I guess I'm the opposite; one book of "brain candy" and I'm ready for something a bit more challenging. In general, I really don't care for light reading, so I don't read much of it, although sometimes I do need a break from heavier fare! Bill Bryson or Jodi Picoult is probably about as "brain candy"-ish as I get, and I do like picking up one of their books after a long string of "heavies".

Picoult is like chocolate to me! Have to have it when I see it - as soon as it's published usually. And that's the kind of book I'm talking about...read it in one day - or less.

That's Nora Roberts for me. Whenever a new book comes out, I drop everything and read it (unless it's a trilogy, then I wait until all three books are in hand and have a proper binge). Since she's the only romance writer I read, she's a semi-annual treat.

I have a very mixed TBR pile, and I read a lot of non-fiction, so the "veggies" and brain candy seem to alternate pretty easily.

cozy mysteries are my little mental potato chips. I usually mix them in equally with more involved books. I don't read much romance or "chick lit" but that's because I don't like them, not because I don't "approve" of them. At this point in my life I read what I want to when I want to-and don't worry about the "literary value." Raading is entertainment and escape-it is sort of like choosing to vacation at the beach or in a big city. Different yet both fun.

Im not sure what is exactly considered 'light reading'. Like ccrdmrbks I don't read romance or chick lit, but I don't read mysteries either.
You probably know I read a lot of the Classics, most of which are fairly weighty and 'good for me'. I do mix it up with a more modern novel now and again. I pretty much pick modern books out randomly, which keeps things exciting.
There was one time though that I really needed a 'light' read. I had just finished a book by Hardy and was in sore need of something that wasn't depressing. I went for Grimm's Fairy Tales. It wasn't too unhealthy for me either; it gave an interesting look at some of those old folk tales before they had been changed and made into kid's cartoon movies and such.
CMK

Mysteries are my mental junk food. I actually CRAVE them. And I don't know if it's just me, but lately, I've been turning toward the older books. It seems as if I cannot find many good reads amongst the new releases. Oh, I know I am missing some gems, I am sure. But I keep looking and looking. Guernsey Literary... was great. But I look at an awful lot of new releases and publisher's catalogs of upcoming releases on their individual websites. Nothing new. I just get glazed eyes after a while because all of the descriptions seem to be the same. Ugh. I find myself turning more and more to my mysteries.

PAM

As cosy mysteries and who-dunnits are the usual fare, my brain candy is to read about sinfully rich people or sex and shopping but light on the sex! Just finished Hitchcock's "Social Crimes" and the sequel. No sex scenes at all that I noticed but lots of wallowing in lush settings. Gorgeous! I mentally 'frocked up' and tried on some wonderful jewellery whilst sipping Moet out of a Waterford crystal flute, all VIP with a personal shopper.
Dream on!!

People magazine is what I call junk food for my brain. I read it every week and it serves its purpose well. While all of the books I read are not of the highest literary value, I seldom read a book that I consider junk food or candy because it would be too much and I would be bored and never finish. But, as we know, one person's junk is another person's treasure.

Mysteries are my favorite, not necessarily cozies although I like them, but not horror or true crime or child molestation.

Cece, have you read Cynthia Riggs? Her books are set on Martha's Vineyard and have a 92-year-old heroine who is a deputy police officer and wears a baseball cap.

I have read a couple of hers. I tend to read mysteries set in England-Christie, Marsh, Sayers, Heyer, Lovesey, Woods, Lemarchand, (I have a million of them)...and, like Pam, I tend to go back to older series, best being the ones written before 1970 or so-super best written around the between WW I and WW II. That way, I get the "rich people in a lovely country house" fix annpan talks about as well as the mystery to distract my brain.

People magazine and mysteries, for sure....although I must admit most of my reading anymore resembles "brain candy".

I am also a fan of "People" magazine, although get around the subscription by going to Barnes every Sunday and reading through it whilst I am there. That way I get my fix of popular culture without actually having to admit I subscribe to it. It's expensive too.

Who was it on here who described People as a "popular culture periodical"? Funny.

I called it something much more important-sounding than it deserves-might have been that. Long time ago. I gave DD a subscription as a counterweight to her graduate school reading-and she faithfully saves all issues and brings them home on her rare trips, so I can just overdose on "popular culture"-because, seriously, does it matter if it is 6 months out of date? Not really.

CeCe - Your last comment reminds of a play that my sister was in many years ago called "The Curious Savage." It was set in a "sanatorium." Whichever of the inmates got to the daily paper first quickly hid it and kept it hidden for several days. That way, when the inmates actually read the paper, it was old news and didn't cause them as much emotional distress. I've thought about using that method myself on occasion.