What people read and why is a pair of questions that have been asked by librarians and those in the book industry for years. It’s a question that can’t really be answered because it changes between people, and even within an individual daily. Those questions won’t be asked here though, because these are the reads some of our librarians use as comfort reads! Get in reader, we’re getting cozy!
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
People who read that title and thought “The Hayao Miyazaki animated film?”, have so much to gain by reading the book. The book vs. movie debate has no home here because they are both delightful and rich in detail that makes the reader (or viewer!) want to escape into that world for a spell.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
One of our librarians read this one during the pandemic. According to them: “The story of a man stuck in his ways being shown something weird and beautiful and deciding to change is as much a part of the fantasy as the gelatinous adolescent green blob that dreams of being a bellhop.” Also available as a book club bag and has a recently published sequel!
The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden
For those who enjoy an emotionally and spatially expansive story, The Enlightenment of Bees is one to consider. Mia’s carefully planned life has imploded and without a plan, decides to follow her dreams. Literally, her dreams seem to be telling her to join her roommate on a globe-trotting humanitarian trip. With a rich cast of characters, readers will witness Mia and her friends navigate the great joys found in unfortunate circumstances.
Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne
The first in The Tales from Pell trilogy, its one of our librarians few personal re-reads. Perfect for lovers of all things fantasy, the books deftly navigate a celebration and critique of the genre. For those who wonder why there must always be capital C, capital O Chosen One or how effective a chainmail bikini is, this hilarious book one to revisit again and again. Audiobook narrated by Luke Daniels.
Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon
A comfort read does not necessarily mean cozy, as we can see by another librarian’s pick! Set in 1964, Alabama, the initial story has all the trappings of a southern bildungsroman, but quickly veers into investigating strange and inexplicable phenomenon simmering beneath an idyllic veneer.