Comfort Books

Have you ever heard of the term “comfort food”? If not, comfort food is food that gives people a sense of security, contentment, home…comfort. For some people, it’s anything with mashed potatoes or anything that has been gravy-fied. (Note: The term “gravy-fied” is my own Thompsonism. It means anything that is smothered in gravy. YUM!!!). For other people, comfort food is something special that only their mama or nanny can make. Well, other people can technically make it, but it won’t taste as good or even taste the same. Still for others, comfort food can be something as simple as chocolate or a special candy. Did you ever consider that there could be comfort books?

I was feeling mentally blah lately, and nothing seemed good to read. Nothing. I have loads and loads of books, and most of them I haven’t even read yet, but still nothing seemed to catch my attention. Just when boredom seemed inevitable, I reached for my battered, torn, but well loved copy of Winnie the Pooh. My copy of this book is O.L.D.!!! It was my mum’s when she was a kid. I curled up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate despite the fact that it was 90 degrees out, and was instantly transported to the Hundred Acre Woods. I *love* that place!! (Have you been there? If not, you absolutely must take a trip; it’s enchanting!) After I was done with the book, I tried to remember how many times I’ve read those stories. I can’t even count; it’s just too many. I realized that Winnie the Pooh is probably my ultimate comfort book. I have others that I reach for again and again. To Kill a Mockingbird, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and Eclipse are probably my next three. I don’t know; there’s just something about these books that make me feel relaxed, at home, complete, and I’m perfectly satisfied to read them over and over.

Question: Do you have any comfort books? If so, what are they, and why do you suppose that you keep coming back to reread them?

Keep rockin’ the reading!!
Mrs. T…hompson