I'm reading "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" and thoroughly enjoying it. And so far none of that stuff has happened. I'd be real surprised it if did, too.

I don't remember what all is on the Happy Book thread, but I always find Terry Pratchett books fun to read and also the early Christopher Moore books, i.e. "Fluke" and "Island of the Sequined Love Nun."

They aren't new new, but the Irish Country Doctor and its sequels are definitely happy books along the lines of the Herriot books.

Absolutely try Major Pettigrew's Last Stand! It fits the bill completely.

Thanks for the ideas! I have read the Irish Country Doctor btw but thanks anyway.
Will keep this list close at hand.

I just finished The Cold Light of Mourning by Elizabeth J. Duncan. It is set in north Wales and is a very cozy mystery.

For an amusing romp through history, you might try Will Cuppy's The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody. It was first published in 1950 but was reissued a few years ago. Definitely a different kind of read. The facts are accurate but told in a hilarious way.

I absolutely am in love with Marlena De Blasi, a travel memoirist.
Her books, four in a row, are just heavenly if you want to live vicariously through her experiences living in Italy.

Thanks so much for all the ideas!

Couldn't agree more with yoyobon. I, too, adore Marlena De Blasi. I was bowled over that "That Summer in Sicily" was non-fiction, as are her other great books. I had to have them all for my library.

Other good reads for me are:

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
4/10's of an Acre
Winging It
Dune Road--J. Green
The Castaways--E. Hildebrand
Applebeck Orchard--Wittig
I'll Never be French
Summer House--N. Thayer
The French Gardener--S.Montefiore
The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners--L. Rice
I Loved, I Lost, I made Spaghetti--G.Melucci
Bitter is the New Black--Jen Lancaster
The Lost Garden--A.Elgin
The Blue Rose--A. Elgin

I never would have remembered all these titles if I had not after decades of reading, finally starting keeping a reading log.

Sorry about not having all the authors.

For just light/pleasurable reading:

The Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries by Rita Mae Brown. I have corgis and cats so what's not to love about these. The animals speak to each other but NOT to the humans...

The Ladies of Covington series... Joan Medlicott.

Both of these evolve, as series tend to, and after a while they kind of "create" events to keep the story and characters going, so it's easy to tire of them. Start from the beginning as those are probably the best.

Prodigal Summer...B. Kingsolver

I'm a quilter so like all of Chiaverini's books also, but you don't have to be a quilter to enjoy the character and the stories.

happygardener.....you sound like a soul mate !!

I am going to look for many of the books on your list as I believe we do have similar tastes in reading.

As I read DeBlasi, I felt like I was sitting down with a friend and living her adventures...even the sad ones.
I am in the middle of THE LADY IN THE PALAZZO ( the third in the series) and so look forward to snuggling up each morning with my hot chai and finding out what's going on with her.

I know I will be very sad to see this series end.

Have you read A SEASON IN BASILICATTA?
Wonderful as well.

Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart.

Italian Neighbors by Tim Parks.

Any of the Peter Mayle books about Anglos living in France. I especially like the one told from a dog's point of view -- very funny.

Have you read anything by Anne Tyler? I especially enjoyed A Patchwork Planet and, just this week, Noah's Compass

Hey, yoyobon,

Just found out our girl, Marlena has a new book out, "Amandine".
And I'm first in line when it hits our library!!

Can't find "A Season in Basilicatta", who is the author?
Happy Gardener

Yoyobon,
On your recommendation, I bought A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena de Blasi, when I found it on the clearance shelf at Half Price Books Tuesday evening. I don't think I'll read it immediately, but will let you know how I like it.

Did you know there is an upcoming book by her? It's a novel--Amandine--to be released mid-May.

The Seasons in Basilicata you mentioned, is it the one by David Yeadon? I saw that one on Tuesday at Half Price Books, but didn't buy it. If it's the same one, I liked the illustrations. How was it?

I second Veronica's suggestion of Anne Tyler's books. I've enjoyed all of them except the last one, Noah's Compass. I had the feeling that Tyler has perhaps run out of ideas. But her previous books are all wonderful and I loved A Patchwork Planet.

Have you ever read "The greatest Miracle in the World"?
Its by Og Mandino, its a older book, but it made me feel very good. A happy book. If you like that one he has many more. There won't be anymore thought, he died several years ago.

SEASONS IN BASILICATA by David Yeadon is a wonderful read ! One of my favorites.

HappyGardener....WOW !! a new DeBlasi book? You made my day.
I am currently reading THE SUMMER IN SICILY by her and am blown away by her writing. This is another one of hers that I will read slowly and marinate in .

I really appreciate all your ideas. I have not bought anything yet because this is APRIL, which is my main gardening month as I gear up for the heat (which incidentally has already started way too early!).
It's about all I do all month. Once it gets hot, I move indoors until fall and read lots of books which this list will supply.
When I read a good book I stop everything peripheral and read it until I'm finished.

froniga, I loved the whole idea of The Patchwork Planet, I thought it would be a cool business to be involved with. There are even times, as an aging adult, who is still pretty hardy and intact, to have someone like that to call! To know, when something is getting harder at this point in my life, that there would be somebody to call when it gets even harder in a few more years. Our neighbor called Sunday, needing help to open a jar of mayonnaise...and other days when she can't reach to open her garage door (no, she doesn't have an automatic garage opener.)

Alice Steinbach's books are good reads. She's a former Baltimore Sun reporter (and Pulitzer winner) who, well, ran off to Europe to find herself (I stole that description from another source).
"Without Reservations"
and
"Educating Alice"

I have just started a book that is described as "Mad and hilarous" on the cover. "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian". So far it looks promising.

Several years ago I read "Driving Over Lemons", and had a wonderful escape w/it! What makes it extra exciting is that it's All True. I found it in the Travel section at the library.

An English rock musician and his girlfriend move to Spain, and buy a decrepit house out in the countryside. The rest is about fixing it up, planting lush grounds, meeting the local characters. Lots of fun! Oh, yes, and they start a family there, too.