Thursday, July 28, 2011

Comfort Books

As I was writing my Guilty Pleasure post, I started thinking about old friends--books that is. I'm sure we all have those, the books from our childhood or a book that helped get us through a bad point in our life. People always say they have a favorite song for those reasons, and yes I do too, but let's talk books. As I stated in my previous post, I have guilty pleasure books that I don't talk about on my blog or review in my Wednesday series because I don't represent it and I like to stay on topic.
 
Let's get all off topic this week :D
I have a comfort book so loved it's worn and faded from spending way too many nights under my pillow--I don't even have to read it, it just stays under my pillow when I need a friend. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine came out when I was in the fifth grade. I bought it from the Scholastic book fair and probably read it five times that year and at least once for every year following. It's one of the only books I've read more than once (another post for another time). So why isn't it over there ---> listed with my favorite books? Because I'm not looking for fairy tale books. As sad as that is. (And please do not mention the movie by the same name--it will be cause for rejection... I'm mostly kidding.)
So tell me: what is your all time comfort book?

29 comments:

Laura Josephsen said...

Ella Enchanted is one I've read many times, too. I first picked it up at the library when I was a teenager, and brought it home, got halfway through it and realized there were sixteen pages missing from the middle! I had to go back to the library and pick up their second copy. Now I have my own copy, and it's been put to good use. ;)

I've also read Chronicles of Narnia many times--I can go back to those ones from my childhood. There was also a book called "The Girl With the Silver Eyes," but it's been a while since I reread that one. Or "Into the Dream." And "The Only Alien on the Planet" is one from my teenage years, but I read it every now and again. (And it is not about an alien--it's about a boy who never speaks or has physical contact with anyone.)

Um, yes. That wasn't just one book. O_o There are quite a few that I can pick up and reread when I know what the ending is, and it can still make me happy to read.

Anonymous said...

The Horse and His Boy.

I've read it so many times since childhood that I can recite whole sections in advance. And yes, it does make me feel better. Every time.

Stephsco said...

Little Women. It's probably the only book I've read 3 times. A few others I've read twice, but not too many.

Charity Bradford said...

Beauty by Robin McKinley. My copy no longer has a cover I've read it so many times. I actually put the hard copy on my birthday list for this year. I hope I get it.

Leigh Ann said...

Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre, A Wrinkle in Time, and Jane Eyre.

*sigh*

Kristine Asselin said...

Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery. Haven't reread it in a while, but it's one of the few books I've read multiple times. Also The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle (my all-time favorite fantasy novel). The movie by the same name is excellent as well (mainly because PB wrote the script and my favorite band sings the soundtrack.) :)

Farrell Paules said...

I'm with Leigh Ann, Jane Eyre is my all time comfort book. I read it at least once a year (it replaced Black Beauty), followed closely by Rebecca, which was, of course, inspired by Jane Eyre.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

The Belgariad by David Eddings.

Sarah said...

Agree with Jane Eyre. Reading that book is like coming home for me.

Stephanie Allen said...

Little House on the Prairie. I've read it so many times, it's falling apart.

Unknown said...

Not counting some Harlequins I've had since I was a teenager, I would have to say MANIAC MAGEE by Jerry Spinelli. A close second would be TUCK EVERLASTING by Natalie Babbitt.

Unknown said...

Garth Nix's SABRIEL remains an enduring favorite. Robin McKinley's THE BLUE SWORD. Tamora Pierce's SONG OF THE LIONESS quartet. HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, by Dianna Wynne Jones. Reading those books makes me feel like I'm eating a bowl of baked macaroni and cheese.

synde said...

Return of the King.. I could read it over and over

T.M. Lunsford said...

Four way tie between ELLA ENCHANTED, LITTLE MEN, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES and RILLA OF INGLESIDE

Unknown said...

I'm not sure I have just one... I go back to the HUNGER GAMES, ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, TALE OF TWO CITIES, and the SCARLET PIMPERNEL, depending on the situation.

I have comfort movies, too - and many of them are cartoons (watching MEET THE ROBINSONS as we speak - keep moving forward.)

Laurie Muench said...

The Long Winter. Every time I think my life sucks, I read that. Then I realize that I am a spoiled, well fed, lucky person.

Maureen Wanket said...

American Gods, Neil Gaiman. Witch Baby, Francesca Lia Block. Emma, Jane Austen.

What a great topic for a post.

Alicia Gregoire said...

For me it depends, but always on the list is A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle.

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Is it wrong to say Harry Potter? I know it's probably cliche, but I've turned to those books so many times.

I have a lot of comfort movies, too, like The Princess Bride. Read the book, but it just wasn't the same as the movie.

Unknown said...

I adore Ella Enchanted! There are others in the comments that I agree with as well! Nothing beats The Red Heels by Robert D. San Souci, I met the author when I was 10. Too bad it took me 13 years to figure out I was going to be a writer. The book is one I still own and it's in perfect condition. No one borrows it, I read it every year and it never leaves my house. I can't wait to read it to my children.

Unknown said...

The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout. The problem is so hopeless, and then Nero Wolfe solves it so neatly because it would insult his pride not to.

Anonymous said...

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. I had to buy a new copy because I read the old one so much it fell apart.

Kimberlee Turley said...

Ella Enchanted was the book that made me fall in love with reading. I've grown so attached to my copy, the last few times I've moved, I've packed it in a box to go with me in the car instead of the moving truck.

I packed two other books in the box. "Little Witch" by Anna Elizabeth Bennett, and "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", Ill. by Ruth Sanderson.

S. J. Pajonas (spajonas) said...

there are so many books that i've read over and over and harry potter is certainly at the top. i've read my two favorite books many times, "dune" and "the wind-up bird chronicles". what's weird is that i can't really think of a book that means to me what "ella enchanted" means to you! i just turn to reading (in general) when i need comfort.

Lynn(e) Schmidt said...

Sharon Creech-Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird, Bloomability. If I'm in a dark enough place, I'll read all three.

Also, Where The Red Fern Grows. I read it in 5th grade, and everyone warned me I'd cry. I started balling in the middle of class and had to leave, lol.

Thanks for the post! This was definitely interesting! I've never really considered some books to be comfort books, but then again, every time I travel...I take them with me..

Hanna C. Howard said...

Wonderful post. Ella is mine too, without question. Reading that book is simultaneously like a hug from my mother, a pair of fuzzy socks in winter, and the sensation of coming home after a very long trip.

But you're right. The world would be better off pretending the movie adaptation didn't exist.

Martha Ramirez said...

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For some reason last time Livejournal wouldn't let me and Google never did let me. The other options listed, I had no accounts with. This will be every helpful to all your commenters. Yay!!
Thanks for adding it.

Linda Myers said...

All the Jeeves and Wooster stories, taken one an evening just before bed. Guaranteed to ease those stress lines.

Katy Upperman said...

I don't really have a comfort book now, but as a kid it was Judy Blume's JUST AS LONG AS WE'RE TOGETHER. I read that book so many times the cover split!