It’s still only mid-November, but yet inspiration is running a bit thin. Here is a list of my favourite re-reads (books or authors) for when I am not feeling strong. Do tell me yours.
We had a big hardback collected Fr Brown Short Stories by GK Chestertonbook at home when I was growing up but I only turned to them when I had read “The Queer Feet” in a school anthology. I am still very fond of them.
My sister-in-law introduced me to “The Diary of a Provincial Lady” by EM Delaware and I love it. I still have her copy – for which I am truly sorry – and the sequel (which I bought for myself and is very good also but not, alas, as good). It’s a series of diary entries by the slightly hapless provincial lady of the title. Laugh out loud funny sometimes.
I very much enjoy the “Mapp and Lucia” books by EF Benson. The later books, set in lovely Rye, feature two middle aged middle class English ladies who are bitter rivals. The earlier books before Lucia moves to Rye and encounters Miss Mapp are hilarious also. Delightful.
Any regency romance by Georgette Heyer as explored extensively recently.
The Terry Pratchett “Discworld” books. I particularly like Tiffany Aching, junior witch. Some of the “Discworld” books are better than others but I usually enjoy one that features Death and/or witches.
“Pride and Prejudice” is everyone’s favourite Jane Austen book for a reason.
All of PG Wodehouse. Like everyone, I love Bertie Wooster but I also have a soft spot for the golfing stories.
Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Miss Marple detective stories are great for a comforting re-read. There was an excellent article in the Irish Times recently about how well she stands the test of time.
Like many another person, I do like “Cold Comfort Farm“. Comforting and funny at the same time with a neat happy ever after ending for everyone.
I’m a big fan of children’s books. I’ve been re-reading the CS Lewis “Narnia” books for years. I have also re-read all of the JK Rowling “Harry Potter” books a number of times which considering that the first one came out when I was 28 suggests an ongoing openness to children’s literature. I really enjoyed the Noel Streatfeild books when I was a child and I still like them. “Apple Bough” is my favourite.
I’m a big fan of the Saki short stories which I first discovered in school through “The Lumber Room” and the slightly sinister “Sredni Vashtar”. Now though, I like the chronicles of the utterly, vile and unscrupulous Clovis the best.
I enjoy the Myles na gCopaleen collected newspaper articles which my father introduced me too when I was young (by introduced I mean he was always re-reading them and I was curious). Consistently clever and funny.
Many of the books you quote are unknown to me, however Wodehouse, Saki, Agatha Christie are old favourites. I keep going back to Jalna, to the Spenser series by Robert Parker, to Cheaper by the dozen or The egg and I, and an old Stephen King from time to time. Comfort reading.
Courage for the rest of the month !
Josephine Tey, Dorothy Sayers and Ngaio Marsh are my go to comfort rereads.
Perversely, Persuasion has always been my favourite Jane Austen novel, although P&P is a close second.
Viviane, I don’t know Jalna or the Spenser series and now I am curious. A quick look at the internet suggests I might really like the Jalna books. How exciting. Spenser seems less likely to appeal as I don’t generally love police thrillers. Definitely no Stephen King for me; too terrifying. I am v fond of the Betty McDonald books also.
TM, I like all of these as well but find them a bit on the hard side. Not a comfort re-read for me. I re-read Persuasion in the last 12 months and found myself slightly annoyed with the heroine which always makes for an unsatisfactory read.