Comfort Food (Booking Through Thursday)

On Reading 18 Comments

Be sure to visit the original post at Booking Through Thursday for links to all the other entries–they are really fun to read.

Okay . . . picture this (really) worst-case scenario: It’s cold and raining, your boyfriend/girlfriend has just dumped you, you’ve just been fired, the pile of unpaid bills is sky-high, your beloved pet has recently died, and you think you’re coming down with a cold. All you want to do (other than hiding under the covers) is to curl up with a good book, something warm and comforting that will make you feel better.

What do you read?

I would turn to something that I’ve read before. In all honestly, it’d probably be Stephen King, for several reasons:

  • His books are easy to get sucked into, and therefore perfect for distracting me from thinking about my troubles.
  • His books are really long, so they guarantee as many hours of distraction as I need.
  • His characters are suffering things that are far, far worse than anything that’s ever happened to me, but since it’s not realistic, it’s entertaining and not depressing.
  • Even though I know where the story’s going, Stephen King’s books are filled with marvelous digressions of character and back story that never cease to surprise and delight me when I’m rereading.

BTT also asks:

(Any bets on how quickly somebody says the Bible or some other religious text? A good choice, to be sure, but to be honest, I was thinking more along the lines of fiction…. Unless I laid it on a little strong in the string of catastrophes? Maybe I should have just stuck to catching a cold on a rainy day….)

I would not turn to my Bible as a way to escape from my troubles. When I’m ready to deal with what’s going on, I would definitely turn to the Bible to help me connect with God, probably by praying through the Psalms. Reading the Bible has never been “warm and comforting” to me, at least not in the way the question is worded. It can be a source of comfort, but it’s comfort I have to work for and be ready for because I have to get involved and confront my pain.

18 thoughts on “Comfort Food (Booking Through Thursday)”

  5. I’ve never gotten into Stephen King, but my mom liked him.

    Your answer to the second part is intriguing. I have derived a lot of comfort from the Bible, but, as you said, it’s not an escapist kind of comfort and there is usually something I have to face or deal with.

  8. Yeah, I don’t think I would turn to King during those times. He’s too scary. But I would turn to God! Have a great day! Love your header.

  9. I have never read any King’s books but I have seen the movies. Some in my IMO was good and other were okay 🙂

    Great answer! Happy BTT!

  11. Holmes and maybe Harry Potter… Not to mention any work by Pu. La. Deshpande.

    No matter how many times I read these, they put me straight back in comfort zone.

  12. I HAD to come visit another Kingaholic! It’s good to know I’m not alone (when I answered the question, I was all like.. yeah, I know everyone’s going to want to read something funny or cheerful… I’m going to really stick out as strange). I’m glad to know if I AM strange, at least I’m among good company 🙂

  14. Oh, I agree, King just sucks you into the story.

    I’m enjoying your blog so much I’ve added you to my blogroll. Hope you don’t mind.

  17. Hi Superfast…

    New reader to your site, discovered through the Daily Blog Tip contest… I see I’m going to be spending my weekend here 🙂

    Any way – I used to be a great SK fan and consumed everything he put out. But I found myself being sooo frustrated with his endings… as if he ran out of steam. I think it started with Needful Things.

    But I list the Stand as one of my all time favorites.

    Love your comments on the Bible as well.

    1 more thing..thanks for the link to LibraryThing. I’ve tried some of the other book sites and have been disapointed. LibraryThing looks good.

    Great site!

    Glenn

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