What books cheer you up?

I downloaded the complete Rutminster Chronicles by Jilly Cooper to take on holiday and for light summer reading.

I appreciate they cannot be considered classics or weighty, but I am thoroughly enjoying rereading them (just about to start N0.5)

I have been in love with Rupert Campbell Black since I read the first book (Riders) when originally published.

Bill Bryson and the no 1 detective agency series.
I did read that Bill Bryson not writing any more books which is a shame.

Apart from newer books, what cheers me up, especially when I can’t sleep, are nice romances by Essie Summers.
I read them when I was younger and have recently rediscovered them on Kindle.
They have been dismissed as formulaic and I suppose they are, just like many books today, but so what?
I remember the stories so well that I just have to read the title and I remember the story line.

All the Mavis Cheek books ……wonderful!

Bill Bryson

I read most of the series "The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith. They cheered me up.

Yes, Bill Bryson, Gervaise Phinn, Miss Read.

Love some mentioned on here- Disc World, Gervase Phinn, Bill Bryson and Georgette Heyer, but I recently discovered light reading by an American writer Carolyn Brown. She’s written lots, and I don’t like them all, but my three reread favourites are The Ladies Room, The Shop on Main Street and Hummingbird Lane.

Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee.

Three men in a boat for me as well as Cold Comfort Farm- they both made me laugh out loud!

Definitely the Discworld witch books.

The books by Armstead Maupan ( I think that is how it is spelled) about San Francisco, they always make me giggle. My go to books to make me smile would be many mentioned above but particularly ‘My Family and Other Animals’. The passages about their arrival in Corfu being chased by dogs is just wonderful. I re read Jennings and William too, still have my childhood copies.

Yes I agree most of Bill Brysons travel books are hilarious. Has he stopped writing now?
I also enjoyed Miss Read and I adored Barbara Pym once I discovered her! I binge read the lot.

I'm enjoying a murder mystery currently. Not funny I'm afraid but rather well written. It's Sebastian Barry.

I enjoy all sorts of books by a wide range of authors. I like both fiction and non fiction whatever catches my eye when I'm out and about. At weekends when I was young I used to disappear into a library and stay there until I was gently hauled out. I loved it and even now our home is full of books of all sorts and ages. Two of my grandchildren love reading I'm pleased to say and another grandchild enjoys writing poetry

I’ve just dug out my miss read books this afternoon and plan to read them all again. I work in a nursery and it’s often stressful( eight months to retiring) hopefully this will restore my faith in why I’ve done it for twenty four years😂honestly miss read and a cuppa and you just go back to a lovely bygone time. No health and safety no rules and regulations. Just pure fiction genius! Happy reading all!

I too love the Miss Read books and have recently reread them for the umpteenth time. (I’ve been reading them since I was 16, I’m now 68). Also I love the Darling buds of May.

Greenfinch

I love the Miss Read books depicting a simple and caring community.

Oh, so do I! They are beautifully written with memorable characters. I often think they would make good Sunday teatime TV. I can just see Dotty Harmer and Ella Bembridge.

Most definitely Bill Bryson - the funniest of all is the chapter in 'The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid' where he tells the story of his neighbour diving into a local lake - it's an absolute scream 🤣

The Scool books by Gervase Phinn make me giggle .

I have only read "The Power of Letting Go" book. That's helped me to come out after my breakup. The moral principle of this book is you can't control everything that happens in your life. Let go and trust that things will work. This is the only book that I have read more than once.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austin every time. For some reason I can’t remember I was put off Bill Bryson. I’ll try listening to him on BorrowBox.

Gervaise Phinn books. If what kids come out with makes you laugh you’ll enjoy these true stories. It’s written from a Yorkshire school inspectors perspective.

The old girls annuals from the 60s and 70s.

Wind in the Willows always.
I still have my beautifully illustrated Arthur Rackham edition from when I was eight. It's worn & battered but it still brings me happiness & a sense of peace whenever I dip into its increasingly worn but charming pages 😊

My Family and Other Animals.

Miss read love her books full of love past times and makes me happy.