Sensitive boy needs a girl in a flowery dress

[venta]

Reading recommendations sought!

I am off to hospital on Monday, so am looking to stock my e-reader up with extremely lightweight reading matter. (I'm not opposed to proper books, of course, but during non mobile periods the simplicity of download vs. shop and clicking next vs. going to the bookshelf is quite appealing.)

So, what should I be reading?  I think, for mental bubblegum my tastes run rather more towards (say) YA sci-fi than they do towards chick-lit. Everyone keeps telling me I should be stocking up on T.V. boxed sets, but T.V. isn't really my thing.

I'm currently reading The Screaming Staircase and sadly finding it a little unsatisfying. I'm not sure what age range it's aimed at, but it does seem very simplistic. I loved the Bartimaeus books, but have been a bit underwhelmed by Lockwood & Co.

EditJust for clarity, I don't require YA sci-fi. It was intended as a frinstance, not a demand. Thanks for all suggestions!

Comments

[shermarama]

Jasper FForde's Shades Of Grey? It's a dystopian alternative future, but an amusingly absurd one that feels a bit like the 1950s, not the grindingly dark sort. It's fun pinning together all the bits of the set-up but then there's something surprisingly interesting there once you do.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Ooh, is that Thursday Next, or a standalone? I've read the first few Thursday Next novels and enjoyed them.

[shermarama]

It's a standalone, although technically the start of a series which I'd now really like him to continue. I liked the Thursday Next ones more than I'd expected (I probably haven't read enough literature to get all the jokes) but I liked this one even more.