Hi there, ideas for books to read when you work night shift. Loving the site by the way.

Reading : The Resurrectionist By James Bradley , Unsure about it at the moment.

I think it depends on what kind of work the night shift entails. I can remember having an awful holiday job in a pot noodle factory and spending most of my time reading Richard Brautigan novels and Science Fiction... even when I was supposed to be doing what I was being paid for - I just wanted to escape from the situation and chose my reading accordingly. I managed to get through quite a few novels that summer...

Oh, hang on.., did you mean when at work or during the time between waking up and going back to work?

At work ,when on a break something to keep the sleep away.

Great question.

I recently read What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn which involves a character doing nights so that would be a good start but I can't think of any others off the top of my head so will have to think...

I imagine something otherworldly would go down well, atmosphere and all that.

panthalum1:

I think it depends on what kind of work the night shift entails. I can remember having an awful holiday job in a pot noodle factory and spending most of my time reading Richard Brautigan novels and Science Fiction... even when I was supposed to be doing what I was being paid for - I just wanted to escape from the situation and chose my reading accordingly. I managed to get through quite a few novels that summer...

Which ones did you read? I read In Watermelon Sugar and I don't know if my expectations were too high but I was disappointed. Hard to say why - I quite liked the style, though it was a bit repetitive, and the characters.... I don't know.

I found that when I worked night duty at the hospital I could only concentrate on very light books and magazines....I rarely got the time to get engrossed in a story....and when i did I read chick lit mainly.

I think some easy reading crime thrillers might be the key - although if where you work is a bit dark and lonely I hope you don't get scared reading them!

I thought The Chemistry of Death was a real page turner as are Birdman and The Treatment by Mo Hayder

Funny you should say that as I work in a Hospital. I do find I end up reading a chick lit , not much to think about and easy to follow. At the moment I am working my way though the Richard & Judy books. Loved Down River.

I work nights and I get to read a lot - it's a care home and if no one's up I can get times when I have nothing to do so I read. I usually do 2 nights in a row and when I know they are coming up I try to pick a lighter read, usually chick lit or hen lit (same but older characters!!!) so it's a good excuse to read lighter stuff. I've read a few Ben Elton's at work, I like Susan Sallis too, and also choose books I love like the ones by Torey Hayden about her work with children who do not talk, usually as a result of abuse.

when I do nights in the home it is extremely quiet - I do a bit of cleaning and spend the rest of the night bored as we only have one waking night staff so then I need a book that I can really get stuck into. Linwood Barclays No Time for Goodbye is a good one for that

When working at the hospital (I am on bank as a health care support worker) where i can get regularly interuppted I like something light - I am currently reading The Amazing adventures of Diet Girl which is good - it depends which ward I am on and how busy it is really.

 I just take whatever I'm reading with me and try to get an hour or two undisturbed.  I do find, though, that I don't concentrate so well so I try to take something light, or I find that I've missed chunks of the story and get confused!!!  I'm not even going to attempt to take 'Sophie's World' with me!

jobar:

I found that when I worked night duty at the hospital I could only concentrate on very light books and magazines....I rarely got the time to get engrossed in a story....and when i did I read chick lit mainly.

same here, usually too busy andwhen had a break couldn't concentrate to read so i mainly flicked through magazines and ate!!! Lol!

I usually take horror/crime or a thick book - it def helps pass the night away

windysisters:

I think some easy reading crime thrillers might be the key - although if where you work is a bit dark and lonely I hope you don't get scared reading them!

I thought The Chemistry of Death was a real page turner as are Birdman and The Treatment by Mo Hayder

I was going to say depends where you are working - if in a hospital I would go for light reading.  I reckon I would be too scared to read a crime thriller, even though it is my choice of genre.