Latest news with #TheGuernseyLiteraryandPotatoPeelPieSociety
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
10 comfort fictions that feel like a blanket on a rainy day
Stories that feel like a warm cup of chai when skies turn grey There's something about rainy days that just asks for a good book. Not the fast-paced thrillers or complicated high fantasies, rainy-day reads need to be softer, slower, and warmer in a way that makes you forget the world outside. These aren't necessarily "happy" books, but they carry a kind of emotional weight that feels familiar and safe, like an old sweater or a handwritten letter. If you're looking for stories to curl up with when the rain hits the window, here are ten fiction picks that feel like comfort in print. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman This one sneaks up on you. It starts quirky, even a little odd, but as Eleanor's world slowly unfolds, it turns into a quietly powerful story of healing and connection. Perfect for when you're feeling introspective. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune It reads like a warm hug. A caseworker visits a magical orphanage and ends up discovering a family in the most unexpected place. It's tender, kind, and softly magical without ever feeling over the top. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Grumpy old man. Sad past. Unexpected friendships. You'll cry, you'll smile, and by the end, Ove will feel like someone you actually know. Best read with a blanket and zero distractions. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Yes, it's old. But Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy never really go out of style. Their sibling chaos, quiet growth, and small joys are timeless. Rain on the roof, book in your lap, it just fits. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi Set in a small Japanese café where you can time-travel (with rules, of course), this book is about regrets, unspoken feelings, and how sometimes just a few words can change everything. Gentle and haunting in the best way. The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary Two strangers share an apartment but have never met; one works days, the other nights. They start leaving notes. It sounds like a rom-com (and it is), but it's also deeply comforting and filled with small kindnesses. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Anne Shirley's imagination, misadventures, and huge heart are the kind of things rainy days were made for. It's nostalgic, wholesome, and reminds you of simpler joys. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig What if you could see all the lives you could've lived? This book walks through regrets, second chances, and what really matters in the end. It's philosophical, but in a deeply human way. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows Told through letters, this story captures post-WWII life on a tiny island, book clubs, friendship, and resilience. It's surprisingly funny in places, and beautifully written in a way that feels old-world charming. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Because some comfort reads never age. Rainy days are perfect for revisiting Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and all the quiet wit and sharp observations of Austen's world. Comfort fiction isn't just about happy endings. It's about softness, warmth, and characters that stay with you long after the book ends. The next time you hear thunder outside and feel like staying in, maybe one of these stories will keep you good company.
Chicago Tribune
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
One for the Books: If the old adage holds true, two authors sometimes can be better than one
Two heads are better than one! Check out this Naperville Public Library Amazing Book Challenge category: It Takes Two. In this category, each title features a book by two authors who came together to create the ultimate writing dream team. Each member of these dynamic duos brings their own unique experiences and voice to the story, captivating readers page after page. To see the full list of recommendations and to see the other categories, visit 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows In post-World War II London, writer Juliet Ashton searches for her next book idea and unexpectedly finds it in a letter from a man on the island of Guernsey. As they exchange letters, Juliet becomes captivated by the quirky members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a group that formed during the German occupation as a cover for breaking curfew. The society's charming, eccentric members, from pig farmers to literature lovers, become a central part of Juliet's life. 'This is How You Lose the Time War' by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading. Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, becomes something that could change the past and the future, except the discovery of their bond would mean the death of each of them. There's still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win. 'The Personal Librarian' by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray In her 20s, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J.P. Morgan to curate rare books and art for his new library, becoming a prominent figure in New York society. Known for her taste and negotiation skills, Belle builds a world-class collection. However, she hides a secret: she was born Belle Marion Greener, daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black Harvard graduate. Passing as white despite her African American heritage, she must protect her identity in a racist world to safeguard her family and legacy. 'The Paradise Problem' by Christina Lauren Anna Green thought she married Liam 'West' Weston for access to housing at UCLA, believing they'd signed divorce papers after graduation. Three years later, Anna is struggling as an artist while West is a Stanford professor and heir to a fortune. To inherit his $100 million, he must stay married for five years, and with pressure mounting, he turns to Anna, his ex-wife. As they navigate his wealthy family's expectations, Liam questions if his fake marriage is worth losing the love that unexpectedly blossomed from a lie. 'Leviathan Wakes' by James S. A. Corey Humanity has colonized the solar system, but the stars remain out of reach. Jim Holden, XO of an ice miner, stumbles upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, and unknowingly acquires a dangerous secret. As war looms, Detective Miller searches for a missing girl and his investigation leads him to Holden. Together, they must navigate tensions between Earth, Outer Planet rebels and powerful corporations, with the fate of the universe hanging in the balance. 'Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?' by Nicci French On Alec Salter's 50th birthday, his wife Charlotte vanishes, and though the village is at the party, no one notices until hours later. While Alec dismisses it, their children grow anxious, and soon Etty and her friend Morgan find the body of their neighbor, Duncan Ackerley. The police believe he killed Charlotte before taking his own life. Thirty years later, Morgan returns to Glensted with his brother to make a podcast about the tragedy. As secrets resurface and a fire leads to a murder, Detective Inspector Maud O'Connor is sent to investigate, uncovering a terrifying new truth about Charlotte's and Duncan's deaths. 'She Said' by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey For years, reporters tried to uncover the truth about Harvey Weinstein's treatment of women. In 2017, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey's investigation for the New York Times exposed disturbing allegations, secret payouts and nondisclosure agreements. As sources came forward, a dramatic showdown between Weinstein and the Times unfolded. 'She Said' tells the powerful story of the journalists' work and the courageous women who spoke out for justice, future generations and themselves. 'I Will Always Write Back' by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda Caitlin's class assignment to write a letter to a student in Zimbabwe leads to an unexpected, six-year correspondence with Martin, a top student there. As they exchange letters about their lives, they form a deep friendship that changes them both. In this dual memoir, Caitlin and Martin share how their long-distance connection shaped their lives and made them better people. 'Dry' by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman The drought — or the Tap-Out, as everyone calls it — has been going on for a while now. Everyone's lives have become an endless list of don'ts: don't water the lawn, don't fill up your pool, don't take long showers. Until the taps run dry. Suddenly, Alyssa's quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbors and families turn against each other on the hunt for water. And when her parents don't return and her life — and the life of her brother — is threatened, Alyssa has to make impossible choices if she's going to survive.
