Keep Calm and Read on
Comfort Reading in Times of Trouble
Dear fellow book lovers and reading buddies,
I considered a number of topics for this newsletter but so many things have lost their significance in recent days. I know that I am having trouble getting into heavier reads and books dealing with traumatic events. Recently, I had begun listening to The Worst Hard Time, about the epic dust bowl catstrophe in the 1930s. After I was about a quarter through, I found myself becoming more uncomfortable and distressed. The events being described in the book started to sound eerily familiar…and this was a week ago.
Right now I need books to comfort me and to provide an escape. Maybe you feel the same! With that in mind I have listed below some suggestions for comfort and escape reading. First let me define what I mean. “Comfort reading” is reading books that make you feel good and do not stress you out. I also think rereading favorite books is a great way to find comfort in reading. Since the plot is familiar, it is less stressful, like meeting up with an old friend. “Escape reading” involves books with a fast moving plot that draw me in and are hard to put down. Escape reading allows me to shut out my surroundings for period of time. And yes, books can be both a comfort and an escape. I think reading for comfort is also an escape but I don’t think it necessarily works the other way around.
Books to Read for Comfort
The Shell Seekers (also Winter Solstice & Coming Home) by Rosamund Pilcher
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg
A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by MA Shaffer and A Barros
Ann of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
Chocolat (plus the 2 sequels) by Joann Harris
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Books to Escape Into
The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriary
The Mother In Law by Sally Hepworth
The Winds of War & War and Rememberence by Herman Wouk
Mystery series with likable detectives and other recurring characters:
The Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny – read in order, first book is Still Life
The Commissrio Brunetti series by Donna Leon, set in Venice. The first book is Death at La Fenice
The #1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith
Here is what I am NOT reading right now:
• Distopian or apocalyptic novels (and I usually love these).
• Books with a lot of violence, trauma or dysfunctional families.
• Books dealing with larger issues like the environment or self-help.
I am trying to take things one day at a time and I feel like getting through each day is enough, I don’t need to add worry stones to my backpack.
Here are 3 great sources for cheap deals on electronic books.
Book Bub - you need to sign up for their listings
Modern Mrs Darcy’s daily e-book deals - you can check listings or sign up for her daily e-mail with links.
Mom Advice Book Deals - regularly updated
What about Audio Books?
Looking for inexpensive audio books? Don’t forget about the Libby App where you can access your public library’s books with out ever leaving home.
To purchase audio books at a great price check out Chirp Audio - often their books are under $3.00. Right now one of my fun favorites from last month, An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good, is only $1.99 and The Book Women of Troublesome Creek which I haven’t read but have heard great things about is $4.99.
Recommended Eats
We are all spending more, if not all our time at home. Here are a couple quick and easy recipes that I have made in the past couple days.
Dutch Baby
This is a longtime family favorite!! This giant puffy pancake is easy to make and delicious to eat. Serve with fruit, whipped cream, maple syrup or any favorite topping.
Preheat oven to 425. Set 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup) in a cast iron, enamel, ceramic or glass baking dish and place in over for butter to melt while oven preheats.
Blend 5 eggs, 1 1/4 cup of flour and 1 1/4 cup of milk together (use hand held mixer or blender). When the butter is melted and oven preheated, pour batter into baking dish. Return to oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.
Cut into wedges and serve with powder sugar and lemon, maple syrup or cinnamon sugar.
Quick and Healthy Veggie Salad - adapted from Leslie Bridges
We can’t just eat for comfort, we also need to nourish our bodies. This simple but yummy salad is an easy way to increase our veggie intake. You can eat it for lunch, a healthy snack or as a side with dinner.
Chop the following into smallish-bite size pieces:
1 - 1.5 cups broccoli
1 - 1.5 cups cauliflower
1 cup celery
1 cup carrots
1 cup bell peppers
1 cup raw zucchini
1 cup artichoke hearts – canned or marinated
Mix all together and drizzle with a vinegarette (store bought or homemade – my recipe below)
Add ½ cup – 1 cup of feta or blue cheese. Mix well and refrigerate till serving.
To turn into a meal, add a can of cooked chicken or tuna.
Also feel free to add or subtract veggies based on preferences. Use what you have, don’t let things go to waste.
Jam Jar Vinaigrette:
Place the following in a jam jar (or container with tight fitting lid)
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon sea salt + more if needed
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper + more if needed
Seal and shake vigorously. Keep refrigerated. If this is too tangy for you add a bit of honey or granulated sugar.
Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are. – Mason Cooley
So lets all keep calm and carry on enjoying what we can each day. I would love to hear about any books you are finding comfort in right now! Feel free to e-mail me back and be sure to share this with others who may enjoy