The Joys of Comfort Reading

Recently I’ve been indulging in some extensive comfort reading; returning to authors from whom I know exactly what to expect, and re-reading old favourites. One novelist that fits right into this category is Donna Leon.

I find it faintly worrying that a murder mystery series seems comforting; particularly since some of her books have pretty bleak outcomes, where real life wins out over justice. But I can’t help it. It’s the descriptions of Brunetti, Paola, and their believable children. I love their strong relationship. (Please don’t tell me if anything bad happens to this in the more recent books. I haven’t got that far yet, and I don’t want to know.) And then – dammit – it’s the food they’re always eating. I’ve discovered that there’s a spin-off cookery book – A Taste of Venice: At Table with Brunetti. I am so asking for that for Christmas.

And of course they get to have grappa at lunchtime, seemingly without any ill effects. I don’t personally like grappa all that much, but it’s the principle of the thing. Their power to overindulge without any consequences – together with Paola’s ability to cook elaborate meals at lunch and supper whilst holding down her lecturer’s job – are the only bits of the novels that might not stand up to scrutiny. But heck, I don’t care.

This blog post was going to end there, but I find I can’t physically press the ‘publish’ button without mentioning Signorina Elettra. In theory, she’s just the assistant to the Vice-Questore, but in practise she’s the power behind the whole Questura, running the joint. She is my heroine.

Bring on the comfort reading…

Pictures courtesy of the very wonderful bigfoto.com

4 thoughts on “The Joys of Comfort Reading”

I'm just as bad, Clare. Crime regularly features as my comfort reading. Am nearly up to the latest Brunetti, and so far all is still well in the family 🙂

LikeLike