Comfort books
I don't eat for comfort, I read. Sometimes, when you're feeling low, nothing but some fluffy reading will do. It has to be the right fluff: not too intellectual, definitely not deep-thought-provoking, laugh-out-loud funny, and cozy.
My favorite for this is James Thurber. I don't understand what's humorous about some of his stories, but the rest of them hit the right spot. I can feel only happy after reading Thurber. Why he is my first choice is that he comes in small doses, essays and short stories mostly. My favorite of his collections is Lanterns and Lances, which has a lot of lingual essays. But other favorites of mine are the essays "The Macbeth Murder Mystery", "The Topaz Cufflinks Mystery", "Guessing Game", "A Dozen Disciples", "An Outline of Scientists", and "Food Fun for the Menfolk". I could think of more if I tried, I'm sure, but you will find most of these in 92 Stories.
My second choice is Georgette Heyer, but she's second because once I start something of hers, I don't want to put it down. Not all of her books are good, though. Here are the ones I have liked: Cotillion, The Grand Sophy, The Unknown Ajax, A Blunt Instrument, Talisman Ring, A Civil Contract, Powder and Patch, Arabella, Sylvester, and Faro’s Daughter.
My third choice would be Wodehouse. I haven't read much of him, but his Jeeves and Wooster books are perfect fluff. My favorite so far is The Code of the Woosters, but Very Good, Jeeves and Right Ho, Jeeves were great, too.
Douglas Adams wrote a hilarious "trilogy" of humorous science fiction books, the first one (and the best) being The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Jane Austen and Anthony Trollope are comforting and cozy and often funny, but they also have parts that make you think. For the most comforting and funny, though, try Northanger Abbey and Barchester Towers.
What do others read for comfort?
6 comments:
Murder mysteries (especially ones with Albert Campion), Jane Austen, anything by P.G. Wodehouse, fairy tales, and beautifully illustrated picture books.
That's all I can think of for the moment.
I can't read murder mysteries at night (when I usually need comfort; in the day I play the piano), because they freak me out (I am in a lonely part of the house, next to the back door, with no lights, and strange noises often coming from upstairs ;-)
I think there was one mystery that absolutely freaked me out because I read it late at night, The Hound of The Baskervilles by A. Conan Doyle. But that was mostly because it was really late and there were coyo-dogs howling. That was really creepy.
I normally read children's books when I'm tired, as well as fairy tales. As the oldest child, I normally read what the other, younger ones haven't so I can take care of two things at once: reading for my comfort, and previewing books for them!
I forgot...I also like to read Sherlock Holmes mysteries when I'm tired. I've never read "The Hound of the Baskervilles," but I'll remember not to read it when the coyotes are out!
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