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The Language of the Night: In Praise of Comfort Reads [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-02-03
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, William Wordsworth wrote, “The world is too much with us, late and soon,” and man! can we not relate? The world is far too much with us. The past two weeks have felt like a century, and the onslaught of bad has been orchestrated to keep our attention divided and ourselves paralyzed — no sooner do we begin to grasp one horrible action than three more come knocking for attention — and a century’s worth of impeachable offenses piles up each week. “For this, for everything, we are out of tune.” It’s enough to drive an introvert … well, let’s just say that I know now why anchorites walled themselves away from the world: a little room, access to books, a bit of garden, and no people except the novices who brought meals.
We can’t be anchorites now, but we can reach for a bit of comfort, touchstones to keep us grounded. Many of us have a bit of garden, or a few carefully tended pots in a window. We have books that provide a refuge from a world that wants us to “lay waste our powers.” Although that world will need us (very soon, I fear) to come out of our collective crouch and start “howling at all hours,” there is also need for respite and recollection of energy, the summoning up of resolve and gathering of force.
Before that, though, there’s the deep breath. That’s where we are. Our Congress is as befuddled as we are, unsure where to start or how to be effective. A little planning, a deep breath, some prethinking. The situation calls for a comfort read.
Here’s my problem: I’ve been through all my comfort reads already. To be really comforting, enough time has to pass between readings that it’s a rediscovery, not a retread. All my favorites feel too fresh.
The last time I was really ill, I stayed in bed and read Martha Wells’ City of Bones and Wheel of the Infinite. But it wasn’t all that long ago, and you really have to let some time pass between readings. I have The Lord of the Rings, which I haven’t read for pleasure in a couple of decades and probably will go to, but meanwhile there are other books knocking for my attention — for a couple of reasons, namely because I’m dividing my time between background reading for a course in the history of magic, and drafting a history. I’m not sure that I’m up for a trip to Mount Doom while reading archaeology and surveying records.
Where do you go when you need a literary hug? (In case you couldn’t tell, this is a call for recommendations.) Last week, Clio2 wrote about respites within literature, the places our protagonists go to recharge. This week I’m looking for reader respites: what books do you read when you need the rhythm of the narrative, the stylistic flourishes, the already-known plot that frees you to contemplate the various offenses and kindnesses that make up human nature — in short, the books that give you a recharge? They don’t have to be fantasy or science fiction, but you get extra points for that. I’m looking for the literary equivalent of a warm mug of something, a crackling fire, snuggly socks, a fond pet, and the drawn-down dark quiet of an evening’s peace.
Something we could all use.
Upcoming Language of the Night Schedule (as of 2/3)
Monday, February 10: Angmar
Monday, February 17: DrLori
Monday, February 24: Angmar
Monday, March 3: OPEN
Monday, March 10: Desiderata Detritus
Monday, March 17: OPEN
If you’d like to take a turn, just mention it in comments or Kosmail me or Angmar! And thanks!
READERS & BOOK LOVERS SERIES SCHEDULE
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