Comfort reads (or rather re-reads)

'How Green Is My Valley' is def. one I must dig out - I'm sure we've got it somewhere (some of our bookshelves are double-stacked) - and re-read. A lovely and very memorable book. It's many years since I read it, but still remember so much - including his description of making the 'potch'.

One I forgot that always made me laugh out loud is Three Men In A Boat - Jerome K. Jerome.

And I've always loved Cranford - perhaps despite its being a set book at school when I was about 14. Northanger Abbey was another such. At maybe 15 it really struck me, on reading about the crafty, two-faced little baggage Isabella, how the same types were to be found in every generation, including mine.

Miss Read for me as well, especially the Thrush Green series. Such wonderful characters, and so beautifully written. As well as the books I have some of the audiobooks, perfectly read by Gwen Watford.

I read What Katy Did until I knew it by heart. No need to read it now, because I can recite it. (“Katy’s name was Katy Carr. She lived in the town of Burnet, which wasn’t a very big town but was growing fast.”)

Lots of poetry, especially AE Housman. Wendy Cope wrote (approximately, quoting from memory),

“I think I am in love with AE Housman
Which puts me in a worse than usual fix,
For AEHousman never looked at women,
And he’s been dead since 1936.”

I was always rereading "What Kay Did" when I was a child Grandma 70s, along with Alice In Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass, Water Babies and Enid Blyton's all read over and over.

Currently listening to an audio book, Anita Brookner's "Friend from England" read quite a few of her books many years ago, forgot how much I liked her, her writing has an old fashioned quality about it, but I like that.

Most of my favourites have been mentioned but I love the Lillian Beckwith books. Sadly not in audio so re-reading is not possible.

Oscar Wilde
Will Durant (historian)
Lindsey Davis (Falco)

John Marsden's Tomorrow...' series (7 books). I got the first one as an audio book, 'Tomorrow, when the war began' quite unaware it was for young adults, and was so gripped by it that when I did realise, I was hooked anyway.
It's about a group of inventive Australian teenagers who come home from a bush camping trip, to find their home town has been invaded. The stories are how they form their own resistance group and the perils they get into defying the occupiers.
You are never told by whom but they eat rice!!

Apparently my library cannot get any Jane Duncan in audio and I don't know her, 'My friend...' series. Shame.

Anita Brookner has had so many mentions on here I may have to give her a go. Definitely heading for a re read of my Nevil Shute books. Loved Miss Read. Not heard Desmond Bagley’s name for years, loved his stuff.

Miss Read for me too,I used to take them to my mum when she couldn't get out much and she loved them!I have read To kill a Mocking Bird 3 times and each time it gives so much pleasure.I had forgotten about the Shell Seekers and will read that again ,that also brings back lovely memories of my mum reading it and both of us talking about it.

Bradfordlass, I love the Lillian Beckworth books as well. In fact I have now managed to collect them all. Its a shame you can't get them on audio.

Whenever I'm unwell, it's back to Enid Blyton's Famous Five books for me .......................... though there are times that I would want to give 'superior Julian' a very firm punch on the nose!

I'm also loving the 'adult Famous Five' books these days.

Do like rosamunde pitcher. I always return to the miss read school village books especially when I’m stressed or in hospital environment. Keeps me calm!

Not a great fan of re-reading,so many books out there to enjoy.
However I have read Little Women many times,I always succumb to tears when Beth dies and it’s cathartic somehow when I’m feeling a bit low.
Also enjoy another read of the Heidi series.
Poetry wise,Wordsworth is a favourite as my late Father loved all Wordsworth's poetry.
I suppose in a way reading well loved books/poetry is a form of nostalgia and very comforting.

I rarely reread books but just lately I've rediscover some titles I've not read for 40+ years. Due to the TV series I reread My Family & Other Animals and other Gerald Durrell books and also read some Lawrence Durrell, too.

I've recently reread A Town Like Alice (Nevil Shute) and The Citadel (AJ Cronin). The attitudes are somewhat dated but the fine writing isn't.

Another Miss read fan! How wonderful, nice to meet you.

henetha, I also couldn't live without reading - if I went blind I would have to hibernate for the rest of my life! Talking books would never make up for it.

And, like HildaW, I read Christmas Carol almost every Christmas. Such a clever, yet lovely, book.

Other favourites are Thomas Hardy, especially Mayor of Casterbridge, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte and Good Behaviour by Molly Keane.

Anne McCaffrey, Catherine Cookson, anything with fangs teeth or claws

Any Jane Austen - my favourite is Persuasion
MM Kaye - Far Pavilions - I have read this at least a dozen times and would probably put it down as my all time favourite.
I shall look up Barbara Pym as I haven't read any of hers yet. I'm always on the look-out for authors new to me.
Shell Seekers for me too.
Peter Wimsey stories are good
As a west country person I like Graham Winston's Poldark books - I have all 9 and they are so much better than the TV adaptation, which I found rather disappointing.
Favourite poem - Hiawatha - I find the rhythm of the lines strangely comforting and the description of wildlife and the land is beautiful.
I also like John Clare and Elizabeth Barratt-Browning

Georgette Heyer

Love George Elliot, favourite is Adam Bede, ahead of its time I think.

Favourite childhood reads for me were the swallows and Amazons books, but also loved Mallory Towers, and Famous Five, and of course, who wouldn’t love Katy!

Never read The Shell Seekers, which you all seem to love, have put it on my wish list.

My choices would be the same as yours, Witzend. Also Sylvia Townsend Warner.

Susan Hill...never fails to lead me into yet another spate of reading and putting my technology in its place ...definitely Susan Hill

As a child it was Little Women, Heidi, What Katie did (+next) and Black Beauty. By the time I got to senior school Shakespeare and Dickens put me off reading for many years. I found books again when I was in my mid twenties but never went back to any of the classics. Nowadays I stick to crime fiction/adventure/historical plus a bit of fantasy thrown in for good measure. The only book series I have read over and over is the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon which began in the 1990’s and I am eagerly awaiting book 9 in the series.

Saggi, I so agree about Susan Hill.
Some years ago I read her Simon Serrailler detective series, which are as much about his family as his work, and loved them. these were the most real people I had ever encountered in a novel, I wanted to go and visit them! Since then, Susan's written more in the series, the latest being due out next month, number 10, so I have recommenced series from the beginning. The joy!

And oh yes, lovely,"What Katy Did"

Miss Read, Rebecca Shaw’s village books - just looked them up and spotted a couple I haven’t read. Medieval mysteries.

Louisa M Alcott. Especially the chapter when Beth goes to thank Laurie’s crabby grandfather. Always boosts my courage when it’s waining.

Saggi

Yes, Susan Hill, she is so versatile

My favourite re-reads are Georgette Heyer, Margaret Way (who writes beautiful descriptive books set Australia), and Sophie Kinsella is always amusing. Along with Alan Titchmarsh and Fern Britton.

Maeve Binchy. Anne Tyler. Dorothy Whipple. And sometimes .. Jilly Cooper .. Prudence, Octavia, Imogen etc.