Reading for Difficult Times

Fellow tea-lover (and Tea!-lover) gmathis commented on a remark I made in the Tea Poems thread. We seemed to veer off topic a bit, so I'm starting a new thread.

As a Red Cross volunteer, I give presentations on emergency preparedness in the community. When I talk about Go Bags, I usually suggest that people bring one or two small "comfort items"--not practical necessities, but something that would offer small creature comfort if you were evacuated during an emergency.

One of my comfort items is a few bags of Earl Grey tea. After reading gmathis comment, I think I'll add a book--maybe poetry.

So, dear Readers and Tea-Drinkers, what would you (or did you) find comforting during an emergency? Tea and books, of course, but what kind?

There is nothing more comforting for me than a cup of Earl Grey. No sugar or milk. I always come back to it, though I love other kinds as well. If I have a mug of Earl, a nice soft blanket and a book, I'm set. Especially if it's raining or snowing outside. As for the book, either something light like fantasy, or a biography. Or anything about Russia (I'm a Slavic Linguistics Ph.D. student.)

I'm glad you started this thread. I have to get ready for the hurrican season whuch begins June 1. I keep Lavender Earl Grey and Scottish Breakfast along with a 16 oz. Metal French Press in my Evac Kit. As for books I like The Canterbury Tales, a crossword puzzle book and a smaller version of my Bible. All of this is in a breifcase along with my important papers so I can Grab and go. I also have a Backpack with essentials, Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, paste, Extra clothing etc...

During a period some years ago when my husband was having to visit the emergency room rather often, I kept a bag in the car with some munchie bars and a detective novel, usually a Margery Allingham. It had to be something I knew I could immerse myself in, to distract myself while waiting.

Books: Go for easy-to-read, gripping things, to create a distraction. Agatha Christie, for example, as well as Margery Allingham. Lots of people like Ruth Rendell, although I find her incompetent and irritating! I recently "discovered" Fannie Flagg. Feel-good things like that.

Fiction notwithstanding, in times of trouble, I get my greatest comfort from the book of Psalms--there is one written for nearly every emotion in the human spectrum. Little paperback versions or excerpts would be inexpensive and easy to tuck in care packages.

One that I find very comforting is Greenwillow by B. J. Chute.

I might get flack for this, but my all time comfort tea is Constant Comment from Bigelow. I started drinking it when I was a kid with my mother and it's remained a comfort to me ever since. As for books I would most likely bring a couple volumes of the Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones for the comfort level and all around loveliness of the stories. If I could have more than that (I'm not sure how I could leave the house with less than four or five books at least), I would take Frankenstein by Shelley and CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders.

Regarding feel-good fiction, I revert to childhood: Little women by Louisa May Alcott or Christy by Catherine Marshall. Or sometimes to short humor/inspiration pieces by Robert Fulghum or Philip Gulley: Front Porch Tales was his first and my favorite.

My all time favourite - Pride and Prejudice
and as for tea, comfort = strong cup of PG Tips!

CS Nutcracker Sweet or a good English Breakfast for the tea. The Bible is first choice for comfort.

When my husband was sick, we both read our way through Jan Karon's Mitford series. They were a comforting reminder of "normal" life. I also read numerous mysteries--anything to disappear from the hospital room for awhile.

Thank you all for such interesting responses. And it's nice to hear that some of you have already made some preparations for possible emergencies.

Kate (2) and I agree on Earl Grey. ARC usually provides blankets at their shelters, so bring tea and a book and you're all set.

LA12 (3) reminds me that another book close in time to The Canterbury Tales was set during an outbreak of plague: The Decameron. Might be risking an overdose of disaster to pack that in your Go Bag, but it certainly shows that story-telling has been a comfort in times of emergency for many centuries.

Gmathis (9) also mentions Little Women, set during the Civil War. Another example of a story set in difficult times that can still manage to be comforting. (And especially appropriate to a Red Crosser like me, as Clara Barton got her first taste of emergency relief work during that war, before she founded the American Red Cross. I really must re-read it!)

Several of you have suggested absorbing, page-turner sort of novels: mystery, suspense, and so on. Definitely a good way to take our minds off present discomforts! Or collections of short stories or essays, that can easily be taken up and put down at a time when our daily schedules are disrupted.

HollowSpine (8), I certainly will not give you flack for a cup of Constant Comment. I grew up largely on Red Rose, which sometimes has been maligned here--and while I've gone on to develop a more sophisticated taste in tea, it is still comforting to enjoy the simpler flavors of our youth now and then. (I've read that sales of mac & cheese go up during recessions--not only because it's cheap, but because it's comfort food.)

A couple of you mentioned the Bible. A whole Bible is probably unwieldy for a Go Bag, but a copy of the Psalms would fit easily. It's probably best to avoid some of the more "fire and brimstone" parts of scripture, anyway, if one has evacuated during an emergency.

Chapeauchin (10) mentions Pride and Prejudice, another old favorite of mine, that would be lovely escapist reading during difficult times.

My favorite comfort tea is genmai cha (green with toasted rice- nice, warming, nutty flavor). As for the book, I'd definitely be taking a couple of long, but easy to read novels that would engross me.

LA12Hernandez mentioned lavendar Earl Grey -- that sounds lovely, where do you get it?
Emergency kit should contain a strong tea that tastes good without milk (Constant Comment or Green Tea would be excellent) and as for books... perhaps the Complete McAuslan Stories by George MacDonald Fraser.

>14 golux1:
I get it from my grocery store. It is made by Evolution.

golux1 (14): the only lavender Eral Grey I've had (and it was delicious) came from Peet's in Berkeley.

Oh well, Peet's, of course! Should have known. Thanks everybody!

Ah what a nice idea. I often carry a few bags of some sort of soothing mint tisane and a good Irish or English breakfast on planes since the tea they give you on American airplanes is terrible. I have often met neighbors on the plane this way who appreciate being given a real tea bag.

As for comfort books I am afraid I will be washed away in a flood tryint to save too many.

In one of Bill Bryson's books he mentions how the British seem to feel a hot beverage will fix everything but in some ways it does or at least makes it easier to face the unpleasant.

I too, love Little Women for a comfort read. Also recently reread "The Secret Garden" which holds up for adult readers.

Pack The Provencial Lady series by E.M. Delafield. She's so funny and they're all about the pitfalls of domestic life. She wrote them decades ago but they are timeless.

I love Lipton tea, if there is sugar no milk, if there is milk no sugar...the book of choice would be anything by patricia matthews...I love historical romances, everybody needs a happy ending...:-)

If I had to have a tea with me in a time of emergency, it would be any variant of baozhong, from the wonderfully peachy Lupicia Momo Oolong Supergrade to either of Adagio's offerings (regular or coconut). Japanese greens would work well too, but I love baozhong. I love having it on hand when I'm working hard on projects, so it would more than likely be a great comfort in a time of stress.

As for a book, I'd probably take Tristine Rainer's The New Diary, a book on journaling techniques. I'd be journaling like mad, and would probably need that book constantly.

It's 5:30 p.m., I was let go in cutbacks from my job at the end of June so I'm restless! Right now it's hard to hold myself still long enough to even read which is my first main passion. Everything is a mixed blessing. Parts of these days are being used to explore LT. Today I've come upon this wonderful thread and suggestions have been logged into my journal to try out. My favorite tea is still Sleepy Time. The books I always have close by are: The Bride, The Secret, and Ransom all by Julie Garwood. I can open one of these books anywhere to read a few pages and they sweep me away. I hope to come back to find more suggestions added, it would be unfortunate for this thread to die out -I believe it to be helpful.

Diasukie, hope that even in your current circumstances, you trip over a goodly supply of joy this season!

Chuck Swindoll is one of my favorite inspirational writers when I need a lift. He doesn't deal in schlocky feel-good theology; he's a wise and seasoned pastor who counsels and coaches instead of coerces.

A number of years ago I fell in love with Tazo Green Ginger, a green tea with ginger mixed in. Whether with a little sweetner or all by itself, it has continued to be a tea that I enjoy to relax with.

As far as reading, the Psalms as read from the King James version are always a great lift. David wrote many of them and if you know his life, he went through many difficult and trying times. Seeing his heart cries and reading the answers from the LORD always lifts up my soul in troublesome times!

Thank you both for your suggestions. I will try reading through Psalms and go into my library and see what I have by Charles Swindoll. I forgot about him. I hope this will help others too.

diasukie, I love Sleepy Time tea, too. :)

My tea would be bagged chai from Stash, Twinings or Tazo. (I like them all about the same.) Bagged because we'd be "on the run", chai because everyone in my family likes it, and we can drink it without milk or sugar.

My books would be Dragonsinger and Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey. I picked both because you can't have one without the other, right? ;) Also they're small. I'd also enjoy reading them to my daughters, though we'd have to bring What's Wrong, Little Pookie? by Sandra Boynton, and Dog by Matthew VanFleet to keep the girls entertained. My husband would probably bring Frankenstein.

I've recently signed up for the 101010 Challenge. This thread offers favorite books from another perspective, I like that. Later today I'll go back and change one of my categories to books that have made a difference in peoples lives. My challenge will be in trying to locate them throughout the year and the teas that go along with them. I'm going to love this category!

I started drinking tea last winter and it got me through the long months in cold new hampshire! I love sleepy time and tension tamer.

I always go back to the Harry Potter books as well as anything by Scott Westerfeld.

What a great thread. For me all tea is comforting, but my favorite feel good book is Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler or A Knight in Shining Armor by Deveraux.

I find the 44 Scotland Street books by Alexander McCall Smith really perfect for this time of year. Then add a cup of black tea and a really delicious sweet, like a brownie or shortbread, for maximum soothing effect.

I've been in crisis. It is hard to concentrate when you are in a full-blown crisis. I would recommend short books/poetry that don't take lots of thought, but can be meditated on. #1 Psalms #2 When Life Takes What Matters: Devotions to Comfort You Through Crisis and Change by Lois Lenzskes. #3 Emily Dickenson--"Hope is the thing with feathers/That perches in the soul,/And sings the tune without the words,/And never stops at all."

I'm big on pouchong. My favorites are Golden Moon's coconut pouchong, and Spring Dragon, which I get from my local Pekoe.

Comfort books? Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series, M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series, and Terry Pratchett.

My go-to book(s) for comfort has been The Harper Hall since my early teens.  I'd add my laptop to this list, but given the extent to which I use it (communication, banking, work), I'd have to list it as a necessity.