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What is your comfort book

112 replies

travellingwilbury · 08/02/2011 13:25

If I have read something particularly hard going I always turn to my James Herriot books for a bit of comfort . They are just so cosy and comfy and always cheer me up .

I know they are all pretty much the same
Cow dies / cow lives
grumpy/happy farmer
grumpy dog / farty dog

But I love them

What is yours ?

OP posts:
FetchezLaVache · 08/02/2011 21:30

Pride and Prejudice, but also an Aga saga called "Between Friends" by Kathleen Rowntree. It's a great book for poorly days.

crapbarry · 08/02/2011 21:38

Dick Francis

Bill Bryson

Currently Stuart MacBride

Kate Atkinson.

I used to love reading the HErriot books - must go back to them actually, I know my Dick Francis books off by heart, and need a break - they were the ones that gave me a break from knowing all the words to the James Herriot series!

(oh, and I need more horses in my life :o)

englishgirlintaipei · 08/02/2011 21:42

The Beach by Alex Garland, i hate the movie but love the book.

ravenAK · 08/02/2011 21:44

'Peter's Room' by Antonia Forest or 'I Capture The Castle' by Dodie Smith.

LemonDifficult · 08/02/2011 21:47

Another one for Pride and Prejudice her. They're like old friends those characters.

Diary of a Nobody is fab
P.G Wodehouse
E.M.Forster

moggiek · 08/02/2011 22:31

Anything by Zola. Just when you think things can't get any worse, you turn the page and realise that they have!

orangina · 08/02/2011 22:35

Mine has to be microserfs by douglas coupland. love love love it. have read it maybe 30+ times.

(sighs and wants to settle down into bed now with tattered copy of book, but looks at dreary half finished coursework and sighs again)

BikeRunSki · 08/02/2011 22:36

Any of the Adrian Mole diaries.
Jane Green or Marian Keyes chick lit.

The Crow Road - Iain Banks, maybe not "comfort" but I can read it over and over again.

AnyFuleKno · 08/02/2011 22:45

I read the book 'The talk of the town' by Ardal O Hanlon. Don't know why that one in particular, but I find it comforting somehow.

coffeecoffeecoffee · 08/02/2011 22:48

Any of the Tales of the City books. Love 'em.

applesandcider · 08/02/2011 22:49

Fair Stood the Wind for France - HE Bates , just lovely! But also Pride & Prejudice, Emma & I too love James Herriot!

applesandcider · 08/02/2011 22:50

Ooh, I'd forgotten Tales of The City - might have to revisit them if I can find them on my bookshelves.

ghosteditor · 08/02/2011 22:53

The Time Traveller's Wife, I think.

And orangina has reminded me that I love most of Douglas Coupland's books, especially 'Girlfriend in a Coma'.

BarryShitpeas · 08/02/2011 22:56

Tales of the City.

Florence King books.

ttalloo · 08/02/2011 23:01

Georgette Heyer for me - The Grand Sophy, Frederica and Venetia in particular.

I've read them all so many times that they are now falling apart (it doesn't help when I drop them in the bath).

DandyDan · 09/02/2011 11:06

Mansfield Park, or a bunch of children's books I love.

elizabethtailored · 09/02/2011 13:34

The Elizabeth Jane Howard books - the Cazalet Chronicles. I know them backwards. Have seen me though university finals, final weeks of my mother's life when I was looking after her and wedding planning!

Also - Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher and the Shell Seekers.

mrswoodentop · 09/02/2011 15:25

Lark rise to Candleford,not the silly TV version which bears no relation to the Flora Thompson original,but my mums original copy which she had as a bridesmaid present in 1955.

I first read it age 12 and still dip into it,especially the chapter called ;The Box which describes how when a women was about to give birth in the hamlet they would borow the box of baby clothes and it would be wheeled into the village by one of the older children,and how the yougest was always called " baby" ...until the next one arrived.and how if you didn't get in first you might end up with the second best box!

Plumm · 09/02/2011 17:06

Georgette Heyer, Dan Brown or Harry Potter (but I have to read all of the HPs so that's a bit of an undertaking).

midnightexpress · 09/02/2011 17:12

The Thurber Carnival, by James Thurber. It always makes me LOL and it reminds me of my dad, who always used to LOL at it too.

softpaw · 09/02/2011 17:14

rebecca,daphne du maurier.
and also a strange choice,but i love we need to talk about kevin,by lionel shriver

MardyBra · 09/02/2011 17:27

Another vote for The Tales of the City series. Some of the characters are so lovely, I just want to hug them.

misspollysdolly · 09/02/2011 17:34

Adrian Mole (especially the first two diaries)

Girl with a Pearl Earring - Tracey Chevalier

And also - from childhood - Goodnight Mister Tom and on occasion (like when DD was reading one or two of them) a Judy Blume book Blush

All good 'poorly' or insomniac books Wink MPD

renaldo · 09/02/2011 17:36

I second Melissa Banks - about time for another collection of stories..

UrsulaBuffay · 09/02/2011 17:36

Adrian Mole books
Harry Potters
My Big Fat Teenage Diary
Randy Tarraborrelli (sp) biog of Michael Jackson!

For shame

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