Comfort Reads discussion

I know Sherien mentioned Jhumpa Lahiri as one of her favourite authors for a comfort read. I haven't yet read her Interpreter of Maladies but it's one of her most popular books.

I think both Interpreter of Maladies and Unaccustomed Earth are stunning, though I don't know if I'd define them as comfort reads for myself.

Lee you should readInterpreter of Maladies. Unaccustomed Earthis also wonderful!

I also love reading Katherine Mansfield for short comfort reading

When I am really really tired, I often turn to L. M. Montgomery's short stories, especially some of the Rea Wilmshurst collections (specifically Akin to Anne: Tales of Other Orphans, After Many Days: Tales of Time Passed and Against the Odds: Tales of Achievement).

Sherien wrote: "Lee you should readInterpreter of Maladies. Unaccustomed Earthis also wonderful!

I also love reading Katherine Mansfield for short comfort reading"

Sherien, I keep coming across those books and have been meaning to try one. I promise I will, this year LOL!

Gundula wrote: "When I am really really tired, I often turn to L. M. Montgomery's short stories, especially some of the Rea Wilmshurst collections (specifically [book:Akin to Anne: Tales of Other ..."

Gunduala, I am also a L.M. Montgomery fan but have never tried her short stories. Great suggestion!

If you are going to try L.M. Montgomery's short fiction, make sure to get the Rea Wilmshurst collections. They have a wonderful introduction and a detailed list of where (in which magazines etc.) the stories were originally published; I think that there are eight collection, arranged thematically.

I would like to read some of Katherine Mansfield's work. Can anyone recommend a good collection of her stories to begin with?

Lee wrote: "I would like to read some of Katherine Mansfield's work. Can anyone recommend a good collection of her stories to begin with? "

The Garden Party and Other Stories

Thanks Sherien! I've heard so many wonderful things about her writing and I keep meaning to try more short story writers.

I haven't read that much of her writings but so far I find her writing marvelous and engaging. goodluck lee

Sounds good!

That does sound good. I've always liked short stories, but have not had the time to try many new authors lately. Hopefully, this book group will change that.

During my trip to NZ, the book most often found at the bookshops was The Collected Short Stories of Katherine Mansfield.

Darkpool may add some comment on this topic.

Thank you Laura, and perhaps Darkpool being from New Zealand will have read some of her work.

lets wait for her comments then..

Lee - Interpreter of Maladies is a must read. I haven't read Unaccustomed Earth but I'm glad to read all the positive posts here about it.

I have at home Olive Kitteridge which got a lot of attention a while ago...anyone read that?

Hi Diane,
I don't know what it is with me and short stories. I don't read many of them even though I know there loads of great authors out there who write them. I guess I keep thinking that I want to immerse myself in something longer but I know short stories can be satisfying in a completely different way. Interpreter of Maladies is at the top of my short list!

Lee, my partner is the same way about short stories. I read Lahiri's novel, The Namesake, and I think she is much better at short stories. I think you will like Interpreter of Maladies.

I've read Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies and enjoyed it and have Unaccustomed Earth, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I will have to say that my favorite short stories are those of Edgar Allan Poe. "The Black Cat," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Fall of the House of Usher," and "The Pit and the Pendulum" are some of my favorite Poe stories.

Kathy wrote: "I've read Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies and enjoyed it and have Unaccustomed Earth, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I will have to say that my favorite short stories ar..."

I like Edgar Allan Poe, but, while I would consider his work, especially his short stories, favourites, I would not personally consider them comfort reads; if I read them before going to bed, I usually end up dreaming really strange sequences about them.

I understand what you're saying, Gundula. Not everyone would consider Poe a comfort read, but as evidenced by an earlier discussion from some of us, we even consider the plague a comfort read. Go figure. I think with both Poe and the plague it's a matter of becoming ensconced in the material and that all-consuming feeling of interest is very comforting indeed. Of course, I have long been a fan of scary stories, which again, is an area of familiarity and interest which breed comfort. I can see where someone might have some very strange dreams from reading Poe.

I just picked up a copy of . Not sure if it will be a "comfort" read or not, but it is a book of shorts, and the author's first novel.

Looks interesting Diane. Let us know when you finish how you feel about it.