Smart, light fiction--recommendations? - Page 2

Sparrow · 09-06-2008, 03:10 AM

For a funny freebie read, I'd recommend "Augustus Carp, Esq: by Himself, Being the Autobiography of a Really Good Man" - which Patricia kindly uploaded here.
It's hilarious.

Katiesue · 09-08-2008, 04:27 PM

To jump on the Dickens bandwagon.....I recently read David Copperfield and loved it!!

texasnightowl · 09-11-2008, 01:30 PM

I just finished "Silent in the Grave" by Deanna Raybourn...Victorian era England mystery. It was good. I'm planning to pick up the 2nd book "Silent in the Sanctuary"

Marian Rutenberg · 10-15-2008, 03:13 AM

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson - not light but a lot of fun to read
Second Honeymoon by Joanna Trollope - the character growth and architecture of the story are rewarding
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
About a Boy by Nick Hornby
The Secret History by Donna Tart

Happy Reading!

Ned · 10-15-2008, 08:19 AM

Just thought I'd add that Trollope is a significantly better writer than Dickens - clear and economical prose style, subtlety to rival Jane Austen's, superb understanding of the human condition and human frailties, and he's just so funny.

He doesn't write about the underclass as Dickens does, but then people differ surprisingly little wherever they're from. I recently had to abandon Bleak House (Dickens) as the heavy relentless pathos/bathos and his overdone attempts to show how saintly the heroine is, were quite sickening and demonstrated to me Dickens's weakness as a writer. (Was it Oscar Wilde asked who could read of the death of little Nell without laughing?)

I've read over 20 Trollope novels and each one is fresh and new. Currently reading Ralph the Heir and it has me laughing out loud.

Mind you, I'm sure others may think differently

grimo1re · 10-15-2008, 08:31 AM

Is Carl Hiaassen light? I read a bit of juvenile fiction too, nice and easy read when I'm in the mood. Of course, any titles have escaped me: brain already fried.

CCLady · 10-15-2008, 11:16 AM

Anything by Charlotte MacLeod/Alissa Craig - Rest You Merry is a good place to start

The Mapp and Lucia books by Benson

The Christine Bennett series by Lee Harris (all the titles have a holiday in them) - her characters are sometimes a bit thin, but her plots can rival Christie

Anything by Josephine Tey, probably the most under-appreciated mystery writer I've ever read

digitalzen · 10-15-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duodora

Well--the title says most of it! Preferably not sci-fi or fantasy, just because I've been overdosing on it lately--but pretty much any genre would be welcome. Chick lit is definitely fine in theory, but my few forays into that genre have met with disapointment/disgust (maybe I just didn't know where to start?)--but I'm sort of looking for something along those lines of lightness.

Any recommendations would be most welcome

Thank you!

I'd recommend Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 10-15-2008, 05:04 PM

I suspect it only counts as light, not smart, but what I've read of and listened to MC Beaton's Agatha Raisin series is an absolute hoot. However, as far as I can tell, the earlier books aren't available as ebooks, and I have no idea what the later books are like

Laine · 10-16-2008, 02:29 AM

From Duodora
>>I'll check out Jennifer Cruise--I looked for ebooks and couldn't find any--but I'll check them out in paper!

Her name is Jennifer Crusie not Cruise which might explain why you can't find her ebooks. So glad she's no relation to Tom.

I loved Bet Me. Some of her books are availabl at Fictionwise and Books On Board. Fictionwise has a bundle of 4. Books On Board have some audiobooks.

Sorry - messed up the quote system.

Laine

curlygirl · 12-17-2008, 02:53 AM

I'd recommend :

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
How to teach Filthy Rich Girl by Zoey Dean
Fishbowl by Sarah Mlynowsky
Jemima J by Jane Green
Shoe Addict Anonymous by Beth Harbison
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Something Blue by Emily Giffin
Three Cocktails by Madeleine Wickham

I read many chick lits

lilac_jive · 12-17-2008, 08:25 PM

Not like I needed more books to read, but now I want to read Trollope. "The Last Chronicle of Barset" is on my 1001 list, and is a free classic on the Reader.

*sigh* I need my week long vacation in the Bahamas to come sooner...

ErwinOtten · 12-18-2008, 02:27 AM

In another thread Trevanian popped up.
He was described as "the only writer of airport paperbacks to be compared to Zola, Ian Fleming, Poe and Chaucer."
If that isn't smart light fiction I don't know what is

Duodora · 12-20-2008, 10:40 PM

Hey--thanks again for all the recommendations--I know it's been a long time since I've replied but I'm still checking when I can. Thanks so much!

BenG · 12-29-2008, 07:46 AM

You might enjoy Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

10-16-2008, 02:29 AM	#25
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	Jennifer Crusie From Duodora >>I'll check out Jennifer Cruise--I looked for ebooks and couldn't find any--but I'll check them out in paper! Her name is Jennifer Crusie not Cruise which might explain why you can't find her ebooks. So glad she's no relation to Tom. I loved Bet Me. Some of her books are availabl at Fictionwise and Books On Board. Fictionwise has a bundle of 4. Books On Board have some audiobooks. Sorry - messed up the quote system. Laine

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hard Science Fiction Recommendations	tmclough	Reading Recommendations	240	01-04-2025 01:55 PM
Historical Fiction Recommendations	kerry431	Reading Recommendations	98	08-16-2020 09:32 PM
WWII (non-fiction) recommendations	snape	Reading Recommendations	42	04-13-2012 07:48 PM
Fun Fiction For Smart Women (New Ebooks!)	TC Beacham	Writers' Corner	9	01-16-2010 02:54 PM
Any science (non-fiction) recommendations?	djgreedo	Reading Recommendations	18	05-10-2009 03:42 PM

09-06-2008, 03:10 AM	#16
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	For a funny freebie read, I'd recommend "Augustus Carp, Esq: by Himself, Being the Autobiography of a Really Good Man" - which Patricia kindly uploaded here. It's hilarious.

09-08-2008, 04:27 PM	#17
Katiesue Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 51 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Cybook	To jump on the Dickens bandwagon.....I recently read David Copperfield and loved it!!

09-11-2008, 01:30 PM	#18
texasnightowl Guru Posts: 797 Karma: 2873645 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Device: PW5, Oasis 3, K4B(NT), K3/KK	I just finished "Silent in the Grave" by Deanna Raybourn...Victorian era England mystery. It was good. I'm planning to pick up the 2nd book "Silent in the Sanctuary"

10-15-2008, 03:13 AM	#19
Marian Rutenberg Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: none	Case Histories by Kate Atkinson - not light but a lot of fun to read Second Honeymoon by Joanna Trollope - the character growth and architecture of the story are rewarding Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto About a Boy by Nick Hornby The Secret History by Donna Tart Happy Reading!

10-15-2008, 08:19 AM	#20
Ned Ebook reader Posts: 389 Karma: 5899335 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: York, England Device: Kobo Aura H2O (ed 2, v1), Kobo Forma, Kobo Libra 2	Just thought I'd add that Trollope is a significantly better writer than Dickens - clear and economical prose style, subtlety to rival Jane Austen's, superb understanding of the human condition and human frailties, and he's just so funny. He doesn't write about the underclass as Dickens does, but then people differ surprisingly little wherever they're from. I recently had to abandon Bleak House (Dickens) as the heavy relentless pathos/bathos and his overdone attempts to show how saintly the heroine is, were quite sickening and demonstrated to me Dickens's weakness as a writer. (Was it Oscar Wilde asked who could read of the death of little Nell without laughing?) I've read over 20 Trollope novels and each one is fresh and new. Currently reading Ralph the Heir and it has me laughing out loud. Mind you, I'm sure others may think differently

10-15-2008, 08:31 AM	#21
grimo1re Geekette Posts: 435 Karma: 3335 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Sony Reader PRS500, PocketBook 360	Is Carl Hiaassen light? I read a bit of juvenile fiction too, nice and easy read when I'm in the mood. Of course, any titles have escaped me: brain already fried.

10-15-2008, 11:16 AM	#22
CCLady Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 92 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Culver City, CA Device: Kindle1, Kindle 3 wi-fi 3G, Kindle basic, Kindle Fire	Anything by Charlotte MacLeod/Alissa Craig - Rest You Merry is a good place to start The Mapp and Lucia books by Benson The Christine Bennett series by Lee Harris (all the titles have a holiday in them) - her characters are sometimes a bit thin, but her plots can rival Christie Anything by Josephine Tey, probably the most under-appreciated mystery writer I've ever read

10-15-2008, 05:04 PM	#24
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	I suspect it only counts as light, not smart, but what I've read of and listened to MC Beaton's Agatha Raisin series is an absolute hoot. However, as far as I can tell, the earlier books aren't available as ebooks, and I have no idea what the later books are like

12-17-2008, 02:53 AM	#26
curlygirl Member Posts: 21 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Hanlin V3	I'd recommend : Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella How to teach Filthy Rich Girl by Zoey Dean Fishbowl by Sarah Mlynowsky Jemima J by Jane Green Shoe Addict Anonymous by Beth Harbison Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin Something Blue by Emily Giffin Three Cocktails by Madeleine Wickham I read many chick lits

12-17-2008, 08:25 PM	#27
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Not like I needed more books to read, but now I want to read Trollope. "The Last Chronicle of Barset" is on my 1001 list, and is a free classic on the Reader. sigh I need my week long vacation in the Bahamas to come sooner...

Advert

Advert

12-18-2008, 02:27 AM	#28
ErwinOtten Addict Posts: 338 Karma: 444 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Netherlands Device: Cybook G3	In another thread Trevanian popped up. He was described as "the only writer of airport paperbacks to be compared to Zola, Ian Fleming, Poe and Chaucer." If that isn't smart light fiction I don't know what is

12-20-2008, 10:40 PM	#29
Duodora Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Location: MD and SD, US Device: Cybook!	Hey--thanks again for all the recommendations--I know it's been a long time since I've replied but I'm still checking when I can. Thanks so much!

12-29-2008, 07:46 AM	#30
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	You might enjoy Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel