Light but good reads

smallholder · Light but good reads

Who do you read when you just want a light read but still want a 'good' read? I'm reading an Anita Shreve at the moment and find that she fits the bill for this.

thehawk

Libby Purves is great for this.
A Short Walk in Wintertime is a lovely book.
Or Anne Fine (her grown up books, obviously!)
Or Peter Robinson - easy to read crime fiction. (try Cold is the Grave)

magpie nic

Marian Keyes and Nick Hornby for me.

tui

Maeve Binchy or Marian Keyes

greyengine

Alexander McCall Smith

smallholder

Thanks for suggestions. I have tried some of these authors, but not Marian Keyes - how would you describe her books Tui and Magpie? -and what would you start with?

Greyengine, I didn't really like The No 1 Ladies Detective agency books - I thought them a bit too twee for my liking. He does another series too though doesn't he - are they similar?

In the charity shop today I bought Kate Atkinson's One Good Turn.

magpie nic

Marian Keyes is very funny, the best ones are about the family, but the others are okay as well. I read Rachel's Holiday first and was totally hooked, the characters are so believable and make me laugh. Well worth a read.
I am hitting charity shops tomorrow, hopefully, looking for storytelling stuff and some new books to read- I am getting through an average of a book a day at the mo!

greyengine

SH, he's done at least two other series - the Sunday Philosophy club and 44 Scotland Street. Both of these are set in Scotland and I actually prefere them to the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency ones.
I also enjoy Kate Atkinson and have read most of hers - I think not the very latest.

smallholder

I'll give them a go then greyengine, thanks.

gorgeous51

Jean Auel - Earth's Children series. First one being The Clan of the Cave Bear. Really good read - gets a bit raunchy as the series goes on but none of it gratuitous of course!!!!!!!!

A white girl is orphaned and abandoned thousands of years ago and adopted by a neanderthal race of people - the books chart her struggle to fit in and what happens when she meets people of her own kind. Lots of factually correct stuff, mixed in with all sorts of other stuff. Everyone I know who has read them, reads them again and again.

madphil

Light but good reads:

100 watt bulbs for beginners by Mr T Edison Wink

whoa there pickle

The Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich and the Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton.

tui

Marion Keyes. family sagas with lots of laughs and lots of drinking by the young women. I like that several of the books have the same characters. I like the ones set in Ireland better than the ones set in America. Watermelon was a good book but the movie made of it in America was horrendous. how this happened is explained in her novel Angels . How a novel can be so totally changed you wonder by they bothered to say it was based on the novel! They are light novels and the details are not very memorable as I struggle to give you more idea Smallholder! I generally read them in a weekend when I snuggle in and don't stop till its finished bar a few cups of coffee and toast.

magpie nic

Stephanie Plum novels are fantastic WTP, I like them too! Not read any of the other, but will look out for them.

smallholder

Lots of ideas for me thanks.

smallholder

So I finished ' Light on Snow' today by Anita Shreve and really enjoyed it. An easy read but well written. One of her better ones I think, which begins with an abandoned baby found alive in the snow and explores the impact of this event on the different characters lives. The themes are about secrets, love, loss, endings and beginnings. Yup, good stuff.

wicked witch

I really enjoyed Light on Snow. I think the other one of hers I read recently was December Wedding (?) and that was excellent as well.

smallholder

I'll look out for that WW. Glad someone else likes Anita Shreve. Thought I was on my own here.

magpie nic

I haven't read any but will look out for her coz I like finding new stuff to read.

I forgot to mention someone who makes me laugh, although her latest books aren't great- Kathy Lette, especially Mad Cows.

greyengine

I like Anita Shreve too - The Pilot's Wife was the first one I read and I found it really compelling. Eden Close was also very good.

smallholder

I liked Eden Close too. That was the first one I read which got me into her.

magpie nic

I went to the library today and got an Agatha Raisin book and an Anita Shreve book, purely from your recommendations! Will let you know what I think when I finish them.

(SH, I also got a CJ Sansom one after you recommended them, so will tell you want I think!)

smallholder

Which Sansom did you get? And which Anita Shreve? Ooh the pressure of recommending a book/author!

magpie nic

I got A Wedding in December and Revelation. Not read anything by either of them so looking forward to getting started. I am loving this time off work for reading! There was a Kate Atkinson one on a display and I was going to get it when I went back because my hands were full of books and little magpie, but when I went back someone else had got it. Will look out for hers next time. I now have a list in my bag of all the books and authors people are recommending so I can look out for them! I really enjoy finding good books by authors I have not read before Smile

smallholder

Magpie - should I say this?....oh, well... Revelation is the last in the series and although I enjoyed it , its not quite as good as the three before it ( a bit gory and I'm a bit of a wuss!). If you want to read the series in sequence, you need to read in this order - Dissolution, Dark Fire, Sovereign, Revelation !

I haven't read A Wedding in December - so will look forward to hearing about a new one I could read.

Kate Atkinson is great - Behind the Scenes at the Museum is a brilliant book.

magpie nic

Oh no, I didn't check where it came in a sequence, was just pleased to find one!! I will try to get the others first then!

redredrobin

I like Anita Shreve books too but have taken a break from them for a while as I read too many and found they got a bit samey.
Kate Atkinson is great (although I don't think I would class Behind the scenes at the museum as an easy read - maybe that's just my brain). I found her crime novels really addictive.
I've been re-reading David Lodge recently as quick reads.
For a really light, quick read I like Katie Fforde.

smallholder

No I agree RRR - not an easy read but a really good one ( I forgot what thread we are on!) I agree about Anita Shreve being a bit samey, but don't you think that's true of a lot of writers? I tend not to read books by the same author in succession - I like variety and then come back to authors I have read after a break like you. Thanks for the suggestions. Here's the list so far

David Lodge
Katie Fforde
Anita Shreve
MC Beaton -Agatha Raisin
Libby Purves
Anne Fine
Peter Robinson
Marianne Keyes
Nick Hornby
Maeve Binchy
Alexander McCall Smith
Jean Auel
Janet Evanovich
Kathy Lette

magpie nic

SH, I am very nearly finished A Wedding in December- have really enjoyed it. Could not put it down last night, so I ended up awake reading it until after 2am!! Only got a few more pages to go, but recommend it definitely. Will be looking out for more of her books now- thanks for the name!

smallholder

Phew - glad you liked it!

magpie nic

Agatha Raisin has already got me hooked! I really need to get a life instead of chain reading!!

magpie nic

I finished Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam and although it was an easy read, I found it too twee and not very exciting after a promising start. I would read more, but will not be rushing out to find them!

Back to James Morrow now... not a light read!

magpie nic

SH, I am cheating and reading Revelation coz I have not found the others yet! Am really enjoying it so far- will definitely be looking out for more.
Thanks for the recommendation.

smallholder

Glad you are enjoying it. As I said before although I liked it, I didn't think it was quite as good as the others so hopefully you will enjoy those too. Its nice to find new authors - thats whats good about the library here.

magpie nic

It is good to find new authors to read. I will look out for the others as well, especially if they are better than this one.
I have just read Self Preservation Society by Kate Harrison- a great light read.

greyengine

I read the Self Preservation Society recently too, magpie nic, and also enjoyed it.

magpie nic

I thought it was a bit more original than usual chicklit!

magpie nic

I am reading Testimony by Anita Shreve and enjoying it so far, reminds me of Jodi Piccoult.

tui

i love Mary Wesley's books. She started writing later in life which i think is interesting. Her biography Wild Mary is great as well.

From NZ I really like Shona Koea. I have read all her books several times and seem to feel like it at the beginning of holidays to unwind. Her last book Kitchen Memoirs was fascinating as it gave aclues to her novels. Many aha moments relating to her heroines and subject matter.

greyengine

I'd completely forgotten Mary Wesley. Read several of her books years ago, I think when 'The Camomile Lawn' was on television.

smallholder

Yes so did I. I haven't read nay of her in ages. Another author that fits this category is Anne Tyler, I have enjoyed several of hers too - The Accidental Tourist being one fo the most famous ones because of the film.

whoa there pickle

tui

Ann Tyler is great. I have read lots of her books.

I also really like Carol Shields. especially Unless; although they probably don't quite qualify as light reads.

Elizabeth Berg Open House; Dream when you are Feeling Blue and many others. good light reading.

redredrobin

Have just read a Katie Fforde. It was good light relief after the miserable plotless book I'd read by Rachel Cusk!

magpie nic

I am reading Body Surfing by Anita Shreve- anyone read it? I am not really enjoying it and want to know if it is worth sticking with!

smallholder

I haven't read that one - so can't offer any help this time.

magpie nic

I stuck with the book, it was ok. Pleased I have read a couple of her others first otherwise I might not have bothered again!

cofnchoc

I thought the same magpie - bit disappointing.

magpie nic

Life on the Refridgerator door by alice Kuipler is a very quick but touching read about the relationship between a teenager and her mam.

Louiw

I've ordered that one on your recommendation! Sounds good, I have one teenager and one nearly teenager in my house!

kesunder

i have just treated myself to the new mike gayle and freya north to take away with me so will let you know what i think!

sal 26

Twilight series is really good - by Stephanie Meyer.

Sniggle

Joanne Harris books are quite light I think, but they can have a dark side if you know what I mean.

There's a lot of books recommended that I shall have to seek out. I'm not too keen on Anita Shreve though.

kesunder

loved the mike gayle, think it is called something like 'life and soul of the party'. Am still plodding through the freya north, not enjoying it as much as i have her others but it is still good.

magpie nic

I love Mike Gayle books- good to have a bloke's perspective!

kesunder

they are always very well written. was bought my first one by my ex 'mr commitment'-he was trying to tell me something there!!!

magpie nic

I really like Pauline McLynn- am reading Summer in the City and really enjoying it.

Over40

I like the Katie Fforde books but have exhausted the supply in my ,ocal libraries. I wanted something easy to read last night so started the first Agatha Raisen book which my mother had lent me - good for a light read.

magpie nic

Janet Evanovich good fun and very easy read- I am reading Lean mean Thirteen- I love the characters in these books!

smallholder

I felt in need of a lighter read today so have just started Out of Love - Victoria Clayton. Haven't read any of hers before.

tui

i read a Katie Fforde book recently. Restoring Grace. Very light but interesting insights into picture restoration. I have another of hers waiting, Paradise Fields. I am going to read The curious case of Benjamin Button. That's a light read. only 60 pages! Just a short story really but they managed to make a full length film out of it..

queenlit

i saw the Benjamin button film and loved it. Hope you enjoy the book tui

smallholder

Out of Love - Victoria Clayton - finished it at last - don't bother - strike it from your list - what tripe!

redbutterfly

I love Martina Cole's books but I don't know if others would consider them to be "good" reads.

rubbadubbas

Tui I love Katie Fforde books. They have a pretty similar theme but I love the fact that she makes all her men sound like Mr Darcy!!