Stuck at home for the next 14 days? Going a little stir-crazy? Quarantine is something most of us have never experienced, but, whether we like it or not, the spread of Coronavirus has led most of us to stay inside for the foreseeable future. And staying at home wondering what’s going on outside can be trying. I hope this list of 5 books to read during a quarantine gives you hope for the coming weeks and months.
I know it may not be possible to read a whole lot with the kids at home, but taking some time to ourselves while the world continues to go into hiding might save our sanity. So here are 5 books to read during a quarantine that I believe are fictional enough to get us out of our heads and give us hope.
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
I plan on doing a full review of this book someday, but it’s one of my all-time favorite books. And I know it’s not for everyone. As I looked through other reviews, I found that most people either loved or hated it. If you found Lolita a repulsive book, then this might not be the book for you. But I would recommend giving it a try. In a quick summary, it’s about a young girl, Wavy, who is raised in a difficult home of substance abuse. She falls in love with an older man and the story follows them as they navigate their relationship, even if it is technically illegal. It’s difficult to give the book justice when it sounds unnatural, but trust me, every time I’ve recommended this book, it comes back with high remarks.
Here is my full review of the book, as well as links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble if you’d like to purchase the book online.
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
If you enjoy historical fiction, then try this one out! I think it’s an especially fascinating book because it connects the historical with the modern times, making it easier to connect with the characters. A quick summary, it’s about a young orphaned girl who is taken on a train from the east coast to the western states to be adopted in a rural community. The story follows her as she makes friends on the train and finds different homes and families to adopt her. Yes, the orphan trains were real, I did look it up. The potential is that his book could lead down a path of learning a whole new aspect of American history during the 1800s that seems unexplored by many.
Here are the links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, if you’d like to purchase this book online.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
I believe this book has the most potential for injecting some hope into our grim, worldwide situation. When the main character, Ove, meets his neighbors, he seems distant and difficult. But as the story goes on, we discover more about his background and why he is bad-tempered. I know it ends on a sad note, but there is a sense of hope that builds throughout the story. It also shows how caring our neighbors can be.
Here are the links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, if you’d like to purchase this book online.
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
I know this book is about the plague and how it spread through a small town in England hundreds of years ago. Not to mention how the town quarantined itself in an effort to keep the plague from spreading. It may seem like a futile attempt to stop the plague, but the story is filled with hope as the characters keep looking toward a future free of the sickness. If you’re looking for a story that feels similar to our situation, and it won’t cause you anxiety, then I’d say try this one out! I think it could offer some a glimpse at the light at the end of the tunnel, as the town did eventually survive the onslaught of sickness.
Here are the links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, if you’d like to purchase this book online.
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
I had such a good feeling the entire time I read this book! It’s just such a buoyant novel that I would call it the equivalent of watching your favorite rom com. In short, it’s about a woman who works for an elderly gentleman who passes away. He bequeaths her with his belongings, which aren’t actually his own. He explains in a letter that his collection of random items belong to other people. They are lost things that he wants to return to their original owners. The main character, Laura, takes up his incomplete mission. The story follows her as she meets the owners of the items and those who want to help her along the way.
Here are the links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, if you’d like to purchase this book online.
And there you have it: 5 books to read during a quarantine that I would highly recommend. I know staying at home for weeks, even a few days, can be difficult. But I believe it is especially important, now more than ever, to take some time to ourselves. Reading can be a great way to escape our current situation or even view it in a new light. However we’re feeling, picking up a new book can help relieve some anxiety. It can give us a breath of fresh air to keep going until life resumes.
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