Books in the Time of Corona

There have been so many changes since my last blog post on beach pants, of all things.

Coronavirus has rocked the world and we are living in unprecedented, scary times. I am so grateful to be working from home, hunkered down with my family. I am focusing on the bright spots. My heart breaks for people dealing with more grim realities.

I have always found solace in reading, and books are buoying me to a sense of home and stability now more than ever. I do regret my current book choice; I'm in the middle of The Nightingale. While it is an exquisite, well written story, it centers on two sisters in France during World War II and their struggle to survive the German occupation. Not exactly pleasure reading. I want to be distracted from things like food shortages, not reminded of a previous time of strife and some of the worst atrocities in history. All that being said, it is a page-turner, and a must read for everyone, at some point.

What I would recommend for current consumption:

Nine Perfect Strangers
This was my first book during Social Distancing. It has its dark parts, but overall it's much lighter and more effectively distracting. It centers on, you guessed it, nine strangers at a health resort. As always Liane Moriarty creates relatable, flawed characters and a clever, thrilling storyline.

Wild Game
I read this before the Corona craziness and I've been meaning to shout from the rooftops to everyone to read this memoir. It's about a girl and her involvement in her mother's affair, and so much more. The writing is gorgeous and the story is heartbreaking but addictive. I'm envious of anyone who gets to read it for the first time.

Practicing Peace
This is my new bible. Before Corona when I was still frequenting my local bookshop it spoke to me from the display by the register like candy in the grocery store checkout aisle. I've dogeared like every other page for reference. There are so many gems on living more peacefully, and on being softer. Even before the current Corona climate everyone seemed so tense in 2020, myself included. This book on mindfulness reminds me to turn inward and control what I can control. (I feel like I'm failing often, but then I can begin again.) My state of mind has a ripple effect on my family and all my circles, even if my interactions with the outside world are limited to texting, FaceTime, Zoom etc. Everyone affects everyone else. Here's an excerpt:

"If we want there to be peace in the world, then we have to take responsibility when our own hearts and minds harden and close. We have to be brave enough to soften what is rigid, to find the soft spot and stay with it. We have to have that kind of courage and take that kind of responsibility... That's the true practice of peace."

I'm including a roundup of other books I've recently read, below. They weren't my personal favorites but they're getting a lot of hype and love elsewhere so maybe they'll resonate with my readers as well:

Dear Edward
Normal People
Such a Fun Age

All the love and book worm snuggles,
AES

P.S. Order from your local bookstores - help support them if you can! I recently ordered from Little City Books and Sag Harbor Books. <3