I’m a mom of 3 small children. I get very little time to read, and when I do I’m often interrupted by unpredictable lovable gremlin attacks so it’s hard to stay immersed in anything too dense. I’ve restarted both *Dune* and *Leviathan Wakes* over the past couple of years because I have a hard time keeping track of all the characters and plot points.
My sister gave me *Tress of the Emerald Sea* by Brandon Sanderson and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author sites *The Princess Bride* (one of my favorite movies) and *Good Omens* (my actual favorite book) as major influences, which likely played a role in my enthusiasm for the book. More importantly, I was somehow able to retain what was happening despite only being able to read a couple of pages in spurts. I finished it in less than a week, which I don’t think has happened since I had kids.
I’ve heard that *Tress* is a bit of a departure from Sanderson’s other books, and I’m not sure I even want to dive into a series anyway. I think a stand-alone book would be preferable for the stage of life I’m in. I also love Gaiman and Pratchett, Hitchhiker’s Guide; I’m definitely open to that kind of stuff.
Maybe “easy” is too subjective for recommendations, I’m not even sure what made it so readable. A single clearly defined protagonist? Memorable supporting characters? Straightforward modern fairytale quest type of plot? The silly meta commentary from the narrator? I can’t put my finger on it but if you know any books that seem to be hitting those notes I’d love to hear about them.
by CatastropheWife