Struggling to get back into reading

MissAdventure

I've read one about a dating bureau, and the detective one.
I believe its the dating one that features the traditionally built woman.

They are quite delightful - the books, and no doubt te women, too.

The Traditionally Built Woman is the detective, Mma Precious Ramotswe.

He also wrote 44 Scotland Street, the Sunday Philosophy Club series and more.

Well worth a try, eggplant

Thanks folks! I don't think 600 pages is for me right now. I did try a Richard Osman but that didn't work either.

PinkCosmos

I'm not a fan of Fern Britton or the fluffy kind of books

I am currently reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It is about an aging and reclusive movie star who want to tell her story to a young journalist. Her story starts in the 1950's. I can't remember the names of all of her husbands but that doesn't really matter. It is very character driven and well written.

Mrs Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce is also a good read with two great characters.

Also recommend:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers
Mix Tape by Jane Sanderson

But if someone has lost their concentration because of illness or other reasons, fluffy kinds of books might be the best starting point to get back into reading.

I've had Lessons in Chemistry by my bedside for weeks now, haven't yet read it and keep rejecting it in favour of other books. Somehow it doesn't look very appealing.
I'm just reading the fourth Thursday Murder Club book by Richard Osman.

eggplant of the three books you've mentioned, I've only read Clare Chambers' Small Pleasures, which I enjoyed a lot.

My suggestions from some of the books I've enjoyed this year.:

The Three Graces - Amanda Craig
Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus
All the Broken Places - John Boyne
The Amateur Marriage Ann Tyler
Unsettled Ground Clare Fuller
The Story of the Forest - Linda Grant
Strange Sally Diamond Liz Nugent (Disturbing) but excellent.
Americanah Chamanda Ngozi Adiche
Ordinary Human Failings - Megan Nolan

Also The Bee Sting Paul Murray and Demon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver - but both are weighty, 600 plus pages I think, and the subject matter of both is bleak at times.

I only read Biographies

If you like historical novels based on fact try Philippa Gregory. I love the ones about Henry VIII and his wives. Easy and entertaining reading.

Bill Bryson

I'm not a fan of Fern Britton or the fluffy kind of books

I am currently reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It is about an aging and reclusive movie star who want to tell her story to a young journalist. Her story starts in the 1950's. I can't remember the names of all of her husbands but that doesn't really matter. It is very character driven and well written.

Mrs Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce is also a good read with two great characters.

Also recommend:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers
Mix Tape by Jane Sanderson

I've read one about a dating bureau, and the detective one.
I believe its the dating one that features the traditionally built woman.

They are quite delightful - the books, and no doubt te women, too.

Penelope Lively is my go to to reread , she has written some short stories too . I too seem to have got stuck and lost my concentration.,

MissAdventure

Greyduster

As light but entertaining reading, and not too long, the “No1 Ladies Detective Agency” books by Alexander McCall Smith with their gentle, amusing characters are very good.

With the traditionally built woman featuring?
I'd like to read that book again, if it's that one, and savour it this time.

There are 24 novels in the series. I've only got half of them.

Greyduster

As light but entertaining reading, and not too long, the “No1 Ladies Detective Agency” books by Alexander McCall Smith with their gentle, amusing characters are very good.

Yes, they are.
I normally pass on paperbacks but I've kept what I have of those to re-read at some point.
I met Alexander McCall Smith at a book signing. He gave a very entertaining speech.

Liz Eeles: The Last House Before the Sea series. All set in the same Devon location and loosely connected but featuring different characters in each book.
Good, holds the interest but easy reading.

Graham Norton's novels are good
Yes they are. Don't be put off by the terrible TV adaptation!

TerriBull

It's hard to recommend books because they are incredibly subjective and if you don't know a person's taste any put forward could well miss the mark. Maybe mention previous ones you have enjoyed that might give us some idea of your taste.

Having said all that I've just finished William Boyd's, The Romantic, which was wonderful, not fluffy at all as the title might suggest.

Mind reader Terri. I was just thinking, " What have I enjoyed?"

Moving by Jenni Eclair ( and her others)

Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers ( loved this)

Brick Lane by Monica Ali

Yes I like Hilary Boyd too

Marg75

I think you may like Hilary Boyd. Her characters are all older and her books certainly resonate with me. Also to go back to simpler times, Rosamund Pilcher's books are very soothing if that's the right word!

Agree. i think I have read all the Hilary Boyd books now.

I think you may like Hilary Boyd. Her characters are all older and her books certainly resonate with me. Also to go back to simpler times, Rosamund Pilcher's books are very soothing if that's the right word!

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. Easy to read but beautifully written, long (over 600 pages) but can be read in bite-sized pieces.

It's hard to recommend books because they are incredibly subjective and if you don't know a person's taste any put forward could well miss the mark. Maybe mention previous ones you have enjoyed that might give us some idea of your taste.

Having said all that I've just finished William Boyd's, The Romantic, which was wonderful, not fluffy at all as the title might suggest.

Greyduster

As light but entertaining reading, and not too long, the “No1 Ladies Detective Agency” books by Alexander McCall Smith with their gentle, amusing characters are very good.

With the traditionally built woman featuring?
I'd like to read that book again, if it's that one, and savour it this time.

GrannyGravy13

I couldn’t read during lockdown, my solution was to go back to re-reading some of my all time favourites.

It worked as they were literary comfort blankets and after 3 or 4 books my reading mojo was back 📚📚📚

Neither could I and I’m only just getting back into reading now.

Graham Norton's novels are good.

GrannyGravy13

I couldn’t read during lockdown, my solution was to go back to re-reading some of my all time favourites.

It worked as they were literary comfort blankets and after 3 or 4 books my reading mojo was back 📚📚📚

Absolutely agree. My kindle has nothing but comfort reading on it; favourite authors, favourite books

As light but entertaining reading, and not too long, the “No1 Ladies Detective Agency” books by Alexander McCall Smith with their gentle, amusing characters are very good.

I would go back to some older children's fiction. Alan Garner for example if you like magical realism type stories.

Some of my favourite literary ‘comfort blankets’ are novels by Barbara Pym - all written or set either pre WW2 or in the 50s, all fairly short. Without being at all cheesy, they are IMO delightful social comedies, often very funny.

My favourites are Crampton Hodnet, Excellent Women, and Some Tame Gazelle.

‘A Quartet In Autumn’ had her shortlisted for a Booker Prize - it does have a more sombre tone, but an excellent read.