Books to read during quarantine

What better time than the present to pick up a book and actually use all of this extra time you have to start reading. We no longer have the excuse of “If I had more free time …” If you stand back and think about it, all of the things you said you would do but used the excuse of not having enough time are possible. If you don’t do it now, you never will.

I read a quote today by J.K. Rowling: “Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” While reading a book doesn’t actually take “nerve” it does take self-discipline for a lot of people. I think we’ve been living in a society that makes you feel bad if you’re not doing something “productive.” So we have this mentality that reading a book is a “waste of time.” We tend to think about all the things we could be accomplishing instead of reading. The problem with that is we just find ourselves back to square one thinking about “If I had more time I would read more.”

So why not just spare yourself the overthinking and indecisiveness and just READ. Here are some of my suggestions:

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

This is a book I just recently finished reading. I found it to be a good go-to when I was feeling a bit anxious and unsettled. I mean it’s a book about a group of women in the 1930s who run a mobile library on horses and they deliver books to people in rural areas in the mountains. How much better can it actually get?? First of all my dream job as a child was to be a librarian and my dream pet has always been a horse. This book is basically a dream come true.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Okay, so if you’re wanting to read to escape from the reality that is self-isolation, then I do not recommend this book. But I found it really eye-opening. Although the main character is “imprisoned” in a hotel for the rest of his life, he really makes the best of every day and finds pleasure in routine. What makes his situation different is that he was facing this isolation alone, in a way, which at times made hime feel like he was missing out on a lot of things everyone else could go out and experience. Please read this book if you think your mind can handle it, there are so many lessons we can learn from it and apply during these times.

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

Now is the best time to start a book series that you never got around to or reread a series you loved. I consider The Hunger Games to be a classic. If you haven’t read them then you’ve probably seen the movies. I have to say it, the books are better. And if you didn’t know, Suzanne Collins just release the prequel to this series, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Even more of a reason to start this series.

Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan

Speaking of book series, this is another good one. It’s a bit of a guilty pleasure to read but I found it to be absolutely hilarious. Although this is a fictional series, it’s so interesting knowing that some people actually do have lives like this. Just a fun read if you’re looking to escape reality for a bit.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Another book I don’t recommend if thriller books give you more anxiety. I actually loooove reading mystery thrillers when I find myself overthinking. I tend to replay problems in my head and keep finding no solution and this leads to anxiety and stress that doesn’t even exist in the first place. So when I throw myself into a mystery thriller my mind becomes preoccupied with the mystery in the book instead of my nonexistent problems. This book had me thinking about it days after I finished it. It’s so good!

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Jöel Dicker

This is a bit of a longer mystery thriller, but we have all the time in the world now, right? Right. Apparently this is also a T.V. show but I haven’t seen it so I can’t recommend it. This book reads a bit different. It starts from the end of the mystery and works itself backwards. And it’s basically a book within a book if that makes sense. I actually found it hard to put this book down. I would’ve read it in one sitting if I had the time. But we do now, right? Right.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

I read this book quite a while back. It’s a good book to read if you wanna feel like you’re not alone with your anxiety. As the main character comes to understand herself, you also start to realize how much you have in common with her spiraling thoughts and struggle to fight your natural tendencies. I listened to this as an audiobook while I went on walks which I found to be really relaxing if you’re into that kinda thing.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

If you’re looking for some writing inspiration, here it is. Sadly, I lended this book to someone and never got it back. Note to self: Never lend out your favorite books and/or invest in a book tracker. But seriously, if you’re wanting to get back into writing with all this extra time I would suggest first diving into this book. Stephen King, with all his experience and success, has a lot of tips and tricks up his sleeve that you don’t wanna miss out on.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

After reading this book you’ll come to a realization that it’s so much better to feel stranded and lost in your own home than stranded and lost in a life or death situation in the middle of a hiking trail. Alone. This book is actually a memoir so these things actually did happen which makes it even more exciting except you know the author comes out alive or else she wouldn’t have been able to write about her experience. So definitely pick this one up if you’re craving an adventure.

What books have you been reading during these quarantimes? Let me know in the comments!