Can anyone recommend a really comforting book?

[PumpkinWitch]

I am looking for something really nice to read that is not upsetting. I am doing the freedom program at the moment so anything about domestic abuse or with a lot of violence is too much for me.

I have been reading all the call the midwife books which I enjoyed. My grandma was a midwife at that time.

It can be fiction or non fiction. I don’t really like sci-fi (apart from Douglas Adams) but I enjoy lots of different types of books.

Matt Haig
Vex King
Brene Brown

I Capture the Castle

The Thursday murder club by Richard Osman, it's a murder mystery but lighthearted and hilarious!

Leonard & Hungry Paul is a hug of a book.

@SocraticJunkieWannabe

Maeve Binchy books?

I was going to suggest Circle of Friends, but there are some sad elements to it

In addition to the ones I’ve already said, I have to second “I capture the castle”, by Dodie Smith, and “The herb of grace” by Elizabeth Goudge. Both old fashioned but charming.

Flowers for Mrs Harris
The Little World of Don Camillo
Equal Rites (and several of the series but I suggest this one if you're not familiar)
Good Omens
Acts and Omissions
Strong Poison
The House at Pooh Corner
A Morbid Taste for Bones et seq (the first two of which should DEFINITELY be read first and second) - violence occurs but usually semi-offstage
The Talisman Ring

@LaMarschallin

Any Eva Ibbotson book but particularly "A Countess Below Stairs" aka "The Secret Princess".

Oh absolutely!

Also The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery is lovely.

A lot of Anthony Trollope is really lovely to read - wonderfully written, perfectly drawn characters, great plots and happy endings. Barchester Towers is a good one to start with.

It's a children's book but the Legend of Podkin One Ear is my go to, I've read it twice and gone through the series. It's abut like a children's version of Lord of the Rings but the characters are rabbits! I just find that it's beautifully written.

Forgot to mention

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society - way better than the film.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
A Gentleman in Moscow
Some of Marian Keyes would suit but some would not.

Love Nina by Nina Stubbes is often mentioned on these threads - I liked it but didn't love it but it very gentle reading

Miss Marjoribanks by Mrs Oliphant is a delight.

So interesting how some people love books that I thought were terrible.
No judgment btw, I'm sure those posters would hate half the things I liked, I just find it fascinating how we all relate differently to different books.

I'm certainly not a book snob (my mother is and I hate it!) I'd recommend going back to something you loved in your youth if want comfort. Whether that's Agatha Christie, Enid Blyton or Sweet Valley High, your formative years have a lot to offer.

This isn't going to tax your brain cells, in fact a few might die off while you're reading it, but it's like wrapping yourself up in a big cosy quilt and a hot water bottle on a rainy day level of comfort reading

www.amazon.co.uk/Rachels-Pudding-Pantry-gorgeous-bestselling/dp/0008327653

I've just read an extremely sweet and heartwarming book called The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell about a man and a penguin.

I would add any Georgette Heyer. Excellent comfort reading!

Bill Bryson books about the uk and America and the English language

Jane Austen is very enjoyable.

Love Nina
Bookworm

If you like scifi To Be Taught If Fortunate by Becky Chambers was a short, brilliant book. I found it very comforting to lose myself in it the day I heard of a friend’s death.

H.E Bates -The darling buds of may , 4 or 5 books in series .
Lucy Maud Montgomery , her characters are wonderful .
Georgette Heyer , witty ,great characters , love stories but no slush !
Stella Gibbons -Cold Comfort Farm.
I Capture the Castle , one of my favourites too .
Through out lockdown i have re- read this genre to escape the misery .

Came on to recommend The Offing but a pp has beaten me to it! Beautiful book.

I found it difficult to concentrate on reading during lockdown but l FOUND
Nick Campbell's ONE OF THE FAMILY
very comforting
It's all about how a dog changed his life.
And l am not really that into dogs!! But it's a lovely read.

Two of my favourite books have been recommended - I Capture the Castle and Leonard and Hungry Paul - both gentle and lovely.

I also loved The Museum of Things Left Behind by Seni Glaister. It's contemporary but has the feel of an old Ealing comedy.

Also the Diary of Bookseller by Shaun Bythell.

If you like the Call the Midwife books, then have a look at The Nightingale Nurses series by Donna Douglas. Really easy to read, a bit of pure escapism with rose tinted nostalgia. They're one of my comfort reads, that plus Harry Potter

I love this thread! I love a good comfort read and can’t be doing with anything scary at all!

My first thought was Leonard and Hungry Paul which I then saw several PP recommended too. It is just really gentle and heartwarming.

Also agree with recommendations for Bill Bryson and James Herriot!

I have also recently enjoyed reading Michael Palin’s books about his adventures around the world. Well written and nice to escape when we can’t actually go anywhere...

Second the recommendations above for Miss Read, Bill Bryson, James Herriot, Jeeves and Worcester.
I’ll add Diary of a Provincial Lady to the list.
Agree with the revisiting childhood favourites- whatever they were. For me it’s LM Montgomery, Noel Streatfield, Diana Wynne Jones, Swallows and Amazons.
Hope you find humour and comfort in these and that the Freedom programme is helpful for you.