My Top 5 Comfort Reads

I was on twitter the other day, when India Knight asked for people's top comfort reads. She mentioned a few (I Capture the Castle) and I thought ooh, I could make a list. So I have done. Here are my top 5 comfort reads, books that I turn to in a reading slump to put a smile on my face, or to make me feel.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I don't know how many times I've read Pride and Prejudice. And if I'm honest, I don't know how many times I've watched the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice either.

I remember the first time I read it. I was a freshman in high school and I asked the school librarian for a recommendation. She handed me the Collected Works of Jane Austen. I took it home and read them all that week. I wanted to give that librarian a hug. I should have given her one.

I'm thinking a lot of people would have Pride and Prejudice on their list of comfort reads? Let's move on...

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier - I think I just picked this book up on a whim in the library many years ago. But I've since read it quite a few times, something about it just clicks with me. Her lack of a relationship with her parents, her failing relationship with her friend. Her insecurities about her appearance and around guys.

I had to go out and buy my own copy because I wanted to read it when I was down once and it wasn't available. I think the cover is quite pretty and I had a bit of a crush on Karsh. When he calls her 'rani' I swoon.



Unsticky by Sarra Manning - The first book I ever read by Sarra Manning and is now one of my favourite authors. I really just love the dysfunction in the relationship between Grace and Vaughan. I really like the fashion and the art. Plus, there were really hot scenes as well.

Grace has a problem similar (in terms of hiding and avoiding the subject) to one of my own problems, so everytime I read it's as though I'm being told I'm not alone.




Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - I chose this (awful) cover for Twilight, because it's the cover on my ARC copy. I remember I was given the ARC and told that this book would be big. I wasn't entirely convinced by that cover but as soon as I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.

I remember I left it on the staff room table and another co-worker asked if she could read it as well. I said OK, and she read a bit during her break. When I came back into the staff room, I saw that she'd bent the cover back and creased the spine. I stuck the book in my locker after that and she and I didn't speak about Twilight again.

It's been read its fair share of times, but sometimes I just skip to the good bits - the bits where there's tension. The magic seems to be wearing off just a little, so I haven't turned to it in awhile though!

Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery - Anne of Green Gables makes me smile. In fact, I don't even have to read the books to cheer up, sometimes just thinking about reading the books will make me happy.

Anne really is a wonderful character and I feel like whenever I'm blue, she'd be able to help me. Reading the books makes me feel like I'm on Prince Edward Island and surrounded by her friends and family. I adore Diana and Matthew and Marilla and descriptions of the town and the people and Anne's over-active imagination. Just everything about it.

The Anne books are the first books that I bought for myself. I remember I was dying to find Anne's House of Dreams and couldn't find it anywhere... until someone in the neighbourhood had a garage sale and I bought it for a quarter. That made my life.

Those are my top comfort reads. Now tell me yours!