What is your Comfort Book?
I was swamped yesterday at my day job and wiped out last night, so I didn't compose my usual blog. I'll do it today, I promise. In the meantime, there was a post on Twitter the other day (BTW -- I'm completely addicted to Twitter; it's a blast) that was about Comfort Books. One author got it started and everyone started chiming in.
"What is your favorite Comfort Book?" Meaning that you're out of stuff to read, or just don't wanna dive into your TBR stack, but you want something to read, something that makes the reader in you feel all "warm & fuzzy," a book that you just love to pieces.
What is your Comfort Book?
Mine is Dead Beat by Jim Butcher, followed closely by White Night, also by Jim. I love me some Harry Dresden.
What is yours?
"What is your favorite Comfort Book?" Meaning that you're out of stuff to read, or just don't wanna dive into your TBR stack, but you want something to read, something that makes the reader in you feel all "warm & fuzzy," a book that you just love to pieces.
What is your Comfort Book?
Mine is Dead Beat by Jim Butcher, followed closely by White Night, also by Jim. I love me some Harry Dresden.
What is yours?
posted by Lisa Shearin at
7:03 AM
19 Comments:
I adore Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief and can read it over and over. Same with Watership Down by Richard Adams, which I've read so often since I was a kid that I practically have memorized.
I should point out too that your books are great comfort reads. I reread all three this summer when I was feeling stressed. Thanks. :)
I have a feeling this may be a little predictable by now, but... anything by David Eddings, especially Pawn of Prophecy!
It's not just the story, though, it's the memory of the emotions I went through when I first read this book, and the whole Belgariad series. I wasn't a reader until I read this book. It opened my eyes.
Usually I pick up a Foundation novel. It's probably sad, but I can pick up most of Asimov's book and start reading from any point.
They are good friends, though.
I'm still looking for mine. :) But for the time being, I tend to go back to Twilight (I know, smack me!) but because it's fluff. I can't imagine having a comfort book that is anything but fluff.
I guess it would have to be Pride and Prejudice. I just love spending some time with the Bennett girls.
I really like Nalini Singh's books, or Ilona Andrews. Those are my comfort reads. Or poems by Christian Morgenstern
It depends what mood I'm in.
If I want action, then Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series.
If I want something 'safe' I read The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge.
If I want something that makes me smile, anything by Tamora Pierce.
One which always has my vote, Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. I have a very worn, dog-eared omnibus edition of the first four books. The nature of the book is such that I can open it to any spot and just start reading from there.
Beauty By Robin Mckinley. I love the writing and I always a cup of tea or hot chocolate with it.
I love hearing everyone's favorites.
yours of course, Tamora Pierce (the Tortall books) Kristin Britain. Blue Sword Robin MacKinley. Cassandra Clare. Think thats about it.
I love `The Gammage Cup' by Carol Kendall for comfort. Sometimes just reading the poems and looking at the pictures is enough to turn me into warm fuzziness. `Watership Down' is another. Oh, and Gillian Bradshaw's children's book, `Beyond the North Wind.' If I can't find anything I want to read I'll flip that open and fill my head with gryphons and a certain Greek poet/magician who's a little too full of himself. :) Someone really should get Gillian Bradshaw's three children's books back in print.
Sometimes comfort books change. My comfort reads used to be `Silver Hand' by Stephen Lawhead and `Mossflower' by Brian Jaques, but not so much now.
Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy. Yes, I know it's a weird comfort book, but hey. :)
Roger Zelazny's Nine Princes in Amber series (first 5 only).
BTW - found your article (and blog info) in the last issue of the Writer mag. Glad I found it, thanks!
{thoughtful look}
I'd really like to join in here, but this question made me realize I don't know what my comfort books are. It sounds like the kind of question that should be easy to answer, but apparently not. {Smile}
I did think of several old favorites of my later chaildhood, including Narnia (C.S. Lewis), Prydain (Lloyd Alexander), Westmark (Lloyd Alexander), Pern's Harper Trilogy (Anne McCaffrey) and possibly the first three "Kairos" books (Madeline L'Engle). However, I haven't read most of those in over a decade, and the ones I have read recently were chosen to referesh my memory for film comparisons, not for comfort. {Smile}
I think part of the problem is that I'm a simultaneous reader. I can't claim to have a dozen noves on the go very often, but having up to half a dozen books - more fiction than not - is pretty standard for me. Even after 9/11, when I realized I HAD to get away from one book because the first section was entirely too close to current events for comfort, I didn't search out a particularly comforting book. I just looked over the three or four other books I was reading at the time, and picked one of them that I'd read before, so I knew it had different problems in it. I can't remember what won, but I don't think it was something I would have sought out if I hadn't been reading it already. {Smile}
Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
Gosh, too many to list. The ones that get the most play time are Patricia C. Wrede's Magic & Malice duology, Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga, Julie E. Czerneda's Trade Pact trilogy, Naomi Novik's His Majesty's Dragon, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Exile's Song and various Dick Francis novels(mostly most of the ones published between 1984 and 1996). :)
Harry Potter.
Wow. I have a lot. It depends... something Young Adult by Shannon Hale (she has a couple adult books that I have not read)
Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel
The Wanderer by Sharon Creach
Journey to The River Sea
and a lot of others... mostly a bunch that I started reading a long time ago
though for me, almost any book is a comfort book : )
(oh and I won't be commenting much... too much work, but I'm still reading) : )
and wow about your extra week reason. really.
:)
My comfort books are the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamiltion. I also reread Ilona Andrews. I noticed a lot now when i have already read the others or don't want to, I read about Raine Benares and crew.
Can't wait for the next one.
Thanks :) Moriah
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