Comfort Reads discussion

Fiona,

Whenever I am in that kind of mood, I "always" reach for one of my all-time comfort books, one that I have already read many, many times. I've found that when I am in the mood you describe a well-known and friendly comfort book is a much better bet than starting on a new and unknown book (I know that even if my mood might make me appreciate the book less than usual that I will still get at least some enjoyment out of the reading experience, while, with a new and unknown book, I might just give up if the book does not immediately grip me).

I usually read an old favorite too, but sometimes I find something on my to-read shelf, maybe long languishing, that appeals to me. Or, I catch up on one of the few magazines I read until a book, some book, calls to me. Or, I dive into one of my books group books (always many!) even if I'm not quite in the mood. The latter sometimes doesn't work very well though.

I always have books lined up, but sometimes I don't find any in the line appealing at the time.

Whenever I get in this mood, I take the advice of a good friend. Especially if the friend is reading an awesome book like The Handmaid's Tale. Atwood really is a genius. The rumors are all true.

Booksniffer, bookpusher, and now book-infiltrator. Guilty as charged!

I'm hoping that you don't mind me commenting here. Book block is a good word for it. When I'm feeling indecisive I pick out a biography of someone that I am interested in. I think the last one was Audition by Barbara Walters which was surprisingly quite good. As a pet lover I have found that books of that nature seem to fill in the gap and tide me over till my mood changes. Dewey, Marley and Me are a couple I remember, even rereading The Incredible Journey seemed to give my mind a break from all things human. Two others that I've really enjoyed are: The Art of Racing In the Rain and Homer's Odyssey: a Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat's both are lovely books that I think about even if it's been some time since I've read them. I guess these types of reads let me slow down and relax. I know what you mean Fiona. When I don't have a book going I feel a little incomplete. Hope you find something soon.

Hi Elhara, have you read Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl? I really loved that one, and didn't see that in your list.

Fiona, i know just what you mean. I, too, usually read an old favorite, or I go a bookstore and either (1) buy a new book or (2)nothing looks good so I go home by which time I am in a better mood to read. I believe we need some time to let the just read book go and become interested in the new one. Sort of like when you break up with a boyfriend!

Fiona wrote: "How depressing. I just don't know what to read next, I fear everything will be boring... what a mood to be in but not infrequent.

I hate feeling like this - what shall I read next? I don't know wh..."

Fiona,
When I get like that I take a magazine/movie break. I hate to force it. It seems like the mood passes quickly though in most cases.

Fiona, I was so interested to read your original post here. I sometimes feel that way, too (in fact, just recently) and thought it was very strange and unusual for me to feel this way with all the unread books in my house waiting for me and all the ones I continue to buy. It's depressing for me to have a lull, too. I am beginning to reach for cozy mysteries during a time like this and it helps. I just read Charlaine Harris' Lily Bard series (4 books) as the result of the recent lull. Christine, the magazine/movie break is a good idea, too.

I like the magazine/movie break idea, Christine. However, if I am in that kind of mood, I actually HAVE TO pick movies that I've seen before and that are repeated comfort movies, or TV series (usually literary adaptations or such like Shakespeare in Love, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, The Secret Garden, and for TV series, Northern Exposure, Road to Avonlea, All Creatures Great and Small etc.). Oh, and for me, doing German crosswords also does the trick.

Fiona wrote: "I think part of my problem is that - you know if I don't read or have a book to say I am reading rather - for a day the world isn't going to end and be destroyed.

But I always feel as if I have to..."

Yes, Fiona, I feel as if I have to immediately put up a currently reading when I marked one as read on GR.

Kathy wrote: "Fiona wrote: "I think part of my problem is that - you know if I don't read or have a book to say I am reading rather - for a day the world isn't going to end and be destroyed.

But I always feel a..."

That's probably why I always keep a very long currently reading list. Some of the books on that list I have been reading since last November (when I joined GR).

Gundula wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Fiona wrote: "I think part of my problem is that - you know if I don't read or have a book to say I am reading rather - for a day the world isn't going to end and be destroyed.

But I..."

LOL! I love it, Gundula!

Gundula, I do the same thing! I have 3 or 4 books on my currently reading shelf so I never feel any pressure.

Oh Gundula--->BUSTED!
I admit to doing this too. To relieve my guilt I made a new shelf for these waylaid items.
"Bad Girl Didn't Finish" serves as my punishment for neglecting what would have been a good read. Of course it could be that the book itself fizzled
and must share the sentence. It might be more fair to set another shelf for this I suppose.
I often feel like I have cheated the library and all it has done to deliver a desirable book, often making its way en route to me through a ghastly waiting list via my co- "patrons in waiting", numbering well into the thousands. But no matter, the book is dutifully sent to my branch. Funny, I've never seen the books actually being transported - not sure how this works. Once the item arrives I'm sent an e-mail message to pick it up from its shelf, neatly catalogued as "Holds". Someone must have to coordinate all this. I use the library services for about 98% of my reading material. I'm sure everyone is aware of the drill. A lot of library people have a hand in directing this passage. This is why I feel terrible if I neglect to pick an item up in the allotted time or have carelessly requested an item that I have already read But hey,
it happens.
I claim the "So many books. So little time" and just go ahead and reorderthe darned book again. Thankfully no citations from library watchdogs have been issued.
Well this turned a simple reply into a spill.
Now I'm signing off to read. Thanks for listening to my toooolooong post.

Elhara, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I am in the challenge. I have a bunch of books to read. BUT - I just went to two libraries and brought back a bunch of books, most of which I will never have time to read, some I will not even like, and then, most likely, if I am not careful, I will lose some in the house and end up paying fines!!!

I almost need to have loads of books from the library to chose from or I feel bereft. Even if I don't read half of them I like having a choice to fit every mood.

I feel the same way, Lee! How rotten I am! I'm not satisfied if I don't have choices and something waiting for when the current book ends.

Ah, a kindred spirit!

Lee wrote: "I almost need to have loads of books from the library to chose from or I feel bereft. Even if I don't read half of them I like having a choice to fit every mood."

Me too! I have two huge stacks. Must.have.them. And then when I think about returning some....I can't. Unless they're gonna fine me or something.

Heehee, I am gazing at my new stacks right now wondering where to start. Sometimes I have to force myself to pick one or I overthink it.

Hello All! I can totally relate. I currently have a stash of books in my dresser drawer from the library, many of which will be renewed as many times as allowed only to be returned un-read.

Elhara: I often pick up reserves I know I am no longer interested in. I feel so guilty about making them get the item to me so I check it out only to return it on my very next trip.

My library doesn't track books I've borrowed so I don't have that problem. I wonder how yours keeps track? Is it in their computer system? Mine says they purge that for privacy reasons.

I'm not sure if mine tracks books. When I lived in Wisconsin, I think they did.

I don't think I would like this tracking thing -- too much like BIG BROTHER.

I asked if they could look up a book I'd borrowed and returned unread prior, I couldn't remember the title. That's how I found out. ;)

hmm that's wild! I know my local library just switched to a new system that allows you to save your history, but I still don't think they can see it. I'm not sure tho.

I think with all the new electronic bar codes, etc., that it is easy for libraries to see your history. However, I don't think it is any of their business how many times you check out a book, unless it is something like "How to Murder Your Boss". I don't think it was done to deliberately track what a person is reading but more to increase efficiency and keep track of their books. I've purchased books on the internet and whenever I go back, I usually get a "Welcome Back. Maud". Believe, Big Brother is definitely watching.

One of the main (and very undesirable) changes from university to real life was that you can only sign out books for app. three weeks at the public library. When I was doing my graduate work at the University of Waterloo, we were allowed to sign out books for an entire term (as graduate students, undergraduates could not sign them out as long), which was wonderful. And, you also did not get weird looks if you signed out loads of books, it was expected and understood.

Maude wrote: "I think with all the new electronic bar codes, etc., that it is easy for libraries to see your history. However, I don't think it is any of their business how many times you check out a book, unle..."

Maybe it has something to do with the authorities wanting to track supposed or potential terrorists etc. Still, absolutely inappropriate, the government has or should have no right to see what I am reading. I think the authorities are also interested in what kinds of books customers are buying on line (like with Amazon etc.), which is just as scary. Come on, let's say that I am taking a college course on the roots of terrorism and buy some books for the course online, does this now make me a potential person of interest to Homeland (In)security?? Or, if I sign out books for a course on Islam from the library, does that now mean that the library will send this information to some government spy agency? Not acceptable, and very dictatorial (the kind of thing I would expect from countries like the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Burma etc., but not the USA or Canada.

I actually agree with you Gundula. I think I will get in contact with Amazon.com and ask them if I can be removed from their "reading list". I doubt if they will do it, but I am curious as to what they will say.

I check out true crime books. I wonder how the authorities will "profile" me. ;)

I really don't believe the libraries do anything with that information - BUT I am returning the books I got yesterday which I know I don't have time to read and will ask them!

P.S. Mona, the nicest people check out True Crime!

Yup, my hubby loves it! You'd think he was totally sick if you looked at the stuff he checked out at the library. And the fiction he likes is murder mysteries mostly lol.

Maude, good to know. My brother(he's a psychiatrist) was getting a little concerned about my preoccupation with this stuff.

Laura, does he watch the movies too? I've seen Ed Gein, Dahmer(I lived in Milwaukee for years before moving to Florida),etc.

I don't know why I find it so fascinating. My fave genre of books and movies is suspense/thrillers.

Oh lord, he watches everything Mona lol! He loves Forensic Files. He's way into all this stuff.

Laura, is he on GR too? I'd be interested to see his list.

I used to watch CSI but then I kind of lost interest. I do enjoy Criminal Minds depending on the storyline.

If you guys enjoy movies, check out Filmcrave.com, a social networking site for movie-lovers.

I have to admit that I was a true crime afciondo (sp?) for years - I read everything on the Black Dahlia, etc. I think I started young because my mother used to bring home those True Crime magazines with absolutely gory pictures - and I read them which might account for the fact when I got my first apt. I ALWAYS checked closets and under the bed when I got home from work! My mother was a dear soul who wouldn't have hurt a fly and I think I am pretty mellow too so we didn't turn into criminals. I stopped reading them when I became a nurse and acutually saw the results of violence. But I still like a good fiction mystery. My girlfriend and I used to walk by the street where they found the Black Dahlia cut in two (she was gone when we were there)!

Just skimmed the above. Yes, my public library doesn't keep records of past activity so that they're not ever forced by the government or anyone else to reveal patrons' reading habits. They have a record of currently borrowed books and books on reserve (of course) but that's it.

I'd love to see my own record but I guess I should have/could have kept my own.

Maude, my sis-in-law absolutely loves the show Criminal Minds and she is the sweetest person.

I used to live in Milwaukee where the cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer lived. The apartment he used to live in was demolished but some people came by the site and saved some of the wreckage.

I like to read/watch true crime stuff but I'm not at point.

Mona wrote: "Laura, is he on GR too? I'd be interested to see his list.

I used to watch CSI but then I kind of lost interest. I do enjoy Criminal Minds depending on the storyline.

If you guys enjoy movies, ch..."

lol Mona, nope. He thinks I spend way too much time online, and I probably do.

I will never understand how anyone would want anything that monster touched! It would make me sick to even be in a room I knew he had occupied. Same with Manson and others. After I became a nurse, I no longer wanted to watch ER or CSI types of shows - not really sure why - probably because I was seeing reality so didn't need to see the programs.It didn't seem to bother the other nurses, tho'.

Maude wrote: "I will never understand how anyone would want anything that monster touched! It would make me sick to even be in a room I knew he had occupied. Same with Manson and others. After I became a nurse,..."

Me too, I would have nightmares, and it is incredibly disrespectful to the victims. I feel the same way about movies and television series about mass murderers etc. (even worse when the perpetrators or their families actually make money from this).

The Toronto Public Library is the largest of its kind in North America. This leads me to believe it would unfortunately make sense to be used as a monitor for social concerns. However, I recently found an old black and white photograph tucked in a book's inside cover flap. It was one of those old photos with a white scalloped border making me think it was from 50's & 60's. Being what looked to be a family picture I brought it to the librarian's attention. I was a little surprised to hear that they had no access to the book's loan history. The picture is now in the lost and found waiting for someone to claim it.
An interesting discussion this is. Any librarians out there who would like to comment?

Oh, I'm not a librarian. And that's a shame about the lost photo. Though there could be a very, very long list of patrons who borrowed that copy of the book.

A bit of a tangent, but what I've noticed is that when I look for a book to borrow, especially upcoming books, my library often doesn't have them, but the Toronto library usually is listed; I'm always wishing I lived in Toronto because that library seems to have just about every book available for its patrons!

Maude, people probably pick up this stuff to sell on e-bay. People will buy anything. It's rather morbid.

Gundula: Do the perpetrators and/or their families make money off these movies/TV series/books? I didn't think that was allowed.

Elhara: I read in one of these group forums that some libraries have displays set up for interesting things left in library books. People leave photos,greeting cards,...
I wonder if someone recognizes their own possession on display, could they reclaim it?

I didn't think of that, Mona, but who's the next pervert who's buying them!

Maude, I shudder to think of who buys this stuff. Yes, I read and watch movies/TV about true crime but that's it.

Several months ago, I asked my librarian if I could have a list of the books I've checked out. She told me that they don't keep records of that kind. I'd love to have that list, but I'm also glad that they're not keeping those records.

Is anyone old enough to remember checking out a book and looking on the card in the back to see who else had checked it out? That was so interesting to me, living in a small town. I knew most of the people who had read the book, and that told me something about them and about the book. Such uncomplicated times they were.