I did once reread my comfort books from childhood, which were the Chronicles of Narnia. And then a few years ago I read for the third time The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Apart form that, on the night that Trump was first elected in 2016 I picked up The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (Michael Chabon) for the third time, just because I love that book so much and I was feeling quite distressed. There are other books I've reread, like Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, but I'm not sure it was for comfort. It's perfectly possible I'm forgetting something!
I used to read the first six Narnia books over and over and refuse to read the seventh because it would mean it was over… of course, when I finally read the seventh it was okay after all. My favourite was Horse and His Boy I think (because of the horse). I haven’t read Michael Chabon. I’ll add him to the list! And yes, Bird by Bird has a special place for me too.
Hi Kelsey, how lovely to start my morning with thoughts about comfort books. Thank you for that grade school image of lugging around a big, fat book and reading it at lunch. Totally relatable. My comfort book is Anne of Green Gables which I just reread because Elly MacKay recently redid the covers, and her illustrations are beautiful. https://www.theaterclouds.com
Anne of Green Gables, of course! Very much a comfort read. She’s why my sister’s middle name is Anne, not Ann. So much more distinguished. And those covers are lovely!
How lovely to know that the well worn much read books on my shelf are “ comfort books”! David Eddings ‘ the Belgariad’ , Jean M Auel ‘ clan of the cave bear’ , Jane Austen, and many more. Spring is here according to the flowers, however the cold blustery weather still allows for comfort reading!
HI Kelsey, from a Deepam Workshop-mate from a few years back! Love reading your notes when I can get to them. I like that Cougar poem. It's great to have the tables turned and have it all observed from the perspective of the cougar. Not only human perspectives. Only fair and good. We need a lot more of that. - You asked what our comfort reading is. For me, reading has become listening. Hard to hold books as arthritis deepens and I realized that 'literature' was oral / aural for the first at least 150,000 years of us creating and telling stories. Plus I drive a lot. So audio books ~ yes! My new best friends! The whole past year I have been taking comfort in the mix of insight into human nature and throughtful reflections around crime, and great characters you come to care about and really feel you get to know as part of your community, in Louise Penny's books. Thanks for inviting to dialogue here!
Hi Astri - I remember writing with you in Deepam’s living room! I actually have a Louise Penny that I discovered while organizing a shelf, but I don’t think I’d read it. I’ll keep my eye out for it again! And yay for audiobooks - for me they’re a bedtime essential. It’s so nice to hear a book spoken. Plus I learn how to pronounce words I’ve never heard, only read. Like rooibos ;)
Lovely poem. And I adore that you used the word "gumption" in this post! :)
Gumption is a good word.
I did once reread my comfort books from childhood, which were the Chronicles of Narnia. And then a few years ago I read for the third time The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Apart form that, on the night that Trump was first elected in 2016 I picked up The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (Michael Chabon) for the third time, just because I love that book so much and I was feeling quite distressed. There are other books I've reread, like Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, but I'm not sure it was for comfort. It's perfectly possible I'm forgetting something!
I used to read the first six Narnia books over and over and refuse to read the seventh because it would mean it was over… of course, when I finally read the seventh it was okay after all. My favourite was Horse and His Boy I think (because of the horse). I haven’t read Michael Chabon. I’ll add him to the list! And yes, Bird by Bird has a special place for me too.
Oh man... this is making me feel like I'm going to have to read them all again...
Me too! I even have copies I think.
I believe I do too!
Hi Kelsey, how lovely to start my morning with thoughts about comfort books. Thank you for that grade school image of lugging around a big, fat book and reading it at lunch. Totally relatable. My comfort book is Anne of Green Gables which I just reread because Elly MacKay recently redid the covers, and her illustrations are beautiful. https://www.theaterclouds.com
Anne of Green Gables, of course! Very much a comfort read. She’s why my sister’s middle name is Anne, not Ann. So much more distinguished. And those covers are lovely!
How lovely to know that the well worn much read books on my shelf are “ comfort books”! David Eddings ‘ the Belgariad’ , Jean M Auel ‘ clan of the cave bear’ , Jane Austen, and many more. Spring is here according to the flowers, however the cold blustery weather still allows for comfort reading!
Ooh, good ones! David Eddings is definitely comfort for me too. And Jane too. Always a comfort!
That poem ❤️ And I am glad March has roared in like a lion to blast February away for you!
Thank you! Me too!
HI Kelsey, from a Deepam Workshop-mate from a few years back! Love reading your notes when I can get to them. I like that Cougar poem. It's great to have the tables turned and have it all observed from the perspective of the cougar. Not only human perspectives. Only fair and good. We need a lot more of that. - You asked what our comfort reading is. For me, reading has become listening. Hard to hold books as arthritis deepens and I realized that 'literature' was oral / aural for the first at least 150,000 years of us creating and telling stories. Plus I drive a lot. So audio books ~ yes! My new best friends! The whole past year I have been taking comfort in the mix of insight into human nature and throughtful reflections around crime, and great characters you come to care about and really feel you get to know as part of your community, in Louise Penny's books. Thanks for inviting to dialogue here!
Hi Astri - I remember writing with you in Deepam’s living room! I actually have a Louise Penny that I discovered while organizing a shelf, but I don’t think I’d read it. I’ll keep my eye out for it again! And yay for audiobooks - for me they’re a bedtime essential. It’s so nice to hear a book spoken. Plus I learn how to pronounce words I’ve never heard, only read. Like rooibos ;)