Austen Comfort Scenes: The Reading Equivalent of Mac-n-Cheese by Marilyn Brant
I’ll admit it: I have a long list of comfort foods. Some are starchy, cheesy and savory (see photo on left!) and others are sweet, creamy, gooey and/or highly caloric in their own special way. Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil and Oprah may all caution against using foods to elevate one’s mood but, let’s face it, who hasn’t done at least a little of that on occasion? Particularly on those super-stressful days?
I was having one of those this month. And it wasn’t just a day…it was about a week’s worth of them. A combination of a short-term family crisis + a temporary physical injury + a huge work project + the unfortunate fact that my day seemed to have only has 24 hours in it = the need for a little comfort.
However, having spent the winter months developing a deep personal relationship with sea-salted chocolate caramels (see photo on right!), 
and knowing that the time had come to spend less time with them and more time with my gym’s elliptical machine made me think about my OTHER source of comfort: Great Story Scenes.
You know the ones… Those scenes we read or watch over and over and over again. The ones that never fail to brighten our day or improve our mood, no matter what may be going on in Real Life. Well, I have a long list of those, too, and they are (thankfully) fat free.
Many of my favorites are, of course, from Jane Austen’s novels. Some are those deeply romantic moments, like when Mr. Knightley finally puts Emma out of her misery and admits his longstanding affection for her, and the tension-filled scene of love’s revelation where Captain Wentworth pointedly returned to the room “to collect his gloves” so he could make sure Anne got his letter. *swoon*
Pride and Prejudice is like the fudge brownie + ice cream sundae of comfort reads for me — there are just SO MANY scenes in it that have this wonderfully soothing effect, even if they’re actually filled with conflict in the story itself. Like Elizabeth and Darcy’s not-so-harmonious dance at the Netherfield Ball. Or when Elizabeth is playing piano at Lady Catherine’s house with Col. Fitzwilliam and Darcy looking on. And, of course, when Elizabeth and Darcy meet by chance at Pemberley. Oh! Love that one.
I couldn’t help myself…I watched that scene again this week, and the one after, and the one after that… More addictive than even chocolate, I tell ya. But you all knew that.
What about you? What are your favorite comfort foods? Your favorite comfort scenes? Please share — I’d love to hear about both!
Marilyn Brant’s latest novel, A Summer in Europe, is the B&N General Fiction Book Club’s featured online read this month, and it’s not too late to jump into the discussion or to just read along with the Week One and Week Two chats (Week Three is coming up on Monday). There are lots of travel photos and, of course, desserts for all! 
Marilyn Brant
Marilyn Brant is a National Bestselling Author of Contemporary Women's Fiction and Romantic Comedy. She's published seven novels including ACCORDING TO JANE, which was a #1 Kindle Bestseller, won RWA's Golden Heart Award and was named one of Buzzle.com's "100 Best Romance Novels of All Time." She also wrote PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH, which was a Top 100 bestselling book on Amazon in the "Humor" category.
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32 Responses to Austen Comfort Scenes: The Reading Equivalent of Mac-n-Cheese by Marilyn Brant
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Comfort scenes are a necessity in life, from my point of view!
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There are sooo many scenes I love. All the P&P scenes mentioned by you, including the “My affections and wishes are unchanged”-scene.
And I have a huge weak spot for Persuasion and only need to read THE letter, for example, to feel better again
Oooh, and I forgot 2 scenes!!
-) Knightleys proposal scene..*swoon*
“Emma, I must tell what you will not ask..(…)If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more…”
-)AND my most favourite Emma scene – always wonderful for rainy days, unhappy times, comfort moments – Chapter 42
Mrs. Elton: “Married women may be savely authorised. It is my party. Leave it to me. I will invite your guests.”
“No”, he calmy replied, “there is but one married woman in the world whom I can ever allow to invite what guests she pleases to Donwell, and that one is – ”
“Mrs. Weston, I suppose”, interrupted Mrs. Elton, rather mortified.
“No – Mrs. Knightley; and till she is in being, I will manage such matters myself.”
I LOVE THIS SCENE!! Go Knightley!
Katrin,
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Ohhh!! Those are GREAT scenes from Emma! I need to both read and watch it again…you’ve whet my appetite for more of Mr. Knightley
p.s. The “My affections and wishes are unchanged” scene from P&P is wonderful in every single version of the story… *swoon* I never get tired of watching it (no matter which actor plays Darcy
or reading it.
Love, love, love.
Hmm, I would have to say any of Austen’s novels are comforting. It is hard for me to pinpoint one scene. Funny you should post this, because I talk about the comfort Austen provides in my latest vlog. She’s like a good friend, she’s always there for you.
I alway find it encouraging to see a character overcome his/her flaws and change for the better. There is a comfort in that too.
Fried chicken, greens, southern-style green beans…guaranteed to comfort any malaise! 
Comfort foods? Yum! Let me just say I am so glad I live in the South now! I find southern food *very* comforting!
Jakki,
And I agree on JA feeling like a good friend. That’s certainly true for me. Even during times when it was too late in the night to call someone or when I didn’t feel I could share some personal sadness with anybody, Jane was there. Love her wit and her timeless wisdom… As for Southern foods, I’ve only visited the South, but I was there long enough to try some *real* fried chicken and, oh, I’m envious!
It’s been so hectic around here, I haven’t gotten to blog hop the way I’d like, but I’m excited to watch more of your vlogs!!
My favorite comfort film is Casablanca. My favorite food is definitely chocolate, esp. a Cadbury bar. My favorite guilt food is mac and cheese. I just don’t eat it anymore b/c I would have it every day, once a day.
Mary,
And I’m SO with you on the chocolate!!!! Just seeing the word “Cadbury” makes me start to daydream…
I really enjoyed “Casablanca” and would love to watch it again. I always get a kick out of Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan’s characters watching and discussing it in one of my modern comfort films, “When Harry Met Sally.”
Oh Marilyn, I have many comfort foods.
I travel a lot for my job, so end up doing a lot of room service. I always order off the children’s menu because it has all my comfort foods. Macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese sandwich, milk and cookies, etc. It also saves my company a lot of money. 
My favorite comfort movie is Overboard. Always makes me smile. And my comfort books are Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. I’ve read the first 6 books in the series like 15 times. If I’m traveling for a long duration or on a difficult trip I always bring one to lighten my day!
Beth,
. And, ohhhh, the Stephanie Plum series! I agree, it’s those early 6 or so books that are my favorites, too. Especially the one that ends with the line, “Nice dress, Stephanie. Now take it off.” LOL.
I love that you order off the children’s menu!! I could probably live on grilled cheese sandwiches
Mmmm….mac&cheese…. I put just a little bit of hotsauce in mine. I don’t eat it often, though. For comfort I’m more likely to reach for a bag of peanut butter M&Ms, or if I’m really having a crappy day, a peanut butter cup Blizzard from DQ.
I love rewatching the scene in P&P (95) where Darcy is watching Lizzy out the window playing with his dog. (AND he just came out of the bath – hello! Yum). Or when he’s watching her over the piano when she helps Georgiana. Or the end where he FINALLY smiles. Or….ok, I should just stop now.
Actually, the Emma Thompson S&S is a great comfort movie for me. Love Brandon and Marianne. And at the end where Elinor finds out Edward’s still single and bursts into tears. Makes me cry every time. Though Edward’s not on top of my list of Awesome Heroes, she loves him so much. She’s always done the right thing and held everything in and then bam!
I also love to watch Doris Day/Rock Hudson movies when I’m having a bad day. They’re so cute and cheer me up.
Monica,
I’ve never tried mac-n-cheese with hot sauce!! (My son, who loves spicy foods, would especially enjoy that!) I’m definitely with you on the PB Blizzard…YUM! And I know what you mean about that scene with Elinor in the Emma Thompson version of S&S. She played that part so well — so restrained and responsible — but there’s this incredible depth of feeling behind it all. When she finally reveals her emotions, it’s so powerful. I cried watching it, too…
Thanks for reminding me of Rock Hudson and Doris Day, btw! It’s been a long time since I’ve watched one of theirs.
Hi Marilyn,
I wouldn’t have my soft rounded squishy bits if I didn’t indulge in comfort foods hehe. I looove chocolate and will try it in any form and will admit I have never seen the ones you mention above. (further investigating may be required). If I’m not in the mood for chocolate then I would be at the other end of the scale and have chips!
I love all the scenes you have mentioned above and watch them on their own many times. There’s just nothing like watching the whole movie and anticipating that particular scene! But a quick fix is precisely why I have the P&P movie on my iphone
Some other fav scemes for me are P&P second proposal of course but also the awkward Hunsford scene.
Lots more but I have to run to a Christening!
Thanks for an entertaining passage
Vee,
The chocolate sea-salted caramels were originally a Christmas gift from someone who should have guessed I’d get immediately addicted, LOL. They’re from Dove Chocolate Discoveries (http://www.dove-chocolate-discoveries.com/corporate/productcatalog/product-detail?sku=3213D&showCrumbs=true) and have to be ordered from the company…which is a good thing. If I could just pick them up at the store, I’d be in a lot of trouble!!
.
Thank you!!
BTW, I have quite a number of those soft rounded squishy bits myself…
I *love* that you have the P&P movie on your iPhone! I have a very old flip phone, so I can’t do things like that on mine, but you’re making me think an upgrade would be a good idea…
Hope you had a great time at the Christening
Back now and I had a lovely time thank you Marilyn
Many many good reasons to upgrade your phone 
I think it a very dangerous exercise giving me a link to find those chocolates!
I love my phone, not only do I have the whole P&P movie but I can also access many ebooks for a quick fix of that kind too. Eg I have P&P which goes without saying…I also have all of Sharon’s collection there as well
Those are excellent reasons to upgrade, indeed, Vee!! I know I’d enjoy having these on hand as well
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I’m usually not a snack lover cos I always think about my waistline. Thus I try not to indulge in comfort food but if I can’t resist the temptation, I will eat sea-shell shaped Belgian pralines, cheese cake and custard puff.
My favourite scenes from JA adaptation are Wentworth’s declaration of his undying love to Anne in his letter, Pemberley scene with Elizabeth gazing at Mr Darcy’s portrait (truly conveys her change perception of Darcy), Darcy’s second proposal to Elizabeth (BBC 1995) and Edward Ferrars announcement that he is after all not married to Lucy Steele and Elinor’s reaction from both BBC and film.
Lúthien,
I have long adored those Belgian seashells, too! My grandmother introduced me to them as a kid, so I not only love the taste, but they always remind me of her…
And the scenes you chose are all such wonderful ones. I hadn’t thought of that moment when Elizabeth sees Darcy portrait at Pemberley, but you’re so right — she could reflect on her altered feelings toward him right there and we the readers/viewers could appreciate all it had taken to get to that point where she could look at him with the stirrings of admiration.
Comfort Food – mashed potatoes
Comfort Scene – Darcy’s 2nd proposal
I was *just* craving mashed potatoes tonight, Regina!!
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And…sigh…Darcy’s 2nd proposal is one for the ages, isn’t it?! Love, love, love
Comfort food…mac and cheese…grilled cheese on rye…dove dark chocolate and raspberry…pecan pancakes…LOL I’m very hungry now…
As for scenes there are so so many. It is not uncommon for me to, on a bad day, come home make myself mac and cheese and sit down and watch the Firth P&P, Wentworth Persuasion and Northam Emma. Yep. That will do it for me every time. I have been known to watch just the ending of the MM version of P&P in a time crunch.
I think my favorites though are several that have been mentioned including Knightley’s declaration of love to Emma. The scene where Darcy (MM) is walking toward Elizabeth across the foggy moor in the MM version of P&P, the argument in Emma (try not to kill my dogs…), Elinor finding out that Edward is NOT married, on and on. I agree with what someone else said, Austen is a bit like that very best friend who is always there when you need a pep talk and a lift. I love that about her and dark chocolate. 
Dove dark chocolate and raspberry! Pecan pancakes! Oh, Stephanie…I have no excuse to be hungry — I just ate lunch — but you’ve made me want another treat already
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I’m glad I’m not alone in my Rx usage of mac-n-cheese + Austen films! I love that foggy moor scene in the MM version of P&P as well and, also, the one where it’s raining and they almost kiss. Sigh… And J.Northam as Knightley was, IMO, perfect!!
I do love macaroni and also mashed potatoes and gravy, but overall my comfort food has to be cheese – especially a well-aged gouda. When I have had a particularly stressful day, I will climb into bed with wine and cheese and watch the 1995 BBC miniseries “Pride and Prejudice.” My husband teaches some night classes at the university, which gives me the time to watch the entire series in one sitting. During a particularly stressful few weeks, he came home one night during the proposal scene and asked, “Didn’t you just watch this last week?” Yes, I had.
That having been said, if I do not have the luxury of an evening to myself to be swaddled in Austen, I must admit my “comfort scene” is from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Notorious” when Ingrid Bergman’s husband (Claude Rains) is about to discover she is a spy, so Cary Grant pulls her into a kiss to cover up their espionage. Sigh~
Colette,
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I’m from Wisconsin…so I’m a big fan of cheese
LOL about watching P&P more than one week in a row. Yep. Totally onboard with that!! And it’s been years since I watched “Notorious” but I love Cary Grant. Must see it again soon — thanks so much for reminding me of it!
Marilyn, I LOVED this post! I’ve always felt very similarly about Jane Austen’s novels being a comfort food in and of itself. I’ve had a month of absolute insanity, from which I’m not quite recovered, and all I want to do is curl up with Jane and have a cup of tea. (And maybe some sea salted chocolate caramels – those looked absolutely divine!)
Susan, thank you!!!!
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I’m glad we have Jane during these crazy times…but I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with lots of stressors this month, too. Sending you virtual sea-salted chocolate caramels! Try ‘em, you’ll like ‘em
I couldn’t find any sea salted caramels out on my trip to the grocery store today, but I did find pistachio crusted English toffee at Trader Joe’s. It looks really, really yummy, too!
Oooooh!! I love the things they have at Trader Joe’s… We don’t live as close to one as I’d like (it’s about 45 min. away), so I’m not there often, but I’ve never been disappointed by their sweets. I can just imagine how good that toffee must be
. Have a piece for me tonight!!
I’m sorry you had such a trying time, Soul Sis! But, as I’ve learned from (too) much experience, these trying times in life somehow finds us all. What we do in those times are what defines us. [Insert sage wisdom here] As for me, I’ve found that the great comforter is unsurprisingly chocolate. Countless times, I have found myself illuminated by nothing more than the dim glow of the refrigerator light–can of chocolate frosting in one hand, a spoon in the other. Also, unsurprisingly, I find comfort in books. Some I often go to are P&P (of course), THE LITTLE HOUSE series and maybe, somewhat surprising, HARRY POTTER. It’s the age-old tale of good versus evil, the underdog triumphing. And I guess that’s what we need in those trying moments, hope. xoxoxo
Jill, hello there, Soul Sister! So wonderful to see you here!!
. I thought of you over the weekend when I bought strawberries. I didn’t have the patience to melt chocolate, dip them and wait for them to cool, so I just had a few berries along with some chocolate chips, LOL.
I’m not remotely surprised that you love chocolate frosting from the can just as much as I do, btw
Loved what you said about those classic tales of good vs. evil where the underdog triumphs…yes and yes again!
I am glad I am not the only one who thinks Austen is as good as chocolate. Sometimes when it has been a bad day just reading over your favorite part can give you a boost. It’s especially good for me because I don’t care for chocolate. I know it’s abnormal…I am seeking medical attention for the issue
Danielle,
LOL! I can’t tell you how many times I desperately WISHED I wouldn’t love chocolate so much. I’m so envious! That stuff is responsible for countless excess pounds on my body…sigh. But you are definitely not alone in considering Austen to be as good as chocolate. Her writing is like my favorite Cadbury bar — rich and beautifully flavored with a few tasty surprises in every bite.