Here is a list of books I've read that are similar to what I'm looking for:

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Treasure Island by Stevenson
The Remains of the Day by Ishiguro
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (a little long)
White Oleander by Janet Fitch

Nothing too heavy in style, nothing too long (under 400 pages?)

Perhaps some Joanne Harris, like Chocolat?

I'm reading a very light, entertaining cozy mystery called Snobbery with Violence by Marion Chesney which might be good for your read-a-thon.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley is a fun easy read of a mystery.

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson

Aviddiva, awesome recommendations. Exactly what I was looking for. I requested both from the library.

P.S. No mysteries, please.

Some novels that might be along the right lines:

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
The Honk and Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts
The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square by Rosina Lippi
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Memoir:

The Life and Times of Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

Requested Honk and Holler and Girl Named Zippy.

I would have added the Bryson, but I already have one of his other books (Sunburned Country) on my list.

My readathon pile is way too big, so I'm not going to list them all here, but I just posted them all on my blog, if you want to check it out for suggestions.

In a Sunburned Country is great too! I read it within the last month because I'm planning a trip to Australia next year, and I found the book really interesting.

My stack is pictured and listed here:

http://moreofmorph.blogspot.com/2009/10/...

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

I just checked out your blog. Looks like your read-a-thon was fun! How was 1st to Die? It's in my tbr pile but it keeps getting moved to the bottom.

>14 I'm really glad I read 1st to Die and will most likely read the rest in the Women's Murder Club series. It adds women's friendships and personal challenges to the usual mystery/thriller genre. I liked it.

Anything by Elizabeth Berg...