Gransnet forums

Books/book club

Comfort reads (or rather re-reads)

(173 Posts)
Witzend Wed 18-Sept-19 10:17:54

What are yours, if any?
During and after an incredibly busy several months, I have found myself going back to relaxing, well-loved reads. New reads also on the go in between (I'm a quick reader and get through an awful lot) but these are the comfort-reads I've been through lately:

All of Barbara Pym (Crampton Hodnet is my favourite)

All the Mapp and Lucia series

Some of Trollope's Palliser series (The Eustace Diamonds is a favourite)

Most of Jane Austen, except for Mansfield Park, which I never cared for. I recently re-read the very short Lady Susan - Jane did write a wonderful b*tch!

Mr Golightly's Holiday (Salley Vickers)

Lucky Jim (Kingsley Amis)

And a really old copy of one of Richmal Compton's William books, that had belonged to my father - they never fail to make me laugh.

Would love to know about anyone else's, though I know some people never read anything twice.,

jaylucy Thu 19-Sept-19 15:44:02

Anything by Barbara Erskine or Audrey Howard.
The Secret Garden and The House at Green Knowe - takes me back to my junior school when our teacher (who was originally from Yorkshire herself) read it to us at the end of the day.

Annaram1 Thu 19-Sept-19 15:55:18

Thank you Wicklowwinnie. I will look there.

giulia Thu 19-Sept-19 15:56:19

Joanna Trollope's name has not come up yet. I have re-read all of mine and still enjoy them. Possibly because I live away from Britain these aga sagas are so nostalgic. Her descriptions of gardens appeal to me as well.

Anthea1948 Thu 19-Sept-19 16:21:07

I rarely re-read anything. My current faves are modern romances, generally involving tattooed hunky men. But I do love Janet Evanovich, and Nora Roberts' romances and spooky tales.

Sara65 Thu 19-Sept-19 16:25:27

Giulia

I like Joanna Trollopes early books, but find her more recent ones very mediocre.

TwiceAsNice Thu 19-Sept-19 16:35:55

As a teenager and young adult re- read many times the Chalet School series by Elinor M Brent-Dyer. Loved them. Adult authors Maeve Binchey for easy reading and anything by Patricia Cornwall and Stephen King

TwiceAsNice Thu 19-Sept-19 16:39:30

Can’t stand Jane Austen but Dickens is good

cmwmoonshine Thu 19-Sept-19 16:43:36

Wow I think I'm in the minority here!!
When I was a teenager my mum said to me "I don't care what you read just as long as you read something!"
A friend of mine have me Steven King's Christine ( as it's my name ) and I have never looked back I've almost read all of his books now
Now I love anything by Karen Rose , Cassandra Clare , P.C.Cast , Deborah Harkness (discovery of witches) Margaret Harwood (Handmaids tale) and strangely Wilbur Smith
But I always to back to Steven King's The Stand

Littleannie Thu 19-Sept-19 16:55:10

Dogsmother. I am reading Cutting for Stone at the moment, for the third time!

Juliet27 Thu 19-Sept-19 16:56:04

Miss Read, Alexander McCall Smith, H E Bates

Sarahmob Thu 19-Sept-19 17:20:23

The Darling Buds of May series, love reading it and have re-read many times.

Cherrytree59 Thu 19-Sept-19 17:44:39

After reading this thread yesterday,
I have been trying to call the name an author.

I read her books years ago (80s) and would like to re-read them.

I was actually going to ask GNers for help, but I have just had a light bulb moment and think her name is Maisie Mosco(w) sp?

From memory I believe her books were set around the Jewish community in Manchester.

Hopefully I am on the right tracksmile

Nortsat46 Thu 19-Sept-19 17:58:25

Sarah Paretsky's VI Warshawski detective series. Long books, with short chapters... great main character.

Dorothy Dunnett's historical novels ... dense with detail. I have read the Lymond series several times.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Artdecogran Thu 19-Sept-19 18:16:57

Wow what a lot of ‘proper’ books are being read. I read anything and everything but not ‘proper’ literature. I read about twelve books a week and my particular favourites are anything apocalyptic. The more zombies and diseases the better.

Gin Thu 19-Sept-19 18:31:00

I loved the Maisie Moscow books and would love to reread them
I also read Miss Pym books over and over again. Recently read for the second time after a gap of many many years ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’.
Ann Tyler is always a lovely gentle read. Showing my age now but have a falling apart copy of ‘The L-shaped Room’ which has been devoured many times.
For a laugh, ‘Lucky Jim’ and ‘Saturday Night and Sunday Morning’.
Any one else a fan of ‘Tales of the city’?

Skinnylizzie Thu 19-Sept-19 18:33:27

I love the Morland series by Cynthia Harrod Eagles. There are about 35 of them, well researched historical novels. ❤️

Skinnylizzie Thu 19-Sept-19 18:35:01

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is winking at me from my book shelf and I was thinking that I should reread it the other day!

Sara65 Thu 19-Sept-19 18:44:57

Gin
I have a copy of The L Shaped Room, also Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, which for some reason made me think of Georgy Girl, and the late wonderful Margaret Forster, Hidden Lives is one is my all time favourite books. This started me thinking about the wonderful Margaret Drabble, and the amazingly brilliant A S Byatt, Possession would definitely make it to my top ten list.

Janiepops Thu 19-Sept-19 18:45:06

Coincidence Alima! My grandfather is mentioned in A horseman riding by! He was head groom at Beaumanor Hall in Woodhouse Eaves,

His name was Clifford Payne, never thought I’d see him referred to ever again!!

Diggingdoris Thu 19-Sept-19 18:45:23

I have a few books on my shelf that I can't part with, Colleen McCullough' s Thorn Birds, Rosamunde Pilcher' s Shell Seekers, and September, and although it was a chore 50 years ago for my Eng.Lit O level, Great Expectations, I have re-read it a few times since.
Can't part with my full collection of Agatha Christies either as they are a quick read compared with some of the modern 600page thrillers. I especially like to read her books that have been made into films, and I try to spot the changes they make with these 'adaptations'.

Sara65 Thu 19-Sept-19 18:50:01

Diggindoris

My dad brought The Thorn Birds into hospital for me to read when my son was born (ten days back then) I absolutely loved it, thanks for reminding me

Framilode Thu 19-Sept-19 18:51:04

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Lionel Shriver. I have enjoyed most of her books but 'So much for that' is my top favourite.

Sara65 Thu 19-Sept-19 18:54:55

Framilode.

I like her as well, I still think my favourite is We Need to Talk about Kevin

Greyduster Thu 19-Sept-19 18:55:47

All Mary Renault’s Ancient Greek stories; anything Ariana Franklin ever wrote; Barchester Chronicles; Robert Graves’ “I Claudius”; the Hornblower stories.

pinkwallpaper Thu 19-Sept-19 19:12:44

Delderfield, Diana a big favourite.