Comfort Books

So in the spirit of banned book week, here's another post inspired by author Neil Gaiman. I guess Neil isn't feeling so well this week, and today he Tweeted about 'comfort books', those books you turn to again and again to make you feel better. There are several for me that seem to do the trick.

I have read 'The Gospel According to Biff' by Christopher Moore at least 10 times, and it cracks me up every time I read it. It's the story of Christ told by the lost apostle, Biff, who was Jesus' life long friend. Very irreverent and very much fun. I have given this book out as a gift several times. All of Moore's books are clever and funny, but I think this is my favorite - though if it's around the holidays, 'The Stupedist Angel' does the trick just fine too.

Another favorite is 'The Eyre Affair' by Jasper Fforde. Set in England in 1985, this delightful fantasy series about a criminal mastermind who is altering great literary texts by kidnapping and even killing off characters and the literary detective charged with stopping him is very clever. Very inventive and hilarious.

In a more serious vein, I have always loved 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker. Alice Walker is an amazing writer, and the book is much better than the movie, though I love Whoopi Goldberg anyway.

When I was a kid, I used to love 'Watership Down' by Richard Adams. The not so cute and furry bunny story was very complex, with freedom, choice, and survival positioned front and center.

And I not ashamed to say that the Harry Potter series is another favorite when I'm not feeling well, and even when I'm feeling good. As I've said before, as usual, the books are much better than the movies. And out of respect for the man who inspired this post, 'The Graveyard Book' has been one of my favorite books of the last year. This story of Nobody Owens being taken in and raised by a group of graveyard ghosts is very entertaining. There's a reason it has won the Newbury Medal.

What are your favorite comfort books?