recommendation to read in hospital please (having baby)

[1dilemma]

can anyone recommend anything please?

used to read loads

need something a bit light and fluffy but not totally brainless please

was thinking of my sisters keeper but apparently it's a bit sad

over to the wise ones!

Anna Quindlen's 'Blessings' is a nice read and has a baby in it.

My advice would be to not take any books - I took a selection and didn't read any. Your mindset just wont let you. I would perhaps take a parenting book, my personal favourite which has been a bible is the 'What to Expect.....'series. I have Pregnancy, the First Year and am constantly in the Toddler Years. Other than that I would take lots and lots and lots of magazines. If you want a backup - take one of the 'Richard & Judy' reads - they're never too taxing. I have also enjoyed The Rice Mother, Rani Manicka.

Basically, something you can dip in and out of. I can almost guarantee you wont be finishing any novels.

My friends bought me an MP3 player for me when I went in which I spent a stupid amount of time in the late stages of pregancy downloading the perfect soundtrack to my Maternity experience; never listened to one track. Was in labour 50 hours and would have rather chewed on it than listened to it.

In utter contrast during the first few months I got through uggins of Stephen King whilst breastfeeding pretty much 40 mins of every hour for some time!

I read "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" while in hospital and its sequel "The Girl Who Played With Fire" while feeding at home in the days that followed. Both were just the right mix of "lightness" and "brain" for the occasion.

Yes, Memory Keeper's Daughter probably not advisable when you've just had a baby. How about another R&J read from the same year, Kate Morton's The House at Riverton. It's an absorbing but easy read.

Sorry, tired, misread the initial post. My Sister's Keeper also not advisable! Another good one for light but not brainless is Katherine McMahon - good light historical fiction. Try The Rose of Sebasotopol and The Alchemist's Daughter.

My Sister's Keeper is pretty dreadful..
The Memory Keeper's Daughter is even worse...
The House At Riverton - I thought it was dreadful, sorry: I thought it even managed to make Attonement seem good (and I hated Attonement!).

I would say something light and fluffy but good - Miss Pettigrew / P&P / I Capture The Castle / Cold Comfort Farm - something like that.

Thanks guys some good suggestions

Ha ha - I also read in OP as Memory Keeper's Daughter which I was originally posting to say, 'cripes, don't read that when you've just had a baby.'

And call me a philistine, but Pride and Prejudice I do not consider 'light and fluffy'!

P&P is fabbo, of course, (see my name!) but I do think it is quite light and is a love story, so can count as fluff too in the sense that it is feel-good. P&P With Zombies is also fab and even 'fluffier' than the original!!

Also - how about some Georgette Heyer? VERY light and fluffy!

Or some Evelyn Waugh? Not fluffy as such but good fun.

Last time, with my second child, I took 'Time-travellers Wife' and it was prefect in my opinion as it provided escapism and was sweet, sad, and lovely all in one. It made me cry. I've bought Audery Whatsit's next book for this time (due in 4 weeks).

Stupidly when I was pregnant with my first child I took in War in Peace!!!! I didn't even open it (and still haven't read it 6 years later).

I took a pile of chalet school books in. Mindless and nostalgic.

Agree with Tallulah - lots and lots of magazines which you can then leave or pass onto another bored mum

Julian Fellowes new-ish book - Past Imperfect. It's a perfect combination of entertainment and enough social history to make it not feel totally lightweight. Disclaimer: I haven't finished it yet, so can't say for sure there isn't something hideous about to happen!

lol at war and peace

I'm hoping to only be there for a few days!

was going to get a copy of Junior today but saw it's £5, that's more expensive than a book!

Agree with other about house at riverton and memory kepper's, yuk. What about something by Marian Ketes? Funny but not too chick lit - ish? Or else I've just read Wendy Holden's recent one about celebs. funny and ridiculous but great for reading whilst juggling morning sickness!

I read a lot while in hospital for the world's longest induction. (It's all in my notes, which I got to read: hilarious).

I read and really liked 44 Scotland St in hospital, suspect any Alexander McCall Smith would be good: episodic and no complicated plot to follow.

Ooh yes - Number One Ladies' Detective Agency would be v good. Light and funny and heart-warming but not chick-lit crap.

I read buckets and buckets...but have to say that when I was in hospital having children, I didn't read a thing!

Well - the first Steig Laarsen or the Vampire books have been on my (tube) reading list recently. Also enjoyed Julian ellowes book - can't remember name but it is R&J.

Marley And Me makes a far better read than a film, honest!

I read Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood when I had my daughter. It was perfect - verging on magical realism, about motherhood and female friendship without being too heavy.