Comforting books?

[tomissmymum]

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!

Sorry you're having such a tough time.

Jane Eyre & Rebecca are my faves too.

My comfort reads are Rosamunde Pilcher, No.1 Ladies Detective series.

Marian Keynes is also light hearted and heart warming.

Tiny beautiful things by Cheryl Strayed. Also her podcast which is a spin off of the book (of the same name) is also really soothing. She is a writer but ran an anonymous agony column for The New York Times for several years before it was revealed it was her responding. It is the ‘best’ parts of the agony aunt column in the book. Very wholesome.
sending love xox

The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page is a lovely comforting read.

Would "Chicken Soup for the Soul" be too heart-rending?

High Tide In Tucson by Barbara Kingsolver
This is a collection of reflective essays on Kingsolver's favourite themes. The essay which gives the collection its title is a wonderfully sane and soothing response to life's difficulties, inspired by cycles in nature. The essay really does make you see things in a different light.

I’m so sorry for what you’re going through @tomissmymum

if you like Sue Townsend I’m sure you know ‘The Queen and I’ but I find that a lovely, warm reread. Ditto all the Adrian Moles.

Despite the fact that very sad things happen in it, I find ‘Angela’s Ashes’ very comforting; Frank McCourts style and humour are so warm. Or if you want to straight-up laugh more obviously humorous memoirs always cheer me up… I loved ‘I Used to Say My Mother Was Shirley Bassey’ by Stephen K Amos and ‘The Sound of Laughter’ by Peter Kay.

But in sad times I generally turn to the tales from my childhood, ‘Little Women’ and the subsequent books particularly, but also Roald Dahl (love ‘Matilda’ even now!) and the Naughty Little Sister stories by Shirley Hughes. ‘The Wind in the Willows’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘The Hobbit’ also always make me feel warm inside too.

I hope that you find some comfort in books at this difficult time. As an English teacher I always say that they’re the best medicine.

Sorry for your loss.

Jane Eyre is my ultimate comfort book but I see that’s already a favourite for you.

How about the Little Women series. Or some Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice, Emma?

My go to comfort reads are Pride and Prejudice, anything by Nancy Mitford, especially Pursuit of Love, I capture the castle and How to Eat by Nigella Lawson.

I really enjoyed The Cazelet Chronicles as previous posters have mentioned. I also loved The Other Bennett Sister by Janice Hadlow as a follow on to Pride and Prejudice.

How to Eat is a brilliant suggestion. I'd add Feast and How to be a Domestic Goddess too.

And the Dishoom recipe book is brilliant for dipping into and reading too.

Love Nina is a really good read.

On the eating theme, ‘Toast’ by Nigel Slater is a lovely little book. The young Nigel goes through some terrible times but food is a comfort and a story in itself throughout.

@tomissmymum

Yes, the Seven Sisters series. Really enjoyable books. I’ve also read a couple of her standalone books which are good.

Oh, there's a lovely couple of books I read recently, the first is the Windsor Knot. SJ Bennett. The idea is the Queen solves mysteries 😀 I loved them, both v British, v heart warming, just lovely.

I second The Enchanted April and Barbara Pym’s books.

Kipling, especially the Jungle Book books.

The James Herriot books are very cosy, as long as you don't mind a few animal deaths.

I love the fact that everyone is recommending the exact books that I would recommend! There is a comfort-book sisterhood out there.

I back Georgette Heyer (including the 30s detective stories), Agatha Christie, Elly Griffiths, Elizabeth von Arnim, Cold Comfort Farm, The Diary of a Provincial Lady, all the cookbooks.

If you fancy a light read, Bob Mortimer's autobiography has had my partner and his daughter both laughing like drains all holiday. I haven't read it but based on the sleep-disturbing cackles from the next sunbed, it's a good one. They both say it is like reading a long episode of Would I Lie To You and that can't be too demanding.

Ooh, apparently the beginning of the Bob Mortimer book is quite sad, so maybe not for now.

My dh reread all the James Herriot and Gerald Durrell books recently during a bit of a crisis. He said it was exactly what he needed. They are warm, funny and nothing that bad happens.

I heartily agree with the suggestion of Rosamund Pilcher - the literary equivalent of a comfy pair of slippers!

Another vote for the Cazalet Chronicles here too, and also

the Pavilion of Women by Pearl Buck, a lovely thoughtful gentle book.

i’m sure I’m not the only one who’s going to have a Kindle buying session on the back of this thread. Which Georgette Hayer to start off with?

Sorry to hear that you are having a rough time OP. I like, Carole Matthews, Rachel Johnson's Notting Hell, Shire Hell series, Elizabeth Howard's Cazelets

Nancy Mitford too