Reading the Detectives discussion

With so much upheaval at the moment, plus dreadful weather in some areas, are there any books you can trust to cheer you up? Both mystery and non-mystery suggestions welcome!

Oddly enough, despite the sadness and melodrama, Gone with the Wind is one of my favourite go-to reads in times of stress. I think it's because it is set in another time: another country and relates to something of which I have absolutely no experience. I become totally immersed and despite the fact that I know how it ends - keep shouting at Scarlett to change her stupid behaviour!! For a less demanding comfort read - I still love The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer. Think I'll be reading the latter today!

Judy wrote: "With so much upheaval at the moment, plus dreadful weather in some areas, are there any books you can trust to cheer you up? Both mystery and non-mystery suggestions welcome!"

Elizabeth Aston Mountjoy Novels are my favourite comfort reading.

I always seem to go back to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple for cheering up. They are so comforting to read. Especially "A body in the library" and "A murder is announced."

I don't have a particular book to read for comfort, but just the act of reading something is very soothing to me

Lord of the Rings is generally my go to book, but like Deborah just reading something/anything helps!

I agree with with Deborah. Best to get lost in a book.

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Oddly enough, despite the sadness and melodrama, Gone with the Wind is one of my favourite go-to reads in times of stress. I think it's because it is set in another time: another country and relate..."

The Grand Sophy is one of my favourites among hers too. Have you ever read this version-Peerless Theodosia- it is pretty much a copy of the GS but not bad- a touch more "modern" in a sense though.

The Secret Garden, The Wind in the Willows- Enid Blyton, even Agatha Christie- those are some I turn to for comfort reading.

I made it through a terrible year with the help of Agatha Christie. But I also love vampire books as a comfort read!

One of the authors I've grabbed the most this year is the Williamsons...a husband and wife team who wrote in the early 1900s. I can find wit and humor and fun adventures along the roads of 100 years ago.
C.N. Williamson

For me, the books that cheer me up are those that reinforce a set of verities (even though my critical bent might question those verities)—mysteries in which the perp is caught, stories in which the protagonist is tested and makes ethical choices. The more operatic the testing (à la Harry Potter, which I’m reading aloud to my sweetie right now), the more satisfying the outcome. Stories based on myth also perhaps tap into the same emotional craving. Old-style children’s books are great for this!

Agatha Christie is my comfort read, but I think any book that you can just get engrossed in gives you a sense of reassurance. I have spent much of the afternoon reading and avoiding the news, which is a series of unfolding mini disasters. Frankly, I have no idea who is running the country at the moment!

Judy wrote: "With so much upheaval at the moment, plus dreadful weather in some areas, are there any books you can trust to cheer you up? Both mystery and non-mystery suggestions welcome!"

My comfort books vary by mood but the most reliable ones are romances by Georgette Heyer (such as The Reluctant Widow), humor by P.G. Wodehouse (The Code of the Woosters) and mysteries such as the Agatha Christie books Susan mentioned or Dick Francis.

Humor is good.

If things are really bad I always like to go back to Bill Bryson, especially a listen to A Walk in the Woods. Of course, now I live in the woods.

There used to be a series of books by Richard Armour - It All Started with Columbus. Another great one was How Many Miles to Galena? by Richard Pike Bissell - this was one of my grandfather's faves. He said you could start reading anywhere. Very humorous view of family vacations.

A lot of great suggestions here. I agree on Bill Bryson, also P.G. Wodehouse, and I also find detailed Victorian novels such as Trollope ideal to get me fully engrossed and forget about everything else that's going on.

Definitely Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.

Jan C wrote: "Humor is good.

If things are really bad I always like to go back to Bill Bryson, especially a listen to A Walk in the Woods. Of course, now I live in the woods.

There use..." Only 1 review for that book - How Many Miles to Galena Jan. I added a description I found for it. Love old books. Thanks for pointing it out. For me, I read a Laura Kinsale if I am feeling grouchy or Rosamunde Pilcher.

Judy wrote: "A lot of great suggestions here. I agree on Bill Bryson, also P.G. Wodehouse, and I also find detailed Victorian novels such as Trollope ideal to get me fully engrossed and forget about everything ..."

Wow! Another Trollope fan! I'm excited... I utterly adore Anthony Trollope's novels. So many people seem to never have heard of him even though he wrote so many wonderful novels.

Leslie wrote: "Judy wrote: "With so much upheaval at the moment, plus dreadful weather in some areas, are there any books you can trust to cheer you up? Both mystery and non-mystery suggestions welcome!"

My comf..."
How did I ever forget Wodehouse- He is my go to when I need cheering up. I love ALL the Blandings books (and all the others too).

Karen wrote: "Judy wrote: "A lot of great suggestions here. I agree on Bill Bryson, also P.G. Wodehouse, and I also find detailed Victorian novels such as Trollope ideal to get me fully engrossed and forget abou..."

I love Trollope's books too-especially the Barsets. I thought Orley Farm, the last one I read- excellent.

Richmal Crompton's William books are also a good option.

Karen wrote: "Judy wrote: "A lot of great suggestions here. I agree on Bill Bryson, also P.G. Wodehouse, and I also find detailed Victorian novels such as Trollope ideal to get me fully engrossed and forget abou..."

I am another Trollope fan (and of the Victorian novels in general).

MomToKippy wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Humor is good.

If things are really bad I always like to go back to Bill Bryson, especially a listen to A Walk in the Woods. Of course, now I live in the woo..."

Glad you said there was only 1 review. It got me to wondering if it was on Kindle. It is! I don't think I've read this book for 40+ years. I hope it holds up. I have fond memories (kind of) of a trip or two to Galena.

I also love Trollope and I also adored Just William as a child. I think I forgot about those books completely when we were previously discussing children's books. Richmal Crompton recently had some of her adult books released on kindle and I keep meaning to try them.

Susan wrote: "I also love Trollope and I also adored Just William as a child. I think I forgot about those books completely when we were previously discussing children's books. Richmal Crompton re..."

I have heard good things about her adult fiction. William I can read at any time- he's such good fun/

My favourite comfort books are The Eliots of Damerosehay: The Bird in the Tree + Pilgrim's Inn + The Heart of the Family by Elizabeth Goudge and any of the Melendy Family stories by Elizabeth Enright

They are all books that are very familiar to me as I re-read them often, so I can lose myself in a different world.

Any of the Alan Bradley Flavia DeLuce books and any of the Phryne Fisher series are cheering to me.

Karen wrote: "Judy wrote: "A lot of great suggestions here. I agree on Bill Bryson, also P.G. Wodehouse, and I also find detailed Victorian novels such as Trollope ideal to get me fully engrossed and forget abou..."

I too love Trollope. Currently finishing up The Warden.

Lowell wrote: "Any of the Alan Bradley Flavia DeLuce books and any of the Phryne Fisher series are cheering to me."

I'm in love with Flavia.

Looks like we have quite a few Anthony Trollope fans. I think my favourites are the Barsetshire novels, especially The Small House at Allington, which is wonderful. Must reread it.

Another author who has some similarities with Trollope and also cheers me is Margaret Wilson Oliphant, who's usually known as Mrs Oliphant or Margaret Oliphant but for some reason has an added 'Wilson' at Goodreads! Some of her other books are available free on Kindle - I recently enjoyed The Marriage of Elinor.

Georgette Heyer, Agatha Christie, Jane Austen (in particular P&P) some Ngaio Marsh, Arthur Conan Doyle, Frances Parkinson Keyes & Victoria Holt.

I am trying to get hold of a particular favourite from my childhood, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower

Are we allowed to say comfort movies/TV programmes?

Judy wrote: "Looks like we have quite a few Anthony Trollope fans. I think my favourites are the Barsetshire novels, especially The Small House at Allington, which is wonderful. Mus..."

I've read all of Mrs O's Carlingford books- and love them- especially Miss Marjoribanks and The Rector. I have a few others on my TBR.

Lowell wrote: "Any of the Alan Bradley Flavia DeLuce books and any of the Phryne Fisher series are cheering to me."

Miss Fisher- I only just discovered her a few weeks ago when I came across the TV adaptation. What are the books like?

Carol, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower was also one of my childhood favourites. It was re-published a couple of years ago in hardback and I brought it (and others by Rumer Godden) for my daughter. Her favourite was The Story of Holly & Ivy. Rumer Godden.

Susan wrote: "Carol, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower was also one of my childhood favourites. It was re-published a couple of years ago in hardback and I brought it (and others by Rumer Godden) for my daughter. H..."

I have "seen" the reissue (on GR) but my hope is to obtain an older copy with the cover I love.

I haven't heard of the Story of Holly & Ivy before but I'd be prepared to bet I'll love that one too.

Carol ♔ Type, Oh Queen! ♔ wrote: "Susan wrote: "Carol, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower was also one of my childhood favourites. It was re-published a couple of years ago in hardback and I brought it (and others by Rumer Godden) for ..."

I used to have a very battered copy of The Dolls' House which I read often as a child. I still have a tiny wooden doll like Tottie. I always enjoyed a good cry over it though because it's very sad.

Carol ♔ Type, Oh Queen! ♔ wrote: "Are we allowed to say comfort movies/TV programmes?"
Yes, of course! Many older movies fit the bill here for me - Fred and Ginger, Cary Grant comedies etc.

I also loved Rumer Godden as a child.

Judy wrote: " Yes, of course! Many older movies fit the bill here for me - Fred and Ginger, Cary Grant comedies etc.

Ha! Well quite different from my book tastes - other than I love the Colin Firth Pride & Prejudice. I love a lot of older American High School movies like Clueless, 10 things I hate About You & especially Pretty in Pink. & Romantic Comedies like Sleepless in Seattle. I can't explain my fondness for Bride & Prejudice since the two leads have pretty much zero chemistry, but I love it just the same.
TV I like a lot of the old British comedies like Dad's Army & Fawlty Towers. They are like old friends.

Lady Clementina wrote: "Lowell wrote: "Any of the Alan Bradley Flavia DeLuce books and any of the Phryne Fisher series are cheering to me."

Miss Fisher- I only just discovered her a few weeks ago when I came across the T..."

The books are racier, have more complicated plots and subplots, and, most strikingly different from the TV series, have a different inter-relationship amongst the characters. There are more main/recurring characters. The TV series conflates the butler and housekeeper into one person, sanitizes and almost eradicates Phryne's long standing affair with Chun, and turns her professional relationship with Jack Robinson into a romance.

My favourite children's books by Malcolm Saville and Monica Edwards.

Mary Stewart's earlier suspense novels.

Georgette Heyer's Regency romances especially The Unknown Ajax, The Reluctant Widow, Cotillion, The Talisman Ring,The Toll-Gate, Frederica, and The Grand Sophy

I like Allen Banks DCI !

Judy wrote: " Carol ♔ Type, Oh Queen! ♔ wrote: "Are we allowed to say comfort movies/TV programmes?""

Musical films are definitely at the top of my list of things to cheer me up! Although I haven't seen one for years, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy films were always my favourites!

On the telly I blush to reveal it's Midsomer Murders....

Yes, love old films--Fred Astaire is my weakness--and love Midsomer Murders to pieces, along with many other British mystery series. Blue Murder, Jonathan Creek, Rosemary&Thyme, and anything Agatha Christie--any is a comfort to me.

Lowell wrote: "Lady Clementina wrote: "Lowell wrote: "Any of the Alan Bradley Flavia DeLuce books and any of the Phryne Fisher series are cheering to me."

Miss Fisher- I only just discovered her a few weeks ago ..."

I much prefer the books (which I do on audio), but the TV costumes are wonderful.

Agreed, Sandy. Essie Davis is not exactly as I picture Phryne, but she surely does know how to show some attitude. I can almost smell the Jicky.

Judy wrote: "Looks like we have quite a few Anthony Trollope fans. I think my favourites are the Barsetshire novels, especially The Small House at Allington, which is wonderful. Mus..."

I am unfamiliar with Margaret Oliphant -- I have just downloaded The Marriage of Elinor from Project Gutenburg. Thanks Judy :)

Lowell wrote: "Yes, love old films--Fred Astaire is my weakness--and love Midsomer Murders to pieces, along with many other British mystery series. Blue Murder, Jonathan Creek, Rosemary&Thyme, and anything Agatha..."

Ha ha! Glad to know I am not the only fan of the musicals of the 30s and 40s! Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly (especially when paired with Frank Sinatra), Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney...

And add me to the ranks of those loving Midsomer Murders :)

Leslie wrote: "I am unfamiliar with Margaret Oliphant -- I have just downloaded The Marriage of Elinor from Project Gutenburg. Thanks Judy "

Hope you enjoy it, Leslie! If you do, there are lots more by her to try.

Oops, looks as if I cut out part of my earlier comment about Oliphant by mistake - I meant to say that her Carlingford Chronicles are her best-known ones, which Lady Clementina then mentioned. I love those too.