Social Lit-stancing: Books to Read While Quarantined
I’m not a big fan of the pervasive idea that every spare moment should be productive. (Hustle culture is a societal plague that leads to burnout! It’s OK to spend a Saturday watching Netflix and eating cereal straight from the bag instead of writing a screenplay or learning to code if you want to!) Recently, cities and states across the US finally began taking the global COVID-19 pandemic seriously, mandating “shelter in place” for non-essential workers, closing schools, and shuttering many businesses.
For lots of us, that means navigating the logistics of (and trying to establish boundaries while) working from home indefinitely, often while simultaneously childrearing. For far too many others, it’s meant job loss and added instability during an already chaotic and frightening period in history. An inescapable 24/7 news cycle proffers the chance for the anxiety-prone among us — myself included — to incessantly catastrophize and spiral. The economy is in shambles, medical professionals and first responders lack the basic tools to do their jobs, and bizarrely, it’s impossible to get your hands on toilet paper or hand soap… not to mention that thousands of people are dying. Yet, despite all of these exhausting challenges, the narrative that we need to capitalize on every spare moment through self-improvement and productivity frustratingly endures.
I write to you from day 22 of my self-quarantine, during which I’ve left the apartment only for dog walks and quick trips to the store. Despite nearly a month of relative isolation, I’ve not picked up a new instrument or language, I haven’t submitted any freelance work to any publications nor started writing my memoir, and I haven’t magically transformed into an entrepreneurial “boss babe” to bring in secondary income. You know what I have done? I’ve binge-watched Tiger King and RuPaul’s Drag Race. I’ve baked a few loaves of bread. I’ve given up on a jigsaw puzzle. I’ve half-assedly pursued physical fitness by following a 30-minute workout video most mornings, but to be quite frank, sometimes I give up and go back to sleep. I’ve watched a lot of cringeworthy videos on TikTok. I’ve gone through more bottles of red wine during video chat “happy hours” with friends than I’ve drunk in months. And, to my delight, I’ve spent a lot of time sitting and reading books.
This is my earnest hope: that you’ll recognize that choosing to consume entertainment during your own social distancing efforts is not a failure. I hope you won’t allow hustle culture to rob you of the beautiful ways that movies, books, podcasts, television, and video games can temporarily tamp down feelings of dread and enable you to get lost in a world outside the walls of your home. I hope you’ll allow yourself to weather this storm however you need to, whether you choose to be “productive” or not, while blissfully free of capitalist guilt.
All of this being said: if you need book ideas to help get the job done, I’ve created a list of what I’ve dubbed “quaran-reads” that tick a few distinct boxes in terms of theme or effect. I hope you’ll enjoy them, and that if you spring for a title or two, you’ll consider supporting an independent bookstore near you over the Amazon links below!
Books about doing more with less
Each of these reads touch on resilience in lean times, like getting creative with rations or sewing a masterpiece out of fabric scraps, and can help keep things in perspective when you’re frustrated by being unable to find artisan bread flour on store shelves. (Yes, I’m talking to myself here, how’d you guess?)
The Murmur of Bees by Sofía Segovia — I didn’t realize when starting this Mexican novel that it would focus heavily on the Spanish flu epidemic that ravaged much of the world in the early 1900s, but boy, it took my breath away. Magical realism, exquisite prose, and soulful, complex characters? Come to mama.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah — This novel takes place in occupied France during WWII, and is currently being adapted into a movie that I’ve got a great feeling about.
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee — I also could’ve popped this sweeping historical fiction into the next category, because it’s absolutely devastating in an incredibly beautiful way. I devoured it and walked away with both a post-cry feeling in my chest and a better knowledge of Korean-Japanese history.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert — This novel, which takes place during WWII in New York City, was an extremely fun read. I laughed out loud, I wanted to get into show business, and I wanted to write a long-winded letter to a random woman named Angela just for the opportunity to tell my comparatively boring life story.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens — The hype about this novel exists for a reason; I don’t want to spoil anything, but the picture of its Carolina swamp setting was so beautifully painted and the growth of the protagonist was so realistically executed that it took my breath away.
The Martian by Andy Weir — OK, so this sci-fi novel deals with the concept of “doing more with less” in a very different way than the others in this category, but it’s a blast to read and you won’t want to put it down.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr — I loved the narrative structure of this WWII novel so much that I actually felt sad when I finished it.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows — This novel explores the complexities of human relationships amid the carnage of war, and the resilience of humans who band together despite the toughest of circumstances. It is also where I discovered one of my favorite descriptions of strong-minded women: “fierce in her feelings.”
Sad books that somehow distract from all of this nonsense
For one reason or another, each of these powerful reads — all memoirs or semi-autobiographical — left me with a heavy weight in my chest and a deep sorrow that’s hard to explain. When the rest of the world feels crazy, these sad reads almost feel like a welcome outlet for my outpourings of negative energy. Maybe that’s just a me thing? Whatever, I like to cry.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller — Initially known as “The Stanford Victim” who penned a powerful victim statement to her attacker, Chanel Miller spends her memoir painting a devastating picture of her experience seeking justice for her 2015 sexual assault. There were so many passages in this book that squeezed my heart and roiled my stomach, as both a writer and as a human woman living on this planet. I easily could have included it in the next section, also!
Beautiful Boy by David Sheff — This heart-wrenching exploration of addiction from a father whose son is addicted to meth has stuck with me since I read it on my honeymoon back in 2018.
A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum — I went into this book without any idea about its contents; it was an airport impulse buy, and I am so glad I picked it up. I don’t want to give too much away, but it grapples with the evolving role of women in a conservative Palestinian-American community in Brooklyn.
Inspiring words from wise women
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum from my self-sabotaging proclivity for devastating literature during times of crisis, I also cling to inspiring nonfiction written by women I admire.
Becoming by Michelle Obama — I’ve never underlined so many passages in any book; I picked up the former first lady’s memoir at the perfect time in my life, and it has inspired me to think differently about my path and purpose.
Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life From Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed — This book is actually a compendium of advice column entries that run the gamut from family relationships to work conundrums, marital concerns, and more.
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai — If you need a glimpse at true strength, just pick up this memoir by a teen survivor of anti-woman violence for her activism regarding girls’ education and equal access to opportunity.
Educated by Tara Westover — A journey from a hyper-conservative survivalist family commune to the world of elite academics, this novel has been a long-term buzzy bestseller for a reason.
Fantastical novels & series that will transport you somewhere new
There’s nothing quite like a sweeping fantasy epic to distract from current events, and each of the following picks have done it for me at some point or another. For several, more than once.
Circe by Madeline Miller — This book has everything: witches. Greek mythology. Drama. Stunning prose. You’ll love it!
The A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin — I know this isn’t exactly a novel suggestion, but the series that inspired Game of Thrones (back while it was still good!) is an absolute masterpiece of world-building and complex characters.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman — A reimagining of famed Norse myths, this book is a delight; the hijinks of gods, goddesses, and tricksters that unfold on the pages are a welcome distraction from any current events.
The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkein — If you haven’t read The Lord of the Rings at this point, what are you doing? It’s a classic that you must enjoy at some point in your life. Why not now?
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling — This series obviously could have also gone under the “cozy classics that I always come back to” category, but the charm (get it?) of the wizarding world is a welcome respite from the news these days!
Engrossing mysteries to suck you in for a whole weekend
I found each of the following books or series deliciously un-put-down-able, in a way that makes you look up and say: “Holy cow, how is it midnight already?” They’re a fantastic way to while away a weekend, or several.
The Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French — You don’t have to read these Irish crime novels in order, as each one follows a totally different Dublin police inspector. They’re all fantastic reads, but my favorite is The Likeness.
The Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling’s pen name) — These addictive murder mysteries go by painfully quickly because you simply won’t want to put them down.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara — Before her untimely death, true crime writer Michelle McNamara was a major driver of the hunt for the Golden State Killer. This final book is a fantastic overview of the killer, his gruesome crimes, and the fate he deserves.
Crimson Lake by Candice Fox — Welcome to the Australian outback, where you’ll unexpectedly feel fondness for an accused child abductor and a convicted killer turned investigator.
The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen — I’d never read a Danish crime novel, but this book (which is part of a larger series) has me convinced that it’s a genre I will continue to explore.
Cozy classics that I always end up coming back to
Something about each of the following books feels like slipping on a favorite old pair of jeans; they simply fit me. These reads do all the things I want them to, and are best enjoyed with a strong pot of tea and while wrapped into a comforting blanket.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brönte — This classic novel about a continuously downtrodden British orphan is one of my all-time favorites, and I won’t apologize for loving its messy romance plot.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy — Another classic filled with messy romances and affairs, this Russian epic is thick enough to potentially last you your entire time in quarantine.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee — This high school English class staple contains one of my favorite characters in literature, Atticus Finch, and feels like a nostalgic hug when I read it.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro — Another one of my all-time favorite books, this dystopian sci-fi grapples with the question of humanity. Just… don’t watch the movie adaptation, please.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — What’s not to love about this classic? I’d like to re-read this iconic story of sisters and immediately follow it up with the fantastic new movie adaptation by Greta Gerwig.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen — Suggestion: listen to the soundtrack from the 2005 film adaptation of this book while you read it. You won’t regret it.
