I'm wondering whether there is a class of books you could call 'fireside reading'? I mean, imagine you are in a warm room with the glow of the fire and the play of the flames, lamps to give soft pools of light, all is cosy and comfortable - would there be certain books you would reach for as just fitting that mood?
The room's hospitality might make the perfect atmosphere in which to read ghost stories - you'd have the right buffer for the chills given off by the pages! If that appeals, I'd recommend Susan Hill's books, The Woman in Black and The Mist in the Mirror. I have a collection of Edith Wharton's ghost stories waiting on my tbr pile, but I shall choose my evenings carefully for The Demanding Dead, and not open it when I'm on my own.
I asked Mr. C. what he would have to hand to read by the fire, and without hesitation he named Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories "because they are so familiar". Any other suggestions of good fireside reading would be gratefully received and duly noted.
Wilkie Collins seems like a good author to read by the fireside. I ditto your recommendation of Susan Hill's book, too!
Posted by: Danielle | 06 October 2009 at 01:29 AM
Dickens! Then after Christmas I always feel like The Diary of a Nobody, The Moonstone and Sherlock Holmes.
Posted by: Barbara | 06 October 2009 at 08:19 AM
All books worth reading are good fireside reading in my opinion. However in the spirit of your suggestion about spooky books let me strongly recommend Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber. Puss in Boots will never seem quite the same again ...
The Darkest Cat
Posted by: Dark Puss | 06 October 2009 at 09:06 AM
My first thought was detective fiction, too! Agatha Christie has several that have wintry settings. Little Women also strikes me as appropriate, for some reason.
Posted by: Ros | 06 October 2009 at 12:10 PM
My favourite fireside read is Jane Eyre. Cosy, comforting and always satisfying.
Posted by: Rachel | 06 October 2009 at 12:22 PM
I like to re read authors I enjoyed long ago such as Elizabeth Goudge and Rumer Godden.
I also think having a new Persephone book to indulge in is the perfect way to spend a cosy night in front of the fire.
Posted by: Fran | 06 October 2009 at 03:50 PM
I'm with Barbara on Dickens and Mr. C on Sherlock Holmes. I never feel quite right reading either in spring or summer.
Posted by: Heather Bond | 06 October 2009 at 06:21 PM
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple mysteries are perfect reading for fall evenings. Also, historical mysteries, long family sagas, Elizabeth Gaskell's novels.
Posted by: Jennifer | 06 October 2009 at 07:12 PM
I agree about the Susan Hill you mention and with Dickens and Wilkie Collins. Georgette Heyer makes a great cosy read too.
Posted by: Juxtabook | 08 October 2009 at 08:11 PM