Books have always been a refuge for me. I had a rather tough time as a child and teen. I am absolutely convinced that it was hiding away in books that kept me from making the kind of decisions I would regret as an adult. I LOVE "comfort reading". Reading things that make me feel good make me a nicer person and mum! Your books do have challenge Libby, they are just not in your face challenges. The lido challenged me to stop being a wuss about the cold and go swimming with my daughter. She is seven and faster than me. But, we have so much fun with it now! I just take a big flask of hot tea with me to warm up with afterwards. The 24 Hour Cafe challenged me to reach out to my childhood bestie. The Island Home challenged me to connect more in my community. The Vintage Shop of Second Chances gave me permission to wear my outrageous 50s gear that sits in my cupboard. Finally the Lifeline (also a swimming challenge) was just divine. Your books are comforting AND challenging in their own way. The characters don't say "go do that" they ask "would you like to come with me?"
Love love love your work. My husband is getting me all of your books for Christmas (I know it's a bit early, but I know what I want haha).
Thank you for sharing your story and for your kind words about my books. It means so much to hear that you've enjoyed them and that they've inspired you in different ways. Well done you for pushing yourself to try new things! And I totally agree about comfort reading - I am a big comfort reader myself!
I also agree that a book can be many things and a specific genre can be something we reach for at different times of our lives, for different reasons. I feed my soul with books that I feel I need and sometimes that can be for comfort. You’re right Libby, it’s not about the prizes you win but the people you write for and having read 2 of your books to date — I have absolutely loved them. :-)
Totally agree! I too like to read in quite an organic way, switching between comfort books when I need them and then non-fiction when I feel in the mood for learning something new. Thank goodness that there are all types of books out there for us all to enjoy! So pleased you have enjoyed some of my books!
I think you’re absolutely right, Libby. Who cares if a book doesn’t fit into a snobby box (for want of a better phrase) as long as the reader is enjoying it. Books transport us to another place and gives us precious moments of solitude away from the madness of life as it is today.
Books have always been my happy place, that's one of the reasons I became a writer. I do find it hard when people consider some books more 'worthy' than others because they're more literary or tragic though. I don't think there is a right, or a wrong way to read, (even though both my kids have been told this by their teachers), or books that are more worthwhile than others. Instead I've always believed that there is a book out there for everyone.
I completely agree. I can't stand literary snobbishness. Different books serve different purposes and I personally think the importance of comfort reads can't be underestimated. Plus it is not at all true that 'easy reads' are easy to write. It requires a lot of thought to craft a novel that will enable the reader to switch off and relax into the story.
I've heard of comfort food - and so why not 'comfort reads'? I've never thought of that until reading your post! But you are right, books are (or at least can be) comfort - some can make us very UNcomfortable too, but we have that choice. Sometimes easy comfort ready is what is needed.... and I too have read Pages and Co series based on recommendation from my 11 year old god-daughter and i loved it!
Your books are a real comfort treat which is why I personally look forward to them . I also find comfort in books that are a series like Elly Griffiths and Richard osman write . The familiarity of recurring characters and how they’ve developed over the series is also a comfort read for me
Thank you so much. And great point about series - I agree that it can be really comforting to sink back into a familiar setting with characters you already know and love.
I’m not sure if my previous comment arrived due to IT issues so I’m sorry if this is repeated somewhere else in cyber space. I have just finished reading ‘The Lifeline’. It was a warm, comfortable read, I could almost picture the river bank and the willows, it was like floating in a warm bath. Books were and are my lifeline in a harsh world so I totally fell into the concept even though I’m no swimmer! Have you any more books planned about Kate, Jay, Rosie and their friends in their gentle river world!
Comfort read really does describe your books; the stories are so relatable and I have loved reading all of them, although The Lifeline the least. This was because there was too much use of the F word and that spoilt the flow of the read for me. I wonder if any of your other readers found the same.
Thanks for your kind words Pam. Sorry to hear you felt that way about The Lifeline. It just so happened that Phoebe ended up being a sweary character who used wry humour to counteract the tough things she dealt with in her daily life. Interestingly in my personal life I hardly swear at all but sometimes my characters do - and when they do I feel I have little control over it - they come to feel like very real people who say and do what they like!
Books have always been a refuge for me. I had a rather tough time as a child and teen. I am absolutely convinced that it was hiding away in books that kept me from making the kind of decisions I would regret as an adult. I LOVE "comfort reading". Reading things that make me feel good make me a nicer person and mum! Your books do have challenge Libby, they are just not in your face challenges. The lido challenged me to stop being a wuss about the cold and go swimming with my daughter. She is seven and faster than me. But, we have so much fun with it now! I just take a big flask of hot tea with me to warm up with afterwards. The 24 Hour Cafe challenged me to reach out to my childhood bestie. The Island Home challenged me to connect more in my community. The Vintage Shop of Second Chances gave me permission to wear my outrageous 50s gear that sits in my cupboard. Finally the Lifeline (also a swimming challenge) was just divine. Your books are comforting AND challenging in their own way. The characters don't say "go do that" they ask "would you like to come with me?"
Love love love your work. My husband is getting me all of your books for Christmas (I know it's a bit early, but I know what I want haha).
Have a lovely day.
Thank you for sharing your story and for your kind words about my books. It means so much to hear that you've enjoyed them and that they've inspired you in different ways. Well done you for pushing yourself to try new things! And I totally agree about comfort reading - I am a big comfort reader myself!
I also agree that a book can be many things and a specific genre can be something we reach for at different times of our lives, for different reasons. I feed my soul with books that I feel I need and sometimes that can be for comfort. You’re right Libby, it’s not about the prizes you win but the people you write for and having read 2 of your books to date — I have absolutely loved them. :-)
Totally agree! I too like to read in quite an organic way, switching between comfort books when I need them and then non-fiction when I feel in the mood for learning something new. Thank goodness that there are all types of books out there for us all to enjoy! So pleased you have enjoyed some of my books!
I think you’re absolutely right, Libby. Who cares if a book doesn’t fit into a snobby box (for want of a better phrase) as long as the reader is enjoying it. Books transport us to another place and gives us precious moments of solitude away from the madness of life as it is today.
Totally agree Rosy!
Everyone can't be Tolstoy. I'm happy if someone likes my writing. Being entertaining (or comforting) is a lot better than being boring.
I completely agree!
Well said!
Books have always been my happy place, that's one of the reasons I became a writer. I do find it hard when people consider some books more 'worthy' than others because they're more literary or tragic though. I don't think there is a right, or a wrong way to read, (even though both my kids have been told this by their teachers), or books that are more worthwhile than others. Instead I've always believed that there is a book out there for everyone.
I completely agree. I can't stand literary snobbishness. Different books serve different purposes and I personally think the importance of comfort reads can't be underestimated. Plus it is not at all true that 'easy reads' are easy to write. It requires a lot of thought to craft a novel that will enable the reader to switch off and relax into the story.
I've heard of comfort food - and so why not 'comfort reads'? I've never thought of that until reading your post! But you are right, books are (or at least can be) comfort - some can make us very UNcomfortable too, but we have that choice. Sometimes easy comfort ready is what is needed.... and I too have read Pages and Co series based on recommendation from my 11 year old god-daughter and i loved it!
Totally agree! And I love that you loved the Pages and Co books too. I adored them!
Your books are a real comfort treat which is why I personally look forward to them . I also find comfort in books that are a series like Elly Griffiths and Richard osman write . The familiarity of recurring characters and how they’ve developed over the series is also a comfort read for me
Thank you so much. And great point about series - I agree that it can be really comforting to sink back into a familiar setting with characters you already know and love.
I’m not sure if my previous comment arrived due to IT issues so I’m sorry if this is repeated somewhere else in cyber space. I have just finished reading ‘The Lifeline’. It was a warm, comfortable read, I could almost picture the river bank and the willows, it was like floating in a warm bath. Books were and are my lifeline in a harsh world so I totally fell into the concept even though I’m no swimmer! Have you any more books planned about Kate, Jay, Rosie and their friends in their gentle river world!
Comfort read really does describe your books; the stories are so relatable and I have loved reading all of them, although The Lifeline the least. This was because there was too much use of the F word and that spoilt the flow of the read for me. I wonder if any of your other readers found the same.
Thanks for your kind words Pam. Sorry to hear you felt that way about The Lifeline. It just so happened that Phoebe ended up being a sweary character who used wry humour to counteract the tough things she dealt with in her daily life. Interestingly in my personal life I hardly swear at all but sometimes my characters do - and when they do I feel I have little control over it - they come to feel like very real people who say and do what they like!