Life often makes taking the time to do something relaxing like reading a good book impossible. Take advantage of your time in social isolation and recapture your love of literature.
There is no better form of escapism than that of cracking open the spine of a well-worn book and delving into a world far away from the one in which you live.
In times of solitude, there are countless adventures to mentally embark upon. Thanks to the advancement of technology, you can pick something up without ever leaving your couch. The Hillsborough County library system lets anyone with a library card access a massive database of ebooks at hcplc.org/books/ebooks. Kindles or online reading services like the Apple Books app on iPhones, Nook or even Audible, if you want someone to read the story to you, have streamlined the process. If you can’t get to a brick and mortar store, fear not: you still can track down nearly any book you’d like.
Everyone’s literary tastes are different but the diverse list that follows is filled with some classics and a few tales you’ve probably never heard of before. Turn off Netflix and pick up a book. You may find in its pages a world you’ll revisit for years to come.
READING FOR CHILDREN
What better time to get your child hooked on reading than when they literally cannot leave their house? Some of my fondest memories growing up revolve around one storybook or another that I lugged around with me on vacations, to sporting events and occasionally — though I am embarrassed to say — to church services.
If you want to slip into a world that will capture a piece of your very soul and keep it safe and sound for the rest of your life, like its own little Horcrux, there are a few literary classics you cannot miss.
J.K. Rowling caused millions of young readers to be filled with an aching homesickness every September 1 with the creation of the Harry Potter series. The books develop in complexity and range as the protagonist ages. It’s more than likely cliche at this point to recommend Harry Potter to a generation of kids whose parents have been waving sticks around like wands since they were children, but it’s a risk I dare not take as an avid fan.
As far as world-building goes, however, another writer from across the pond has excelled in creating a universe that lingers for a lifetime in the memories of all the children who grew up reading his series. Brian Jacques took the age-old craft of using animals to softly examine intricate issues and turned it on its head. Jacques wove tales of morality and the purpose of a meaningful existence in such depth and complexity that many adults continue to return time and again to the Redwall series. It’s difficult to explain to those who haven’t mentally walked the shaded paths of the Mossflower Woods toward Redwall Abbey where they were served hotroot soup and a fizzy cup of strawberry cordial. Mice, hedgehogs, birds, badgers, rats, foxes, hares, snakes and even the occasional whale are some of the many creatures that make up Jacques’ world. The simple creatures embody the classic trope of good versus evil and prove that if you’re willing to fight for what’s right, those with loyal hearts and pure intentions will always prevail. It’s bizarre, but the fandom for the books is immense for a reason.
Of course, other classics like “The Little Prince” and “A Little Princess” are stories that have continued to win the hearts of readers for generations. Sometimes hype is a solid indicator of worth. In both of the above mentioned cases, that sentiment rings true. The lessons taught in both novels are ones I find myself reflecting on to this day. And they’re items from my childhood I take with me wherever I move in life.
If you haven’t caught on yet, I have always been captivated by fairy tales. Anything by Grimms, Hans Christian Andersen, Perrault, Marie-Catherine d’Aulnoy or Joseph Jacobs was read until the covers fell off. I can still quote excerpts of Arabian Nights, am on my third copy of Fairy Tales from Around the World and have gifted more collections of Nigerian folktales than is probably considered normal.
Recently, a man named Jason Porath embarked upon a mission to change the way stories are told. His book, “Rejected Princesses,” blends truth and myth in a way that has kept me returning night after night. Porath’s book features satires of “history’s boldest heroines, hellions and heretics.” Each story is rated and given warning tags so the reader knows the recommended maturity level, which is how old one should be before reading, and what heavy topics are within.
The artwork is gorgeous and the stories are filled with the level of action and adventure most girls only ever get to experience through the tales of princes and knights. It’s the fairy tale of the future and he’s writing it about women from all walks of life throughout all realms of history. Inside are stories of warrior queens, villains, revolutionaries, spies, soldiers and more. Rebel preachers? Check. Princess turned pirate? Check. A woman who was named “The Fiancee of Danger?” Check.
“Rejected Princesses” is heavily researched, wittily written and has stories that will appeal to people of all ages. Find it, order it and enjoy the tales for decades to come.
READING FOR ADULTS
Stories that stay with you
If escapism is the name of the game, two stories jump to the forefront of my mind, though neither are in any way “modern literature.”
Don Quixote is a brick. It’s an adventure that will take days, if not weeks, to get through. The main character is mentally unsound but you root for him every step of the way. Chivalry will never die as long as people continue to pick up Miguel de Cervantes’ book. When the world appears to be falling apart, there’s no better dose of idealism and comfort than what can be found riding alongside Quixote and Sancho.
J.R.R. Tolkien was a man who molded the way humanity dreams. “The Lord of the Rings” series fills readers with more gut-wrenching sadness and unexpected tendrils of hope than any other book written in the history of mankind. It is inarguably the greatest literary series of all time. I will die on this hill. Send your objections to bwilliams@plantcityobserver.com. I have hundreds of quotes in my arsenal and run on very little sleep. “Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.”
If fantasy isn’t your cup of tea, however, there are other excellent books to pass the endless hours spent sitting on your couch. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells the story of a young Nigerian woman who immigrates to the United States to attend college. Adichie tackles so many complex themes in such a poignant way you can’t help but keep reading. Characters are what Adichie has always done best and this book is no exception.
“Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens has topped The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2019 and the The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2020 for a combined 30 non-consecutive weeks. There’s a reason for that impressive feat. It’s both a murder mystery and a coming-of-age tale while it also leans into its deep roots planted in the landscape of North Carolina. It’s a book most can’t put down, so brew a strong pot of coffee and dive in.
Patricia Highsmith is known for creating the famous works “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Strangers on a Train,” but it is her book “The Price of Salt” that I find myself returning to at least twice a year. It tells the story of a young woman named Therese Belivet who is working at a department store in Manhattan when she meets the captivating and mysterious Carol Aird. Her life is forever changed and she finds herself on a road trip across the country with the woman she is just beginning to truly understand. The book was adapted into a film retitled “Carol” that was directed by Todd Haynes, starred Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara and was released in 2015.
Class is in session
Sometimes escaping isn’t enough. If your brain wants a workout, pretend you’re back in school and learn something new.
Brian Greene takes complex astronomical concepts and theories and breaks them down into easily digestible chunks in “The Fabric of the Cosmos.” Don’t be intimidated by string theory or theoretical physics — Greene has your back. Read carefully, take your time and soon you’ll further fall in love with the mystery and vastness of the universe.
“Black Ink: Literary Legends on the Peril, Power, and Pleasure of Reading and Writing” is one of those books that once you find, you wonder how you ever managed to live without it. The book is a collection of more than 250 years of history of black literature in America ranging from Frederick Douglass to Ta-Nehisi Coates. Using just 25 powerful essays, “Black Ink” paints a picture of perseverance and the captivating diversity of black thought in America throughout its complex and haunting history.
If you want to read about something you’ve probably been following in the news, check out Ronan Farrow’s “Catch and Kill.” Farrow shares the challenges he faced to track down and shine a light on Harvey Weinstein’s decades of abuse of women. There is even a podcast now hosted by Farrow to go along with the book. It’s a great peek behind the curtain and adds even more weight to the heavy accusations.
Books for trying times
Pema Chödrön’s “When Things Fall Apart” examines how spirituality and personal growth can help you overcome any of life’s difficulties. Instead of running away, Pema Chödrön teaches to move toward painful circumstances to open your heart in a way you had never dreamed of. If anything, it will help you mentally cope through the anxiety of not knowing what tomorrow will bring.
It may seem odd to suggest a writing guide as a book to soothe the soul, but “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott does just that. Yes, it’s about writing, but it’s also an analytical look on life itself. Using anecdotes from her own journey, Lamott lays the groundwork for what it means to be a writer. My professor gave me this book at my graduation and when I first flipped through it, I expected to pick up some quick writing tips and then move on. Instead I was sucked into a story so poetic I would often have to stop and let certain lines sink in. I re-read it every year and have recommended it to more people than I can count.
If you love Tom Hanks — and let’s be honest, who doesn’t? — you’ll love his collection of short stories called “Uncommon Type.” Hanks channels his obsession with typewriters, his humorous wit and his uncanny ability to expose to the common thread of humanity lying within us all to create a collection of 17 stories that will warm the heart.
Of course, you should also consider dusting off some of our old favorites if you’re searching for a moment of comfort in this wearying time. Sink back into the heat of a New Orleans summer with “The Witching Hour” by Anne Rice. Walk through the halls of Longbourn with the Bennet family in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” Enjoy a darker, far more adult take on the stories of your youth with books by Gregory Maguire or Christina Henry.
