Something heartwarming and comforting to get me through a hellish time

[Themadcatparade]

Hi everyone, sorry for another recommendation thread but I need a book that will take my mind off life at the moment. We have gone through a nightmare this week with a family member being in the ICU (meningitis) and my own Dd being poorly too. We all are run down with the same virus which triggered it and Im stressed and anxious to high hell with worry. I haven’t been sleeping and have been having panic attacks and pacing around and it’s making the situation worse for everyone!

Reading has been a lovely comfort to me and has stopped my mind running away. I have just finished Pirinesi and absolutely loved the fantasy aspect of the first half of the book and the beautiful descriptive setting, it was a good escapism for me.

Can anyone recommend anything warm and comforting I can get lost in for a few days?

I'm sorry that you are having such a difficult time at the moment. i hope you are all feeling much better soon.
My suggestion would be novels by Miss Read.In the 1950's and 60s she wrote gentle, humourous stories about everyday village life . One series focuses on a village school and is narrated by the headmistress. The first in the series is called Village School, but there are several and don't have to be read in order. The other series is about daily life in another village called Thrush Green, which is the title of the first novel in the series. Nothing very exciting happens and everything turns out well in the end.

I recently read Three Women and a Boat and it fits your brief, I think.

Dianna Wynne Jones if you're looking for fantasy - otherwise Jeeves & Wooster and Georgette Heyer are my comfort read. Favourite children's books like Narnia are not to be disregarded either, hope they can take your mind off things.

Cold Comfort Farm is the feel good read I return to - you can lose yourself in the mad Starkadders being thoroughly sorted out by the magnificent Flora Poste.

I’ve just ordered piranesi!
Sorry about your shitty time, what a worry.
Stay positive, this will pass and be but a horrible memory.
I’d dose everyone with decent vitamins and get as much veg and fruit into some smoothies/ soups. I read a spoonful of peanut butter helps you sleep? Or treat yourself to the this works sleep pillow spray, husband uses it.
Well recommended but doesn’t help with his snoring sadly.
I read anything but a nice easy read with some very funny bits is the Agatha raisin series.
I like history stuff too just bought the river kings about the vikings .

Piranesi is wonderful, isn't it?
I recently read Miss Benson's Beetle and thought it was fantastic. A lovely book.

The Night Circus and The Starless Sea, both by Erin Morgenstern are similar in tone to Piranesi. They're both readable with a good dose of nuts!

I love Jenny Colgan for escapism. I’ve just finished 500 miles from You which is a bit upsetting at the start but uplifting and lovely at the end. I also loved Piranesi and Miss Benson’s Beetle was completely absorbing, funny, sad, hopeful and has really stuck with me.

I came on to suggest Miss Bensons Beetle too. It’s a lovely tale of female friendship, I really enjoyed it

Sorry things are so stressful.

If recommend:
Jane Austen - or Georgette Heyer, if you're not up to Austen's long sentences right now. For Heyer, The Grand Sophie and The Masqueraders are two of her most cheering, I think

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - a pithy and perfect story about a governess who is accidentally transported into a world of parties, alcohol, nightclubs and glamour

Any old favourite children's books:
Daddy Long Legs - a series of letters from an orphaned girl, to the man who is funding her education, with a lovely happy ending

Yes to Jeeves and Wooster - The Blandings stories are fun too

Bill Bryson if you want non-fiction: A Walk in the Woods, the Australian one, his first one about America and his first British one are particularly good.

In case you still need recommendations…
the secret countess by Eva Ibbotson.
Just such a lovely read!

I’ve just finished This One Sky Day - it’s magical realism and really warm and engrossing - nothing harrowing at all! I’d highly recommend.

Thank you everyone for the well wishes and these are great recommendations! I have some time tonight away from the madness to unwind a little and have some quiet time so I will check out all of these

Have you read Eleanor Oliphant? It’s a really easy read and is so heart warming.

I’m really sorry you’re having such a horrible time, hopefully things will improve very soon.

The Lido - lovely story about friendship, community action etc.

Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce is a lovely light read.

I have just been through a very emotionally tough time and was unable to concentrate very well. The book that brought me back to reading was Those Who Loved by Victoria Hislop. I had read The Island many years ago and this was just what I needed for some distraction in a difficult time. Good luck with everything.

Oops - Those Who Are Loved

Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hessian is a very easy heartwarming read. Nothing actually “happens”, no peril, no heartbreak, no tension, just a lovely calming and enjoyable story.

In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant is a lovely read, filled with characters that you easily get invested in, and captures the scenes of Venice beautifully.