Welcome to bookchat where you can talk about anything...books, plays, essays, and books on tape. You don’t have to be reading a book to come in, sit down, and chat with us.
I always enjoy hearing about books that my readers consider to be comfort books. These are the books they have read over and over. Each time I re-read a book, I see something new. I may have changed and the book may seem very different, but it is still a comfort to be with the characters again.
When I was a child I must have puzzled the librarian greatly as I checked out the same books every six months or so. I wanted to spend time again in the world of Oz or with Jo March and her sisters or with Tarzan or Lorna Doone or Robin Hood. She never said a thing. For one thing, it was rare for there to be new books in the library so maybe she didn’t find it strange.
I tend to lose track of how many times I have read some books. Treasure Island, Mrs. Mike, The Guns of Navarone, Shane, The Outsiders, Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice, Lord of the Rings, A Christmas Carol, the James Herriot stories…I have read them too many times to count.
In a comfort book, we are engaged with characters that are familiar from so many readings and despite knowing the plot, we enjoy spending time with them. We know the book will not let us down. The setting and time period is familiar and we sigh with relief to be with old friends.
The books may be sad ones or humorous or romantic, but what matters is that they give us the chance to relax after a hard time or after reading difficult books. They restore us and inspire us.
In the last couple of weeks Dumbo and others have mentioned the Harry Potter books as comfort reads and I agree. I especially liked the first three books. A good diary about the books is here:
The Censors Were Right: Harry Potter HAS Destroyed Christianity As We Know It. That's A Good Thing.
By fisknp
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/20/1452466/-The-Censors-Were-Right-Harry-Potter-HAS-Destroyed-Christianity-As-We-Know-It-That-s-A-Good-Thing
Which books do you remember fondly or have been your comfort reads over and over?
Diaries of the Week:
Write On! Thoughts on contests.
By SensibleShoes
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/19/1452004/-Write-On-Thoughts-on-contests#comment_58342311
Self-publishing 101: Promoting your book on the radio
By akadjian
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/19/1452074/-Self-publishing-101-Promoting-your-book-on-the-radio#comment_58340831
SNLC, Vol. DIV / SN@TO 30: Lulu Edition
By chingchongchinaman
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/22/1453021/-SNLC-Vol-DIV-SN-TO-30-Lulu-Edition#comment_58367058
Books! weatherdude's 'Extreme Weather Survival Manual'
By Susan Grigsby
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/24/1452630/-Books-weatherdude-s-Extreme-Weather-Survival-Manual#comment_58388115
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Sorry about the white space, again. I am still messing with things and so next week should be perfect.