I owe one of my lovely commenters a list for light reading and here’s my attempt to pay that debt. I considered calling the post Comfort Reads, but I find these to be very personal and not always recommendable – although quite a few titles below also work as comfort reads for me. I tried to find books with wide appeal, where nothing too bad happens; books that are easy to read and funny. At the same time, I didn’t want to include anything that would afterwards make you feel like you’ve just read total faff (OK, you might disagree on Ludlum).

Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford. I’m going to admit right away that I picked this one of Nancy’s books because of the title, I guess the more conventional place to start would be The Pursuit of Love. But no matter the exact book, I love her writing and it frustrates me when people think that if you are upper class and witty, you cannot possibly have anything to say. In addition to her obvious intelligence and excellent judgement of character, she is marvelous on politics – instead of reading another biography of a great politician, all those young ambitious policy wonks should read Wigs on the Green.

At Bertram’s Hotel by Agatha Christie. This list was always going to include a Christie, as I’ve read everything she has published under her own name, most of it several times. It’s impossible to choose the greatest and that’s why I’ve gone with a less known title, one that is not among Christie’s best. The hotel of the title does, however, work as an excellent metaphor for her oeuvre in general: nice and cosy on the surface, dark and messy underneath. I like to reread it for the descriptions and the atmosphere and because it’s not as bleak as some of her other books – her view of human nature isn’t always encouraging. A word of caution on a related subject: do not read the recently published The Monogram Murders unless you’re desperate for a new Poirot.

The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin. I read less detective stories than I used to, but when I do, I prefer the kind that lets me learn about a different and/or a place – the historic and exotic crime fiction, if you will. Akunin is a Russian writer of Georgian and Jewish origin whose stories about the brilliant, gentlemanly Erast Fandorin take you through the 19th century Russian history in an intelligent, literary and entertaining way. I think Fandorin might appeal to the fans of Lord Peter Wimsey, among others. The Winter Queen isn’t the best book in the series, but it’s the first and I recommend starting there.

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. I have written about this book before and I still think it’s one of the best recent entries to the genre we might as well call Escapism is Great. It’s worth bringing up also because the second book in the series, The Masked City, is out now. I loved it less than the first (that was probably inevitable), but it’s very enjoyable nevertheless.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. I did seriously consider including Harry Potter in this list, as I devoured the series like a mad person, but it felt a bit TOO obvious, even for me. So here is another young boy in a magical world, forced to shoulder enormous responsibility. I didn’t fall for it because the world-building (although it’s good) or the plot (although it works), but because it’s a lot of fun to read, an almost old-fashioned fantasy story for all ages, with a protagonist you want to root for. Read it when your faith in humanity is failing.

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. I had almost forgotten about this one until someone mentioned it on Bois de Jasmin. And I’m so glad she did, as I used to reread this on a monthly basis in the past. I still think it’s one of the funniest books I’ve ever encountered and it also makes for great holiday reading because of the outrageous things Gerald’s family does. They’ll make your family look completely sane in comparison.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. I love Wilde, but his most celebrated works do not quite meet my light reading standards. His plays, however, are more lighthearted and brilliantly witty. Like Nancy, he can be scathing, but you’ll forgive him, because he is so entertaining and because there is always more to him than clever word play.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. This is not just a way of sneaking in two writers I really like for the price of one, although it is that. It’s this rare occasion where a joint effort really brings out the best in both and the result is a very funny but insightful apocalyptic romp. It also seems to work for many people who aren’t regular fantasy readers and wouldn’t necessarily enjoy a pure Gaiman book.

Trevayne by Robert Ludlum. Thrillers are another category I tend to read less than I used to, as it’s been replaced by (thrilling) fantasy and science fiction. But I’m always happy to read an old school political thriller and I’ve read pretty much everything that has Ludlum’s name on the cover. Again, I’ve picked something that most people wouldn’t: the Bourne trilogy and many other Ludlum books are much better known and arguably better books than Trevayne, I just happen to prefer the political conspiracy/action ratio that is in favour of the first, something very much the case here. If you happen to think politics is boring – I disagree, but this book is probably not for you.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Yes, I do realize that this one is even more obvious than Harry Potter, but I’m including it for two reasons: 1) it’s fashionable to give more prominence to other books by Austen and while I enjoy them all, I do actually think that this one is my favourite. It’s a classic for a reason. 2) The Complete Novels of Jane Austen were one of the few books I had on hand to photograph. Yes, this is how decisions get made in these parts.

I hope you do have time to read still this year and the next and do share your easy-reading favourites.