As I said, I'm going to be taking a look back through some of my previous posts and see if there are some special books or thoughts that might be appropriate to share again, at least this week. This was a 'Top 10 Tuesday' from a couple of years ago - kay's favorite books to read again and again...otherwise known as 'my comfort reads'. Hope it might give some ideas for all of you and also for me.
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I know that not everyone likes to re-visit books favorites. My top reason is probably to derive comfort when life gives me lemons - which it certainly has from time to time. And I agree with the 3rd quote: reading is indeed my refuge.
"Tell me what you read and I'll tell you who you are" is true enough, but I'd know you better if you told me what you reread. ~~Francois Mauriac~~
When you reread a classic, you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more in you than was there before. ~~Clifton Fadiman~~
To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life. ~~W. Somerset Maugham~~
These 10 (OK, more than 10) books are in no particular order and I almost certainly enjoy and reread other books by the same authors, especially series books.
1. The Secret - Julie Garwood - historical romance - Scottish Highlands - a reluctant midwife and a Scottish laird
2. Die For Love - Elizabeth Peters - mystery set at a romance writers convention - funny - big floppy hats, lots of hearts and valentines - and a body
3. The Crying Child - Barbara Michaels - spooky old house in Maine - what's in the attic?
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and the rest of the story - J.K. Rowling - it's Harry Potter - enough said
5. A Murder is Announced - Agatha Christie - Miss Marple - a murder invite in the paper and you can come - Or if your tastes run to Hercule Poirot, Cards on the Table - 4 sleuths and 4 possible murderers
6. Dance Upon the Air, Heaven and Earth, Face the Fire - Nora Roberts - the Three Sisters Island trilogy - romance and witches - what more do you want?
7. The Shop on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber - knitting and female friendship - plus a little romance - also the other books in the Blossom Street series
8. Virgin River - Robyn Carr - a community in the Northern California hills - this whole series is delightful - romance and a great cast of characters
9. Bootlegger's Daughter - Margaret Maron - the whole Judge Deborah Knott mystery series - set in North Carolina and including the very large Knott family - love these on audio
10. A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie - the whole Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James mystery series - the way the relationships develop and all the interesting things you learn about London and other English locations - and the maps!
I've started rereading the Harry Potter series again this year, and it has been very comforting!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to think about doing that perhaps. Right now, I'm going down the list of J.D. Robb's Eve Dallas books. I have all those on audio. And I actually started a new book on my Kindle today. So far so good!
DeleteThe only one I've read is Harry Potter and I never finished the series. I know. You've lost respect for me. LOL. I was on one of the books when I had my daughter at the hospital. I brought the book with me thinking I could read after the baby was born. The nurses laughed. I cried. Never picked it up again. The bookmark is in the same place!
ReplyDeleteTi, I have lot no respect for you. HA! Although I do think it's a bit funny to think about reading after your daughter was born - in the hospital no less. Did you read after your son was born? Your comfort reads are individually yours...and I didn't list all mine - ha! Some of my others are very spooky or creepy (like THE STAND - one of my favorite books ever) and some are very, very 'romantic' let's say. Ha!
DeleteAh maybe I will try the Bootlegger's Daughter on audio soon. I have read all of Harry Potter, but none of the others. It's funny, or not funny, that even though I have more time for reading right now, I am actually very distracted, wasting a lot of time doing nothing. Hopefully all will settle down soon.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think many us will settle before long. The narrator for that Margaret Maron series is very good. I think you'd like the books.
DeleteA reread of Harry Potter would be great right about now.
ReplyDeleteWho wouldn't like to get an owl invite to Hogwarts right about now? LOL
DeleteGood list, Kay, and thanks for putting it together. I haven't gotten to them yet, but I am planning to read some Agatha Christie books as comfort reads. I recently have been reading some of Margaret Maron's Sigrid Harald series and wish I had some right now. I had read books 1 and 2 of the Deborah Knott series and have the next few books. I should pull those out (of "storage") if I haven't already done that.
ReplyDeleteTracy, I think I've only read the first Sigrid Harald book, though I did read one that had both Sigrid and Deborah (or maybe there might be two of those). Anyway, I love that series and wish she was still writing it.
DeleteReading is a refuge! Barbara Michaels and Elizabeth Peters have always been comfort reads for me, too. Along with Mary Stewart, and some of my favorite books from childhood. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Mary Stewart for sure. Several of Mary Stewart's book have recently been brought out on audio with new narrators. Thanks for mentioning that because I just remembered that I used a couple of Audible credits for some of those. I should include them in my current listening queue.
DeleteIt's an excellent idea to post our comfort reads, I think.
ReplyDeleteDeb, we all have our special favorites, but one never knows who might be reminded of an old favorite or get introduced to a new one. Right?
DeleteWhat a great list and a perfect topic for right now! I see several favorites of mine on your list - The Crying Child, A Murder is Announced and Dancing On Air especially. I picked up Dying For Love at a used bookstore a few months ago and I'm not sure I've ever read it. Now seems like the time.
ReplyDeleteDie For Love I mean!
DeleteI'm not a big re-reader, even of my very favorite books, but I definitely want to re-read the whole HP series. It's one of my favorites as well. I've read SORCERER'S STONE twice, just not the rest of the books. That might be just the book project for this apocalypse! I also love the Virgin River series. Robyn Carr is a lovely person and she creates such inviting communities, doesn't she? I haven't read the rest of these. I'll definitely check them out. Thanks, Kay!
ReplyDeleteI'm really, really thinking about rereading the HP series. I mean, why not? Ha! I did read the Virgin River books a few years ago when I was having some sad times and loved them.
DeleteI've read the whole of Harry Potter a couple of times but the one I've read 3 or 4 times is The Goblet of Fire. No idea why, but it's my favourite.
ReplyDeleteI must look up Die for Love as it sounds like huge fun.
I love The Goblet of Fire too. I think partially because it's the pivotal book for the kids 'growing up' a bit and also the story is deeper. Die for Love is fun - probably a bit dated now, but fun.
DeleteThese days I rarely re-read books. And there aren't many books that I have read - Pride and Prejudice, Rebecca and Susan Howatch’s Starbridge series come to mind. But looking at your list I'd like to re-read the Harry Potter books and Cards on the Table, plus a few more of Agatha Christie's books. It's got me thinking there must be more I'd like to re-read!
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I really do find rereading comforting and soothing. Partly I think because I already know I like the book. Good luck with your rereading!
DeleteI rarely re-read books but there are a few which I probably might one day if the mood calls for it. Harry Potter is definitely one of those books I'd re-read. I love the movies, too.
ReplyDeleteMelody, I watched part of one of the movies a couple of days ago and I think it's nudged me into thinking of rereading the books and maybe watching the movies again as well. Why not?
DeleteI've read a few of those! I need a good comfort read right now...and the attention span to actually sit and read it.
ReplyDeleteYou and me both, friend. Just some books to consider or maybe think about at some point.
DeleteYou know, rereading might be just the ticket now!
ReplyDeleteIt's working for me, Lisa.
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