Comfort Reads discussion

I wanted to start an off-shoot category here and am hoping to get some good suggestions. I know you guys will have some! ;-> So, I guess I am just an old-fashioned romantic (I don't want to say "prude"!) and I'm looking for some novels that would reflect that. Basically, the novel version of something like "Sound of Music" or "Father of the Bride" or something like a modern, breezy Jane Austen--you know there is going to be a happily ever after, there is substance and characters you care about along with good fun. Something you can read before bed and just slip off to dreamland with a smile (feeling you haven't wasted your time but there will be nothing to disturb your dreams!) No stumbling across superfluous cuss words or sex scenes. Nothing I would feel embarrassed to recommend to my mother-in-law, haha! So far, I've found what I'm looking for with Sophie Kinsella, Katie Fforde and Hester Browne. Anyone have other suggestions??? Thanks! :-)

If I'm remembering correctly: Must've Done Something Good by Cheryl Cory, who I believe is a member of this group.

I'll keep thinking. Chick lit isn't my usual genre but I'm sure I've read others.

Kathryn, I like this subtopic!

Mary Stewart -
Josephine Tey - any and all!
The Amazing Interlude by Mary Roberts Rinehart - written in 1919, I think, but a sweet, lovely story even tho' it addresses WWI. She also wrote murder mysteries which you should skip!
Dorothy Gilman - truly, if you have not read the Mrs. Pollifaxes you are missing a treat. And there are quite a lot them - Read them in order if you can. Even tho' these are "older" books, they don't feel dated (with the exception of The Amazing Interlude but still worth reading), and fit all of your criteria. Good reading!

I forgot Elizabeth Cadell - light, humorous stories with substance and romance (nothing you could not have your MIL read and there are lots of them! My favorite is "The Toy Sword".

Okay, Kathryn, you're singing my song here! Are you looking strictly for romance/chick lit? Is YA, fantasy, fairy tales ok? I'll be looking through my shelves in the morning for you. :)

My first few choices:
Sundays at Tiffany's
The Inheritance
Cheaper by the Dozen
The Man Who Loved Jane Austen
I Capture the Castle
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Oooh! I'm so curious to see the recommendations here!

Without a doubt, The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. One of the best love stories no one outside of GR knows about!

It doesn't help that it has a cheesy cover:

or the fact that it seems to be marketed toward the YA audience, which if my 15 year old daughter is anything to go by, can't quite appreciate at that age Valancy's appeal and struggles.

My favorite Montgomery, one of my favorite comfort books, and most definately a prime candidate for "old fashioned" chick-lit.

Hannahr wrote: "Without a doubt, The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. One of the best love stories no one outside of GR knows about!"

I really have to read this book!

I am so happy for these recommendations--and so grateful! Thank you!!! :-)

To answer your question, Jeannette, yes YA or fantasy would be great, too--even mysteries. All of these suggestions sound wonderful!

Incidentally, "The Blue Castle" is one of my FAVORITE books EVER--I absolutely love LMM! ;-> And I also have read and really enjoyed "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "I Capture the Castle" so you guys are definitely tapping into my interests here and I feel sure I will love these other suggestions.

Thank you all so much!

Jeannette wrote: "I really have to read this book!"

Run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore or library and get it Jeannette - lol!
It is a real treat.

Kathryn wrote: "I am so happy for these recommendations--and so grateful! Thank you!!! :-)..."

This is a good thread. I don't consider myself a "chick-lit" kind of reader at all, but when I think of chick-lit, I tend to think of the modern stuff, which I avoid! Old, or old-fashioned chick-lit is a whole other ballgame, so I look forward to everyone's recommendations here as well :)

Hannahr wrote: "Jeannette wrote: "I really have to read this book!"

Run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore or library and get it Jeannette - lol!
It is a real treat."

I just put it on hold, and should have it later today!

Here are some of my YA favorites:

Chalice
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
The Changeling Sea

Chalice is new, but I have read the other two multiple times. :)

Amelia wrote: "I just finished Rose Daughter and loved it. Rose Daughter"

I liked Beauty much better! I was surprised she revisited the story with Rose Daughter.

Jeannette wrote: "Here are some of my YA favorites:

Chalice
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
The Changeling Sea"

My daughter has the Beauty book by McKinley. I'll have to check it out.

I'm so glad you're going to read The Blue Castle. Hope you enjoy it :)

I love Anne, so I'm sure I will enjoy the Blue Castle.

I would add The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand.

Maude wrote: "I forgot Elizabeth Cadell - light, humorous stories with substance and romance (nothing you could not have your MIL read and there are lots of them! My favorite is "The Toy Sword"."

Maude-- What is "The Toy Sword" about? Just a brief synopsis or even time period, setting, etc? I looked it up here and on Amazon and couldn't find a description :-( --It's so sad when wonderful books like that don't get the notice they deserve!-- Also, are any of the books part of a series? My library has some I can get through interlibrary loan--but they don't have the "Toy Sword" Thanks!!! :->

Mary wrote: "I would add The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand."

I've been curious about both of them. Couldn't tell if they would be too melancholy so I'm glad to hear your recommendation!

Brevity is not my long suit but I will do my best. The Toy Sword came out in 1962. Hero in Portugal on vacation. Meets girl and siblings when their car breaks down. Hero's fiance was mad at him and gave ring back. Girl runs rooming house with varied and interesting tenants. Two aunts who have spent 50 years in India return. No one wants them. Heroine waves her "toy sword" and does something that causes consterantion, anger ensues, with ultimately a wonderful resolution. The treat is in the reading. Actually, her books were very well known and well received. Her earlier ones, esp in hard cover, command VERY high prices. Try Advanced Book Exchange (ABE)- the cheapest are usually the paperbacks which are usually her best, hence, more editions. There are a few books that are part of a series which I will look up for you but usually only 3 or 4 books. I will also send you a list of all her books.

Kathryn,
My last message was to you! Sorry I didn't address you properly. Mea culpa!

Kathryn,
If you go to www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/elizabet... you will find a list of all her books/writings.

Yay! Thank you SOOO much, Maude! I really appreciate it and will definitely check into the ones at the library while I hunt around for an inexpensive copy of "Toy Sword" as that one DOES sound delightful ;->

Kathryn, that sounds like just the type of book I like too! Lisa mentioned my book, "Must've Done Something Good," which I'd agree fits well into this category...and there are "The Sound of Music" and Austen connections to boot (love them both)!

Also, I read a cute book called "Once Upon a Marigold" awhile back that I really liked. It's geared more toward a younger audience, but it's fun & funny and I found it was the perfect book to send this old-fashioned romantic off to sleep with a smile. :D

Cheryl--Your book sounds absolutely wonderful and is definitely going on the top of my TBR list for when I have some spare $$$ since, darn it, it's not at my library! Plus, I like to support new authors ;-> Thanks for the recommendation of "Once Upon a Marigold" as well!

Perusing the Elizabeth Cadell books made me think of another author I really loved (those "romantic" book covers of the 1960s do bring back memories, haha!) Emilie Baker Loring She wrote a ton and some get a bit formulaic, but I really loved some of them when I was in my teens. I was a "second generation" Loring fan as my mom and aunts all loved them when they debuted in the '50s and '60s. The Solitary Horseman is my mom's favorite and I really liked Swift Water

Kathryn wrote: "Cheryl--Your book sounds absolutely wonderful and is definitely going on the top of my TBR list for when I have some spare $$$ since, darn it, it's not at my library! Plus, I like to support new a..."

You're very welcome! I love this thread and all the excellent suggestions. Thank you for adding MDSG to your list...and for supporting new authors! :)

Kathryn, thanks for starting this thread! I think it will be of interest to lots of comfort readers. I will have a look at my shelves to see if I can come up with some ideas.

Kathryn, have you read any of Victoria Clayton's stuff?

I recommend anything by Rosamunde Pilcher. Reading her stuff is like drinking a nice hot cup of tea :)

Kathryn wrote: "Mary wrote: "I would add The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand."

I've been curious about both of them. Couldn't tell if they would be too m..."

I can see how they might both appear to be melancholy based on the plot summaries but I found them to be upbeat and very charming.

Several books by Grace Livingston Hill come to mind. For instance The Enchanted Barn.

Mary wrote: I can see how they might both appear to be melancholy based on the plot summaries but I found them to be upbeat and very charming. "

That is wonderful news! Thanks so much :->

I am getting very excited about my summer reading options thanks to all of you! :-D I have not read anything by Victoria Clayton, Rosamunde Pilcher or Grace Livingston Hill yet. I have heard a lot of good things about Amelia Peabody and might just have to try the first book :-) Thanks, all! I hope some of you are also getting some great suggestions out of this, too :-)

I love this thread, Kathryn. Thanks for starting it!

Mary wrote: "I love this thread, Kathryn. Thanks for starting it!"

Entirely my pleasure ;->

Kathryn, You must get the first Amelia Peabody - I LOVE that book and it is one of my great comfort reads! It's funny, exciting and romantic.

Maude wrote: "Kathryn, You must get the first Amelia Peabody - I LOVE that book and it is one of my great comfort reads! It's funny, exciting and romantic."

I read through this thread but missed it if it's here.

Maude, What's the title of the first Amelia Peabody book?

Thanks!

Chandra wrote: "Crocodile on the Sandbank"

Thank you. Adding. I've heard of these for forever.

I also have a friend who loves all the Rosamunde Pilcher books and has encouraged me to read them. Anybody know the first one or does it not matter the order? (I can look her up too.)

Lisa, I just found a great site with all her books. Go to www.iblist.com/author1383.htm

Maude wrote: "Lisa, I just found a great site with all her books. Go to www.iblist.com/author1383.htm"

Thank you, Maude! Off to look.

Coming Home
by Rosamunde Pilcher
This book I absolutely adore. I think about it often and remember just how much I enjoyed the way it make me feel while I was reading it. While visiting my brother I was a not very polite guest. I was in the middle of the book and kept reading it rather than being social. The Shell Seekers is another wonderful book by Ms Pilcher.

I know this book has been mentioned in other threads already, but I would suggest Thornyhold.

My absolute favourite Rosamunde Pilcher books are Coming Home and The Shell Seekers.

I agree that the Victoria Clayton and Maeve Binchy books are great fun, having read almost all of them.

I'll see what else I can dig out of my shelves.

Gundula wrote: "I know this book has been mentioned in other threads already, but I would suggest Thornyhold."

Agreed. Wonderful book.

Great thread ... I too never thought chick lit and old-fashioned went together. A new and good perspective! I recommend Nancy Mitford's 'The Pursuit of Love' and 'Love in a Cold Climate.'

Elhara wrote: "Coming Home
by Rosamunde Pilcher
This book I absolutely adore. I think about it often and remember just how much I enjoyed the way it make me feel while I was reading it. While visiting my brothe..."

I echo the recommendation for the Shell Seekers.