I’m taking part in Absolute’s Write‘s first blog chain of 2010. The theme for this blog chain is guilty pleasures. There have already been many posts, all of them amazing and tough to follow! I’m going to try my best, though.
My guilty pleasures are… well, there’s not much guilt in them, so much as I know they’re comforting. Like many other people, I find myself giving the chocolate and cake displays a speculative glance after a bad day (especially a bad day at work). Some days Peanut M&Ms just make everything better.
On the other hand, there are certain books and authors that I deem ‘comfort reading’. I usually save their new releases for a day off, if I can, or I reread them after having a bad day. I don’t consider them trashy or ‘easy’ books–one person’s favourite reread can be the book someone else couldn’t finish–but I know what to expect. I can lose myself in the pages for as long as I like, and there is no higher praise for a book than that.
One of my ‘comfort authors’ is Sarah Dessen. While her latest book, ALONG FOR THE RIDE, was released in the US last June, it’s finally been released over here now. Sarah is one of my favourite authors, though I came to her late. I don’t consid
er her books too light or fluffy, since they do tackle serious topics but don’t get bogged down by them, but they are comfort reads nonetheless. I can’t wait to sit down with her latest UK release and get stuck in. And even though her books often work from a similar formula, each situation is treated a little differently; no book is exactly the same as its predecessor. And for a little while, at least, I can get lost in someone else’s story, whose problems may be similar to ones I faced or still face, or completely different to any I’ve experienced. It’s a bit like the appeal of reality TV or talk shows–your life could be much, much worse.
So that’s 
what I’m going to do once I’ve posted this blog–I’m settling down with a cup of tea and ALONG FOR THE RIDE. I’ve already read about 70 pages and I can’t wait to get back to it. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to finish it. Otherwise, I’m going to try and read as much as I can before I have to get some sleep for work (and this is why it’s better to save a favourite read for a day off, so you don’t need to get up early the next morning!)
Other authors I consider comfort reads include: Jacqueline Carey, Tamora Pierce, Sarah Waters, Ilona Andrews, and Robin Hobb. As you can see, I also consider authors of the huge fantasy tomes to be comfort reads; one of my favourite things is to settle down with Jacqueline Carey’s latest book and read, and read, and read.
So, yes, Peanut M&Ms can sometimes make everything better. But Peanut M&Ms and a good book can make everything awesome.
The Chain:
Claire Crossdale – http://theromanticqueryletter.blogpost.com
Fresh Hell – http://freshhell.wordpress.com
shethinkstoomuch – http://shethinkstoomuch.wordpress.com
lostwanderer5.blogspot.com – http://www.lostwanderer5.blogspot.com
Lindzy1954 – http://www.lindsayncurrie.webs.com
RavenCorrinnCarluk – http://www.ravencorinncarluk.blogspot.com
Forbidden Snowflake – http://alleslinks.com/
AuburnAssassin – http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/
DavidZahir – http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/
Charlotte49ers – www.amandaplavich.com
collectonian – http://collectonian.livejournal.com <– PREVIOUS
vfury – https://helencorcoran.wordpress.com/ (ME)
Bsolah – http://benjaminsolah.com/blog <– NEXT
JackieA – http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/
LadyCat – http://carolsrandomness.blogspot.com
AimeeLaine – www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog
Helen Corcoran 
I loved the way you turned guilty pleasure into a comfort instead. Well done!
Thank you! Hee, I guess I find it difficult to be guilty about my guilty pleasures.
Peanut M&M’s do indeed make everything awesome! I like the idea of having a “comfort” book. I like it a lot.
Some days you just need ’em. And it’s nice to have a particular author or book to tun to on those days that I write off at, oh, 9.05am…
Methinks we all have authors that are the equivalent of a teddy bear.
Definitely. 🙂
I’m with you … peanut M&Ms and a good book, while snuggled under a blanket in front of a fire. Mmmmmm! 🙂
Ah, I miss living in a house with a functional fireplace! There’s nothing better. It’s one of the reasons I love going back to my dad’s.
My “comfort reads” include mystery writers like Ruth Rendell and PD James, Dorothy Sayers, etc. They are even better with peanut m&ms. 🙂
Comfort reads are essential, I feel. Along with chocolate. 😉
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