Fall Comfort Reads – A Conversation With Falmouth Public Library

By CALLI REMILLARD

Every reader has his or her own thoughts on what exactly constitutes a “comfort read.” After all, there are hundreds of different kinds of books, and people like what they like for a variety of reasons. There is no right or wrong answer; when it comes to comfort reading, the only thing of importance is your own enjoyment.

That being said, with hundreds of different kinds of books out there, where does one start? When it comes to choosing books, even the most well-read of bibliophiles are bound to seek recommendations here and there.

I sat down with Susan Henken and Jessica O’Connor, two librarians at Falmouth Public Library, to talk all things books on a search for some of the best reads their shelves had to offer. Luckily for me, they arrived with lists of recommendations spanning various genres, bound to have something for everyone.

“I think Sue and I interpreted your email [asking for an interview] slightly differently, which isn’t a bad thing,” Ms. O’Connor said. “When I read you wanted some fall comfort reads, I thought, ‘Okay, no politics, no heavy subjects like gun violence or drugs, anything that’s showing up in the media or anything that’s controversial. I was thinking [about] something that can take you completely away from that.”

Ms. O’Connor’s interpretation of a comfort read seemed on par with my own, but Ms. Henken’s version wasn’t far off, either.

“I interpreted it as things that I love that ended up touching me emotionally in some ways but that didn’t have a lot of darkness to them,” Ms. Henken said. “Maybe a little bit, but by the end it has a relatively happy ending or one that makes you feel good, warm and fuzzy.”

As it turns out, both librarians had pretty similar ideas to what I thought constituted a comfort read, despite those ideas not being totally identical. But one overall theme rang clear: Comfort reads are meant to take you somewhere and make you feel something. And what’s more comforting than getting lost inside a good, captivating story?

“It’s also nice to read those books you loved growing up,” Ms. O’Connor said. “There’s something comforting in going back to a book you really enjoyed, even if it was as a kid. It brings back happy memories and makes you feel good.”

Whether you prefer new books straight off the presses or are more inclined to crack open an old favorite, comfort reading is an entirely subjective experience. So settle in, cozy up and check out the recommendations below to see if any of them fit your idea of “comfort.”

Nonfiction

Nonfiction is a massive genre that encompasses so many different types of stories. From the intoxicating smell of truffles to having an octopus for a teacher to fine art, this list of nonfiction tales is bound to widen your worldview and teach you something new.

• “Truffle Hound: On The Trail Of The World’s Most Seductive Scent With Dreamers, Schemers and Some Extraordinary Dogs” by Rowan Jacobsen

• “​​Bees and Their Keepers: A Journey Through Seasons and Centuries” by Lotte Möller

• “Underwater Wild: My Octopus Teacher’s Extraordinary World” by Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck

• “In Search of Van Gogh: Capturing the Life of the Artist Through Photographs and Paintings” by Gloria Fossi

• “Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person” by Shonda Rhimes

• “In Kiltumper: A Year in an Irish Garden” by Christine Breen and Niall Williams

• “The Comfort Book” by Matt Haig

Fiction

When it comes to fiction, comfort reads tend to follow a similar pattern: They’re relatable, honest and usually pretty reassuring. On the surface, they may seem inherently lighthearted, but, to paraphrase Falmouth Public Library’s teen librarian Meg Krohn, the most comforting part about reading a book is seeing your own experience reflected back at you in a way that isn’t emotionally draining.

“Something like the ‘you’re not alone’ experience, but with humor and wit,” she said in an email. “I read it and feel assured that okay, maybe I am crazy or struggling, but there’s a lot of other people having a similarly difficult experience, and look how smart and funny they are—so I must not be doing too bad.”

The following novels touch on a few different niches—the retelling of a classic, an unlikely friendship, the magic of stories and, of course, love. 

• “Eligible” by Curtis Sittenfeld

• “A Man Called Ove” by Frederik Backman

• “The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend” by Katarina Bivald

• “The Butler” by Danielle Steel

• “Bookshop on the Corner” by Jenny Colgan

• “The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living” by Louise Miller

• “Winter Street” by Elin Hilderbrand

Essays & Poems

Ranging from mindful commentary on classic literature to an almost symphonic ode to the beauty of undisturbed nature and throes of life, these books of poems and essays from and about well-known creators are great for any reader who likes their content in somewhat short, controlled intervals.

• “Now Comes Good Sailing: Writers Reflect on Henry David Thoreau” edited by Andrew Blauner

• “These Precious Days: Essays” by Ann Patchett

• “Call Us What We Carry: Poems” by Amanda Gorman

• “The Voice That Is Great Within Us: American Poetry of the Twentieth Century” edited by Hayden Carruth

Cozy Mysteries

The cozy mystery is a whole genre in and of itself. Ms. Henken estimates that they have between 10 and 20 different series in the mystery section at any given time.

“Basically, cozy mysteries are those series where nothing really dark happens,” she said. “I mean, someone does die, but other than that, they’re pretty engaging.”

With hundreds of different cozy mystery books out there, it can be overwhelming. If you’re looking for something more on the cozy side and a little less intense, Ms. O’Connor recommends the books with a clear holiday theme or an animal or food item in the title as good places to start.

“If you’re looking for something lighthearted, a cozy mystery can fill that void,” she said.

• “The Twelve Jays of Christmas: A Meg Langslow Mystery” by Donna Andrews

• “Apple Turnover Murder” by Joanne Fluke

• “Murder on Cape Cod” by Maddie Day

• “The Santa Suit” by Mary Kay Andrews

Young Adults & Children

Reading doesn’t always have to be a solitary venture. Young adult and children’s books are often the perfect way to spend quality time with loved ones, getting lost deep inside a story together.

“To me, fall and winter are all about snuggling in together to read,” said Laura Ford, children’s librarian at Falmouth Public Library. “In the summer it’s often too hot to snuggle, but once the leaves start to change and the humidity is exchanged for cool crisp air, all I want to do is curl up and read.”

Below are some examples of indulging reads for the whole family.

• “The Lost Spells” by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris

• “Dear My Blank: Secret Letters Never Sent” edited by Emily Trunko

• “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett

• “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster

• “Almost a Full Moon” by Hawksley Workman, illustrated by Jensine Eckwall

• “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon