Hello World, it's me again. Sorry I've been MIA, but I've just survived a really rough two weeks. Computer goes down and to the shop, husband has to go out of town, Kid 1 gets strep and refuses fever reducer so I have to check him every hour/ give cold baths/ ice packs in bed, husband comes back but has to immediately go back to work. We just keep telling each other that next week is Spring Break and we can make it. Kid 1 gets better and can go to school on Thursday, that night he had a recital, then we have dinner at dad's. Dad gets really sick over the weekend and we take turns letting out his super old blind and deaf dog. We make it to Monday and take kids to the zoo. Kid 2 has a melt down every few feet. Weird, because she loves the the zoo. She pulls herself together but is totally worn out and I end up carrying her for the last 20 minutes. Fast forward to 1:30 a.m. and I hear Kid 2 crying. Poor pumpkin has grandpa's stomach flu. Over the next two days Kid 1 and I both get sick and my poor husband is taking care of everyone and doing lots of laundry for the kids. Thankfully he never gets sick. I finally went outside for the first time today and felt like a mole man: blinking stupidly at the sunshine, thinking, "So this is the surface world."
During the time that I was staying up late with sick kids or being sick myself, I had a hard time reading. I read Q-Ship Chameleon (the latest sequel to the Castle Federation series) and while I enjoyed it I had difficulty concentrating due to general exhaustion. I didn't want to read new things, so I turned to comfort reads. I read some Jennifer Crusie books because they always make me laugh (even though they are formulaic), Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews because all of her books are great and this one makes me laugh. I would have read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix but I had to stick to kindle books so I could read in the dark. And the kindle was much lighter, which made a difference once I got sick too. But now I really want to read Order of the Phoenix because it's my favorite.
This got me thinking about Comfort Reads. What makes us re-read a book over and over? I tend to turn to them when I need to rest my brain, need cheering up, or to just get out of a rut. Which is odd because you would think that re-reading a book for the umpteenth time would contribute to the rut, but it always helps me get out of one. I realized while writing this that my comfort reads tend to be action-y mysteries with a strong dose of humor. It seems a strange thing to just now notice after so many years of reading.
So the question is, do you have comfort reads? What books do you turn to and what do they do for you? Have you noticed similarities in your comfort reads like I did?
So the question is, do you have comfort reads? What books do you turn to and what do they do for you? Have you noticed similarities in your comfort reads like I did?
That sounds like a really rough 2 weeks. :(
ReplyDeleteI don't reread much these days, but HP is definitely a comfort read. I would love to reread some old favorites, but I have a hard time fitting them in. I guess when I need to comfort read I chose a book from my comfort genre. YA contemporary seems to be my comfort genre.:)
LOL, YA contemporary is hit or miss for me. I was so happy when I had a library aid volunteer to take the YA contemporary romances for me. Which was really funny since before starting at the library she strictly read literary fiction and history. She gave me this "are you crazy?" look when I first started talking to her about YA books. But she got sucked in by the pretty covers and ended up really enjoying them. I find I do better with the quirkier YA contemporaries like Rainbow Rowell or John Green. You know, just something different.
DeleteI reread a lot, and there are definitely books that I keep returning to. I love author Kate Morton - her writing and stories are just so amazing, and I love getting lost in them. If I've read a string of not so great books, I read one of hers to bring my mood back up.
ReplyDeleteThose old favorites just get you back in the mood to tackle new books. I read so much for work, even genres I don't particularly like, that I just need that brain break that comfort reads give.
DeleteHoly moly! That sounds like a rough week. When I'm not feeling good, whether I'm sick, exhuasted, or in a crappy mood, I can't read. I lose the ability to focus. That's usually when I turn to my chick-flicks and catch up on all the shows the Mister has no desire to watch. However, when I'm in a book rut, I do reread my favorites or try to read a book by an author that I know I love.
ReplyDeleteI occasionally get to the point where I don't want to read, but that's rare. I'm not much of a TV watcher unless it's Fixer Upper or Anime. Generally when I'm totally off reading then I'm totally off everything and am completely useless. Sometimes I'll bake, or I'll just go wander around Target for some me time. :)
DeleteOh man that is rough!! Hope everyone is feeling better now. We had strep here last week and it wasn't fun but she got better pretty quick. As far as comfort reads I actually like to comfort listen to old favorites. Especially when I am sick or tired i can listen easier than read.
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant, I never thought of audio books! I would lay in bed whining because I was miserable and bored because I couldn't focus enough to read. Next time I'm getting an audio book.
DeleteOh I'm sorry for you with these difficult past weeks! That sounds really intense and awful for everyone to be constantly sick. D: *sends condolences* I honestly don't have anything particular for "comfort reads"??? It's weird, but I just keep reading whatever, even when I'm done or life is tough.
ReplyDeleteI hope things get better for you soon!!
Do you not reread in general? I know quite a few people who absolutely do not read books more than once, they say there's no point. I find this to be such a foreign concept since I love rereading old favorites.
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