A Quarantine Reading List from One Bookworm to Another
Words and graphics by Aspasia Celia Tsampas
In this time of uncertainty, it can be hard to concentrate. As a society, we suddenly have all this dormant time on our hands yet can’t leave our houses (guilt-free at least), see our loved ones, or travel. So, what can we do? We can binge-watch Netflix, go for a solitary walk, finally open up that cookbook, meditate, or if you’re like me, you can finally tackle that giant “To Be Read” list.
From the comfort and safety of our own homes, reading can be our way to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new things. So, if you’re looking for recommendations this quarantine, here is my reading list for you, from one bookworm to another. And I encourage you, after you read this, to recommend some books to me too because I am always looking for my next great haunt.
For the Wanderlust Traveler
Canceled travel plans? Let these books be your passport this quarantine. Visit 20th century Vietnam in The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai (2020), an epic piece of literary fiction. The novel follows multiple generations of the Trần family during the rise and fall of the Vietnam War. The Mountains Sing brings Vietnamese culture to life, steeped in beautiful language and tradition. Travel to Alexandria, Egypt with this classic work of fiction. Justine (1957), the first of the Alexandria Quartet series, by Lawrence Durrell is still considered an epic travel log to this day. The characters in this novel fall fiercely in love not only with each other but the city itself, who serves as a stand-alone character in the novel.
For the Idealistic Lover
Okay, I lied. Neither of these books are your average, clean-cut, romance novel, or entirely idealistic. However, both of these books look at love and sex in deeper ways. Normal People by Sally Rooney (2019) follows friends Connell and Marianne through time as they mature and continuously redefine the boundaries of their relationship. The hopeless romantics may hate me for this one but trust me, the read is worth the analysis and it will surely distract you from everything going on in the world right now. On the other hand, Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (2019) starts on the other side of the page. Readers meet Toby Fleishman, age forty-one, post-separation. Nonetheless, as someone who was married for thirteen years, we see Toby mature in a different way through his relationships as he comes to terms with his own part in his marriage’s downfall.
For the Social Butterfly
Want to meet new people this quarantine? Let me introduce you to two of my favorite writers and their memoirs. The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson (2015) is one author’s attempt (and a successful one at that) to analyze and reflect on her own life. Threaded with exploration from iconic theorists on Nelson’s personal experiences, Nelson will open your eyes, educate you, and influence you to see the world in a different way. The Argonauts is a rallying cry to individual freedom that I urge everyone to read. In a more humorous light, we have Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (2001). A master of satire and entertaining writing, you will love getting to know Sedaris. In this series of essays, readers will get to know Sedaris’ relationship with language, his family, and the other things that he is passionate about.
For the Renaissance (Wo)Man
There is no better time to start a classic novel that you can never bring yourself to start otherwise, than during quarantine. You finally have the time to take a look at the greats. And if I had to recommend two, just two, of some of the most epic novels in literary history, I recommend these. Recently turned into a major (and pretty amazing) blockbuster, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868) is a tale that everyone should read, regardless of gender. The March sisters offer a glimpse into an America that we can only imagine and read about today. And for anyone who tries to tell you this is just a “girl’s book,” look again. Alcott explores themes of love, death, war, personal ambition. and familial responsibilities. Second, I offer to you The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1890). Written with almost fever dream-like prose, this novel was lightyears ahead of its time with the exploration of gender roles and sexuality. With the warning of vanity and narcissism, The Picture of Dorian Gray will leave you questioning it’s meaning long after you put it down. Yes, I realize that none of these pieces of literature are actually from the renaissance but if you want to be a bore about it, go read The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio (1350) or something.
For the Ambitious Reader
If you feel up to the task of undertaking to enormous (in length and value) novels, skip The Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace and read Ulysses by James Joyce (1922) and Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann (2019). Ulysses is an epic journey loosely based on the Odyssey (by Homer). You can even play a little game with yourself while you’re reading it and analyze all the parallels. A landmark of modern literature, you will be extremely confused. But that’s okay, you have the time to read it slowly, unearth Joyce’s prose and wordplay, laugh at his strange (strange!) humor, and find meaning in this major achievement. In more modern fashion, we have Ducks, Newburyport. In this revolution of a novel, Ellmann is hilarious yet poignant. It follows an Ohio housewife’s unraveling and attempts to bridge the gaps between truth and fiction. Written in one sentence, Ellmann attempts to capture all of life. Read it for yourself to see if she succeeded.
For the Dystopic Fiend
For some, reading about times of crisis and dystopic fiction are a coping mechanism for understanding the new normal and strange realities of our current situation. If this sounds like you, read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014).
Set in the Midwest two decades after a super-flu pandemic has ravaged human life and dismantled civilization, Station Eleven ponders the possibilities of what new cultures and societies might emerge in a post-apocalyptic world. Through the perspectives of interconnected artists, Station Eleven considers the sufficiency of survival after a major collapse and how art can remind us of our humanity in the face of unimaginable circumstances.
