I am “generation Harry Potter” (and please, I really do not wish to discuss JK Rowling right now). What I mean is that I was just the right age when the books where first published and I grew up with them being a few years younger than the protagonists.
Now I did not have the most ideal childhood. My home situation was complicated and I was home alone a lot. I also was a sickly child and had to stay home from school often. I did not get much but I wish for a new book every now and then and when I was home alone because of a tonsilitis my mom bought me Harry Potter. I was 9.
Since then HP somehow became my comfort zone, my safe space. Whenever I felt like shit I would hole up in my room and read through the HP books. As a teen I never told anyone since I already understood it was weird to read a book again and again to flee from reality. But I figured it will phase out once I am an adult and “figured stuff out”.
Well, it didn’t. You can guess how old I am given the above information and through all my 20’s and then 30’s til now I kept turning to the HP books whenever something bad happened. Especially something grief and death related.
Yesterday my grandmother died completely unexpectedly (I mean, she was old but she was relatively well until now and she was out for a coffe and cake and then dinner the day before yesterday with my parents even. Sudden fatal heart attack not even 24 hours later. I missed the chance to see her again after months of not visiting. We had planned a day together on Dec 1st. I am incredibly sad and full of guilt).
I took off of work today and now I am at home, sudden crying outbursts all the time and it’s like my whole body and mind scream for my personal method of “relief”: Lay in bed with a hot cup of tea and HP and the sorcerers stone and just nope out of real life. I know this is not healthy and a little weird but it helps me so much.
I just wanted to know if others know this feeling as well… and what your comfort book and story is.
Absolutely. For me it’s LoTR. My older brother introduced me to Tolkien when I was in 5th grade, at the beginning of a period in my life I didn’t like very much. I’ve returned to the series over and over again, it feels like coming home.
Totally. Reading it again this year. It’s great spending time with those guys again.
LotR is an old, dear friend of mine. It has gone with me on vacations and I still frequently reread it. I had to retire my first version recently because it was literally falling apart, but I haven’t thrown it away. Couldn’t bear to part with it.
After all, why not? Why shouldn’t I keep it?
Mine is also LoTR. I was a lonely kid and reading it made me feel like I was part of the fellowship and it modeled friendship for me. I reread it every couple years and it only gets better.
I want to add the Hobbit. It was the first book that I read, and I wanted more. So I read LotR. I have enjoyed reading both several times.
I reread LOTR when my dad passed away. I do also reread them at the drop of a hat, but they were where I went when I lost my dad. And Discworld.
Me too. I picked it up as a child while staying in a women’s shelter. It was a bad time, but Tolkien took me out of it and then stayed with me.
Same, I’m 53 and started reading the series when I was 8. I pick them up whenever I’m sad or lonely. It’s like visiting an old friend
Same, I’m 53 and started reading the series when I was 8. I pick them up whenever I’m sad or lonely. It’s like visiting an old friend