Hi, Tawny - I love the Belgariad. Love it. I still remember buying the books when I was in high school, and they've stayed with me through about a dozen moves and at least two dozen book purges since then. Let's see...my Linda Howards, her early SIMs and STs. Early Janet Evanovichs. My sister introduced me to Laurie R King, who writes an incredible series about Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell, and to Lois McMaster Bujold and Miles Vorkosigan, although my favorite is Cordelia's Honor.

When I'm sick I usually choose a few of these and cherry-pick my favorite scenes. I hope you feel better soon!

This is going to sound strange, but I love Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. My brother gave this to me as a gift(complete with a stinky scratch and sniff sticker on the cover) when I was very young and I've loved it ever since. It just cracks me up and reminds me of younger days, when life was worry free. Plus kid and young adult books have alittle larger words and less pages, so easy on sicky eyes;)

I've had the headache from he#% the last few days. I should just dig out some junior high books. It's fun to feel young and carefree during the story:)

Mine is Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer. I have read that book a dozen times, and picked up favorite passages from time to time. I LOVE that book. It's just one of those books that always makes me cry, and I do love a tear-jerker. I'm also a fan of the feel-good movie, like "Pretty Woman" if I'm too sick to read, but if I can read, I always turn to those romances that first made me fall in love with the genre.

Shirley

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Coming this fall: MIRACLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE (Harlequin Romance) and REALLY SOMETHING another Hot Romantic Comedy from Zebra Books
www.shirleyjump.com or read “Eating my Words”

Depends on how sick -- really sick, I'm laying on the couch and just want to watch TV, probably Buffy or whatever's on, nothing that takes too much energy to think about.

If I'm just feeling crappy or depressed, still mobile, then I like to read, but you're right, not typically anything too sexy, more light-hearted or paranormal -- always in the mood for paranormal. Maybe read about a heroine who's suffering more than I am, LOL. I don't have any tried and true comfort reads, though -- maybe once upon a time I would have said Nora, but I rarely re-read these days...

Sam

Great topic, Tawny! When I'm sick or feeling blue I alway pick up Shana by Kathleen Woodwiss or Lisa Kleypas' Dreaming of You or Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsay. Love, love, love them. Actually, I don't have to be sick to get them out and read them again. A rainy day will do the trick too. :-)

Carla

"When I Fall in Love" by Iris Rainer Dart (who also wrote "Beaches") It's such a positive, uplifting book on keeping life joyful even with tragedy. It makes me cry and laugh out loud. I read it first after a family death and it lifted my spirits. Now it's my comfort read. Whenever I find extra copies, I buy them to give to others.

Feel better, Tawny.

Funny thing is that I'll pick up favorite books, but I won't read them start to finish. I'll flip through to my favorite parts and just reread those.

Mostly, though, if I'm feeling sick or down, my favorite thing to do is read a NEW book. It's certainly something I don't do often enough!

but I don't read when I am sick or depressed. I just want to be left alone in a quiet, dark room. If I live I will venture out in a couple days and if not you might just check on me to make sure. I do, however, have a couple books I have read at least half a dozen times each. They are "The Walking Drum" or "Last of the Breed" by Louis L'Amour and surprisingly enough neither are westerns. I love these books and always get lost in the story just like it was the first time I read them

I hope you feel better soon. I have a bunch of keepers but I've never gone back to re-read them. I always say I will, but there are too many other books out there I want to read. I'm worried, too, that I'd be disappointed the second time around. lol

My favorite "comfort" reads are
1) Dark Desire by Christine Feehan - I adore this book.
2) Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
3) Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
4) Flowers in the Storm by Laura Kinsale
5) Candle in the Window by Christina Dodd
6) Shield's Lady by Amanda Glass (aka Jayne Ann Krentz)
7) Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey
8) Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

I will never get tired of reading these books. I just wish I had more time to read!

Great question, Tawny. I have so many books to read that I don't have time for re-reads. I have books on my keepers shelf just in case *grin*.

I tend to read category books from my subscriptions normally and save the bigger books for when we're travelling or on holiday.
When I'm feeling poorly, I will treat myself to one of the bigger books - usually the rom coms or the light-hearted ones (no head for maurder and gore when my nose is stuffed up!). Funnily enough, that's how I got into Shirley Jump's books. The Bride Wore Chocolate was the perfect flu antidote! Anything by Susan Mallery works too.

Some of those books that I always read when I am down is Dara Joy's Matrix of Destiny series. They helped me over a really hard time in my life and I know that they lift my spirit

The only thing I reread are books in series that are so far inbetween publishing that I have to go back to remember everything lol. All my books are keepers but I just have too much in my tbr pile - there are so many new books I always want to read.

Get well soon :)

I don't really read much when I'm not feeling well either. When I'm sick, I'm more of a visual entertainment or just sleep, kind of person.

I do have a few books that I've kept through the years just because they inspire me though - and every now and then I get them out and thumb through and read some of my favorite scenes, just to remind myself of the feelings I hope to inspire in readers some day.

I have the whole set of Nora Robers, McKade brothers series. I LOVE those brothers and the woman that caught them.

There was also a Royally Wed series that Silhouette did several years ago. Usually, I'm not into the whole made up countries and royalty, but these were great books! My favorite, I think, Undercover Princess by Suzanne Brockmann. Especially the desk scene, if it's the one I'm thinking of.

Anyway - hope you're feeling better, Tawny!

My favorite pick me up reads are by Nora Roberts, Suzanne Brockmann and Virginia Kantra. Doesn't matter if the books are their category or single title releases *g* They always make me feel better :-)

The Belgariad is a fun re-read (it was fun the first time around, too!) Hmm... There are a couple of Jennifer Crusies I like to reread (parts of, generally--I don't always re-read the entire book)--Welcome to Temptation and The Cinderella Deal. I also like SEP's Ain't She Sweet, It Had to Be You, and Heaven, Texas. I've also enjoyed rereading The Princess Bride a couple times...

I'd never thought about it until now! When I need something familiar and comforting, whether I'm sick or just down, I usually pick up either The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher- I love the way the main character has such a positive, grounded sense of herself or Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart- the chase through southern France literally fills your senses and the suspense is wonderful!

Hugs on the ickies. I know that feeling. I've never given your question any thought, but when I'm feeling under the weather I don't have a particular book I re-read. I will usually choose one I've never read before and if I can't get into it I'll switch to another one.

Lindsey

I have no traditions in reading ... other than around christmas I read holiday stories :)

for all the well-wishes. I'm better now (almost) and appreciated going back through and reading all the nice get wells, and making a list of books I need to read LOL.