Well I’ve been off work sick the last few days hence no iffp shortlist and no reviews .I just can’t face writing a long post at moment .Much is same with books I was reading a Clarice Lispector my darling Amanda had brought me for my birthday but am struggling to find the concentration to get fully into it so luckily I was sent Maigret four and five by someone at penguin and have started number four as it’s not very taxing to read and is like a comfy slipper after read the first three in the series already this year .I tend to do this when not well or if going to hospital with Amanda I always read a Waugh book as his gentle at times satire lifts my mood .Do you have any such habits when you are feeling off colour ?
Comfort reading what do you do ?
When I am very ill and confined to the bed, I like to read Calvin & Hobbes or Tintin.
Yes they’d both be great love tintin
Trollope, always Trollope 😉
No surprise there tony might guessed that
Definitely crime fiction – Christie, Sayers or Maigret will always do the trick!
Snap must admit not read christie for a long time keep meaning to was my grans favourite writer
Christie, Maigret, Tintin or Asterix are always a good bet. PG Wodehouse perhaps?
I’ve a few by him maybe next to read if I feel no better
Hot cup of tea or coffee, chocolate, pyjamas, clean bedding and Michael Connolly or
some other crime book. Gosh- I wish I was sick. Sounds nice. Get better soon.
Thanks crime seems to be a favourite
I like the light mysteries, preferably those with a lot of comedy. Janet Evanovich and Kinky Friedman always perk me up.
Both new to me will look at them thanks
Andrea Camilleri’s mystery stories of Sicily and the gruff Inspector Montalbano make their way to my reading table during sicknesses or if I ever just need a mental holiday. Humorous, humane, and always full of descriptions of good food and a gorgeous locale.
Yes he captures food so well in those books crime is always an escape for me
Classic short stories–often ones that I’ve read before. O Henry, Poe, Trollope, and Cheever are good for this. Also light essays. Magazines with mixed content, Short attention span stuff.
Crime and/or Anthony Trollope
Same as tony with the Trollope
I hope you feel better soon, Stu.
Definitely something fairly light and not too taxing – the Maigret or Montalbano mysteries are good choices. I often crave something noirish if I’m feeling low or as break following a run of ‘heavy’ stuff.
I tend use them as a break as well between a run of heavy books
Crime or SF as a rule. Usually retro SF – I enjoy some of the contemporary stuff but only where it’s challenging or doing something new, which by definition isn’t comfort reading.
Hope you feel better soon Stu.
I read all sorts. Children’s books if I’m really down – crime when I’m still able to peep halfway out of the water . . .
I liked the comfy slipper analogy.
Get well soon.
I keep meaning to pick up some moomin books as would love to reread them as an adult
Sorry to hear that you are not well.
The problem for me is that I never like to interrupt what I am reading due to my physical or mental trials. Thus i do not usually vary up my reading. When I think about I realize that it is my music listening that changes.
I tend comfort listen to music the ones from my teen years as well
When I’m sick in bed I usually take the opportunity to read something that requires more concentration as it is one of the only times I get time and space!
Don’t blame you I tend read most nights so have time and space
Jane Austen usually works well for me.
She is on my to read list always struggled with her
Stu,
Do I ever indulge in comfort reading when I’m feeling terrible for whatever reason!
I go for easy reads first and foremost. No density and no grimness. I like books that I can gobble up, in the following genres:
Easy reads in Mystery ( often by American writers)
Gothic suspense
Historical novels with women as the main characters
Upbeat memoir
Upbeat political or celebrity memoir or biography
There it is! A cleansing palate.
Judith
Great choice Judith I have read American crime novels at similar times in the past
It depends … on how off colour, and what I’ve been reading … but if what I’m reading isn’t what I feel like it would most likely be Jane Austen (of course) or short stories because they work well when your concentration span is short.
I could tried short stories they are something I struggle to get in at time
Yes, they are good for little spots of disjointed time, I reckon.
I’m sorry to hear you’re unwell. I hope you feel better now.
Comfort read? Jane Austen, crime fiction and writers I know I always like (Philippe Djian for example)
Comfort read or easy & good reads are important. That’s why I have a Beach & Public Transport category on the blog. It’s for good books that don’t demand a lot of concentration.
Emma
Much better now crime does seem a popular choice always my go to books in that situation