Earlier this week over on bookstagram a friend of mine wrote a post asking for comfort reading recommendations. Wonderful human that she is, she was planning to cheer someone going through a hard time with a parcel of lovely things to read. I’m a HUGE advocate of comfort reading, so the question itself and the many and varied responses she received in the comments heartened me enormously.
Perfect summation of the breadth of wonderful comforting reads. I was so impressed with all the suggestions that I’m going to slowly build up a shelf full of reads suitable for those times when I need a duvet day 💞 I especially agree with the need to put aside literary one-upmanship; when down in the dumps, it’s definitely not the time to be trying to ‘impress.’
SO many wonderful recommendations....and lots of nodding along with you.
I discovered the phrase 'comfort reads' long after I'd been going back to books for precisely that reason and it's such a perfect way to encapsulate how certain books make you feel. My comforts tend to be varied but they all have a theme of gentleness, home and nature. Even if those things are wrapped around a murder :D. Some of my go-tos for comfort are the Miss Read books, anything by Rosamund Pilcher, Austen (always)...a quick perusal of my bookshelf tells me that most of my comfort reads are older books...probably linked to a nostalgia for simpler times. Ah, *happy sigh*...even just looking at them makes me feel more calm.
Congratulations on your one month-aversary....I love getting to read your words! xo
Some of your recommendations I know and love already, but I've added plenty to my 'have a look at' list, so thank you. 😊
My own first choice for a comfort read is my favourite book ever: 'Three Men in a Boat' by Jerome K Jerome. It is LAUGH OUT LOUD funny, but with deeply thoughtful and poignant bits woven into what is essentially witty travelogue meets nineteenth century social history. Every time I read it - which is often - I am newly astonished that it was written in the 1880s. It's remarkably easy to read, and hilarious in a falling-off-the-chair kind of way that is rarely found in a classic.
ALSO: '101 Dalmatians' by Dodie Smith. Such a wonderful, wonderful story - the films (both the animation and live-action titles) bear little resemblance to the text, and I mean that as a humungous compliment to the novel.
What a wonderful article Claire! Speaking as one whom just last night finished my umpteenth listen to Bookworm and who recently also read Mrs Harris goes to Paris for the first time, I wholeheartedly agree. Now I just need to go and dig out our copy of Milly Molly Mandy for my daughter’s return from school today, she has a terrible cold...
Such a beautiful piece Claire. I arrived on the doorstep of reading later on in Life and can't seem to get enough of it now as there are never enough hours in the day so therefore not a great rereader but I get the sentiment.
Feb 28, 2023·edited Feb 28, 2023Liked by Claire Holden
I loved reading this - comfort read in itself! It also made me want to pick up The Secret Garden (and other children's classics like Peter Pan). . . and I'm a lover of Mary Oliver's Blue Horses and other poetry for comfort reading.
A great read Claire and so many brilliant suggestions. Anne of Green Gables got me through the early days of leaving University and I have revisited her so many times since. I love anything Persephone and especially Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Mariana, Diary of a Provincial Lady and The Fortnight in September. I am also a big Miss Read fan and regularly turn to her for some countryside companionship. Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series is also a favourite. I picked up one of these yesterday to escape into after having to read a 'thriller' - which was everything but comforting, for a book group I am in!
What a terrific article, Claire! You’ve recommended such wonderful reads (hurrah for The Enchanted April!) and I immediately ordered a copy of A Gentleman in Moscow! Can’t wait to see what delights you share with us next week! Xxx
Thanks for sharing Claire, what a lovely list of books this is. I have heard lots of good things about A Gentleman In Moscow, but it hasn't made its way onto my book pile as yet. A Man Called Ove had a lot of hype but sadly it just didn't do it for me. I guess a comfort read for me would be something lighter and fluffier than I would normally read that doesn't tax the brain too much. I read a couple of Emma Kennedy novels last year that were perfect for that, The Never Ending Summer and The Things We Left Unsaid. Lianne Moriarty has also been good for that too. Maybe a step too far are the novels of Veronica Henry which are total fluff and I discovered them at Christmas when it was an effort to even get up and face the day (this was when the anxiety after my accident was at its height). They got me through even though I knew their limitations it was just what I needed at that time. 🌻
The art of comfort reading
Perfect summation of the breadth of wonderful comforting reads. I was so impressed with all the suggestions that I’m going to slowly build up a shelf full of reads suitable for those times when I need a duvet day 💞 I especially agree with the need to put aside literary one-upmanship; when down in the dumps, it’s definitely not the time to be trying to ‘impress.’
SO many wonderful recommendations....and lots of nodding along with you.
I discovered the phrase 'comfort reads' long after I'd been going back to books for precisely that reason and it's such a perfect way to encapsulate how certain books make you feel. My comforts tend to be varied but they all have a theme of gentleness, home and nature. Even if those things are wrapped around a murder :D. Some of my go-tos for comfort are the Miss Read books, anything by Rosamund Pilcher, Austen (always)...a quick perusal of my bookshelf tells me that most of my comfort reads are older books...probably linked to a nostalgia for simpler times. Ah, *happy sigh*...even just looking at them makes me feel more calm.
Congratulations on your one month-aversary....I love getting to read your words! xo
I loved reading this - thanks, Claire!
Some of your recommendations I know and love already, but I've added plenty to my 'have a look at' list, so thank you. 😊
My own first choice for a comfort read is my favourite book ever: 'Three Men in a Boat' by Jerome K Jerome. It is LAUGH OUT LOUD funny, but with deeply thoughtful and poignant bits woven into what is essentially witty travelogue meets nineteenth century social history. Every time I read it - which is often - I am newly astonished that it was written in the 1880s. It's remarkably easy to read, and hilarious in a falling-off-the-chair kind of way that is rarely found in a classic.
ALSO: '101 Dalmatians' by Dodie Smith. Such a wonderful, wonderful story - the films (both the animation and live-action titles) bear little resemblance to the text, and I mean that as a humungous compliment to the novel.
What a wonderful article Claire! Speaking as one whom just last night finished my umpteenth listen to Bookworm and who recently also read Mrs Harris goes to Paris for the first time, I wholeheartedly agree. Now I just need to go and dig out our copy of Milly Molly Mandy for my daughter’s return from school today, she has a terrible cold...
Such a beautiful piece Claire. I arrived on the doorstep of reading later on in Life and can't seem to get enough of it now as there are never enough hours in the day so therefore not a great rereader but I get the sentiment.
I loved reading this - comfort read in itself! It also made me want to pick up The Secret Garden (and other children's classics like Peter Pan). . . and I'm a lover of Mary Oliver's Blue Horses and other poetry for comfort reading.
A great read Claire and so many brilliant suggestions. Anne of Green Gables got me through the early days of leaving University and I have revisited her so many times since. I love anything Persephone and especially Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Mariana, Diary of a Provincial Lady and The Fortnight in September. I am also a big Miss Read fan and regularly turn to her for some countryside companionship. Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series is also a favourite. I picked up one of these yesterday to escape into after having to read a 'thriller' - which was everything but comforting, for a book group I am in!
What a terrific article, Claire! You’ve recommended such wonderful reads (hurrah for The Enchanted April!) and I immediately ordered a copy of A Gentleman in Moscow! Can’t wait to see what delights you share with us next week! Xxx
I enjoyed this so much. Thank you Claire 😊
As always a very inspirational read Claire ....... my reading list lengthens!! Thank you.
Thanks for sharing Claire, what a lovely list of books this is. I have heard lots of good things about A Gentleman In Moscow, but it hasn't made its way onto my book pile as yet. A Man Called Ove had a lot of hype but sadly it just didn't do it for me. I guess a comfort read for me would be something lighter and fluffier than I would normally read that doesn't tax the brain too much. I read a couple of Emma Kennedy novels last year that were perfect for that, The Never Ending Summer and The Things We Left Unsaid. Lianne Moriarty has also been good for that too. Maybe a step too far are the novels of Veronica Henry which are total fluff and I discovered them at Christmas when it was an effort to even get up and face the day (this was when the anxiety after my accident was at its height). They got me through even though I knew their limitations it was just what I needed at that time. 🌻