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Favorite relaxing books?

I'm in the middle of a hellish final exam week (my classes do a trimester-esque thing).

I love to read, and I'd really like to have a nice, relaxing book to look forward to this friday. Any recommendations? Feel free to just discuss your own personal favorites for light reading.

Fiction preferred, but I'm sure there are some great nonfiction works as well!
  • #1
  • 09 November 2011 - 06:08 PM
My idea of "light reading" is grabbing the first book I can find that I haven't read yet and have been planning to read.

The last time I did that it took me half a year to get through the two physical books that contained the work. That thing's probably the most boring book ever written in Finnish - and I loved it.
  • #2
  • 09 November 2011 - 06:14 PM
  • Ace
  • BCI Member
Wheel of Time series... oh wait that's not really light reading...

Uhhhhh hmm. I don't often read things that are under 400 pages so that's tough. Of course I read those in like 4 hours so it's light reading to me.

(Wizard's First Rule is awesome)
  • #3
  • 09 November 2011 - 06:27 PM
Same situation with final exams. I've got the Jobs bio sitting in my bookshelf taunting me :(

Suppose it's not very relaxing, though.
  • #4
  • 09 November 2011 - 06:43 PM
If by "light", you mean "totally untaxing", then you can't go wrong with the Lost in Translation series; a collection of hilarious misquotes and English massacres from across the world. It's better than it sounds, trust me.
  • #5
  • 09 November 2011 - 06:46 PM
Haha thats awesome, Sammy! Thats definitely on my list! 8-D

Now, by "light" I'm not saying "no dark themes or complex plots at all"...
For instance, I found the Harry Potter series a very nice "television series on paper" kind of read because it was so character-driven and the plot moved at a consistent pace.

I guess its kind of hard to gauge what makes a book relaxing :x

P.S. Ouch, Suitcase. I don't envy you. :(
  • #6
  • 09 November 2011 - 06:53 PM
  • wacko
  • Knows more about BCB than Taeshi
    Member
For me, "light reading" consists of pulling out one of the books I used to read as a kid, and which I still enjoy reading from time to time. For example, "How to Eat Fried Worms". The books aren't that long, so it's a nice, quick, relaxing read for me.
  • #7
  • 09 November 2011 - 07:52 PM
I can't believe no-one's mentioned it yet, and we could only recently say it but the BCB BOOK!!!!!!!

Seriously though, I don't find many books "light reading", I consider them too thought intensive, but then I also read classics more than anything. If I want something a bit more fun and shorter I like more teen books and younger, including, for an actual recommendation, Howl's Moving Castle (the book is SOOOO much better than the movie, although the movie was pretty great). If I really want "light" reading I usually prefer graphic novels...like the new BCB BOOK!!!!!!!

Sorry I'll stop now...
  • #8
  • 10 November 2011 - 12:45 PM
This book is huge, but it's an easy read and delightfully fresh. I've yet to read anything that is anything like it. It's part partly a satire on fantasy and epics, and part amazing fantasy epic.The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear
  • #9
  • 10 November 2011 - 10:42 PM
I do enjoy a bit of satirical fun coffee table reading, such as "All my friends are dead", "I judge you for your bad spelling", "What pisses me off the most is Everything" or "Zombie Survival Guide" or in general very light-hearted, not to be taken very seriously material. When I can pester my partner to read to me aloud it's usually some romantic nonsense or some heart-string tugging sob-stories (Although Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven was truly enjoyable through and through.)

If only I had time for leisurely reading.
  • #10
  • 11 November 2011 - 12:06 AM
I recently re-read Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", I'd say it might be what you're looking for. It's a pretty easy read, you should be able to finish it in a weekend, and I'd say it's pretty non-taxing. The language is simple, but it's by no means strictly a children's book (it's amazing how much I understand now that i'm older that I didn't quite catch when reading it in middle school)
Very relaxing, and pretty enjoyable.
  • #11
  • 11 November 2011 - 12:19 AM
Kama Sutra
  • #12
  • 11 November 2011 - 12:33 AM
you can't read that alone, silly
well, you can... but it's not as much fun ;)
  • #13
  • 11 November 2011 - 02:10 AM
who says I read it alone? besides, I could always invite you to read it with me. ;)

This post has been edited by Kaxbe: 11 November 2011 - 03:12 AM

  • #14
  • 11 November 2011 - 03:11 AM
I suggest "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. It's a light read, yet very immersing and full of inspiring messages and themes. It has a very deep and philosophical feel to it, on top of being an amazing piece of literature and a good read in general. :)

This post has been edited by Boringamus: 11 November 2011 - 03:48 AM

  • #15
  • 11 November 2011 - 03:46 AM
to lower my angsity i read flowers for Algernon this year it's a sci-fi tear jerker
  • #16
  • 30 May 2012 - 01:28 AM
What i prefer is to just reread one of the 8 Dark Tower books. It doesn't seem like a light read to anybody, but.......

This post has been edited by falconboy99: 07 June 2012 - 01:58 PM

  • #17
  • 07 June 2012 - 01:58 PM
The count of montrecristo it´s one of my favorites books.
  • #18
  • 07 June 2012 - 02:26 PM
Pretty much anything by Terry Pratchett or Christopher Moore. I simply love the style of those two, even if Moore gets a bit "lol randumb XD" at times.
  • #19
  • 07 June 2012 - 02:45 PM
My friend just let me borrow The God Delusion by Dawkins. It's not as awesome as I thought it would be, but that's probably because I'm already aware of most of the stuff he's talking about.
  • #20
  • 07 June 2012 - 06:11 PM
Nobody just sits back in a hammock on a nice warm day to read Mein Kampf anymore.
  • #21
  • 07 June 2012 - 08:51 PM

View PostKaxbe, on 11 November 2011 - 03:11 AM, said:

who says I read it alone? besides, I could always invite you to read it with me. ;)


Cheating Swine!!!!!!

Urm...relaxing books. I surprisingly enjoy books about finding love and coming of age. Whenever I want a nice relaxing day or two I pop open Little Women and read it for another time. I love that book, and it's the first book that made me tear up a little.
  • #22
  • 07 June 2012 - 09:10 PM
  • wacko
  • Knows more about BCB than Taeshi
    Member
Odd, I always liked rereading "Little Men" far more. Maybe because I'm a boy. :smirk:

Daisy in "Little Men" is somewhat like Daisy of BCB, while Nan is like a Lucy who was accepted by the boys.
  • #23
  • 07 June 2012 - 09:24 PM
My two are by Markus Zusak. One is a feel-good, easy read, and the other makes me cry every time I reread it. I am the Messenger is good if you want a little hope in humanity, and The Book Thief is more if you feel like crying about Nazi Germany.

Also, if you just feel like being disgusted with people, I'd give Less than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis a try. I want to read American Psycho by him, but I have been advised against that due to its content.
  • #24
  • 07 June 2012 - 10:02 PM
Quit being a pussy and read American Psycho.
  • #25
  • 07 June 2012 - 11:12 PM
Warhammer 40,000 novels. Nothing more relaxing than reading about puny humans getting mutilated by super-human demi-gods/muscular green idiots/space elves/the original zerg.
  • #26
  • 08 June 2012 - 05:57 AM
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