What a brilliant thread! I love the Anne of Green Gables books (my very favourites of all time ❤, all Jane Austen's novels (but most especially Persuasion) and the Daphne Du Maurier ones I've read have been so captivating, I remember really enjoying Rebecca and Mary Anne. I have been meaning to track down and re read a couple of Dodie Smiths, and have actually never read any Georgette Heyer but I know I need too, they're always recommended in threads like these!! Definitely some recommendations in here I'll follow up on! Grin

BuddhaAtSea · 30/09/2022 10:02

Thank you for this!

MyCourageAlwaysRises · 30/09/2022 22:18

Cranford and Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Original poster
Psm92 · 01/10/2022 22:40

Thanks all! I went for "The Island of Missing Trees", as one of the posters suggested. I'm not overly keen on period stuff (though I make an exception for Jane Austen as there's a lot of wit and satire) but will check some of the suggestions out. Anyway, loving The Island of Missing Trees so far - just the feel I was going for. Easy enough to read, creative, humorous storytelling, deals with some interesting themes very delicately and with nuance, and is also educational (concerns the conflict in Cyprus).

OP posts:
JaninaDuszejko · 01/10/2022 23:52

BarrelOfOtters · 29/09/2022 20:14

How about a classic? Mill on the Floss….

😂 You'll be suggesting Jude the Obscure next.

Rapidtango · 01/10/2022 23:58

Kate Atkinson
Nobody's ever heard of her but Lillian Beckwith en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Beckwith
Auntie Name books by Patrick Dennis
Gerald Durrell

Rapidtango · 01/10/2022 23:58

Ffs Auntie Mame

skylark42 · 02/10/2022 00:02

My suggestions for authors would be:

Rose Tremain (if you like historical novels)
Anne Tyler
Maggie O’Farrell

Showmethebagels · 02/10/2022 00:07

FurAndFeathers · 29/09/2022 20:37

What I loved, Siri hustvedt
the outrun, Amy liptrot

These are both great suggestions. I read What I Loved about 20 years ago and had completed forgotten about it.

Rapidtango · 02/10/2022 00:07

Actually, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a really nice read.
I find The Shipping News a cosy read, and Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow, probably because they contain much cold weather.

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