Quarantine Reads: Lindsay
As we all know, we are in a time of abnormality and because of this your regular reading routine may be undergoing a drastic change. It seems that many readers are falling into two categories at the moment: some are raging through their TBR piles, reading everything they have in their homes, while others are finding it hard to pick up a new book since so many things going on in the real world are sucking up all their brain power. Neither side is good or bad or better than the other and we are all coping with the current world in our own ways.
I am one of the people whose reading bug has intensified during this time of isolation, which is lucky for me since my job as a bookseller goes more smoothly when I am keeping up my reading and following current trends. After I finish my work for the day (from the comfort of my couch), I find I can easily transition into the setting of my latest read. And since I have more time on my hands due to this new lack in social duties, I have challenged myself to read a wider variety of books and explore new genres which are not necessarily my “go-to”s. Below are some of the books which I have read or plan to read during my at-home isolation, so whichever camp you fall into—those devouring books one after another or those who are more focused on the real world right now—I hope one of these books will help you find some momentary escape.
written by Lindsay Howard
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
This book has been in the spotlight for quite some time now and for good reason. Part history, part investigative journalism, Say Nothing is an in-depth account of The Troubles of Northern Ireland in connection to the abduction of a thirty-eight-year-old mother of ten, Jean McConville. Patrick Radden Keefe does an exceptional job of outlining the rising power of the IRA and it’s transformation from a group of violent, street-fighting rebels to an intimidating (and just as violent) political force. The writing style is concise to give nonfiction novices a clear understanding of the conflict without dumbing it down for major history buffs.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This is one of my favorite novels and I always come back to it when I am in need of some comfort. Spanning over more than a decade, The Night Circus follows two young magicians, Celia and Marco, as they are forced to compete against each other in a battle of magic and imagination. The majority of this novel takes place within the setting of Le Cirque des Rêves, a world of illusions, fantasy, and whimsy which sucks me in every time. Both the extravagant settings and the large cast of characters are uniquely captivating and quirky. Also, Morgenstern’s use of the second-person in this novel is better than any other I have come across in a novel—you are transported into the circus and get to experience some of the attractions for yourself.
The Anna Karenina Fix by Viv Groskop
Classic Russian literature has a nasty reputation of being either a) boring, b) too long winded and drawn out, c) too difficult for the average reader to understand, or d) all of the above. In this delightfully slim book, Viv Groskop picks eleven works of classic Russian lit and breaks down the life lessons of each, explaining how these works are for anyone and everyone. Interweaving her own personal relationships with these works, Groskop makes them relatable to our lives now as modern readers. We can learn from the characters of these stories. It is okay to not understand every underlying theme in these books. It is fine to set aside War and Peace after the first two chapters and decide to wait awhile before/if you decide to pick it up again. There are no rules to reading these highly renowned classics and they don’t just belong to an exclusive club of doctorate-wielding academics. If during your isolation you are looking to broaden your literary horizons and look at classics in a new light, I highly recommend picking up this book.
The Institute by Stephen King
Whether you are fairly new to Stephen King’s large repertoire (like me) or you have been an enthusiastic fan for years (like my dad who has read the majority of King’s works in publication order…), The Institute is an awesome read for your quarantine list. It is over 500 pages so it’ll keep you busy for a while. More thriller than horror novel, The Institute includes the themes of the strange and supernatural which are common in many of his most beloved works. In this novel we see the powerful ruling the weak and the satisfying revolution of the oppressed. However, we are also confronted with the question of whether or not we should sacrifice the safety of a few to guarantee the safety of many (a fitting analogy to what we are currently seeing in the country today).
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
I haven’t read this book yet, but it is next up in my quarantine queue and I am so excited for it! The premise is simple, but timeless: a small group gathers for a New Year’s reunion in the middle of the Scottish wilderness. One of them is killed and everyone else is a suspect. I love a good locked-room mystery and this one has been compared to Agatha Christie’s work, so I have very high hopes for this novel.
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
I am currently riding out this quarantine in my parents house and I spent some time this weekend cleaning out boxes of my old children’s books up in our attic (a great project for anyone who is struggling with boredom right now). I came across my old copy of The Tale of Despereaux and immediately all my loving childhood memories of this book came flooding back to me! Kate DiCamillo is still a prominent figure in the world of children’s literature with many award winning books, so I have added this to the top of my current quarantine queue. I am very intrigued to see if as an adult I love this book as much as I did as a young reader.
