Easy to pick up books

[KenDewsbury]

Just had my first baby and want to read a bit during feeds/naps but have zero inspiration, struggled to concentrate much during pregnancy on reading.

Looking for books that are easy to pick up and get into but also well written.

Love: cazalet chronicles, Margaret attwood, anything mid war period/early - mid 20th c, Jilly cooper

Hate: Matt Haig, acotar, Kristin Hannah, anything detective/crime

Any recommendations gratefully received!

My go-to comfort read is Georgette Heyer’s Regency novels. I’ve read mine over and over again - well-written, intelligent romance novels.

Mid-20th century is my favourite period as well. The following are all from that time and, I’d say, easy to pick up:

Aldous Huxley: Chrome Yellow
George Orwell: Coming up for Air
Powell: A Dance to the Music of Time
Iris Murdoch: Under the Net
Patrick Fermor: A Time of Gifts
Evelyn Waugh: Sword of Honour

I would especially recommend Iris Murdoch and Evelyn Waugh. Both are very readable and very addictive.

Virginia Woolf can be demanding, though I found Mrs Dalloway a joy.

Congratulations!

How about The Persephone Book of Short Stories? I only own Book One and remember enjoying it but they've now produced three volumes. If you look up the sample on Amazon (not to buy, just to consult!), it gives you the index pages and an idea of authors included and dates - they mostly span post-WW1 to 1950s.

I’ve just read Paradise City by Elizabeth Day. Shortish stories but all the characters are interlinked which ties it all together. Also Alexander McCall Smith books are a gentle but good read

Also can highly recommend Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (film due out soon) but you will NOT want to put it down!

Penelope Lively's books are very well written but easy to pick up. She is often the author I turn to when I want something easy but not rubbishy.

I find Veronica Henry books very easy to pick up. She used to be a screen writer so that is usually a fair pace to the books.

Sorry completely forgot to add my congratulations and to also say tgat i first picked up a Veronica Henry book wheb like you, I wanted to get back into reading but didn’t have much time.

The first one I read was part of the Quick Reads series of books and was called A Sea Change.

As well as Persephone, which a PP has already mentioned, you could try the British Library Women Writers series or Dean Street Press.

I second Hamnet. Adored that book.
I am actually dreading the film because it won be what is in my head.

Elizabeth Strout?
Claire Chambers?
Bob Mortimer?
RL Delderfield?

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout is really good and told in episodes (sometimes years apart). The setting might be a bit later than you want though. It's a great novel though!

I’m a little trepidatious too but I’ve decided to try and look on the film as something completely different to the book and hope I can trick my old brain into not being disappointed

Congratulations! I share your dislike of Matt Haig’s books. Two Barbaras for you: Barbara Comyns and Barbara Pym. Also Nancy Mitford, The Pursuit of Love/Love in a Cold Climate. Or if you want something longer, Curtis Sittenfeld’s American Wife (much better than the blurb suggests). Also recommend all new parents read Soldier, Sailor. Doesn’t at all meet your brief though!

Thank you for all the suggestions!

Have already read and enjoyed the Orwell, Huxley, waugh, chambers, mitford suggestions but hoping this means the other suggestions are along the right lines. Looking forward to picking out a few.

Elizabeth Fair’s clever and witty novels, reprinted by Dean Street Press, and set in post-war England, are very enjoyable.

Lucinda Riley - Seven sister series and stand alone books

Jackie Collin books - similar vibe to Jilly Cooper