Comfort Reads discussion

As per your request Lisa! Add any general fiction here that doesn't fit into any specific category.

Thanks, Lee! I found a spot for my last added book, but I know that this folder will come in handy.

I have enjoyed a lot of inspirational or funny or heartwarming teacher/student stories. I've already mentioned The Trouble with Angels but I also really liked To Sir, With Love. (I liked the movie too.) Those are both memoirs actually although they read like novels, but a recent novel I enjoyed in with this theme is Must've Done Something Good by Cheryl Cory; it's a comfort read type of book. (Oh, the new edition has a new cover: Must've Done Something Good.)

(ETA: I guess this could go under chick lit too - many books are in multiple genres!)

Oh, there are a lot of general fiction books that have been comfort reads for me over the years; I'm sure I'll be adding a bunch of them eventually.

I'm a big fan of Maeve Binchy, and have read all of her books except the last one. I'm falling behind as my to-read list grows!

Good lord! I forgot all about Maeve Binchy! She really does write books that are good comfort reads. I'll have to look at my shelves to find some good ones to suggest here. I can't remember any titles.

Lee wrote: "Good lord! I forgot all about Maeve Binchy! She really does write books that are good comfort reads. I'll have to look at my shelves to find some good ones to suggest here. I can't remember any..."


Circle of Friends is a good one!

I read one of Binchy's books last year, Quentins, it was my first one and I really enjoyed it. It was rather cozy & comfy. A lot of great characters & intersecting stories.

I'm sure I will read this again, as it's so delightful - I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Fun and comforting!

Gabrielle, I couldn't agree more! I Capture the Castle is a wonderful read.

Saving Ceecee Honeycutt and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand are two wonderful comfort reads I recently finished.

Although we have discussed The Housekeeper and the Professor in the thread of favorite comfort reads, I will add it here too b/c it is best categorized as general fiction.

Lee wrote: "Gabrielle, I couldn't agree more! I Capture the Castle is a wonderful read."

Just read this recently. Loved it! All the others sound great too... thanks ladies!

Hayes wrote: "Lee wrote: "Gabrielle, I couldn't agree more! I Capture the Castle is a wonderful read."

Just read this recently. Loved it! All the others sound great too... thanks ladies!"

This is a wonderful book! Have you seen the movie?

No, I haven't. I had never heard of the book until last year... the movie never made it to Italy.

PS: who is in it, do you know?

Ramola Garai plays Cassandra, Bill Nighy is Mortmain. It isn't as good as the book, but I think it is good in it's own way! The actor who plays Simon, Henry Thomas, was the little kid in ET!

Thanks... I have to keep my eyes peeled for this one. Boy I wish netflix worked here in Europe!

Hayes wrote: "Thanks... I have to keep my eyes peeled for this one. Boy I wish netflix worked here in Europe!"

I am addicted to Netflix! ICtC is available for streaming to your computer, but I don't suppose they take foreign accounts?

No, I think it's a copyright problem. They can tell the computer is in Europe and wont permit the link or something.

Chrissie's mention of The Housekeeper and the Professor caused me to remember another book about academics which I really liked, A David Lodge Trilogy (which contains three satirical novels about the fictional University of Rummige and the exploits of role-swapping academics Phillip Swallow and Morris Zapp). It's been years since I've read this, but I remember really liking it, as it is both funny and thought provoking, like a delicious candy that is both bitter and sweet. A word of warning, though, don't read this trilogy if you cannot stand satire, or if you cannot stomach the idea of academia being satirised and ridiculed.

Hayes wrote: "No, I think it's a copyright problem. They can tell the computer is in Europe and wont permit the link or something."

That's nice! Just like the zone restrictions on dvds.

Zone restrictions on DVDs are such a pain.

A few more favorite "comfort" authors--Fannie Flagg, a second for Maeve Binchy above and "Miss Read"--Dora Saint.

Summer, I was just checking out the Miss Read books and she's written a ton! Have you read many of them?

I loved the Miss Read books, which I read decades ago.

I've read 4 or 5 of the "Village" books and maybe 2 of the "Thrush Green" books--just the ones I found in my library. I picked up one to try and loaded up on the next trip!

I loved these books, Gabriele! Just discovered them 4 or 5 years ago. I hadn't thought of them recently, but would definitely enjoy reading more. I'm going to have to hunt down some new ones!

Village School
Village Diary
Tales from a Village School
Storm in the Village
Thrush Green
Winter in Thrush Green

Summer, you might also like Lilian Beckwith books, like The Hills is Lonely. I have a bunch of hers, but am pressed for time right now, so I will try to add them when I'm back from my business trip next week.

Gabriele, are these Lillian Beckwith books fiction or memoirs? It seems readers have them shelved as both. They look like a lot of fun.

Lee wrote: "Gabriele, are these Lillian Beckwith books fiction or memoirs? It seems readers have them shelved as both. They look like a lot of fun."

They are based on her experiences in the Hebrides, Lee, but I can't recall if they are actually memoirs. Oh yes, they are delightful. Real comfort reads! I'll try to contribute more info next week.

Thanks Gabriele!

Thanks, Gabriele. I added the first book to my list.

You might want to post about these in this thread:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

or start a new thread in the Biographies and Memoirs folder.

Thanks!

Thanks, Gabriele! I love to find a new author!

I recently finished The Girl Who Chased the Moon by one of my favorite comfort authors Sarah Addison Allen.

Just finished Hannah's Dream. Definitely a Comfort Read for me!

Mary wrote: "Just finished Hannah's Dream. Definitely a Comfort Read for me!"

Mary, this book sounds fabulous! I can't wait to read it.

Lee wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finished Hannah's Dream. Definitely a Comfort Read for me!"

Mary, this book sounds fabulous! I can't wait to read it."

I loved it Lee and I think you will as well. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!!

I just finished The Ginger Tree and I absolutely loved it! Highly recommended. If you are interested see my review where you can read some quotes from the book.

Oh that looks good, Chrissie. *click, as Mary adds to her TBR list*

Mary, it was fabulous. Late reply b/c I am having trouble with instant versus digest emails....

Mary wrote: "I recently finished The Girl Who Chased the Moon by one of my favorite comfort authors Sarah Addison Allen."

I read The Girl Who Chased the Moon last night all in one sitting! Very sweet and a definite comfort read for me.

Glad you liked it, Lee! And, may I add, you are a very fast reader!!

I'm reading Pray for Silence: A Thriller by Linda Castillo and it has kept me on the edge of my chair! I've got to finish it today to find out who did it!! Great book!

Lee wrote: "Mary wrote: "I recently finished The Girl Who Chased the Moon by one of my favorite comfort authors Sarah Addison Allen."

I read [book:The Girl Who Chased the Moon..."

I really want to get this book. I loved another one that I read of her's.

I would send it to you but it's a library book and I don't think they would be pleased with me. Although I am one of their biggest donars LOL!

I'd like to recommend a book I read recentlyHotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It's set in Seattle, about a Chinese-American boy who wins a scholarship to an all-Caucasian school in 1942, and then later in 1986 after his wife's death. It's a sweet read, about his friendship with a Japanese girl who's sent with her family to an internment camp during the war, and the difficult relationship he had with his father, and later, with his own son. This would make an excellent movie, I think.

Thanks, Lorraine. I've heard wonderful things about that book.

I'm getting ready to start Tempest-tost tonight. I enjoy Robertson Davies' books and look forward to this one.

Erica James is another great comfort read. She is off the same genre as Maeve Binchy and I find her books read like Maeve's.

Lorraine wrote: "I'd like to recommend a book I read recentlyHotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It's set in Seattle, about a Chinese-American boy who wins a scholarship to an all-Caucasian sch..."

I loved this book, Lorraine. It's one of my favorites. I agree that it would make a great movie.

Jeannette wrote: "Hayes wrote: "Lee wrote: "Gabrielle, I couldn't agree more! I Capture the Castle is a wonderful read."

Just read this recently. Loved it! All the others sound great too... thanks lad..."

Jeannette, I thought the movie was great. I just can't believe I haven't yet read the book. Yikes!

The book is better in some ways than the movie, but I like them both! Stephen is a real looker!