What are your favourite 'comfort' reads?

[adrianmolesmole]

(Loosely) following on from another thread. What books pick you up and make you feel less down, or lonely? A book that feels like a warm hug to you.. I have a few, mostly faves from my childhood, but I'd like to learn what others turn to?

Some of mine are:

The Dovekeepers, by Alice Hoffman
Kitchen, by Banana Yoshimoto
Sister of my Heart, by Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni
The Mistress of Spices, by Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni
Narnia - The Lion the witch & the wardrobe and The Magician's Nephew
Any of the Harry Potterses!
And any of the Adrian Moleses!

Rivals-Jilly Cooper

Anything by Noel Streatfeild (except Emma and I)
Anything by Rosamund Pilcher

The Collected Ghost Stories of M. R. James
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Crow Road Ian Banks
The Devil Rides Out Dennis Wheatley
Dracula by Stoker

Any Agatha Christie

@Vargas Game of Thrones is not at all weird. Fantasy definitely falls under comfort! I've only read the first book myself, which I did enjoy. The rest are on my 'list' for when I get around to them ... eventually!

The Great Gatsby because it's quick and reminds me of someone I don't get to spend enough time with.
Northanger Abbey because it's hilarious.

Any Rebus story because the characters feel like old friends at this point. And I used to live a stone's throw from St Leonard's police station in my youth, so all the locations remind me of good times as well.

Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer and Anya Seton's Katherine

@queenofthenorthwest is it a Patricia Scanlan? I’ve definitely read it too.

Little House on the Prairie books - but not the Long Hard Winter one!

I have The Dovekeepers to read @adrianmolesmole but I haven’t yet, so I will dive in.

I love anything by Fannie Flagg, her of Fried Green Tomatoes fame. My favourites are Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man, Standing in the Rainbow and The All-Girl Filling Stations Reunion. They are just so lovely.

Any of the Discworld witches series by Terry Pratchett.

What Ho, Jeeves by PG Wodehouse

Lord Of The Rings by Tolkien

Murder on the Orient Express by Christie.

@Martinisarebetterdirty yes I've downloaded it just now I'm reading it AGAIN lol

@Martinisarebetterdirty it's called francescas party

@Pepper54

Riddle of the Sands Villette Little Grey Men Any of the Richard Hannay books Any Arthur Ransome Any Edith Nesbit

I love Villette. Underrated compared to the other Bronte books.

The Cat Who Came in from the Cold by Deric Longden.

So homely and funny. Especially good for cat lovers.

The Railway Children
The Secret Garden
Little Women

All the Little House on the Prairie books
anything by Barbara Pym
The Cazalet Chronicles
Yesterday's Houses by Mavis Cheek

The Chalet School books, by Elinor M Brent Dyer.

Pretty much anything by Nora Roberts.

Gil McNeil’s books - especially the ones set in a yarn shop.

@WhiskersPete - I love all of the Deric Longden books - they make me laugh and cry.

Any Rosamunde Pilcher Novel . I can be transported to the beautiful Cornwall coast or Deep in the wilds of Scotland . I bloody well love them pure escapism .

YY to Little House on the Prairie and James Herriot.

Also all of Miss Read's books.

And Bill Bryson, when I need a giggle - particularly Notes From A Small Island.

And the Outlander series (Cross Stitch, in England). Although they're very long so usually only certain sections, for comfort reading purposed.

I also have a fabulous book called Giggling in the Shrubbery, which is a collection of reminiscences of boarding school girls from the early part of the last century. Kind of real life Mallory Towers stuff.

AnotherEmma I do reread Jane Austen books, but there are so many really good film/tv adaptations that she has slid into my comfort watch rather than read.

Some lovely reminders here and some I haven’t heard of. Making a list! Thanks for thread OP.

I forgot all about Deric Longden! He reported on the footy on our local radio station.

His book about his first wife was made into a TV program, I think she had ME. If I remember rightly, his second wife was blind. Must find some of his books as they are brilliant.

Anything by Rosamunde Pilcher. Her books uplift me so much.

I also re-read Enid Blyton if I’m ill or really down, especially Malory Towers and St Clare’s.

Love, Nina by Nina Stibbe
I have several copies and also have it on audible. Just the best
Anything by Miss Read
Tales Of the City series by Armistead Maupin
Ramona books by Beverly Cleary

Francesca's Party is one of my favourite books.
Any man contemplating playing away should read it !

Lovely thread! X