|
|
||||
|
CarlyTown>The Library>Light Light, Humorous and/or Romantic FictionNothing's more comforting than a light, funny and/or romantic read. Below are some authors I can always rely on to cheer me--the literary equivalent of peppermint bon bon ice cream.Light, Humorous Fiction | Chick Lit | Romantic FictionLight, Humorous FictionThe Pretend Wife - Bridget AsherNovel about a married woman who runs into an old college boyfriend who asks her to pretend to be his wife for his dying mother. Although it sounds superficial, the sweet novel tackles some tough issues around relationships and, most interestingly, the woman's relationship with her father and her late mother. Aunt Dimity’s Death - Nancy Atherton A charming tale that includes a ghost, a cottage in the Cotswolds, a stuffed bunny, and a fairy godmother. Followed by many sequels, only one of which I found readable: Aunt Dimity and the Duke. One Hundred Demons - Lynda Barry Part autobio, part fiction, all cartoons and funny and charming and incredibly moving and a wonderful look at growing up. Fabulous. Snowed In - Christina Bartolomeo Though the plot description may sound a bit dull (freelance writer moves to Portland, has marital problems, joins a walking club), this endearing, subtly humorous book is filled with wonderfully vivid, believeable and sympathetic characters, particularly Sophie, who starts out unassertive and mildly neurotic, but develops backbone and courage. ~New~ Beat the Reaper - Josh Bazell One of those books that you pick up to see if you like, and before you know it, you're thirteen pages into it. It's about a mob hitman turned doctor whose story unfolds over one very eventful night at the hospital. Interesting main character and lots of black humor. The Clothes They Stood Up In - Alan Bennett This story of a couple whose belongings are stolen while they are at the opera is told in incredibly clean, concise prose. Deadpan and amusing, but also quite thought-provoking. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett Another short novel by Bennett, much in the style of the equally charming, The Clothes We Stood Up In. This one is about what happens when Queen Elizabeth (the current one) takes up reading. Short, and precisely written, with a great deal of the royal charm that reminds one of the film The Queen. Maeve Binchy writes sweet, Irish tales people with heaps of memorable characters. Like a big, cozy quilt in book form. All of hers are recommended, but especially: Circle of Friends, Glass Lake, Evening Class, Tara Road, and The Return Journey. Night of Rain and Stars - Maeve Binchy Set on the Greek island of Aghia Anna, this novel revolves around four tourists from England, America, Germany and, of course, Ireland. After a tragedy occurs on the island, the four find themselves caught up in island life and reluctant to leave. Love blossoms, family troubles spark and are resolved, colorful island folk add their two cents and the whole novel is just delightful. This Year It Will Be Different – Maeve Binchy Best Christmas short story collection ever. These stories have a definite edge and are infused with dark humor. Mothers who feel that their hard holiday work goes unappreciated should definitely check this collection out. Whitethorn Woods – Maeve Binchy Interlocking stories of people whose lives will be changed by the building of a road through the woods of the title. The Little Lady Agency - Hester Browne British novel about a slightly posh, unemployable girl who sets up her own temp agency for the purpose of providing fake girlfriends, help for men who need help (hair, clothing, etc.). Delightful and funny. Jane Austen in Boca Raton - Paula Marantz Cohen Best Jane Austen retelling since Bridget Jones's Diary. In a retirement community in Boca Raton, Florida, three widows look for love, companionship and marriage with varying degrees of success. Filled with memorable, engaging characters. Auntie Mame - Patrick Dennis Witty and gay (no other word fits so well) tale featuring one of the most memorable and endearing characters of all time. Joyous Season – Patrick Dennis Dennis tells a vivid, comic tale of precocious children, wacky families, Christmas and divorce. At Freddie’s - Penelope Fitzgerald Freddie runs a theater school for children in London. Filled with heaps of witty observations about acting and actors. The Bestseller - Olivia Goldsmith Dishy and gossipy, this book does an excellent job of exposing the publishing industry. Great fun. Wish Upon a Star - Olivia Goldsmith A mousy clerk gets the opportunity to go to London with one of the hot bosses in her office, and decides to stay there and make a life for herself. Fun and evocative of living in London. Model Student - Robin Hazelwood A dishy, trashy and thoroughly fun novel about a young girl who becomes a model in the 1980s, and balances her college life at Columbia University along with trying to succeed in the modeling world. Spot-on 80s references, thoroughly drawn characters and the soapy world of modeling make this a frothy treat, written by an actual ex-model. Social Crimes - Jane Stanton Hitchcock Tale of a jilted millionaire's wife who attempts to get her money and her power back. Like a fifties women's movie (i.e., Mildred Pierce) in book form. About A Boy - Nick Hornby Guy lies about having a kid to pick up chicks. British, funny. Also a good movie. High Fidelity – Nick Hornby Guy thinks a lot about his past and present relationships. Makes a lot of music lists on the way. Really, a better movie, but still worth reading. ~New~ Ground Up - Michael Idov A novel about a New York City couple pursuing their dream of owning a Viennese coffeeshop on the Lower East Side. Even though it's essentially about annoying intellectual hipsters, the writing is excellent and it's filled with "mordant wit" (as Elinor Lipman says). The Best of Friends - Cathy Kelly Very Maeve Binchy in its tale of an Irish town and the people whose lives intertwine. Also very Maeve Binchy with strong characters and the theory that people are essentially good, and the people who aren't get their comeuppance (a gentle comeuppance, to be sure). My Life on a Plate - India Knight Married mummy asks, "Is that all there is?" Quite clever and has a (relatively) unexpected ending. Knight writes refreshingly distinctive characters and has a charmingly self-deprecating narrator. Oh My Stars - Lorna Landvik Novel about prickly Violet, who loses her arm, hates the world, and starts traveling with a band in the 1930s. Great story, well told, interesting characters. Elinor Lipman writes witty novels filled with vivid, memorable characters. Some of my favorites are: Ladies’ Man - A tale of three sisters, all spinsters and living together in Boston; Isabel’s Bed – A writer takes a ghost writing position for scandal queen; and When She Found Me - A shy teacher is sought out by her gregarious birth mother. My Latest Grievance - Elinor Lipman This one felt like a revisiting of some themes from her first novel: Then She Found Me. Namely, girl raised by conservative, quiet parents runs into a mother figure who is outrageous (in a Lipman way) and shakes up her life. This one is set at a college, where the heroine's parents work as professors, union activist and houseparents. The outrageous female is the heroine's father's first wife. Very engaging, very readable. The Inn at Lake Devine – Elinor Lipman A young girl who witnesses anti-Semitism from the Inn of the title grows up and finds her life inextricably linked with that of the owners. Funny, romantic, meaningful. Truer Than True Romance - Jeanne Martinet This author takes old romance comics, removes the dialogue from the balloons, writes new modern stories and fits the dialogue into the existing comic art. The result is utterly hilarious. Laugh out loud fun. Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin Originally published in serial form in the SF Chronicle, these six books follow the adventures of a group of friends from the 1970s through the 1980s. Incredibly addictive. Maybe the Moon – Armistead Maupin Cadence Roth is an actress and singer, the shortest woman in the world, and a fascinating, witty character. Fabulous book. The Night Listener – Armistead Maupin Excellent novel involving a writer and a sick boy. Extremely suspenseful and heartrending. (However, not very light.) The Object of My Affection - Stephen McCauley Endearing and funny tale of a complicated straight woman – gay man relationship. Stephen McCauley has a gift for great characters and complicated relationships, as well being blessed with a knack for a great turn of phrase. Other great McCauley novels are Alternatives to Sex and True Enough. Ultra Violet: Ten Years of Violet Days - Chris Monroe Another cartoon book (see also Lynda Barry) that perfectly evokes the 1980s childhood. From her tales of the State Fair to her reminiscences of her childhood crush on Mark Hamill to her tips on surviving winter, it's as if she's drawing my memories. The Stupidest Angel - Christopher Moore A lovely Christmas tale about zombies, this book has eccentric, hilarious characters, hilarious running commentary, and a pretty exciting plot. Full of hilarious quotes like this: "You can't just say 'retarded' in public like that—people take offense because, you know, many of them are." And this: "We're the Chosen," said Sam. "Not for kickball." [his friend Josh says]. So stinking hilarious. The Last Anniversary – Liane Moriarty Sophie Honeywell is 39 and longs to have a child of her own. After her ex-boyfriend's great-Aunt Connie dies and leaves her home on Scribbly Gum Island to her, Sophie gets entangled in the lives of Connie's eccentric family. Secrets abound on the island at the heart of which is the Munro Baby mystery, where Connie and her sister Rose discovered an abandoned baby on the island. Filled with endearing, compelling characters and complex relationships, PLUS a mystery. An absolute treat. Three Wishes - Liane Moriarty An utterly delightful novel about Lyn, Gemma and Cat--triplets in various stages of matrimonial and romantic drama, as well as drama in their relationships with each other and their parents. Fabulously endearing characters, fabulous quotes about being a sister. Must read. Windfallen - Jojo Moyes Sprawling family history centering around an unusual house and its inhabitants on the British coast. Amazing characters, complex relationships. Very Maeve Binchy-like, and that's high praise. Twins of Tribeca - Rachel Pine A thinly veiled fictionalization of a young woman's experience working for Miramax. It's super fun to try and figure out (and it isn't hard) which films and actors she's talking about. When she gets fired from Miramax and the character points out that she didn't sign their non-disclosure clause, it's a great big HELL YEAH moment. Very fun reading for movie lovers. Family Acts - Louise Shaffer Story of an opera house and the family that manages the theater from the mid-1800s to the present day, when two women, unknown to each other, inherit the opera house. An interesting look at theatrical life, and backstage life, as well. I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith Coming of age tale narrated by the 17-year-old daughter of an eccentric family living in a castle in England. Almost unbearably charming. Valley of the Dolls - Jacqueline Susann Dishy, frothy and wildly overwrought. Really fun to read out loud. The Queen and I - Sue Townsend What happens when the royal family is voted out of power and goes on the dole? Hilarity ensues. Lucia, Lucia - Adriana Trigiani Charming story of a seamstress in fifties Manhattan. A lovely portrait of mid-century New York City with lush descriptions of clothes, social life and featuring a strong, independent woman while still remaining within the cultural realities of the time period. Tepper Isn't Going Out - Calvin Trillin Quirky and deadpan, this novel is all about NYC. Tepper likes to park on the street and read his paper while other motorists curse and swear at his "not going out." He soon becomes a celebrity and hilarity ensues. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Winifred Watson Adorable old British book about a governess who ends up being befriended by a young and beautiful starlet/singer. Also a charming movie. Miracle and other Christmas Stories - Connie Willis Great collection of Christmas-themed short stories. Excellent writing, good stories and memorable characters. Good Grief - Lolly Winston It's been seven months since Sophie's husband's death--at 36, she's an awfully young widow and she's not coping well. The charm of this book is in Winston's skillful depiction of Sophie's offbeat sense of humor and hilarious inner monologues. An unexpectedly delightful book about death and loss. Happiness Sold Separately - Lolly Winston This lovely novel is about a wife who discovers her husband is having an affair (with his personal trainer) and the complications that result in their marriage and their life, which gets very complicated by the personal trainer and her son. Well drawn characters and complicated relationships make this a engaging read. P.G. Wodehouse All, but especially any tales of Jeeves and Wooster, such as: Life with Jeeves – Collection of three Jeeves novels – extremely witty stories of an upper-class twit and his vastly more intelligent butler. Falling Out of Fashion - Karen Yampolsky I love a roman a clef, and this one, written by Jane Pratt's assistant about "Jill White", her founding of the magazine "Cheeky", and her eponymous magazine is great fun. Certainly not well-written by any stretch of the imagination, and its thinly-disguised hero worship can get a little tedious, but it was a fun read, especially if you don't care for Jane Pratt. Chick LitThe Boy Next Door - Meg CabotColumnist chick has romantic troubles and hilarity ensues. Told completely through emails sent by and to gossip columnist Mel Fuller, this laugh-out-loud funny novel is an absolutely delightful read. Every Boy's Got One - Meg Cabot More emails and notes from characters tangentially related to those in The Boy Next Door. Girl cartoonist travels to Italy for her friend's wedding. Romantic troubles and hilarity ensue. Jenny Colgan is one of the most genuinely funny authors of chick lit, Colgan creates interesting, believable, quirky (but not too quirky) characters relationships and writes truly hilarious dialogue. As soon as I finish reading her books, I wish I could start all over again. Amanda's Wedding - Jenny Colgan Chick's snobbish, bitchy friend is marrying chick's longtime crush. Wedding sabotage attempts, much drinking, and yes, hilarity ensues. Looking for Andrew McCarthy - Jenny Colgan Chick hits 30 and wonders why life is not a John Hughes movie. Thinks a road trip in America to find Andrew McCarthy is a good solution. The Boy I Loved Before - Jenny Colgan Cute romantic comedy fantasy. Flora attends her friend's wedding with her boyfriend, runs into her high school ex, makes a wish, and wakes up the next day as her sixteen-year-old self. Must Love Dogs - Claire Cook Fortyish chick with big quirky Irish Catholic family undergoes dating travails (including accidentally answering her father's personal ad). Great characters, hilarious situations, and sweet storyline. Undead and Unwed - Mary Janice Davidson Young, single girl who loves shopping gets hit by a car and wakes up in the morgue as a vampire. Very funny chick lit, very untraditional vampire story. An enjoyable, fun read. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding Chick keeps diary of alcohol use, weight gain and romantic troubles. Loosely based on Pride & Prejudice. The book that started it all. Utterly hilarious and utterly re-readable. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason - Helen Fielding The sequel. Based this time (even more loosely) on Austen's Persuasion. Noteworthy for the utterly hilarious scene in which Bridget Jones interviews the actor Colin Firth about his role as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. How to Meet Cute Boys - Deanna Kizis Narrated by Benjamina Franklin (!) a writer for the Glamour-like magazine Filly, the novel is interspersed with quizzes and articles. Ben and her publishing friends live in L.A., attend fashionable parties and, in general, try to meet cute boys. Great characters and realistic but funny dating situations add up to a great chick lit read. Girl's Guide to Witchcraft - Mindy Klasky Very cute chick lit about a librarian who discovers a hidden store of witchcraft books in her basement and begins to explore her witchcraft skills. Dixieland Sushi - Cara Lockwood The heroine is a TV producer who is heading back to her Southern hometown to attend the wedding of her childhood crush, who is marrying her cousin. Her attractive coworker joins her for the trip. Romance ensues. Very much of the 80s childhood is evoked, which always pleases me. I Did (But I Wouldn't Now) - Cara Lockwood Chick lit about a woman who married a musician (who turned into a rock star) and as she gets a divorce, hides out with her good friend in London. Let's see: Good, handsome, funny, smart, blah blah friend. Hmm. Predictable, but still fun thanks to the delightfully bitter heroine. Milkrun - Sarah Mlynowski Better than average chick lit, the charm of this book is in the frenzied and hilarious inner monologue of Jackie, romance novel editor and recent dumpee. As Seen On TV – Sarah Mlynowski In this chick lit, a twenty-something girl moves to New York finds herself starring on a reality television show. Refreshingly, it focuses on the character's family and work life as much as (if not more than) it does on her romantic relationship. The author has a nice ear for dialogue and has created a very likable and fairly self-effacing narrator. Would I Lie To You - Sheila Norton Brit chick lit about a young woman who is cleaning houses in order to provide for her young daughter and herself. While cleaning one client's house that doesn’t need cleaning, she starts using his computer to write a tv script. But the real story here is with her friendships, her romancesm and her funny, lightly snarky interior monologues. Blood is the New Black - Valerie Stivers Chick lit about the world's dumbest intern who starts at the hip Manhattan fashion magazine Tasty. It takes her a REALLY long time to discover that the fashionistas are all vampires. (No spoiler here, I mean, check out the title.) Very cute idea, well executed. Enchanted, Inc. - Shanna Swendson Seamlessly blending fantasy and chick lit, this novel is about Texas girl who moves to NYC and gets a job with a company that creates magic spells. Endearing characters, hilarious situations, and despite the presence of magic and talking gargoyles and kissing frogs in Central Park, far more believable than most chick lit. See also the adorable sequel Once Upon a Stiletto and the third Damsel Under Stress and the third, Don't Hex with Texas, which follows our heroine back to her family home, magic and all. Super in the City - Daphne Uviller Charming chick lit novel about a young woman who becomes the super of her parents' building in NYC. A bit of a mystery ensues, but it doesn't get in the way of the real charm of this novel, which is the young woman's hilarious inner monologue. Romantic FictionHis and Hers - Dawn CalvertAdorable novel about a woman who makes some big mistakes and wishes herself right into Victorian times. But it has a great twist--she's wished herself into a novel. Very funny, charming characters, interesting premise. (Terrible title and cover, but don't let that fool you!) Welcome to Temptation - Jennifer Crusie Excellent contemporary romance about two sisters filming a movie in the small town of Temptation, Ohio. Strong female characters, realistic but swoony romantic leads, interesting secondary characters and a well-crafted plot all add up to a great romance. Faking It - Jennifer Crusie Sort of sequel to Welcome to Temptation. Equally funny and charming, if not even more so. Manhunting - Jennifer Crusie Although this novel involves golf and a goal of meeting rich, powerful men, it's quite a charming novel. Mostly, this is a testament to Crusie's skills with humor and characters, but it certainly doesn't hurt that the hero was the spitting image of Luke Danes on Gilmore Girls. Strange Bedpersons - Jennifer Crusie This story about activist hippie Tess and her ex boyfriend lawyer Nick is full of lots of snappy dialogue, realistic behavior and good laughs. Lynn Kurland writes time-travel, paranormal and historical romances. Most are about the members of two large, sprawling families and characters from one novel make appearances in other novels. If I Had You - Lynn Kurland Kurland does not disappoint in this medieval historical romance. Features some of the same characters as This Is All I Ask. The More I See You - Lynn Kurland Time travel romance about a contemporary woman traveling back to 1260. And yes, meets a handsome, battled-hardened knight. Stardust of Yesterday - Lynn Kurland Funny and charming ghost story about a woman who inherits an English castle that comes complete with a ghost. A very engaging and sexy ghost. This Is All I Ask - Lynn Kurland Excellent historical romance novel about a plain girl sent to the legendarily dangerous "Dragon of Blackmoor." Though a bit more somber than her paranormal books, this is a very romantic tale with incredibly well-drawn characters. Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - Kasey Michaels Story of a rich heiress who runs away from her life and ends up in a small town, working at the local diner. Filled with charming, quirky characters. Updated 7/31/11 Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Email me at carly[at]carlytown.com. |
 Bad Book Club Children's Books Classics/Fairy Tales Five Books Genre Fiction Light Fiction Nonfiction Not Quite as Light/Short Stories Young Adult Fiction And ....The Malt Shop Blog! Back to CarlyTown |