bookbard Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 It sounds like a lot of us are under a heap of stress at the moment - I feel like I've just got my head above water (and then something else happens). What comfort reads do you sink into to keep you going? I have a couple of different series like the Innkeeper series (Ilona Andrews), Vorkosigon series (Lois Bujold), Stray series (Andrea Host), Wayfarer series (Becky Chambers), Katherine Addison's Goblin Emperor series. What about you? 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Anything by Elizabeth Berg. And Jean Grainger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 I think of classic children's lit as comfort reads. Top of that list for me would be Anne of Green Gables, though actually anything by LM Montgomery will work. (I especially love some of her adult novels!) For adult authors, I'd have to go with Leif Enger and Wendell Berry. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Mitford books are pretty quintessential comfort reads. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Kidlit said: I think of classic children's lit as comfort reads. Top of that list for me would be Anne of Green Gables, though actually anything by LM Montgomery will work. (I especially love some of her adult novels!) For adult authors, I'd have to go with Leif Enger and Wendell Berry. This. Tied with Anne on my comfort read list would be LOTR and Jane Austen. Classic children’s books I have reread many times include Narnia, The Wind in the Willows, Pooh, and anything by E. Nesbit. Edited May 22, 2023 by ScoutTN 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 We have some overlap, @bookbard. Some of my comfort reads ~ ** Touchstone series by Andrea K. Höst ** The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison ** The Alpha and Omega books by Patricia Briggs ** Linesman series by SK Dunstall ** Trader’s Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper series by Nathan Lowell ** The Others by Anne Bishop ** The Martian by Andy Weir ** Murder in Thrall and sequels by Anne Cleeland ** Sarina Bowen's The Year We Fell Down (The Ivy Years Book 1) and Blonde Date: An Ivy Years Novella ** Michelle Diener's Dark Horse (Class 5 Series Book 1) I may post more tomorrow. Regards, Kareni 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PronghornD Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 I like children's books by Madelaine L'Engle. Good triumphs over evil, but more importantly families gather and love each other and eat together. Somehow the family meals do it for me. I want to join the family! 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoeless Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Re-reading the Little House books is comfort for me. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 (edited) L.M. Montgomery books, J.R.R. Tolkein books (I really love his short reads, like "Farmer Giles of Ham"), Agatha Christie, Gerald Durrell, Farley Mowat (the funny books when I need positive stories, and the sad books when I can handle it). Edited May 22, 2023 by wintermom 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eos Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Agatha Christie and children's books here. Rhyming poetry also soothes me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Jane Austen and Dorothy Sayers here. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emba Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 During the shutdowns of Covid, the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books were definitely comfort reading for me. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Some additional comfort reads are old Star Trek novels from the original series ~ My favorites (which my daughter loved as a teen and are also some of her comfort reads): Yesterday's Son and Time for Yesterday both by A.C. Crispin, Uhura's Song by Janet Kagan Ishmael by Barbara Hambly The Kobayashi Maru by Julia Ecklar Doctor's Orders by Diane Duane These last two are a bit gory ~ Dreams of the Raven by Carmen Carter and The Pandora Principle by Carolyn Clowes and from DS9: Fallen Heroes by Dafydd Ab Hugh ** A favorite contemporary romance: His Road Home by Anna Richland ** Another comfort read is Lyn Gala's male/male alien romance series which begins with Claimings, Tails, and Other Alien Artifacts. Be aware that this has massive adult content. Regards, Kareni 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen A Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 (edited) For me-James Herriot -All Creatures Great and Small and sequels. I like the quirky cast of heartwarming characters and pets of yesteryear. Edited May 22, 2023 by Karen A title 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 6 hours ago, Karen A said: For me-James Herriot -All Creatures Great and Small and sequels. I like the quirky cast of heartwarming characters and pets of yesteryear. I forgot about these! I really enjoy them, too. There are a lot of different books in the oritinal series - way more than I realized. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Rereading Peter Pan currently. I also read a lot of Austen when stressed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted May 22, 2023 Share Posted May 22, 2023 12 hours ago, Laura Corin said: Jane Austen and Dorothy Sayers here. Re-listening to all of Jane Austen now. Rosamund Pike is a most excellent narrator. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vasha Posted May 23, 2023 Share Posted May 23, 2023 The Mitford series 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 I thought this post on Tor.com might be of interest here: Five Books That Help Me Face Anxiety and Feel Better About the World Regards, Kareni 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitgrl Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 Generally, Wind in the Willows is a most comfy read. The scene with the police chase is very funny, as are most of the scenes with Toad. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
math teacher Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 Amish fiction or actually any Christian fiction-not stellar literature, to be sure, but I still reach for it at times. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaelAldrich Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 Robert B Parker's Spencer series. I got several to read while mom was sick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 Lately...Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. "I am the Beloved Child of the House." If I'm having trouble getting through a novel...Murderbot Diaries (novellas, action-based) and Neil Gamin's Ocean at the End of the Lane (his youth fantasy is pretty accessible). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted May 29, 2023 Share Posted May 29, 2023 (edited) Another vote for The Goblin Emperor (Katherine Addison) as a favorite comfort read. (Thank you @Kareni for posting that recommendation years back on a BaW thread!) Also: - The Other Bennet Sister (Janice Hadlow) - The Queen's Thief series (Megan Whalen Turner) - The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series (Alexander McCall Smith) -- so gentle, so warm; humor, and a positive view of life - Chet & Bernie mystery series (Spencer Quinn) - Murderbot series (Martha Wells) - The Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien) -- which is a fully-involved emotional journey, but so inspiring if needing uplift - Spinning Silver (Naomi Novik) - The Ides of April; Beyond the Desert Gate (Mary Ray) -- quietly inspiring characters And for humor: - PG Wodehouse -- his humor is so light and effortless -- a light and frothy dessert confection of comfort reading - "Farmer Giles of Ham", and, The Hobbit (JRR Tolkien) - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; and, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Douglas Adams) And yes! Agreeing with @ScoutTN and @Kidlit -- good children's books series, or older YA from a gentler time, often with humor, such as: - The Rescuers, The Turret, Miss Bianca, Miss Bianca and the Salt Mines, Miss Bianca in the Orient (Marjorie Sharp) - 101 Dalmatians (Dodie Smith) - Half Magic, Magic By the Lake, Knight's Castle, The Time Garden (Edward Eager) - The Book of Dragons, Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet (E. Nesbit) - The Princess and the Goblin; The Light Princess (George MacDonald) - The Great and Terrible Quest (Margaret Lovett) - The Chronicles of Narnia (CS Lewis) - Two Are Better Than One (Carol Ryrie Brink) - Circus Sequins (Elisabeth Hamilton Friermood) I have several vintage children's anthology sets, and it can be very soothing just picking a volume and reading through it: - My Book House - Collier's Junior Classics Young Folks Shelf of Books - The Children's Hour Edited May 29, 2023 by Lori D. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted May 29, 2023 Share Posted May 29, 2023 The Princess Bride. I found it to be out loud funny and the story telling sweeps me up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted May 29, 2023 Share Posted May 29, 2023 The Harry Potter books are my #1 comfort read. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted May 29, 2023 Share Posted May 29, 2023 57 minutes ago, stephanier.1765 said: The Princess Bride. I found it to be out loud funny and the story telling sweeps me up. I have always wanted to read this. Thanks for the reminder! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitgrl Posted May 29, 2023 Share Posted May 29, 2023 (edited) Seconding P.G. Wodehouse and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Edited May 29, 2023 by knitgrl 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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