Exceptional Books discussion

This folder is for those of us who enjoy those fluffy reads. They may not qualify as exceptional reads, but are enjoyable to those who read them. I for one definitely enjoy some "fluffy" reads in between those more emotional and gripping stories. Feel free to post and discuss!

Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson. The best opening lines of any fluffy read.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

Amy wrote: "This folder is for those of us who enjoy those fluffy reads. They may not qualify as exceptional reads, but are enjoyable to those who read them. I for one definitely enjoy some "fluffy" reads in b..."

Amy, I love this idea!! I can't wait to see what members add :)

Me too! Hoping to add some of them to my list as well. I like having some balance in what I read.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

That was an interesting read for me. A little too much of a chick lit book for my taste.

Love my fluffies! Love Fannie Flagg btw. Anyway, I'd add two books, both by Lorna Landvik Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons and Oh My Stars

Little Altars Everywhere - Rebecca Wells
Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin
Crazy Ladies - Michelle Lee

I read Little Altars and had a hard time making it through.

Ok, someone please explain to me the difference between Chick Lit & "fluffy". To me they're the same thing, just like YA & Children's Lit seem to be interchangeable.

Chick lit usually has more romance and what I like to call girly stuff. Fluffy reads can be anything totally silly. YA and Children's lit are definitely their own category.

Chick lit is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly.[1] The genre sells well, with chick lit titles topping bestseller lists and the creation of imprints devoted entirely to chick lit.[citation needed] Although it sometimes includes romantic elements, chick lit is generally not considered a direct subcategory of the romance novel genre, because the heroine's relationship with her family or friends is often just as important as her romantic relationships.[2] (this came from Wikipedia)

Lisa wrote: "Ok, someone please explain to me the difference between Chick Lit & "fluffy". To me they're the same thing, just like YA & Children's Lit seem to be interchangeable."

To me, fluffy reads are "mental palate cleansers". Something easy to read- good for after you finish something like War and Peace. Stuff you read when you're having a reading slump. It's not genre specific, but a chick-lit book can be a fluffy kind of read.

Anything and everything from Christopher Moore

Ok, so something like the Big Stone Gap/Very Valentine series by Trigiani is which one? Fluffy or Chick Lit? I'm still trying to understand the difference. There were a couple of others I read, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, & one other one about the Civil War & Robert E. Lee that I can't remember the name of that I would consider fluffy, but I guess they could be either...

I'm not sure Lisa. I haven't read either one. I usually attribute fluffy reads to silly ones that just make you laugh but don't necessairly have to be well written.

Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella. I was not a huge fan of the Shopaholic books, but this one, by the same author, was a hoot! I literally laughed out load while listening to this audio book-it almost brought me to tears I was laughing so hard through some of it. Loads of fun!

I too loved Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. Great book.

Karen wrote: "Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella. I was not a huge fan of the Shopaholic books, but this one, by the same author, was a hoot! I literally laughed out load while listening to this audio book..."

I'm intrigued, I'll check it out.

I liked the shopaholica books but kept asking myself if one person (real or not) would really be that dumb to charge up credit cards to that point. The character just seemed very immatures and clueless, but still endearing in some ways. I disliked Mini Shopaholic however. Felt like by the time Rebecca had a baby she needed to get a clue and grow up.

My favorite fluffy reads are: Dead Until Dark and Janet Evanovich's books about Stephenie Plum as they make me laugh out loud.

Charlaine Harris
Janet Evanovich

This debut novel is splendid storytelling. I'm loving it. There's a giveaway offer up at new york journal of books. Worth a shot, great writing:
http://nyjournalofbooks.com/giveaways...

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. just a delightful compilation of his stories.

How about Beginner's Greek by James Collins? Less fluffy than Sophie Kinsella but more fluffy than David Sedaris.

THanks for suggesting this. It looks cute!

I guess we all have different definitions of what constitutes a "fluffy" read. For me that would be anything by P.G. Wodehouse or any of Lindsey Davis's Marcus Didius Falco mysteries. James Thurber also makes me laugh out loud.

Love this. My favorite "fluffy read" is probably Isabel's Bed by Elinor Lipman. As one blog put it, " Isabel's Bed is a beatiful gem of a novel, which gives us beautiful writing, a compelling story, and engaging characters." It's a hoot.

I will have to check that one out!

Karen wrote: "I guess we all have different definitions of what constitutes a "fluffy" read. For me that would be anything by P.G. Wodehouse or any of Lindsey Davis's Marcus Didius Falco mysteries. James Thurb..."

Love the Falco mysteries, especially the 1st in the series, what was it called, Silver Pigs?

Devan wrote: "How about Beginner's Greek by James Collins? Less fluffy than Sophie Kinsella but more fluffy than David Sedaris."

That's a good one, Devan. I liked Beginner's Greek tho' it tailed off into fluffiness by the end. Sort of a Hugh Grant baffled-hero kind of read.

Alice wrote: "My favorite fluffy reads are: Dead Until Dark and Janet Evanovich's books about Stephenie Plum as they make me laugh out loud.

Charlaine Harris
Janet Evanovich"

Loved the 1st in the series, One for the Money. What a kick!

Jen Lancaster is always funny. Her second novel Here I Go Again is a cute book.

I've tried one of her other books and couldn't make it past the first chapter.

Amy wrote: "I'm not sure Lisa. I haven't read either one. I usually attribute fluffy reads to silly ones that just make you laugh but don't necessairly have to be well written."

I'm new - so just catching up. When Amy wrote this, my first thought was Janet Evanovich; and Alice, too, has put Janet in the fluffy read books. Unfortunately, Evanovich has become rote, the type has become larger, and there is much more white space, so that what constitutes a book could just have easily fit in a pamphlet. I've quit Evanovich...but then I'm not much for fluff reading anyway. I still prefer a well-written book than fluff.

I think everyone's idea of fluffy reads definitely varies based on what your interests are.

I'm sure you're correct, Amy. I suspect that applies to many, if not all, aspects of books and writing :-)

Fluff is good. I love Mary Kay Andrews.