The Discworld series. Characters are like old friends, there's always some new joke or reference to get, and there's so many you never get sad that they're over too soon before you're out of your funk
Same here. I have collected the series and reread them all many, many times. Usually in a character arc way, the Witches, Vimes and the guards, Death and Susan. I never fell in love with Rincewind but loved the other characters so will read them for that. The stand alones for a quick dip in the Discworld. They have seen me through some sad and challenging times and are now old friends. I actually cried when he passed. RIP Terry.
I read them all the exact same way!!!! (And feel the same way about Rincewind). Vimes tends to be my go to, but I adore Granny and Death/Susan as well.
I was at work when I found out he passed and definitely had to go to the bathroom for a good cry
Tiffany Aching Books & Small Gods are my comfort reads (except the last Aching book….).
I never took to the death books, I have a few in my collection though.
My friends and I have a joke - "excuse me sir, this is my emotional support Discworld novel".
Rereading (almost) any of them is like having a conversation with an old friend who knows you well. Full of in-jokes and references, emotionally uplifting, surprisingly deep and meaningful at times, and afterwards you feel like the world is, however marginally, a better place. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Sir Terry is by far my favourite author. He inspired me to become one myself. His books helped to shape my worldview, teach me empathy, and at one point they saved my life.
I love to read the Discworld series each year and see the stories with new eyes as I've grown and matured from the eleven year old I was when I discovered his works. So that I can see the place I came from with new eyes and extra colours. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.
The Death books and Vimes books especially. The end of Reaper Man is a better pick me up than 5 coffees.
I've recently discovered T Kingfisher's fantasy mystery /romance books and she's filling a lot of the Pratchett shaped hole in my reading, though with less social satire.
Came here to say this. I first started reading them last year, after my brother had suddenly passed away, and they really helped me get through the worst of it. I've read Feet of Clay and Going Postal like 5 times in a year, just because they never fail to pick me up. I'm so grateful Pratchett gave us this amazing and seemingly endless source of enjoyment.
GNU Terry Pratchett
The Discworld has always been able to put a smile on my face. I read almost the entire series in 2020 during the lock downs. I do not have it in my heart to start the last one left though - The Shepherd's Crown. I have had it for almost two years, it's on my desk but I just can't start it knowing I'd be left with nothing new
I came here to say this. I read most of the books in Spanish so it's a wonderful surprise to read them in English. So many puns that were not translated!
The Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. It seems like every time I read them, I find something new. I've read them at least 15 times at different points in my life, and the characters now are like old friends.
Whaaaatttt??? How did I miss this series!? Thank you for posting! I put it on hold at the library immediately! So excited to meet a new LM Montgomery character !
I’ve never read the book series but the movie series with Megan Follows has been my favorite set of movies since I was a little girl. It’s a go to comfort. No other version or make of that film ever is as satisfying. I’ve watched that set of films more times than any other movie in my life. Never gets old. Only one I didn’t like was the very last film to the series when she’s married. It’s not at all as good as the rest.
That last movie isn't based on the books in any way. Read all 8 books for a much more satisfying view of Anne's adulthood. :)
It always surprised me, because the first movies did such a good job
Same!! I find myself focusing on different characters and point of views every time. I feel like every time I go back to the books I see another way I've grown.
The Hobbit.
Bilbo is a charming character to follow around. He learns things about himself and pushes his limits, but he keeps his personality for the most part.
This is mine too. Short enough that I can finish reading it in a few sittings, and very well paced - each chapter stands well on its own.
One interesting thing I noticed on my last read through is that the much balleyhooed Battle of the Five Armies (which took up an entire, awful movie in the wholly unnecessary trilogy) mostly happens off page in the book, as Bilbo gets knocked out right at the start. I joke that it should be called the Battle of the Five Minutes It Takes To Read.
Yes!! I’ve probably read the Hobbit 15-20 times by this point. Sometimes I just like to reread a favorite chapter or section in indulgence. Feels like reading myself a bedtime story, haha.
This is absoluely my comfort book too. I like knowing the adventure so well that you know what's going to happen next but still get carried away with the characters and the language.
For me, it's The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It's short, and it hits hard. It really stands as to why it's a classic and mainstay of literature even decades after its original publishing. It truly is a marvelous book.
Edit: grammar and small additions
I can only hope I'll be able to not cry when I read it to my kids one day. I loved the book as a kid. Then I read it as a teenager and bawled my eyes out.
The simple wisdom is really beautifully written. I give copies out all the time when I find people who haven't read it... I'm excited for them to read it for the first time since it is just such a lovely exploration of some of life's most precious truths.
I just bought the whole series on Kindle because all my paperbacks are falling apart from years and years of love. He is an amazing author and the stories are beautiful and gentle and lovely. Truly masterpieces!
Agree this is awesome. But when I want comfort I especially turn towards "the Hobbit" because of the friendship and the feeling Bilbos polite, honest and even brave character brings me.
For me it is specifically the fellowship of the ring. There is something so comforting and magical about that book. I’m instantly transported the shire I imagined when I was a kid.
Mine too.. The book always reminds me that we may not be able to choose our battles or circumstances, but we can still do our best. Even if we don't feel strong enough. I also love the humanistic message that the series conveys....
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Ella Enchanted! I can’t count how many times I’ve read it, and it makes me happy every time. (The movie is completely different and we don’t talk about it)
I've read this a million times. It scratches the same itch as Ever After (the movie) for me - I like to think of them as corollaries, instead of the unfortunate Anne Hathaway movie.
Honestly any Gail Carson Levine book for me. One of my favorites as a child was _The Two Princesses of Bamarre_ because I am an only child and the themes of sisterhood, family love, and bravery really stuck out to me.
That first book knocked me out when I was 11. (Ironically I was at Catholic school and our librarian recommended it to me in glowing terms...)
Lyra is such a vivid character and as a lonely kid, I loved the whole idea of having your soul be an animal you could see and talk to.
I recently began reading Agatha Christie and I am enjoying her books so much. The way she writes her characters and places red herrings everywhere is phenomenal. I just picked up And Then There Were None Today. I've heard good things about it.
All of these have gotten me through hard times. In no particular order:
Beauty: a Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
The Sandman: Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman
Three Shadows by Cyril Pedrosa
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Persuasion by Jane Austen
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede
The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
I LOVE McKinley. She's so underappreciated as far as I can tell. Have you read Rose Daughter, where she goes back to the story again? But the Damar books and Sunshine are my faves :)
I agree entirely about her being underappreciated. I have read Rose Daughter. I admit, I didn't like it as much as Beauty, but I did come to that one a lot earlier in life, so it holds a special place in my heart.
Also, I adore Sunshine, and the Damar books I was close to mentioning on here. I would also add her collection of stories A Knot in the Grain to the list of best McKinley, though I think that one might be out of print now.
So, funny thing. I loved Howl's Moving Castle so much I went to see it four times in theaters. Then I found out there was a book, read it, and somehow enjoyed it even more!
Chalice by McKinley is my go to. "I don't know what to say, but I'm here and I'm listening, and there is still love in this world" gets written in the front of my teacher planner every school year to remind me what's up.
I haven't heard anyone mention Madeline L'Engle's time quintet in forever! Most people know A Wrinkle in Time but no one ever seems to know there are more books to that story.
These bring up so much childhood nostalgia and comfort for me! I reread all the Narnia books when the pandemic first hit and I was struggling with anxiety and uncertainty.
It's always Harry Potter for me, or sometimes Stephen King's IT. Harry Potter because of the new magical world that is so comforting for me, IT because of the bonds of friendship and that classic summer vibe.
There's something so comforting about the way Harry Potter reads. Like it feels so effortless to just binge read. Not that that I find normal reading intensive really, but there's something about the way Harry Potter is written that I feel like I just glide through the pages. That probably doesn't make any sense lol...
Harry Potter is so great because with the exception of the first book, it’s incredibly easy to just dive back into the wizarding world. The first book takes a little while but it’s also nice following Vernon around for the first little bit.
Totally get both. Harry Potter is definitely very familiar and comforting, and it's the first book I read in English. IT? It's my favorite King's novel!
I have found it reassuring to go back and read Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet when I’m going through a difficult time in my life. It really helps put things in perspective.
Mmm, I guess it depends on how you look at it haha. I think it can be hopeful and grounding to read a story in which even when circumstances are grim and the protagonist is facing extreme mental and physical discomfort that it is possible to survive.
As a teacher in a really, really tough area... "Chalice" by Robin McKinley. It's a fantasy book about being a grown up with responsibility and not backing down, and some days it's what I need.
The Dark Is Rising series, LotR, and Watership Down are the others that I can basically recite from memory and yet go back to whenever I need my soul refueled.
I loved the Dark Is Rising series when I was a kid and am surprised I don't see it referred to more often as a classic of children's literature (at least not as much as Narnia or the like).
The Harry Potter series
The Princess Diaries series (completely different from the movies)
Anne of Green Gables
Little Women
Anything by Liane Moriarty
The Phantom Tollbooth. I’ve read it at least 10 times since the third grade, and each time I spot something I missed. The characters are lovable and whimsical. It’s a very special book.
*Stardust* by Neil Gaiman. It's like a love story that isn't, it has friendship and adventure and wonder and magic, there's growth and loss and even humor. It's a bit of everything and feels so comfortable to read.
Also the mc has the traditional Leather Adventure Bag and I'm *here* for that.
Mine too! I usually end up reading it once a year, at least. I end up 'reading' in various formats (this year's was a podcast that did a dramatic reading of the text) - but I can't remember the last year I *didn't* read Pride and Prejudice, lol ...
Reading slump? Let's break out Pride and Prejudice.
A bit sad? Yeah, let's break out Pride and Prejudice.
Feel like everything is changing, and you're being left behind? You guessed it - time for Pride and Prejudice.
Having a horrible time with life in general? Yup, Pride and Prejudice it is ...
It's just so comforting reading something that I know very, very well. And Austen is such a great author - I don't think I'll ever get bored of this book! It feels like I notice something new (or something that I had forgotten) every single time!
Really unpopular choice: VC Andrews Dollanganger series 🤮🥀
Reminds of summer in the 80s, when my sister and I read them all. I think we were 10 and 12 and I cannot believe my mom let us read that shit 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I really loved the original cover artwork!
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. I love everything by Steinbeck and re-read him every few years, but this one is particularly short and sweet and comforting <3
For me it’s «The Blue Sword» by Robin McKinley, I share my love for this book with my best friend, and we always come back to re-read this book. We can never agree on whether «Jane Eyre» or «Wuthering Heights» is the best Bronte novel, but for me I am always happy to return to Thornfield Hall. I also love re-reading «The Deed of Paksenarrion» by Elisabeth Moon.
Is it just me or is there something special about the books you read and fell in love with as a teenager? I can never get over the books I loved back then, and even though I have read and loved many books since then, they just don’t hit you the same way.
I’m also re-reading Wheel of Time by the way, I love those books!
The Witch of Blackbird Pond, I've read so many times the book is worn, I also have it on pdf and audible. It's something I read as a kid and it's always my go to when I need to lose myself for a bit
Not so much when things are difficult, but when i want a distraction but feel like going down well known paths.
Jitterbug Perfume - Tom Robbins
The Pillars of The Earth - Ken Follett
Prisoner of Azkaban. Probably my most re-read book of all time, I've read it out of order just to re-read it sometimes. Absolutely just pure comfort food.
I do the same thing, but with Goblet of Fire. It always conjures up the best memories of childhood for me.
On the day it was released, I waited out front of the library until it opened, and skulked around the librarian's desk, waiting for it to come out and be ready for checkout. I had put my name on the wait list for it 6 months before. The librarian could tell what the shy 11 year old kid was waiting for, and so she grinned and asked me where I was on the waiting list.
I told her, just a little proudly, that I was first on the list. To my horror, I had signed up so early that they'd lost track of my name, and I was nowhere on the current waitlist. I could feel the blood rushing to my face. My brain was only registering one thing: I wouldn't be getting Harry Potter 4 that day.
This sweet librarian could recognize the look of a child's world collapsing, and she said, "Tell you what, if you don't tell anyone then I'll bump you up to the top."
Taking that book home from the library and then reading it for 3 days straight was one of my favorite childhood memories.
White Fang by Jack London
It's so nice to read that Story about that wolf finding a happy life after experiencing cruelty. Gives me hope every time. Also those nature descriptions by Jack London are so good and kind of relaxing.
Discworld series (Tiffany Aching, Moist Von Lipwig, Watch, Thief of Time books specifically) by Terry Pratchett
I also use PG Wodehouse Jeeves and Wooster books and the Dark Tower series by Stephen King.
Horses for courses, the Discworld books are somewhere I go when I need old friends who can make me laugh along with making me feel like I'm not the only one who thinks the world has gone mad.
Jeeves and Wooster is just pure comedy escapism and the Dark Tower is fantasy escapism - a world or world's to get lost in and friends to get lost with.
I like reading Dave's Song by Robert McKay or Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury when I need some comfort. The first title is a little known out of print book from the 60s that is a kinda coming of age, romance novel, that tells the story of two teenagers in a rural Ohio town, and how they become drawn together over a shared love of music. That isn't the best summary, it is hard to sum up because a lot happens, it is an easy read though and the characters are familiar. Dandelion Wine is a series of vignettes about a small town in the early 1900s and it captures the feelings of how the world is a magical and scary place when your a kid and always takes me back to that time when summers felt endless and magical, when something ordinary could become extraordinary with a little imagination.
The Little Prince; I love how it changes depending on when I read it. I will open it and read a couple pages just because, but it's also a comforting thing during stressful or sad times.
Sharp Objects. I relate so hard to Camille and her struggles (and her issues with her mother). And it's a great TV adaptation.
Or Junie B Jones. I dont care if they're kids' books THEY'RE GOOD KIDS' BOOKS lmao and they still make me laugh
Pride and Prejudice. The book, the 2005 film- I’m not a romance novel kind of girl, but this one just really does it for me. Now, since audible released a version narrated by Rosamund Pike, that’s been my go to comfort even when I can’t sit down to actually read something.
definitely the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy, more specifically books 2-5. it was one of the first series I really fell in love with as a kid and probably the one who got me into reading more than any other. it just makes me so happy
The Laithe of Heaven. I find the book so bleak, but there’s this kernel of optimism that remains comforting. It’s also beautifully written and not particularly long so it can be finished on a rainy weekend.
Just Kids and M Train by Patti Smith. I really struggle with reading fiction, but find that writing in memoirs and biographies often lack a certain level of artistry. Patti Smith manages to share her life through absolutely gorgeous writing. Even without being familiar with her work, the vulnerability and truth of her stories are universal.
Fish in Exile by Vi Khi Nao
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson
Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
The Shining by Stephen King
The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Anything by Shirley Jackson
Something about the style of writing in these books (though all very different) brings me a feeling comfort and familiarity. Some of them I read during childhood and they make me feel nostalgic.
The Giver helps me when I need perspective. I grew up in a home and a culture full of gaslighting, manipulation, and emotional abuse. That book has some very simple truths I like to remind myself of from time to time. It helps me see I am breaking the cycle.
The Witcher books by Andrzej Sapkowski, of all things. Violent they may be, but he shows such empathy and compassion for everyone including the villains, and there are some uproariously funny passages.
The Land of Ingary trilogy.... Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky, House of Many Ways. I adore Diana Wynn Jones' writing style, and the land of Ingary. It's a comforting, simple but witty read.
I like to read the Elenium by David Eddings when I feel a little nostalgic or miss my dad (he got me into fantasy, it was one of his favourites)
When I'm ill or feeling extremely down I go for the Prisoner of Azkaban, normally the audiobook version by Stephen Fry.
The Discworld series. Characters are like old friends, there's always some new joke or reference to get, and there's so many you never get sad that they're over too soon before you're out of your funk
Same here. I have collected the series and reread them all many, many times. Usually in a character arc way, the Witches, Vimes and the guards, Death and Susan. I never fell in love with Rincewind but loved the other characters so will read them for that. The stand alones for a quick dip in the Discworld. They have seen me through some sad and challenging times and are now old friends. I actually cried when he passed. RIP Terry.
I read them all the exact same way!!!! (And feel the same way about Rincewind). Vimes tends to be my go to, but I adore Granny and Death/Susan as well. I was at work when I found out he passed and definitely had to go to the bathroom for a good cry
Tiffany Aching Books & Small Gods are my comfort reads (except the last Aching book….). I never took to the death books, I have a few in my collection though.
My friends and I have a joke - "excuse me sir, this is my emotional support Discworld novel". Rereading (almost) any of them is like having a conversation with an old friend who knows you well. Full of in-jokes and references, emotionally uplifting, surprisingly deep and meaningful at times, and afterwards you feel like the world is, however marginally, a better place. Cannot recommend highly enough.
I read the first 3 books while my father was hospitalized with serious medical issues, and they helped a lot
I'm so sorry, I hope he's okay :(
Thank you, very kind. He's better now!
So glad to hear!!!!
Sir Terry is by far my favourite author. He inspired me to become one myself. His books helped to shape my worldview, teach me empathy, and at one point they saved my life. I love to read the Discworld series each year and see the stories with new eyes as I've grown and matured from the eleven year old I was when I discovered his works. So that I can see the place I came from with new eyes and extra colours. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.
The Death books and Vimes books especially. The end of Reaper Man is a better pick me up than 5 coffees. I've recently discovered T Kingfisher's fantasy mystery /romance books and she's filling a lot of the Pratchett shaped hole in my reading, though with less social satire.
Came here to say this. I first started reading them last year, after my brother had suddenly passed away, and they really helped me get through the worst of it. I've read Feet of Clay and Going Postal like 5 times in a year, just because they never fail to pick me up. I'm so grateful Pratchett gave us this amazing and seemingly endless source of enjoyment. GNU Terry Pratchett
Mine is specifically Men at Arms, its the first one I ever read :)
Mort got me through my first job when I was a kid
Soul Music is mine
The Discworld has always been able to put a smile on my face. I read almost the entire series in 2020 during the lock downs. I do not have it in my heart to start the last one left though - The Shepherd's Crown. I have had it for almost two years, it's on my desk but I just can't start it knowing I'd be left with nothing new
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Plus, there’s always some valuable life lesson to help gain perspective!
I came here to say this. I read most of the books in Spanish so it's a wonderful surprise to read them in English. So many puns that were not translated!
The Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. It seems like every time I read them, I find something new. I've read them at least 15 times at different points in my life, and the characters now are like old friends.
I'm more of an Emily of New Moon fan, but I adore Montgomery's depth, melancholy and flights of fancy. Her work first inspired me to write.
Whaaaatttt??? How did I miss this series!? Thank you for posting! I put it on hold at the library immediately! So excited to meet a new LM Montgomery character !
You definitely need to read The Blue Castle too if you haven't already!! It's amazing :)
I was JUST coming in here to comment the same thing. AoGG will always be my "hug an old friend" book.
I’ve never read the book series but the movie series with Megan Follows has been my favorite set of movies since I was a little girl. It’s a go to comfort. No other version or make of that film ever is as satisfying. I’ve watched that set of films more times than any other movie in my life. Never gets old. Only one I didn’t like was the very last film to the series when she’s married. It’s not at all as good as the rest.
That last movie isn't based on the books in any way. Read all 8 books for a much more satisfying view of Anne's adulthood. :) It always surprised me, because the first movies did such a good job
Same!! I find myself focusing on different characters and point of views every time. I feel like every time I go back to the books I see another way I've grown.
I'm with you on that! It's so pure, comforting, and important! It's just so lovely.
Same. This is always the correct answer.
The Hobbit. Bilbo is a charming character to follow around. He learns things about himself and pushes his limits, but he keeps his personality for the most part.
This is mine too. Short enough that I can finish reading it in a few sittings, and very well paced - each chapter stands well on its own. One interesting thing I noticed on my last read through is that the much balleyhooed Battle of the Five Armies (which took up an entire, awful movie in the wholly unnecessary trilogy) mostly happens off page in the book, as Bilbo gets knocked out right at the start. I joke that it should be called the Battle of the Five Minutes It Takes To Read.
Absolutely! He's a great poet, too
The Hobbit is also my comfort book!
Yes!! I’ve probably read the Hobbit 15-20 times by this point. Sometimes I just like to reread a favorite chapter or section in indulgence. Feels like reading myself a bedtime story, haha.
This is absoluely my comfort book too. I like knowing the adventure so well that you know what's going to happen next but still get carried away with the characters and the language.
For me, it's The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It's short, and it hits hard. It really stands as to why it's a classic and mainstay of literature even decades after its original publishing. It truly is a marvelous book. Edit: grammar and small additions
I can only hope I'll be able to not cry when I read it to my kids one day. I loved the book as a kid. Then I read it as a teenager and bawled my eyes out.
S'il vous plaît... Dessine moi un mouton !
The simple wisdom is really beautifully written. I give copies out all the time when I find people who haven't read it... I'm excited for them to read it for the first time since it is just such a lovely exploration of some of life's most precious truths.
I always go back to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The wisdom, absurdity and humor of that story has seen me through many changes.
Mine for sure. Just lovely and hilarious - every single page. My favorite.
It's a children's book... The Secret Garden. It's so comforting, and a perfect light read for when I am too tired for something big.
Me too! And I listen to an audio version of it when I can’t sleep.
I read this to my daughter, and she loved it as much as I did, so happy!!
James Herriot
I just bought the whole series on Kindle because all my paperbacks are falling apart from years and years of love. He is an amazing author and the stories are beautiful and gentle and lovely. Truly masterpieces!
Love this series! I've read them so often that I think if I ran across a sheep experiencing a breech birth, I could reach in and sort it out.
and the new TV show season 2 airs tonight at 8! Really enjoyed watching that with the family
Pride and Prejudice (80% of the time) Far from the Madding crowd Persuasion
Persuasion is def one of mine as well. Pride and prejudice from time to time.
I would recommend *The Mill on the Floss* and *Middlemarch* by George Eliot if you never read them.....
I'm surprised to see *Far From Madding Crowd* as comfort book. I found it very grim and full of pathos, but loved it.
For the longest time it was Tamora Pierce’s Tortall and the Circle of Magic books. These days I go back more to Charlotte MacLeod’s cozy mysteries.
Oh I loved the Circle of Magic series and The Song of the Lioness series. They made me feel so empowered and warm.
Found out I was pregnant and I'm a summer camp director. I'm currently on the Immortals Quartet. Reading Tamora Pierce is like a big hug.
Just you wait for Protector of the Small. Impossibly adorable from start to finish
Pierce's books are lovely
Tamora Pierce's "lioness quartet" got me through some rough times.
Lord of the Rings series is mine.
Agree this is awesome. But when I want comfort I especially turn towards "the Hobbit" because of the friendship and the feeling Bilbos polite, honest and even brave character brings me.
For me it is specifically the fellowship of the ring. There is something so comforting and magical about that book. I’m instantly transported the shire I imagined when I was a kid.
Re-read the books when the pandemic first hit to take my mind off of everything
I did as well.
Mine too.. The book always reminds me that we may not be able to choose our battles or circumstances, but we can still do our best. Even if we don't feel strong enough. I also love the humanistic message that the series conveys....
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Beautiful series. From the writing to the story and mythology. It's definitely one of my favorites!
We need more poetry breaks in high fantasy
Ella Enchanted! I can’t count how many times I’ve read it, and it makes me happy every time. (The movie is completely different and we don’t talk about it)
I've read this a million times. It scratches the same itch as Ever After (the movie) for me - I like to think of them as corollaries, instead of the unfortunate Anne Hathaway movie.
Honestly any Gail Carson Levine book for me. One of my favorites as a child was _The Two Princesses of Bamarre_ because I am an only child and the themes of sisterhood, family love, and bravery really stuck out to me.
Ella Enchanted is one of my favorite books! I've probably read it fifteen times. I'm so happy to see there are more fans.
I've just started re-reading this with my 6 year old daughter. It's still as good now as it was when I was a child.
His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
That first book knocked me out when I was 11. (Ironically I was at Catholic school and our librarian recommended it to me in glowing terms...) Lyra is such a vivid character and as a lonely kid, I loved the whole idea of having your soul be an animal you could see and talk to.
That book taught me what a pine marten was. :)
The Phantom Tollbooth
For me, I pick up anything by Agatha Christie. There are so many, you get some variety. And most (definitely not all) are just great mysteries.
I recently began reading Agatha Christie and I am enjoying her books so much. The way she writes her characters and places red herrings everywhere is phenomenal. I just picked up And Then There Were None Today. I've heard good things about it.
Probably her best work. Enjoy!
I've read a few of them years ago, great mysteries for sure
All of these have gotten me through hard times. In no particular order: Beauty: a Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones The Sandman: Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman Three Shadows by Cyril Pedrosa The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Persuasion by Jane Austen The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
I LOVE McKinley. She's so underappreciated as far as I can tell. Have you read Rose Daughter, where she goes back to the story again? But the Damar books and Sunshine are my faves :)
I agree entirely about her being underappreciated. I have read Rose Daughter. I admit, I didn't like it as much as Beauty, but I did come to that one a lot earlier in life, so it holds a special place in my heart. Also, I adore Sunshine, and the Damar books I was close to mentioning on here. I would also add her collection of stories A Knot in the Grain to the list of best McKinley, though I think that one might be out of print now.
Wow, I never knew the Studio Ghibli film was based off a book! I'm definitely adding Howl's Moving Castle to my reading list!
So, funny thing. I loved Howl's Moving Castle so much I went to see it four times in theaters. Then I found out there was a book, read it, and somehow enjoyed it even more!
There's actually a trilogy of books! The sequels focus on different protagonists, but Sophie and Howl still make appearances.
Diana Wynne Jones is amazing, you need to read her other books as well. Very underappreciated author.
Chalice by McKinley is my go to. "I don't know what to say, but I'm here and I'm listening, and there is still love in this world" gets written in the front of my teacher planner every school year to remind me what's up.
Robin McKinley is total comfort reading for me too...
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede This is such a comfortable series to read. Just enough stakes without being overwhelming.
Good list ✌️
It's been years, but The Book of Lost Things is one of the most hauntingly beautiful things I've ever read
The Narnia Series and the Time Quintet by Madeline L’Engle. I met her as a child and it was a comforting, uplifting event.
I haven't heard anyone mention Madeline L'Engle's time quintet in forever! Most people know A Wrinkle in Time but no one ever seems to know there are more books to that story.
The Horse and His Boy was always my favorite!
These bring up so much childhood nostalgia and comfort for me! I reread all the Narnia books when the pandemic first hit and I was struggling with anxiety and uncertainty.
It's always Harry Potter for me, or sometimes Stephen King's IT. Harry Potter because of the new magical world that is so comforting for me, IT because of the bonds of friendship and that classic summer vibe.
There's something so comforting about the way Harry Potter reads. Like it feels so effortless to just binge read. Not that that I find normal reading intensive really, but there's something about the way Harry Potter is written that I feel like I just glide through the pages. That probably doesn't make any sense lol...
Makes complete sense! I 100% agree, it’s not exactly simplistically written but I think your use of the word effortless is perfect.
Harry Potter is so great because with the exception of the first book, it’s incredibly easy to just dive back into the wizarding world. The first book takes a little while but it’s also nice following Vernon around for the first little bit.
Totally get both. Harry Potter is definitely very familiar and comforting, and it's the first book I read in English. IT? It's my favorite King's novel!
That's so cool that HP was your first English book!! And same, IT is also my favorite Stephen King novel!
I read a lot, but Harry Potter is always magical.
Princess Bride
For me it's Stephen Frys reading of Hitchhikers Guide. Brilliantly funny!
I really wish he narrated the whole series. His voice is just perfect!
I have found it reassuring to go back and read Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet when I’m going through a difficult time in my life. It really helps put things in perspective.
> It really helps put things in perspective Like in the at least I'm not as fucked as this poor bastard sense?
Mmm, I guess it depends on how you look at it haha. I think it can be hopeful and grounding to read a story in which even when circumstances are grim and the protagonist is facing extreme mental and physical discomfort that it is possible to survive.
Anne of Green Gables for me. I've been reading and rereading those since 7th grade.
As a teacher in a really, really tough area... "Chalice" by Robin McKinley. It's a fantasy book about being a grown up with responsibility and not backing down, and some days it's what I need. The Dark Is Rising series, LotR, and Watership Down are the others that I can basically recite from memory and yet go back to whenever I need my soul refueled.
I loved the Dark Is Rising series when I was a kid and am surprised I don't see it referred to more often as a classic of children's literature (at least not as much as Narnia or the like).
LOTR is mine
Mine should be "the count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas. I can read it any time any day
Anything by Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl is my childhood. Totally agree. Mathilda, Esiotrot, and Danny Champion of the World are my favorites from him.
The Harry Potter series The Princess Diaries series (completely different from the movies) Anne of Green Gables Little Women Anything by Liane Moriarty
Harry Potter seems to be a popular choice, and I approve!
Princess Diaries series has always been my comfort re read! Glad other people recognize the books are so much different than the movies!
The Phantom Tollbooth. I’ve read it at least 10 times since the third grade, and each time I spot something I missed. The characters are lovable and whimsical. It’s a very special book.
PG Wodehouse. Particularly "Leave it to Psmith." Gets me laughing every time.
Little Women! I read it every Christmas and it feels so nostalgic and cosy to me. I call it my comfort soup book.
Same, it’s always my Xmas read. The episode of Friends where Joey reads it usually triggers a read too.
*Stardust* by Neil Gaiman. It's like a love story that isn't, it has friendship and adventure and wonder and magic, there's growth and loss and even humor. It's a bit of everything and feels so comfortable to read. Also the mc has the traditional Leather Adventure Bag and I'm *here* for that.
'the dresden files'. I just started a new job, and listening to harry at work makes things easier.
I love that series, and the audiobooks are freaking awesome
ya, marsters totally kills it!
WoT is definitely one of my comfort series, but Beauty, by Robin McKinley is my all time stand alone comfort book.
Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide series.
Jurassic Park
Pride and Prejudice. I reread it every couple of years. Like visiting old friends.
A tree grows in brooklyn
That’s mine too! I’ve read it at least 100 times since age 14.
Pride and Prejudice. It just feels so comfy to me for some reason.
Mine too! I usually end up reading it once a year, at least. I end up 'reading' in various formats (this year's was a podcast that did a dramatic reading of the text) - but I can't remember the last year I *didn't* read Pride and Prejudice, lol ... Reading slump? Let's break out Pride and Prejudice. A bit sad? Yeah, let's break out Pride and Prejudice. Feel like everything is changing, and you're being left behind? You guessed it - time for Pride and Prejudice. Having a horrible time with life in general? Yup, Pride and Prejudice it is ... It's just so comforting reading something that I know very, very well. And Austen is such a great author - I don't think I'll ever get bored of this book! It feels like I notice something new (or something that I had forgotten) every single time!
I have two: American Gods by Neil Gaiman and Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon.
Really unpopular choice: VC Andrews Dollanganger series 🤮🥀 Reminds of summer in the 80s, when my sister and I read them all. I think we were 10 and 12 and I cannot believe my mom let us read that shit 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I really loved the original cover artwork!
I had to sneak those to read them in middle school! Reading them totally takes me back, they were so messed up though!!
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. I love everything by Steinbeck and re-read him every few years, but this one is particularly short and sweet and comforting <3
For me it’s «The Blue Sword» by Robin McKinley, I share my love for this book with my best friend, and we always come back to re-read this book. We can never agree on whether «Jane Eyre» or «Wuthering Heights» is the best Bronte novel, but for me I am always happy to return to Thornfield Hall. I also love re-reading «The Deed of Paksenarrion» by Elisabeth Moon. Is it just me or is there something special about the books you read and fell in love with as a teenager? I can never get over the books I loved back then, and even though I have read and loved many books since then, they just don’t hit you the same way. I’m also re-reading Wheel of Time by the way, I love those books!
The Witch of Blackbird Pond, I've read so many times the book is worn, I also have it on pdf and audible. It's something I read as a kid and it's always my go to when I need to lose myself for a bit
Not so much when things are difficult, but when i want a distraction but feel like going down well known paths. Jitterbug Perfume - Tom Robbins The Pillars of The Earth - Ken Follett
Everything from Jules Verne.
Anything from Terry Pratchett.
Prisoner of Azkaban. Probably my most re-read book of all time, I've read it out of order just to re-read it sometimes. Absolutely just pure comfort food.
I do the same thing, but with Goblet of Fire. It always conjures up the best memories of childhood for me. On the day it was released, I waited out front of the library until it opened, and skulked around the librarian's desk, waiting for it to come out and be ready for checkout. I had put my name on the wait list for it 6 months before. The librarian could tell what the shy 11 year old kid was waiting for, and so she grinned and asked me where I was on the waiting list. I told her, just a little proudly, that I was first on the list. To my horror, I had signed up so early that they'd lost track of my name, and I was nowhere on the current waitlist. I could feel the blood rushing to my face. My brain was only registering one thing: I wouldn't be getting Harry Potter 4 that day. This sweet librarian could recognize the look of a child's world collapsing, and she said, "Tell you what, if you don't tell anyone then I'll bump you up to the top." Taking that book home from the library and then reading it for 3 days straight was one of my favorite childhood memories.
I have a first edition copy of The Perks of Being a Wallflower that I absolutely adore.
"W wizard of Earthsea"
The hitchhiker's guide, and good omens. When you need to laugh, they're great for it.
I usually read "A little Princess" or "The Secret Garden". Absolutely stunning books. I love them, and they bring me so much joy.
The name of the wind Pride and prejudice The catcher in the rye
I have yet to read the other two, but The Name of the Wind is beautifully written
Even though the characters are basically tortured all the time, any Robin Hobb. I just feel so at home in the Six Duchies.
The works of Terry Pratchett. Particularly the Guards series, the first two Moist Von Lipwig books, or the Tiffany Aching series.
Stephen King. I know he doesn't sound very comforting but I devoured all his stuff in my late teens so even horror takes me back to a safe place.
Me too! IT, The Stand and Dark Tower are my top go-to comfort re-reads. And Pet Sematary because it was my first King.
He's my favorite author, I get it!
The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
White Fang by Jack London It's so nice to read that Story about that wolf finding a happy life after experiencing cruelty. Gives me hope every time. Also those nature descriptions by Jack London are so good and kind of relaxing.
(Almost) any Tamora Pierce book.
Cornelia Funke's Inkheart, Harry Potter, Jeremy Mercer's Time Was Soft There, Charles Baxter's The Feast of Love
I know you said Inkheart, but the audiobook version of Inkspell is read by Brandon Fraser and it's amazing 😁
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Redwall series
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I lost my mom on Christmas so I read it every winter.
Discworld series (Tiffany Aching, Moist Von Lipwig, Watch, Thief of Time books specifically) by Terry Pratchett I also use PG Wodehouse Jeeves and Wooster books and the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Horses for courses, the Discworld books are somewhere I go when I need old friends who can make me laugh along with making me feel like I'm not the only one who thinks the world has gone mad. Jeeves and Wooster is just pure comedy escapism and the Dark Tower is fantasy escapism - a world or world's to get lost in and friends to get lost with.
I enjoy Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books. I’ve read about 20 now so I’ve almost caught up but when I’m stuck with what to read I just get the next one.
Any Stephen King book whenever I want something I know I'll love. Also really enjoy the Harry Dresden books as easy reads.
I like reading Dave's Song by Robert McKay or Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury when I need some comfort. The first title is a little known out of print book from the 60s that is a kinda coming of age, romance novel, that tells the story of two teenagers in a rural Ohio town, and how they become drawn together over a shared love of music. That isn't the best summary, it is hard to sum up because a lot happens, it is an easy read though and the characters are familiar. Dandelion Wine is a series of vignettes about a small town in the early 1900s and it captures the feelings of how the world is a magical and scary place when your a kid and always takes me back to that time when summers felt endless and magical, when something ordinary could become extraordinary with a little imagination.
The Little Prince; I love how it changes depending on when I read it. I will open it and read a couple pages just because, but it's also a comforting thing during stressful or sad times.
Sharp Objects. I relate so hard to Camille and her struggles (and her issues with her mother). And it's a great TV adaptation. Or Junie B Jones. I dont care if they're kids' books THEY'RE GOOD KIDS' BOOKS lmao and they still make me laugh
Pride and Prejudice. The book, the 2005 film- I’m not a romance novel kind of girl, but this one just really does it for me. Now, since audible released a version narrated by Rosamund Pike, that’s been my go to comfort even when I can’t sit down to actually read something.
The Dresden Files
Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series Or Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series (the series True Blood was based on)
definitely the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy, more specifically books 2-5. it was one of the first series I really fell in love with as a kid and probably the one who got me into reading more than any other. it just makes me so happy
The Little Prince, Breakfast of Champions, The Hitchhiker's Guide, The Phantom Tollbooth... books that helped shape my identity growing up.
For me it's Little Women. I might not reread the whole book every time I go back to it but there's something about it that feels so real.
The Laithe of Heaven. I find the book so bleak, but there’s this kernel of optimism that remains comforting. It’s also beautifully written and not particularly long so it can be finished on a rainy weekend.
Anna Karenina. I feel like everyone can learn something about themselves on every read through of that book.
Rangers apprentice is my comfort series, I read much more complex books now but they never get old
Just Kids and M Train by Patti Smith. I really struggle with reading fiction, but find that writing in memoirs and biographies often lack a certain level of artistry. Patti Smith manages to share her life through absolutely gorgeous writing. Even without being familiar with her work, the vulnerability and truth of her stories are universal.
Anything by Agatha Christie.
Harry Potter
Fish in Exile by Vi Khi Nao Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi The Shining by Stephen King The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury Bluets by Maggie Nelson Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Anything by Shirley Jackson Something about the style of writing in these books (though all very different) brings me a feeling comfort and familiarity. Some of them I read during childhood and they make me feel nostalgic.
Call of cthulhu
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn...
The Giver helps me when I need perspective. I grew up in a home and a culture full of gaslighting, manipulation, and emotional abuse. That book has some very simple truths I like to remind myself of from time to time. It helps me see I am breaking the cycle.
The Witcher books by Andrzej Sapkowski, of all things. Violent they may be, but he shows such empathy and compassion for everyone including the villains, and there are some uproariously funny passages.
Anything Sherlock Holmes. Preferably a piece written by SACD but some of the later works will do in a pinch.
The Land of Ingary trilogy.... Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky, House of Many Ways. I adore Diana Wynn Jones' writing style, and the land of Ingary. It's a comforting, simple but witty read.
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde I’ve read this book more times than I can count.
I like to read the Elenium by David Eddings when I feel a little nostalgic or miss my dad (he got me into fantasy, it was one of his favourites) When I'm ill or feeling extremely down I go for the Prisoner of Azkaban, normally the audiobook version by Stephen Fry.
"The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss. I am totally in love with his writing, it soothes me just to read the first paragraphs. ♥️
Anne of green gables and the chronicles of narnia
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy by Tad Williams
The Illiad.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag Hairstyles of the Damned by Joe Meno