The Reading Challenge Group discussion

Melissa and I have been talking about our favorite comfort books. The ones we read when we need a lift or desire the company of characters with whom we're just glad to spend a little more time.

A couple of mine in no particular order...

A Room with a View
Persuasion
The Enchanted April
Pride and Prejudice
Anything with Peter Wimsey
Harry Potter series
Aubrey/Maturin series
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Love Walked In
A Wrinkle in Time
Jane Eyre
A manga series called Nana, Vol. 1

I love Renee's list and I'll add to it!

At Home in Mitford (The Mitford Series)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Good-Bye, Mr. Chips
Auntie Mame
Joy in the Morning
Lottery
Mama's Bank Account
Life with Father
Suds in Your Eye
Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble
The Beans of Egypt, Maine
Mrs. Mike
How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes This book took place near where I grew up, but of course many years before I was born. :)
All Creatures Great and Small and all James Herriot's Stories.

I've heard such good things about the Mitford series. And Guernsey was terrific. All the others I feel as if I've read but So long ago that I'm unsure. Therefore my tbr continues to grow. :)

I'm reading A Room with a View and it makes me smile. :) I love it!

Renee wrote: "I've heard such good things about the Mitford series. And Guernsey was terrific. All the others I feel as if I've read but So long ago that I'm unsure. Therefore my tbr continues to grow. :)"

The Mitford Series is my all-time favorite! You would just love the characters in this book and so well written. I gush forever! :D

Oh! I kept looking for more books like The Guernsey and again it stands alone.

I know you're planning to watch the splendid movie again after you finish reading. You'll enjoy it in a completely different way. They kept quite close to the original with even the chapter titles.

I am, and it has been many years, so it will be like new!

I loved A Room with a View and this gentle, romantic comedy was a delight from start to finish. This was on my Nook so I was able to highlight funny parts. Finished today and now the movie. This book will be a reread!

A manga series that I have read several times is Fullmetal Alchemist. It's an incredible series.

Mine is definitely Pride and Prejudice. I have other books I enjoy reading over again, but the comfort book is definitely P&P. The poor book is falling apart!

It's funny how the characters, when revisited, are like old friends.

It has been a while but for me Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

I always find myself coming back to

So curious now, Ashlee!

My bad. The image didn't come thru on my phone.

the secret garden, harry potter, dracula and wuthering heights for me.

Interesting list. Not everyone finds comfort in vampires, sociopaths, and Dementors. :D

LOL!!! That's all I can say! :D

lol! reminds me of A level english literature that's why ;) Not harry potter!

I will add the Humans, by Matt Haig. To make me sound more normal!

Whahaha! Can't tell you how much I love the fact that this is the blurb for Sam's "normal" book... Body-snatching has never been so heartwarming . . .

I'm adding it to my tbr immediately!

I don't have one. I just never find the time to reread anything so again and again just doesn't happen.

I don't think I'm selling myself very well here! It is a wonderful book though.

I believe you, Sam. The Harry Potters are definitely on my comfort list, and I was delightfully surprised by the awesomeness of the original Dracula novel. Just couldn't help giggling.

The Wombles series. Whenever humanity is driving me up the wall, I can always count on the Wombles to bring me back to sanity.

I like to read Jane Eyre when it's raining.

I like to read A Tale of Two Cities whenever I possibly can.

Anything by L.M. Montgomery for a long winter's night or a lazy summer day.

I like anne rice's the vampire chronicles for inspiration to write my own novels. queen of the Damned currently.

Chicken Every Sunday: My Life with Mother's Boarders by Rosemary Taylor. This was a family favorite and now has been passed down to the next generation and being loved.

ooh, I like this thread. I'm gonna check some of these out. Mine are Harry Potter, Tamora Pierce's Immortals series, and Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword.

There are not many that I read again and again besides Kiss of the Night, Upon the Midnight Clear, One Silent Night, and Hollywood Monster: A Walk Down Elm Street with the Man of Your Dreams.
They are all pretty good reads too.

All of Kristan Higgins books! :)

The Crystal Cavefour book series by Stewart. I never tire of it, and I could almost quote entire sections by now.
Pride and Prejudice
Shōgun

Hissy Fit Just finished it for the 4th time. I fell in love with this book in high school. Ever since then I've been reading everything from Mary Kay Andrews I can find.

Talking to my Father-in-Law this weekend reminded me of our favorite mystery author, Dick Francis. I don't know what it is about his mysteries, but I can come back to these time and time again. And I find them relaxing and love the leading man! :)

Lynnie wrote: "Hissy Fit Just finished it for the 4th time. I fell in love with this book in high school. Ever since then I've been reading everything from Mary Kay Andrews I can find."

Lynnie, I was just looking at Hissy Fit, I'm going to borrow this one off your shelf, looks good for summer reading when I need something fun. Thanks! :D

Melissa,
Where would you recommend I start with Duck Francis? You've peaked my interest. :)

Renee wrote: "Melissa,
Where would you recommend I start with Duck Francis? You've peaked my interest. :)"

Renee, start with Odds Against, its a first in a series of five books and Sid Halley is the leading man. The other series of two books features Kit Fielding. He wrote mostly independent books. So with all of that, you could start almost with any of his older published books (they are the best and they are pretty quick reads).

Thanks! I love a good mystery. I'll look forward to spending some time with Mr. Francis this summer. ;-)

The Father Brown mystery series by G.K. Chesterton. Our Public Broadcast station also airs a TV show out of these books.

Cindy wrote: "The Father Brown mystery series by G.K. Chesterton. Our Public Broadcast station also airs a TV show out of these books."

Thanks, Cindy! I'll look into these. Always looking for a new comfy mystery. These titles will fit in nicely for someone looking for the color brown in our Rainbow Challenge. Now I have to go add them to my to-read list. :D

For me it's:

The Twilight Saga
The Horse Whisperer
The Harry Potter Series

The Power of Five series by Anthony Horowitz re-read the books so many times they never bore me at all it was the first YA series I ever read so going back to them is like re-living them for first time I read them.

And the only other book I can say I've done this with is The NeverEnding Story it makes me laugh and cry but I'm in the process of re-reading it for the third time because I get so invested in the characters and the world and I get emotional about it so in a way I find it comforting in the fact that I can legitimately feel happy and safe while reading it even if it does make me cry.

The notebook

Anna and the French Kiss tops my list. The Book Thief might not traditionally be called a "comforting" read, but I adore it, and if I pick it up, I find myself having to re-read it.

I don't have a particular book(s) but I do always come back to Jane Green. Each of her books even though in the same genre address a different situation that relates to real life. I love the fact that in each book I will be surprised with the subject she covers in the book.

Pan Samochodzik series (original polish series)
Harry Potter series
The Six Bullerby Children

The Lord of the Rings, especially the first volume. I read it at least once a year. And anything by Agatha Christie.

Definitely, Margie! Tolkien and Christie are great to come back to.

I am only 1/4 of the way into book #2- A Clash of Kings from the A Song Of Ice and Fire series. I can see me always having one of these GRRM books on the go. It seems everyone reads these over and over again.

I also look forward to when I have time to re-read The Book Thief

The entire Percy Jackson series (which I'm actually currently re-reading for the 5th time oops)

Pride and Prejudice!!!

plus some Hungarian high school dumb quote collection from students and teachers... they are so hilarious they get me every time!