The Sword and Laser discussion

I had a different experience from most who’ve read this book. Although I, overall, enjoyed it, I found myself feeling more unhappy and, well, the opposite of the cosy vibes while reading it. I lay the blame for this entirely at my circumstances and not at all the book, which I gave 4 stars. I’ve recently (kind of but not really which is somehow worse) lost my job, and am left with the difficult task of managing my depression while looking for work, and all the miseries that come with this. A book that is very upbeat and full of positivity might seem like a good choice to get me through this, but it had the opposite affect, which made me wonder when is the ideal time for a cosy book.

For me, I think this book would have been a delight to read had I been in a good place in my life. I think that when you feel comfortable, a book that is cheerful with a very ‘go after your dreams’ vibe is pleasant and inspiring even. But when feeling the opposite, the positivity is something my brain will resist and fight against.

What about others? When would you say is the right time for a cosy read?

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. Hopefully it work out for you soon.

I think I might be the opposite. During the Nov/Dec 2020 time frame of Covid, I really started reading mystery cozies series. I really needed a mindless escape.

I do agree that there are times when certain books aren't the right time for me (whether positive/neg/cozy/grim) and I have to put them down - or I force myself through them and don't enjoy them as probably would have.

Take care of yourself...

Very sorry to hear of your current situation, Ruth. Is there anything I can do for you?

Thank you. I didn’t mean to make the post so much about me. >.< I overshare sometimes. I’ll be fine.

Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth wrote: " very ‘go after your dreams’ vibe"

I think this is a really astute part of your observation, and I'm not sure if it's a part of what makes a book cozy or not. There's a lot of fantasy, even stuff that isn't cozy, where in some frames of mind it feels like a morality play - like Pilgrim's Progress. The main character is a hero because they really stick to their ideals and they're eventually rewarded for doing that. Sometimes my brain reverse-engineers a book like that into saying, "well, if things are going wrong for me right now, it's because I compromise my values, or don't try hard enough, or I'm not resolute enough." And that's the opposite of cozy.

I think it's like music and varies by individual. some people want a happy song when sad and others want a sad one

I’ve found a similar thing - during times of trouble I don’t want to consume media that’s too fluffy. Nor do I want something super depressing. There’s definitely a Goldilocks zone - I want something that acknowledges the hard realities of life while still offering hope that they can be overcome.

I spent 6 months out of work last year after being made redundant and can totally understand how reading about someone making a career change and having all the pieces fall magically into place would create mixed emotions.
Best of luck with the job hut.