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Comforting books?

75 replies

tomissmymum · 30/07/2022 11:09

Had a horrendous few weeks, ‘lost’ my mum to a dementia diagnosis (early onset, she’s having a very rough time and declining very quickly) and then I’ve also just lost my granny, who was very like a second mum to me in lots of ways . She died very suddenly , funeral was yesterday .

(If any family use mumsnet that’s me outed, hello!)

I’ve been given book tokens from a very special friend and told to buy something I’d enjoy, but not sure where to start . I’ve done an English degree, I love reading but my head’s a bit of a mess just now . Would love something comforting and gentle .

Favourites are Jane Eyre and Rebecca . Also love Sylvia Plath, did my dissertation on her, but she’s a bit too depressing just now .

Usually go back to some of Cecelia Ahern’s earlier books and same with Lisa Jewell - not so keen on their later books . Ditto with Sophie Kinsella, liked the early shopaholic books . Also Sue Townsend . Anything with a bit of escapism/warmth and that can make me laugh .

Not into crime fiction or anything too bleak at the moment .

if anyone has any recommendations I’d hugely appreciate it!

OP posts:
theluckiest · 30/07/2022 11:49

Oh love. I'm sorry. Sounds like you've got a hell of a lot on your plate.

I lost my mum suddenly last week too. It's shit and sad and awful. Flowers

I haven't actually started reading it yet, but picked up The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes in the supermarket of all places.
She writes well & I've enjoyed her other stuff too.

cookiecreammmpie · 30/07/2022 12:05

I'm so sorry for your losses OP. For comfort, I like anything by Milly Johnson or Heidi Swain.

BlueBloodedBlue · 30/07/2022 12:11

I'm sorry to hear you're having such a rough time
My absolute go-tos when I want a 'hot chocolate ' read are anything by Maeve Binchey.

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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 30/07/2022 12:17

I love Rosalind Pitcher’s books - Winter Solstice is a particular favourite.

Some of Nora Roberts’ books are comforting reads too - the Bride Quartet, the In the Garden Trilogy, the Chesapeake Bay quartet, and the Three Sisters Island trilogy spring to mind.

I also love Gil McNeil’s books - she wrote a trilogy about a woman who inherits a wool shop - Divas Don’t Knit is the first one - which are lovely, comforting reads.

Finally, the Mure books, by Jenny Colgan, are wonderful - and the final one of the series has just been released. The Summer Seaside Kitchen is the first one. Her Little Beach Street Bakery series is lovely too.

Thelnebriati · 30/07/2022 12:24

My go to comfort book is Three Men In A Boat by Jerome K. Jerome, if you have an e-reader you can download it for free from Project Gutenberg. If its out of copyright they probably have it.

RedRobyn2021 · 30/07/2022 12:25

I'm so sorry ♥️

Lindsey Kelk has just released a new book, hers are comfort reads

I love anything by Molly Johnson as someone else has suggested

Also recently read some Kate Hewitt books, she wrote a series called "The Willoughby Close Series" and they are very easy and heartwarming.

Darklane · 30/07/2022 12:26

Really sorry, a very hard time for you.
Old but never fails
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome

InglouriousBasterd · 30/07/2022 12:27

I’m so sorry you’re having such a terrible time. Coming Home or the Shellseekers by Rosamunde Pilcher are both hugs in books.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 30/07/2022 12:32

I'm so sorry.

Jane Austen
Bill Bryson
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - just the most gorgeous, feel-good, funny, perfect read
84 Charing Cross Road

Childhood favourites - What Katy Did series, the Little Women series

Sennedd · 30/07/2022 12:39

Marion Keyes, Jo Thomas, Katie Fforde are all undemanding reads although Marion Keyes does mention drugs and so on. Some of the themes are serious but dealt with in a witty way. I agree with the recommendations above too. What about Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer? I am sorry you are having a hard time, hope this helps a bit.

NorthernStruggler · 30/07/2022 12:56

Sorry for your losses OP 💐. I find the books by Margaret Yorke, mainly set in the 1970s, really comforting, she said that she wrote: 'whydunnits' rather than 'whodunnits' ... they are absorbing, not complex, and I find them very therapeutic. I have also recently discovered Ruth Ware, whose books are a sort of modern-day equivalent.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 30/07/2022 12:57

Yes to Georgette Heyer too - perfect.

user1469770863 · 30/07/2022 13:01

would second anything by Rosamund Pilcher. Winter Solstice and The shell seekers particularly

IamEarthymama · 30/07/2022 13:02

Echoing some of
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius and
Sennedd’s choices.

I love Nora Roberts’s books, they are some of my go to for comfort reads as well as Georgette Heyer’s wonderful Regency romances.

However, my absolute favourite is Terry Pratchett, especially the Tiffany Aching and We Free Men series.

OP I send good wishes

MinorWomensWhiplash1 · 30/07/2022 13:17

I’m sorry OP 💐

My comfort reads are Diary of a Provincial Lady and I Capture the Castle.

Yika · 30/07/2022 13:20

No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series is very gentle and comforting.
Sorry that you are going through a hard time.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 30/07/2022 13:21

The Children of Green Knowe series

EATmum · 30/07/2022 13:35

I was coming in to recommend two that have already been mentioned - Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day and I Capture The Castle. Both balm for the soul.
I lost my mum earlier this year, and understand the need for something to distract but not challenge. After her diagnosis I worked through all of the Hercule Poirot books in order, on Audible, on the nights I struggled to sleep. Somehow it helped. Good luck to you both.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 30/07/2022 13:38

Yika · 30/07/2022 13:20

No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series is very gentle and comforting.
Sorry that you are going through a hard time.

These are a good call too.

Dodolovesme · 30/07/2022 13:38

Mansfield Park is my go-to.
I was also going to say the no. Ladies detective agency.
Or an old children's book favourite like the famous 5 or Harry Potter!

NotEnoughMud · 30/07/2022 13:42

I love the Mrs Tim series or the Angela Thirkell books. Gentle, witty observational humour, mind-quietening. I also second Miss Pettigrew, Miss Buncle's Book or Mapp & Lucia.

I'm sorry you're having such a rubbish time. Flowers

Pearlywunzel · 30/07/2022 13:54

So sorry for your losses. My favourite comfort read is The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard. 5 volume saga that you can really lose yourself in, without it being remotely challenging.

DahliaMacNamara · 30/07/2022 14:04

I second the Elizabeth Jane Howard Cazalet books. Though maybe not the fifth one, which to my mind goes off the rails a bit. Maeve Binchy is a delicious warm blanket of a read, particularly the earlier novels. Undemanding without being vacuous. And sorry to hear about your mum. MIL is going through a similar rapid decline, and it's unspeakably awful for the whole family.

snowspider · 30/07/2022 14:06

I like the Children's Book by A S Byatt, it's loosely based on E Nesbit's life and set in 1885 to First World War period and is a family generations/literary/arty theme.

LaQuern · 30/07/2022 14:11

Possibly a little dated, but anything by Mary Wesley is my go to