pillsI’ve been pretty sick for the past few weeks — like, multiple-doctor-visits, miss-a-week-of-work sick — and it wasn’t the fun kind where you sip ginger ale on the couch and watch movies all day. It was more like the sleep-14-hours-a-day-because-you’re-worn-out-from-coughing kind. So you can imagine how happy I was when I finally felt good enough to hold up a book and focus my eyes on the print!

I have to tell you, my Kindle was a lifesaver. With my all-pajama wardrobe and erratic showering schedule, there was no way I was going out in public to the library. But I could just about manage to drag myself to the computer, check out an e-book online, and download it wirelessly. The Kindle is the invalid’s best friend. My biggest problem was losing it in the mountains of wadded-up Kleenex and cough drop wrappers piled everywhere.

Normally I read a pretty wide variety of stuff, but when I’m sick, I want the book equivalent of chicken noodle soup: comforting, familiar, and easily swallowed. For me, that means rereading my favorite dragons-and-magic fantasy novels (lots of Robin Hobb) and historical romances. The best distraction from the indignities of being a human mucus fountain is enjoying the adventures of my fictional wizard friends who can cast mighty spells, fly on a dragon’s back, and save the world as needed.

What’s your favorite comfort reading when you’re feeling under the weather? Or would you rather put on an audiobook and have someone tell you a story? There’s no judgment here in the quarantine zone.

Stephanie Perry
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