Whether it's a full-length novel or a collection of poems or short stories, we can't deny that we often feel drawn to reread our favorite pieces of fiction and literature. In this article, we discuss the benefits of "comfort literature," based loosely on our discussions in the Creatinuum Podcast episode "Stories That Soothe: The Familiar Joys of Comfort Literature."
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In this current day and age, new publications are aplenty—whether it's at your nearest bookstore or on the "bestseller" section of your go-to e-book website. Easier means for writers to publish their written works for readers from all over the world to access have resulted in a significant boom in new books, new titles, fictional or otherwise. Still, there is a reliable sort of of joy in going back to your bookshelf, picking out a title that you remember reading for the first time in, say, middle school, and turning to the first page—ready to reread a long-time favorite through fresh, more mature eyes and to re-experience the wonderment you felt when you first came upon the narrative or emotions within.
We collectively call these titles "comfort literature," and the reason is straightforward: because we know how the stories in our favorite books unfold and end, we can sit back and enjoy the ride—like getting on your favorite roller-coaster for the fiftieth time and never getting tired of the adrenaline rush it brings. The "comfort" is this very assurance, along with an element of reminiscence; some of us who enjoy writing stories as adults can still remember which stories—even which moments in these stories—motivated us to tell ourselves, "I think I can create something as wonderful as this too."
In particular, why do we believe that going back to our comfort literature—rereading familiar stories when so many new ones abound—is a worthy practice today? We can think of a couple of reasons:
The reader you were then isn't the same reader you are now.
The reason why certain stories stuck with us when were younger, why we can still recall what our favorite characters experienced and how we as readers felt as we accompanied them on their fictional journeys, is that we came across such stories at an impressionable age. While we can take comfort in these memories and treasure them as they are, it's always worth venturing these old titles for the second, third, tenth time and possibly learning something new from them as we grow older, gain more life experiences, collect more metaphorical lenses through which we can view such stories and remember why we still cherish them after all this time, after all these years.
Old stories can teach us new things about the world at present.
There's a reason why literary classics have stood the test of time, from decades to full centuries: though the contexts in which they were written have long passed, fallen to the wayside of human history's jagged path, these narratives contain themes that still resonate with readers in contemporary times. It's the same case with comfort literature; the lessons we learned from, say, our dog-eared collection of young adult literature novels have no doubt made an impression on how we live our adult lives, how we practice kindness to others, how we persevere in the face of work stress or life's hardships in general.
Comfort literature can ease our minds in a time of deep uncertainty.
In the face of a future riddled with events and outcomes over which we have no control, overwhelmed by negativity, we can fall back on our comfort literature to lift our spirits and take us to a place where we can experience some catharsis—through poems that encourage us to explore deep-seated emotions in a safe setting or through stories which remind us that goodness prevails. We should take heart in knowing that reading comfort literature is like taking the deepest breath; it is a respite that provides ease and the motivation to keep going, try again.
Lastly, the beauty of comfort literature is that it can take on any form for any person: a work of nonfiction instead of fiction, a short comic off a bubblegum wrapper, a long essay about the meaning of life that you just happened to come across on your social media. As long as it provided you with comfort, even happiness, at one point in your life, you can cherish it for as long as you want, and you are more than welcome to return to it at any time.
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