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Original poster

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:
arfanarf · 09/02/2011 17:47

As soon as I saw the title I thought of James Herriot.
Also Maeve Binchy and Rosamund Pilcher; like chatting to old friends.

minipie · 09/02/2011 18:06

Georgette Heyer, and classic children's books (What Katy Did, Ballet Shoes, Secret Garden, that sort of thing).

Clearly I am more girly than I think.

QuickLookBusy · 09/02/2011 18:15

Pride and Prejudice

Tess of the D'urbervilles

Major of Casterbridge

I know the last two are bloody tragic, but they puts my problems into prospective!

CJCregg · 09/02/2011 18:15

Georgette Heyer, yes yes! Especially The Grand Sophy and Friday's Child.

Cazalet Chronicles, yes yes yes!

And Blush Harry Potter.

Pride and Prejudice.

Tales of the City.

Lucky Jim.

I should be reading War and Peace, I know. But it just doesn't hook me in the way the others do.

BeatriceLaBranche · 09/02/2011 18:16

Anne of Green Gable series.

Her repetitiveness/descriptive annoys me after a while, but I love them.

IlsaLund · 09/02/2011 18:19

Another vote for the Anne of Green Gables series

James Herriot

Antonia Forest

Dick Francis

CJCregg · 09/02/2011 18:22

Damn, forgot Antonia Forest. I reread them all the time. To the extent that I worry about myself.

LadyWellian · 09/02/2011 18:24

I misread the OP and thought we were talking about when things generally were hard going, not just needing light relief after reading something challenging, but I shall persist in my misapprehension and say when times is hard I always turn to something that comes in several volumes and has a map in the front.

In particular - the Belgariad/the Malloreon by David Eddings (that's 10 books in total, enough to see me through the darkest of dark patches); and The Fionavar Tapestry (three volumes) by Guy Gavriel Kay, even though I spend a great deal of it in tears. (It's probably good for me.)

IlsaLund · 09/02/2011 18:28

CJCregg - me too. They are one of my most prized possesions.

BachAtTheMoon · 09/02/2011 18:34

Lord of the Rings

Jilly Cooper

Harry Potter

Twilight Saga Blush

Also devoloped a thing for Jackie Collins when

I was pg with DS2 which I think may

outBlush the others!

Original poster
travellingwilbury · 09/02/2011 18:37

I am so pleased to see I am not the only one that loves a bit of James Herriot .

I am going to make a point of eventually reading Pride and Prejudice now .

OP posts:
GraceK · 09/02/2011 18:45

Dorothy L Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey books esp the ones with Harriet Vane - I just love their relationsip & have reread them so often (since I was 14) the spines are held together with tape.

Daziel & Pascoe by Reginald Hill - so much better than the tv series (though the first few episodes were quite faithful to the books).

Bill Bryson.

The Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman.

CJCregg · 09/02/2011 18:47

IlsaLund Smile (love your name, too)

Truckdriver · 09/02/2011 20:38

I also go for P&P, Anne of GG, Shell Seekers, Daddy Long legs,

But also: Camermile(sp) Lawn, a children's series by Tamaroa Pierce - The Lioness (has anyone ever read these - I was addicted when a kid), and a book called 'These is my words'.

I usually read these when staying at my parents as they are still on my book shelves in my old room Blush

BlooKangaWonders · 09/02/2011 20:51

Always reread Ian macewan' the child in time. Not a remotely comforting book, but knowing it so well always works for me!

spanky2 · 09/02/2011 20:54

Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin. It's like a cuddle from an old friend.

BrainOrArse · 09/02/2011 20:54

The robin hobb fitz/liveship/fools ones

Valley of the dolls

LemonDifficult · 09/02/2011 23:37

Child in Time as a Comfort Book Shock?

This would be the one where his little DC get abducted from a supermarket?!

So, Bloo, what do you read when you want a wake-up discomforting book?!

BrainOrArse · 10/02/2011 00:01

I can see it as a comfort book too though tbh. It reminds me of college and a good time in my life.

BlooKangaWonders · 10/02/2011 12:00

Lemon - my other comfort book is Graham Greene's 'the end of the affair'....

Maud2011 · 10/02/2011 15:01

I head straight for my favourite children's books when I need a comfort read ... Laura Ingalls Wilder, Narnia, Enid Blyton, The Secret Garden.

Oumasrusks · 12/02/2011 09:14

I also turn to children's books for comfort reading - Anne of Green Gables, Noel Streatfeild, Enid Blyton and I especially seek out my school stories books like Dorita Fairlie Bruce, the Chalet School books etc. Oh, and also the Drina ballet ones by Jean Estoril.

WimpleOfTheBallet · 12/02/2011 09:21

Little Women and What Katy Did always do it for me.

They take me back to when I fist discovered them around 10..which was a magical year in many ways.

When I re-read them I feel the same way.

wolfbrother · 12/02/2011 15:16

Jane Austin
A Suitable boy (Vikram Seth)
Libby Purvis
Maeve Binchy
Lots of children's books including Wolves of Willoughby Chase, any by Michelle Magorian and of course...Michelle Paver (Wolfbrother)

wolfbrother · 12/02/2011 15:23

Forgot to add Miss Garnet's Angel