Could anyone recommend a happy book for me?

[nkf]

I need something to take the memory of a sad book away. Longer post - and thread - elsewhere but have had many suggestions that I should read something that is light and frothy.

Any ideas?

Diary of a Provincial Lady - E.M.Delafield

I Capture the castle,

Cold Comfort Farm

House of Sleep (j Coe)

definitely the republic of love by carole sheilds

Am taking notes. Keep those ideas coming please.

I Capture the Castle isn't happy!! I dont' want to post a spoiler but Cadalaide - don't you think she doesn't really get what she wants? (But it is wonderful, OP, so do read it)

DEFINITELY Cold Comfort Farm though.

Three Men in a Boat

My Family and Other Animals

Enchanted April

Pride and Prejudice

A Countess Below Stairs (hard to find now but swoonsomely toshy and lovely)

Love in a Cold Climate or (even nicer but harder to find) The Blessing

Oooooo so many....

oh do read the republic of love...it lets you wallow in the certain knowledge of love conquering all....without being trite or unintelligent.

anything by Jasper Fforde - surreal and very funny
Terry Pratchett

Or (of course ) The Young Visiters, which is one of the loveliest, funniest, frothiest, silliest, most charming books you could wish to read.

Anything by Georgette Heyer.

Anything by PG Wodehouse (particularly the Blandings series)

I've read I Capture A Castle. It's happy enough. Nothing really bad happens.

Some interesting suggestions here.

Gone with the Wind? Lots bad happens in that but in such a frothy way that you can't take it seriously.

Plus you spend so much time being annoyed about the blatant racism that you'll forget anything else.

what kind of books do you like nkf?

Serious? funny? toshy? Light? Classic? Scifi? Well written or not? Chick lit permissable?

May Contain Nuts-By whatshisname was very funny

I laughed a lot that Stephen Fry one about the journo..oh, what is it called

Hope that helps

I like the classics. I like highbrow fiction and lowbrow fiction but not the stuff in between. Can't bear people like Jodi Picoult or Anita Shreve. I don't like sci fi. I like non fiction particularly if it's a bit quirky. I wouldn't read a celebrity biography though someone did tell me that Dirk Bogarde's memoirs are good.

Oh oh oh oh oh oh I know!!!!!

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennet here

Perfect. Very very funny. It's about a mobile library and the Queen. Brilliant.

dirk bogarde's memoirs are good. Particularly the first one (Great Meadow).

It's not celebby at all - it's just about a little boy growing up in the country with his sister. Very sweet and escapist.

I second that one Jux -the perfect short novel(la)

Rosy is my relative by Gerald Durrell.

I have been reading this thread and checking on Amazon. Thanks again. Loads are in the basket. But more ideas very welcome.

Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day by Winifred Watson.

EF Benson's "Lucia" books? They are glittery and bitchy without being silly.

Mannered but vicious satire along the lines of Nancy Mitford or Jane Austen.

I loved Addition by Toni Jordan,nice book ,happy ending (unusual though) A Countess below Stairs is now available as The Secret Countess,(you might have tracked this down on Amazon).

not sure if you would call it "HAPPY" but it is funny and parts of it you think "thats me". I have just read "how to kill your husband and other handy household hints"

Came on to say Miss Pettigrew but have been pipped to the post.

Pride And Prejudice or any other Austen, except probably MP which is a bit irritating unless you're prepared for it.

Bill Bryson

Ballet Shoes or other lovely children's nostalgia.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven (but lots of MNers didn't like it).

A lovely fat detective story where everything comes out right in the end?