Comfort Reads

Given the current health crisis around the world, many of us are facing new changes and challenges. As of this week I am staying home from work and my library internship and my household is practicing social distancing, which means a lot of hours spent at home. Although I still have homework and work to do, I also have more time at home now that I can’t pop into my favorite restaurant or brewery.

So, I’m taking some time over the next few weeks to post and create other content besides my new release book reviews. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while but there always seemed to be something more pressing to get done or be out and about with people.

First up, I’m sharing some books and authors that I find comforting when times are tough for whatever reason.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

This likely speaks volumes about my age and demographic, but the Harry Potter will always hold a special places in my heart.

I read the first book for the first time in 4th grade and it greatly impacted my love of reading and fantasy. It’s one of the first books I can remember being completely enthralled in.

Over the years I’ve continuously reread the series and even took a course about it in college (best elective ever). I read it when I’m nostalgic. I read it when I’m sad or stressed. I read it when I’m overwhelmed. As Dumbledore said, “Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.”

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Ah, Jane Austen by queen! Pride and Prejudice holds a special place in my heart as well. I read this in middle school and even though I think a lot of the witticism went over by head at the time, I loved it. My now sister-in-law gave me a copy of the novel for my birthday after she read it for a freshman comp class in college. Perhaps wanting to emulate her, I read the book soon after and I loved reading about the mannerism and the characters even though there is not a lot of plot in comparison to Harry Potter.

Like Harry Potter, I have continuously reread the book and watched a variety of film and TV adaptations. I think this repetition, the wit, and the romance are all things I need during tough times and certainly helps explain why I have a penchant for historical romances. Fun fact: I you want to read the novel for free, find it at Project Gutenberg [URL: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1342/1342-h/1342-h.htm]

Sherlock Holmes novels & stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Another classic that I turn to during tough times is anything Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I love a good mystery with a recurring detective and perhaps this is where my love of that comes from. Again, I read The Hound of the Baskervilles during my formative reading years and I love this Sherlock story the most, probably because of the gothic overtones and paranormal references. In general, I know many readers love mysteries because while a lot of bad thing may occur (depending how graphic the book is) we all know that the book will come to a satisfying conclusion of some sort. Perhaps I’m oversimplifying it but I know that’s why I find them comforting.

D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d’Aulaire & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire

Apparently, this book has been in print for over 50 years and I can understand why. This gorgeously illustrated book of Greek myths has a middle grad target audience but really can be enjoyed by anyone. As with the other books in this list, I read this at an early age in my mother’s classroom. She was an elementary school teacher for over 3 decades and this was one of the books in her classroom that I would repeatedly pull off the shelf when I was between books and finished with my homework.

I think because these stories are the basis of so much western storytelling I find the themes and characters very familiar and therefore comforting. And did I mention the artwork? I could stare at the images for hours.

What are your comfort reads?

Happy Reading!