>>Along the lines of Pilcher is a series of books by Jan Karon. Wonderful characters who live in a small town in N. Carolina. They are written in order - the first book is "At Home in Mitford." Hated to see them end.<<

They haven't quite ended yet! Unless she's changed her mind, she is supposed to publish the last one, "A Light from Heaven," this fall.

Lee Ann

LeeAnn, that is good news! Thanks for the info. I did really enjoy the series, very sweet and relaxing.

I tend to enjoy a lot of different type of authors, as I imagine most of you do.

The last one I read was by Sex and the City author Candice Bushnell called "Trading Up" about a Manhattanite model who desperately wanted to be accepted by the Hampton in-crowd. I was floored by just how shallow people can really be.

Great thread, maybe some of you could rec one for me...
I am an AVID reader, but had this issue after my dad passed away two years ago, I COULDN'T read, just couldn't concentrate, kept reading the same line over and over again. So put all the books down and several months later was able to (thankfully) read again. My dear hubby and I have suffered another close loss, alas the reading block is back, however I started with the Lindsey Boxer series by James Patterson, easy, easy reads, and they keep my interest, no grief ridden thoughts jumping into my head, and are able to get me to sleep at night. (sorry Mr. Patterson, it really is a compliment) Only problem, I am finishing the third book in the series and we're leaving on vacation in two weeks, can anyone recommend another same style book, that is a very easy, easy, easy read??????
(I have read the all the Kay Scarpetta books, just in case.)
Thanks for any ideas!
Happy travels, T.

I love all of Lisa Gardner's books esp "The Perfect Husband",,,great read. Do try Meg Chittenden too. Barbara Delinsky is good too, so is Luanne Rice Barbara Parker has a great series set in the Miami area..I love her hero( hunky Cuban lawyer) & heroine...titled "Suspicion of Malice, Fear, etc. She has a new hardback out now, but I would start on her earlier "Suspicion" titles.

Hello Tiff, right at this moment I do not have a recommendation regarding books, except some named here.

But I did want to respond to your post. When I lost my DH suddenly I too had the same problem you are having. For at least two years I would reread paragraphs in books, watch DVD's more times then I care to admit. It was like my brain had closed down.

And it was strange because I was able to take care of legal matters, rentals, financial etc. But when it came to "relaxing activities" my mind would not adjust.

But do know, this too will pass. Hang in there.
Be gentle and good to yourself. Best regards.

The "Kite Runner" is the best book I have read in years, but I don't know if it a "beach read" for everyone. It is pure pleasure to read beacause it is so well written. But it is dark. My daughter took it along for our annual family Christmas trip last year. I looked across the pool to see tears streaming down her face. I understood completely. I couldn't read it at night before bed time. On the other hand, a friend of mine didn't have any trouble reading it at night. I appreciate all the suggestions give here. Owa

Owa, I can sympathize with your daughter. I read Kite Runner last week on an airplane and had tears running down my cheeks. It is such an interesting book, story of redemption, etc.
One series not mentioned(by A.M. Smith?) is the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - set in Botswana with a marvelous sense of place. They are quick reads but have a style that makes you feel like you are moving slower and have time for a cup of bush tea under the acadia tree.

These two aren't terribly trashy, but loved them both and the authors are way out of the mainstream:
* "Night Swimming" by Robin Schwarz
* "Bump" by Diana Wagman (you'll never forget the amputee)

To Tiff:

The read-alikes for James Patterson as listed in my Novelist's Database are the following:

John Sanford
Greg Iles
Jeff Deaver
Harlan Coben
Douglas Kennedy

It does say that they do differ in style, but share the ability to grip the reader and take him to the end of the novel "in one big gulp." I have read Patterson and some of these others, and they are correct.

Easy, direct reads like this take our minds out of "themselves". Concentration to read can be broken, even after habits of a lifetime, by many emotional or physical events. But in my life, reading has been the gift from God, literally.

Novelist is a database that most libraries use. I can't give out the url, but you can access it through your nearest library and in Illinois through every school. Lot of states are joining the band wagaon now, as well. Within Novelist you can find gendre, plot, read-alikes etc. and it has lead me into a lot of "unknown" territory. I seldom read best sellers anymore. For instance, you can put in "time travel" and get a list of books with that plot occurance. I got all my favorite Italian and Sicilian books from Novelist lists.

Several of those that were good:

Queen of the Big Time
In the Garden of Papa Santuzzi

If you can't read, just wait a bit, and you will be able to again. It is a good idea to start easy. James Patterson or how about some easy reads for teens. You would be surprised how good some of them are. Harry Potter, old Nancy Drew etc.

There are a series of books and I think one is titled "The Chocolate Chip Cookie" mystery or something similar which are light mysteries where the main character also runs a bakery. In a similar vein as the Diane Mott Davidson books.

Also in the light mystery category is all the Clarks: Mom Mary Higgins, daughter Carol Higgins and ex-daughter-in-law Mary Jane. Fast easy reads full of plucky heroines.

There is also a mystery series where the main character runs a bookstore on an island in low-country South Carolina. I'm sure someone here can help out with author name.

All of the above are rather short in length.

This is a longshot, but here goes.. does anyone know the name of the female author who was reviewed in Elle magazine a couple years ago who was quoted as saying "my friends all ask me if MY sex life is like my characters". I've been intrigued by that for awhile. A search of the magazine archives has not been helpful. Thanks, J.

jetset-Jackie Collins maybe? Her books sure are raunchy! :-D

Elendi: good to know another Jan Karon book will be out.

I saw a new interesting cook book by her in my library last week. I did not take it out as I prefer reading to cooking.

For uplifting trash, why not read Orwell's 1984 for the sexually lurid romance between Winston Smith and Julia. Walker Percy's Lancelot fits the bill, too.

buckeye, no, it was an author I'd never read, and she has a few books out. I guess I could pester the Elle staff, lol.

ncgirl, are you thinking of the Carolyn Hart series featuring mystery bookstore owner Annie Darling? They are light and amusing.

Another vote for Carl Hiaasen. I also recommend anything by Donna Leon, who writes mysteries set in Venice. She's definitely a cut above trash.
Two authors I've been enjoying lately are David Rosenfelt, whose mysteries take place in and around my old home town, Paterson, NJ, and Linda Fairstein, the New York sex crimes prosecutor whose heroine is -- surprise, surprise -- a sex crimes prosecutor. Each of Fairstein's books looks at a different aspect of New York life, e.g. the Chelsea art scene, the rivalry between the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural History.
Can't wait to head off on vacation...

How much fun is this??

One of my all-time favs is
Widow for One Year by John Irving.
Semi-trashy, an unstoppable page turner.

The Mitford Series by Jan Karon is so
great. Talk about feeling great after
reading a chapter or two.

Also an easy and fun read, The Ladies'
No. 1 Detective Agency Series by
Alexander McCall Smith.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!

I also love the Miss Julia books - and the Mitford series - altho I am afraid to make the orange cake in the last one b/c it may kill any desire I might have to ever lose weight!Pat Conroy's new cookbook is also a good read - full of personal anecdotes - some of which are the basis for parts of his novels....
My girls and I fight over the "Traveling Pants" books - in fact they have kidnapped the newest one and taken it to college with them!
Also just re-issued is "Murder on a Bad Hair Day" and others by Kathy Trocheck, an Atlanta author who also writes the chic-lit books "Hissy Fit", "Little Bitty Lies", and a book about Savannah under the name of Mary Kay Andrews - all are fun and a little naughty.