Comfort reads…
Am I the only one who doesn’t have comfort reads? I have an entire bookshelf filled with books I’ve yet to read, so the idea of going back and re-reading something has never really appealed to me. And yet, I hold on to books that I love. (Which fill an entirely different bookcase.) Why? I have no idea. Will I ever re-read them? Probably not. I just like to have them. Maybe that’s the comfort value. Just looking at them and remembering how much I enjoyed them provides a kind of comfort. And I have loaned them out to other readers, so they can enjoy them. So perhaps that is why.
I do have “comfort read” authors. Authors whose books are usually a guaranteed slam dunk page turner for me. If I’m stressed out (did I mention I’m on deadline?) then I don’t want to fool around with something that might or might not satisfy. I think one of the cruel ironies of my life is that while it was my love of reading that spurred my desire to write, since becoming a writer, I have very limited time left over to devote to the very pleasure that got me into this career in the first place. So when I do have the time, and most especially when I most desperately need the escape, I do turn to my “comfort read” authors.
Depending on my mood and needs at the time, depends on who I turn to. If I want to feel embraced by the warmth and familial bonds of a large family, I typically turn to Nora Roberts or Patricia Gaffney. If I want suspense, then I turn to Lisa Scottoline, James Grippando, or Brad Meltzer. If I want funny, I turn to Janet Evanovich, Meg Cabot, Sophie Kinsella, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, or Jennifer Crusie. If I want paranormal I go for Karen Marie Moning or George RR Martin. Historical? Teresa Medeiros or Connie Brockway are both good bets for me. If I need a “category” fix, I turn to Jill Shalvis or some of Nora’s old Silhouette releases I missed the first time around.
Of course, the problem is, I usually suck down the new releases by these authors the moment they hit the shelves. So what to do when in need of that “comfort read” fix, but all the books lining my “to be read” shelves are by authors I have no track record with? What do you do? I rarely read online reviews as they’re often too all over the map for me to make any real kind of call. I ask friends for recommendations. But eventually I just grab one off the shelf and give it a shot. I always hope, with every new author I try, that I find another comfort read - must buy author. It doesn’t happen often, but every time, I hope it does. Because it’s precisely in times like these, that you realize you can’t have too many go-to authors you can depend on.
Which brings me to the long debated question of…just what is it that makes a certain author a must-buy? As both a reader and a writer, I’ve spent a lot of time wondering about this.
What is it about one voice that stands out, that captures my attention, and wins me over for the long haul? And why is it that it doesn’t happen more often? I read a lot of books that are perfectly entertaining and well written, but don’t compel me to dash out and track down every title that author has ever written.
I do know there is nothing more exciting than making a new “discovery” to add to my list. I immediately tell everyone I know to check them out. Even more rewarding, however, is getting a note from a reader telling me I’m one of her comfort reads. I know how good it feels as a reader, so there is no higher compliment as a writer.
So…who are your comfort read authors? (And no, I am NOT asking you all to suck up. 
) Present company totally notwithstanding, whose books do you race out to buy the instant they hit the stands? And, if you’re a re-reader, whose books do you turn to again and again when you need that comfort fix?
I am curious for a lot of reasons, but I’m also asking for a totally selfish reason as well. You see, I need a few comfort reads right about now, and wouldn’t you know, I’ve long since exhausted all my must-buy authors current offerings. So I’m hoping maybe you’ll turn me on to someone I’ve overlooked. And who knows, maybe we’ll all find a few new comfort read authors to add to our must buy lists.
I do re-read, but usually I just go for certain scenes that I liked if i want a quick fix =)
Keep Shelf re-Reads…
Stephen King - Carrie
LOTR Trilogy
Margaret Atwood - Handmaiden’s Tale
Terry Pratchet
Nora Roberts
Lori Foster
Jennifer Cruisie
Donna Kauffman (of course - I especially loved The Charmstone)
MaryJanice Davidson
Michelle Rowan (new find)
Eve Silver (new find)
and
Anthologies - I especially love the Brava ones.
Cheers,
Deb
vicki thompson, leslie kelly, gennita low, alison kent, many blaze authors.
Deb, thanks for sharing your list! I will confess right here, right now, that I am a TOTAL wimp. I cannot read or watch scary stuff. At. All. I know. Wimp, wimp, wimp. I can read suspense as long as it’s not gory and there are no children in jeopardy. But scary stuff like Stephen or Dean Koontz? I know they are tremendous writers and I’ll never be able to appreciate their gifts. Because I’d never sleep again. LOL
Lori is such a doll, and isn’t Mary Janice a hoot! Michelle and Eve are new names to me. What do they write? I’ll have to look them up!
Kim - thanks to you, too! Vicki is one of the nicest people on the planet. I am so thrilled to see her garner such great success. Alison is dear to me - she’s a woman of many talents. In addition to being a kickass writer, believe it or not, she’s the one who keeps this website up to speed!
My auto buy authors are listed on my website
) to that when my work load eases up some. LOL
(http://www.lilcinny.com/). And I have several authors that I intend to add (Donna Kauffman being one of them
I do like to re-read and the *main* books that I go back to are JD Robb’s In Death books. I have others that I love to re-read, but these are the main ones.
My must read authors include Donna Kauffman :), Lori Foster, Nora Roberts (and JD Robb), Julia Quinn, Stephanie Laurens, Emma Holly (hot, hot, hot), Tom Clancy, Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Christine Feehan, Lisa Kleypas and Catherine Anderson. I really enjoy the Brava anthologies and can re-read them quite often. Basically, once I decide that I really like an author, I can re-read his/her stuff every few years or so.
I happen to read very quickly, so I go through a lot of reading material. Thank god for public libraries!
I know what you mean about the scary, but I have a (sick) compulsion that makes me pick them up! It’s probably because the first “adult” novel I read (I was
was Christine (another King). My mother still hasn’t forgiven my Uncle for giving me his copy. I didn’t sleep for WEEKS and I wouldn’t play outside (where cars could get me) either… LOL
As for Michelle & Eve…I should confess to ‘knowing’ both of them (we’re all members of the Toronto Romance Writers), but I wouldn’t recommend thier books if they weren’t great!
Eve Silver (http://www.evesilver.net/) - Gothic historicals, just published her first book (Dark Desires) last year. Her second one - His Dark Kiss - is coming out in November 06. I usually don’t get into historicals, but I couldn’t put Dark Desires down!!
Michelle Rowan (http://www.michellerowan.com) - Bitten & Smitten (Angel with Attitude is out in July 06). She writes along a similar vein (ha ha) as MaryJanice.
Cheers,
Deb
she has done great websites.
I have 12 boxes of keepers. My husband wants me to get rid of some, but they are like old friends. I’m sure some of my favorites are yours too.
C. Neggers, C. Coulter, C. Mann, C. Adair, C. Skye,
C. Feehan, C. Dees, D. Joy, D. Webb, E. Lowell,
H. Howell, I. Johansen, J.A. Krentz, J. McNaught,
J. Garwood, K. Hooper, M. Lovelace, R.D. Owens,
Suz Brockmann, Suz Forster, Tara Janzen, V. Hinze, and Vince Flynn.
Cindy, I have enjoyed the JD Robb series as well, though I confess I’ve fallen behind a bit on the last few. They’re all lined up on my shelf, but I have found myself leaning towards lighter material of late and then all of a sudden, I’m behind! LOL
Susan and Joyce, Great lists! Thanks for reminding me of a few authors that have fallen through the cracks for me lately. And some new names I’m not familiar with as well.
Cherry Adair - great writer and a total hoot in person. If you ever get the chance to meet her, do it, it’s an unforgettable experience! She’s one of a kind in the very best of ways.
Tara Janzen - I’m really liking her “Crazy” books. We both wrote for Loveswept “back in the day” and I’ve loved everything she’s done over the years.
Kay Hooper is another former Loveswept-mate of mine. Love her. Iris J as well. And for that matter, Suzanne Forster,too - isn’t she great? We just did an anthology together that came out last summer. We had a blast. Tami Hoag is another Loveswept alumni whose work I have enjoyed.
My sister is a huge Stephanie Laurens fan. And my agent enjoys Laurell K Hamilton. I tried the latter but it was a bit too spooky for me. Like I said, I’m a wimp. LOL
Great suggestions everyone - a huge THANK YOU!
also love lori foster!
I really enjoy you, Donna Kauffman, (who wouldn’t?!), Meg Cabot, Sophie Kinsella, Jane Austen, as well as many other authors.
I do read your stuff over and over again. I can’t help it! Same with Meg Cabot. If I rush out to buy a book the day it is released, it’s usually by either you or Meg. Speaking of which, I’m REALLY looking forward to March!
Caitlin*
I read many of the mentioned authors, but since I have always tended to read mostly mysteries, my bookshelves are filled with those. Getting more romance books, though. And I like MJD’s Undead series.