Hiphopsideproject

Sometimes when I’m feeling down, angry, or have a need for familiarity, I turn to one of my comfort books. These books are ones that I can read over and over and still enjoy, they’re like family members. Generally mine fall into the category of fantasy fiction, with alternate worlds, differing dimensions, secrets & make-believe. I know I’m not the only one with books like this, we all have special books that we turn to in times of torment – or even just because they’re so damn good that they need reading again – but here is my list of comfort books.

Without a doubt the Harry Potter series has to rank pretty high. The shorter ones are especially good for rainy weekend days, best read curled up in a chair with a coffee and a sleeping kitty. Above you can see a combined effort of all the Harry Potter books that exist in this house. I started reading Harry Potter books when I was young, and I’ve re-read the series several times. The final book came out on the day I graduated from University, I was more excited about that than graduating – in fact I was gutted that I had to waste a day going up on stage in a stupid outfit when I could have been curled up at home reading Harry Potter – I finished reading it just in time to get on a plane to America, I finished it in the car on the way to the airport.

This book. I love this book. I first read this book in Florida on a family holiday, being in a car-crash of American consumerism was a great setting to read it, since then I’ve re-read it time & time again. Without a doubt Neil Gaiman is in my top 3 favourite authors, and American Gods is a masterpiece. If you’ve never read this, please, PLEASE go and take a copy out at the library. Adam first leant me his copy that came from Canada (it’s okay, they mainly spell the right way), it’s now signed by the author (we took it to a Graveyard Book signing in Manchester). I bought another copy (with the cover as above) because I have other Neil Gaiman books in the same cover artwork style. I have a thing for book covers, thus the duplication of several books on our shelves.

I only recently (within the last few years, before the film) started reading His Dark Materials, but they placed themselves into my comfort book category almost instantly. They’re enchanting, fantastical, and an amazing escape. The mingling of scientific theory with outlandish fiction makes these books rank high for me. The lead characters are vulnerable & human, and not everything turns out with a happy ending… oh I was heartbroken. Take these books as you will, either as a set of great fiction, a commentary on religion or an envisioning of unproven theories, I’m sure you’ll still get something from them. I received some amazing hard back copies of the books for Christmas last year so I’m reading them again, and loving them again, and feeling at home again.

I’d love to know what your comfort books are, please leave a comment if you have some :)

I finished reading book 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse books last night (true blood), seems I’d gotten quite obsessed with finishing them seeing as I only started book 1 over Christmas (I picked up the super cheap 8 book box set on Amazon). They were so much fun! No great work of literature, certainly not akin to Anne Rice or any other vampire classics, but the characters are enjoyable, the stories a little silly, and the books totally easy to read. I can say without any hint of doubt that they’re 1billionmillion% nicer than that silly teen vampire series. Yes, Stephanie Meyer, I’m looking at your plagiaristic self. Ho-hum. You should read them though, they’re supreme respite.

Onwards.. I’m restarting book 1 of the Wheel of Time, that ridiculously long series with far too many characters. After reading book 1 I shall then be reading Northern Lights again (my pretty copy), then maybe book 2 of WoT… we’ll see.

What are you reading now?

My reading has taken a blow lately with all the confusion of house moving and camping out, I really haven’t had to time to lose myself in a book. Before all this upheaval started I’d spend most of my lunch hour in the library reading, however I  now spend them trawling shops looking for  new plates, curtains, kitchen ware, blahdeblah (not that I *mind* shopping, though). I’ve been rereading the Sandman comics because they’re quick, and it’s always soothing to read something you’ve read before. The time has come, however, to get back into ‘real’ books… I have a schedule to meet! I picked this out of one of the packed up boxes last night.

I’ve enjoyed all of Gregory Maguire’s books (most of you will know him as the guy that wrote Wicked), my favourite probably being Mirror Mirror (a retelling of snow white), so I’m really looking forward to reading this one. I picked it up for the pricely sum of £2 from that super cheap bookstore I’ve mentioned before (it’s brand new, too!). I’ll let you know how it goes.

So? Who is it? For me, it’s Neil Gaiman. It has to be. I’m not some kinda fangirly ‘omgosh he’s so in vogue’ kinda fan. I’ve been reading and rereading his books and graphic novels for nigh on 7 years now, having been introduced to him by Adam. Last night we got to go to a reading/q&a about his new book, ‘The Graveyard Book’. It was an epic encounter, for many reasons, and definitely deserves a whole blog post about it!

Shitting hell though, the motorway was well packed up when we set off causing us to be a few minutes late. We even RAN from the carpark to the venue, which made me get asthma, tuh. Sorry if anyone there heard a coughing girl whilst Neil was reading :/ Anyway, luckily we didn’t miss anything ‘cos there was this n00b from the University talking for a few minutes beforehand. We did manage to get there in time for the epoch opening band though :D So, kids, apparently Jonathon Coulton (you know, the guy who wrote that song at the end of the orange box?) was playing at one of the Academy’s that night too and loads of geeks people had emailed Neil to complain about having to make one of the hardest decisions of their lives. Neil, being the ever so kind man that he is, wanted to reward those who’d made the right choice at attending his event by arranging a special 2 song gig by Paul & Storm and Jonathon. Totally rocked my almost-asthma-attacking socks! I have a couple of short videos somewhere.. Anyway, Jonathon sang Skull Crusher Mountain which was fantabulous.

Ok, so after the intro band, Neil started reading from ‘The Graveyard Book’. Unfortunately we didn’t have the time for a full chapter so we got half of chapter 3. The book sounds so so good, even though it’s a childrens book (think… coraline, but aimed at slightly older kids) it still has that Gaiman edge that makes such a special read. I’ve yet to read it in full so I’ll talk about it more when I’ve completed it.

There was then a Q&A, much hilarity ensued when someone asked about what it was like meeting Steve Ditko. Not ‘cos of Ditko himself, rather who Neil met him with… the currently infamous Jonathon Ross. Oh-a-ho-ho!

Yes, anyway, then was the signing… I asked Neil how Robopanda was doing… He said he hadn’t had chance to play with him much. Bah! I got my new copy of The Graveyard Book signed and an aged copy of American gods that belongs to Adam (it’s been read twice by Me, Adam and Adams brother.. it’s kinda like a relic). Yes, super fun times!

Taken by Adam with super blurry camera!