I was reading over at PBW‘s blog the other day and ‘comfort’ reads were mentioned.
A comfort read~ if this ever made it into the dictionary, if would have an entry something like…
comfort read-a tried and true, well loved favorite that a reader seeks out when feeling depressed, blue, mad, pissed, lonely, bored, or otherwise needing a read that she knows she will love and enjoy without even thinking twice.
Okay, so I’m never going to be able to write definitions for Merriam Webster. ;o) But still, you get the idea.
Some of my comfort reads are the Irish Jewels books by Nora Roberts, the Stardoc series by SL Viehl, or when I’m really really feeling down, any of the Heralds of Valdemar books by Mercedes Lackey. SL Viehl is my fave among faves-her books almost make me forget what’s bothering me. Nora Roberts, the Irish Jewels triology, the same thing. And the Heralds books by Mercedes Lackey, welllll…. they introduced me to fantasy stories back in the early 90’s and I’ve gotten so much enjoyment out of them.
When I’m feeling down, a book will pick me up better than a Movie, chocolate or a glass of wine ever could.
I even manage to sweat out an hour at the gym thanks to good reads. I think I’ve discovered a new comfort read… Mona Lisa Awakening by Sunny, coming out next month. I actually…*GASP* went over my time on the stair climber and that’s unheard for me. I totally forgot about the timer and just kept climbing and reading.
What books pull you away when you desperately need it?
I have to agree with the Mercedes Lackey, books I pull out the Valdemar series every year.
I love the SEP Chicago Stars series. I have them all on audio books, and will listen to them again when I need a pick-me-up. They are a great distraction when I’m doing housework or exercise and would otherwise have time to dwell on my current problem. Nora is a fave too — for me it’s the Quinn brothers.
Just about any of Julia Quinn’s or Julie Garwood’s books are comfort reads for me.
Oh, SEP has some great comfort reads. Kiss an Angel is my fave by her
Any of Linda Howard’s books.
Any book of Sarah McCarty’s or Lora Leigh’s are great reads when you need to go to that quiet place inside your head.
Believe it or not I seldom re-read anything! My TBR stack is so huge, I just pluck out a favorite author’s new book and get going.
But that said… I definitely would count anything by Susan Elizabeth Phillips as a comfort read. Her books make me happy. 🙂
Janice M.
a leslie kelly and vicki thompson
Suzanne Brockmann or Judith McNaught. I love going back to those sigh-worthy moments 🙂
I totally agree on the Lackey books! I might have to go dig out my copies now…
Other comfort reads? Suz Brockmann is a biggie. And I read The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper every winter. A great, fun, good-versus-evil YA novel that captured me when I was in junior high and I’ve never looked back. 🙂