Rec me some light-hearted fluffyness?

Rbneader · 01-16-2014, 12:43 PM

Hi everyone,

I've hit my stress limit for the next month, and need some recommendations for light-hearted, angst-free reading. Epics or adventures are fine, if the characters handle it without angst or too much stress. I just can't deal with something that makes me sad or stressed right now.

Wodehouse, Heyer or Pratchett are OK and I've read most of them. Tolkien is too depressing (everything sinks into decay is not the message I'm looking for

). For comics examples, Order of the Stick is tolerable, but Megatokyo is too much emoting. I've heard that Jo Walton wrote a social comedy with dragons, what is that like?

Any other suggestions?

ETA: Serious medical problems and doctors/hospitals are triggery for me right now.

Mike L · 01-16-2014, 01:33 PM

If you like P.G. Wodehouse, you'll probably enjoy O. Henry. And perhaps also Stephen Crane.

As far as I know, neither of them wrote full-length novels, but they wrote plenty of entertaining short stories and articles.

Mike

BenG · 01-16-2014, 01:35 PM

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

HomeInMyShoes · 01-16-2014, 01:46 PM

Catherynne M. Valente's The Girl Who... series is a great one. I've read the first two books and it is just light adventure fun in the same style as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

artifact · 01-16-2014, 05:58 PM

For tongue in cheek fantasy with bad puns, try Piers Anthony's Xanth series.

MickeyC · 01-16-2014, 06:44 PM

For a real light hearted giggle try Dog's On It by Spencer Quinn. This is a private eye novel narrated, not by the detective, but by his dog.

crich70 · 01-16-2014, 07:04 PM

Roald Dahl wrote some good stuff that (IMO) could be lighthearted reading. The Willy Wonka books have been favorites of mine since I was a kid. My parents got me copies of them via one of the book flyers that they gave out in grade school back in the 70's.

crossi · 01-17-2014, 07:05 AM

James Schmitz Witches of Karres and all the rest of his books.
Loius Bujold's Vorkosiggan Books starting with Warrior's Apprentice.
MaryJanice Davidson's Undead and Unwed.
David Eddings Belgarrion series (paper only in the US).
A. Lee Martinez's A Nameless Witch. A witch with a terrible handicap, she's gorgeous, along with her demonic duck with serious attitude.
Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion.
Tamorra Pierces Protector of the Small series, Trickster series, Lioness series.
H. B. Piper's Little Fuzzy.
James White Sector General novels.
Heron Carvic's Miss Seeton novels (paper only and hard to find,don't read sequels by other authors).
Francis Burnett's A Little Princess, Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Secret Garden (I've been rereading them since childhood).

ccowie · 01-17-2014, 12:50 PM

I also like a lot of the fantasy fun suggested, but for something completely different try
All Families are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland or some Carl Hiassen books - I liked Skin Tight. There is a little angst in these books but in a funny way, especially in Coupland's stuff.

Rbneader · 01-17-2014, 02:12 PM

Thank you all so much for the recs you've given so far! I'm looking into the ones that seem good so far, if you have any more suggestions please feel free to keep posting.

Rbneader · 01-17-2014, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossi

Loius Bujold's Vorkosiggan Books starting with Warrior's Apprentice.
David Eddings Belgarrion series (paper only in the US).
Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion.
Tamorra Pierces Protector of the Small series, Trickster series, Lioness series.
Francis Burnett's A Little Princess, Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Secret Garden (I've been rereading them since childhood).

Just to clarify, I can't read any of these books right now. Warrior's Apprentice includes 3 major injuries, death of a main character, the aftermath of rape and psychotic breaks, massive stress on the main character and a treason trial. It's funny, but is in no way 'light' or 'fluffy'. A Civil Campaign is closer, but Bujold doesn't really write anything light or fluffy.

Deed of Paksenarrion hits the stress and angst pretty quickly (attempted rape and a trial), then goes through campaigns against dictators, multiple rounds of torture and major emotional drama. It's not light-hearted at all.

Ditto for Tamora Pierce and Francis Burnett - the writing level is aimed at kids or teenagers, but the subject matter is usually very serious (treason, death of family, child abuse, adult relationships, major illness, just to name a few) and is usually portrayed seriously.

Roald Dahl also deals with serious stuff, but he adds in a bunch of fantastical elements and everything has unambiguously happy endings, so I might try him.

Catlady · 01-17-2014, 02:51 PM

How about Shirley Jackson's family stories? The Magic of Shirley Jackson includes both Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons, as well as some of her darker stories.

Carmelreader · 01-17-2014, 04:15 PM

the Bachelor Brother's Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson. Unfortunately not in ebook, is in audio. I read it a number of years ago during a bad time and I loved it. Usually at those times I reread Heyer. What about Julia Quinn? Not at all close to a Heyer, but definitely fluffy and light. Maybe a Katie Fforde?

silverraven · 01-17-2014, 05:44 PM

Janet Evanovich?

crossi · 01-17-2014, 05:49 PM

How do you feel about romances?
Georgette Heyer's Venetia, Frederica and the Grand Sophy might work. It's been a while since I read them but I remember them as funny and light.

01-16-2014, 12:43 PM	#1
Rbneader Fanatic Posts: 500 Karma: 2661351 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: None	Rec me some light-hearted fluffyness? Hi everyone, I've hit my stress limit for the next month, and need some recommendations for light-hearted, angst-free reading. Epics or adventures are fine, if the characters handle it without angst or too much stress. I just can't deal with something that makes me sad or stressed right now. Wodehouse, Heyer or Pratchett are OK and I've read most of them. Tolkien is too depressing (everything sinks into decay is not the message I'm looking for ). For comics examples, Order of the Stick is tolerable, but Megatokyo is too much emoting. I've heard that Jo Walton wrote a social comedy with dragons, what is that like? Any other suggestions? ETA: Serious medical problems and doctors/hospitals are triggery for me right now. Last edited by Rbneader; 01-17-2014 at 02:26 PM.

01-17-2014, 07:05 AM	#8
crossi Guru Posts: 992 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	James Schmitz Witches of Karres and all the rest of his books. Loius Bujold's Vorkosiggan Books starting with Warrior's Apprentice. MaryJanice Davidson's Undead and Unwed. David Eddings Belgarrion series (paper only in the US). A. Lee Martinez's A Nameless Witch. A witch with a terrible handicap, she's gorgeous, along with her demonic duck with serious attitude. Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion. Tamorra Pierces Protector of the Small series, Trickster series, Lioness series. H. B. Piper's Little Fuzzy. James White Sector General novels. Heron Carvic's Miss Seeton novels (paper only and hard to find,don't read sequels by other authors). Francis Burnett's A Little Princess, Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Secret Garden (I've been rereading them since childhood). Last edited by crossi; 01-17-2014 at 07:18 AM.

01-17-2014, 02:12 PM	#10
Rbneader Fanatic Posts: 500 Karma: 2661351 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: None	Thank you all so much for the recs you've given so far! I'm looking into the ones that seem good so far, if you have any more suggestions please feel free to keep posting. Last edited by Rbneader; 01-17-2014 at 02:20 PM.

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01-16-2014, 01:33 PM	#2
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	If you like P.G. Wodehouse, you'll probably enjoy O. Henry. And perhaps also Stephen Crane. As far as I know, neither of them wrote full-length novels, but they wrote plenty of entertaining short stories and articles. Mike

01-16-2014, 01:35 PM	#3
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

01-16-2014, 01:46 PM	#4
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Catherynne M. Valente's The Girl Who... series is a great one. I've read the first two books and it is just light adventure fun in the same style as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

01-16-2014, 05:58 PM	#5
artifact Addict Posts: 276 Karma: 3569616 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: jetBook (RIP), Kobo Touch	For tongue in cheek fantasy with bad puns, try Piers Anthony's Xanth series.

01-16-2014, 06:44 PM	#6
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	For a real light hearted giggle try *Dog's On It* by Spencer Quinn. This is a private eye novel narrated, not by the detective, but by his dog.

01-16-2014, 07:04 PM	#7
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,309 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Roald Dahl wrote some good stuff that (IMO) could be lighthearted reading. The Willy Wonka books have been favorites of mine since I was a kid. My parents got me copies of them via one of the book flyers that they gave out in grade school back in the 70's.

01-17-2014, 12:50 PM	#9
ccowie Hiding with an ereader Posts: 391 Karma: 3987376 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kitchener Ontario Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony PRS 950, Ipad 2, PRS 350	I also like a lot of the fantasy fun suggested, but for something completely different try All Families are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland or some Carl Hiassen books - I liked Skin Tight. There is a little angst in these books but in a funny way, especially in Coupland's stuff.

01-17-2014, 02:51 PM	#12
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,365 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	How about Shirley Jackson's family stories? The Magic of Shirley Jackson includes both Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons, as well as some of her darker stories.

01-17-2014, 04:15 PM	#13
Carmelreader Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 617380 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Kindle Fire HD, kindle HDX 8.9, ipad pro, ipad mini 2, Voyage, Oasis 2	the Bachelor Brother's Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson. Unfortunately not in ebook, is in audio. I read it a number of years ago during a bad time and I loved it. Usually at those times I reread Heyer. What about Julia Quinn? Not at all close to a Heyer, but definitely fluffy and light. Maybe a Katie Fforde?

01-17-2014, 05:44 PM	#14
silverraven Guru Posts: 968 Karma: 3438612 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle 4NTB x 4	Janet Evanovich?

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01-17-2014, 05:49 PM	#15
crossi Guru Posts: 992 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	How do you feel about romances? Georgette Heyer's Venetia, Frederica and the Grand Sophy might work. It's been a while since I read them but I remember them as funny and light.