By Raegan Allen
Quarantine has unquestionably been a challenge for all of us, but I cannot say I am not incredibly thankful for all the time I've had to read. Since mid-March, I've torn through a wide variety of books, some that changed my life, some that I wasn't too impressed by. Welcome, friends, to my quarantine bookcase.
The Humans by Matt Haig
Humans are a peculiar species indeed. While everyone would probably agree with this statement, we rarely pause to reflect on just how odd humans really are. In this novel, Haig tells the story of an alien that comes to earth and must disguise himself as a man to complete his mission. His outside perspective on the human race is both refreshing and necessary. I felt lighter after finishing the book, inspired to live a life this alien would not find ridiculous, but miraculous -- a life full of watching sunsets, listening to music, eating peanut butter sandwiches with white wine, and loving fully and unapologetically. I can’t explain, but trust me, you’ll want to do the same. Just read it.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book has been sitting on my shelf since probably 2014, and I somehow only got around to reading it this year. While I’m glad I can check it off my mental list of books I own but haven’t read, I can’t say there is much else I am glad about after reading this novel. While Morgenstern is certainly a master of description, she breaks the contract with the reader again and again. The blurb on the back of the book promises a story that the some 500 page book simply does not deliver. I kept waiting for this riveting romance I was promised to begin, and was disappointed to the very end. I cannot say my reading experience was all negative, however. The setting of the circus that Morgenstern created was, well, magical, even if the plot that takes place within it left me wanting more.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
I knew I was a fan of Kazuo Ishiguro before picking up this novel, having read Never Let Me Go a few years back and absolutely loving it. The Remains of the Day only further demonstrates the range of his talent. I read it in one glorious day, experiencing a whirlwind of emotions as the story unfolded before me. While I was hooked from the beginning, the story reveals itself gradually, as does the narrator, whose true feelings I found myself questioning to the very end. Though I read it in a short amount of time, this book is the epitome of a slow burn, and will stay with you for a long time after reading the last page.
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
While I would like to think I know why this book is an important one, I cannot say that I really enjoyed reading it. Maybe that is the point. The violence within these pages would be disturbing to behold on a normal day, but with all that’s going on in the world right now, some of the scenes were almost unbearable. I knew this wasn’t going to be a lighthearted read, but I supposed I overestimated the amount of icky feelings I could handle. If you’re looking for a pick-me-up or a pleasant distraction of a read, skip this one during quarantine. If you’d like to feel even worse about life and/o
r humanity, feel free to pick up A Clockwork Orange.
Other Quarantine Reads
Masterpieces
Beloved by Toni Morrison
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
The Waste Land and Other Poems by T.S. Eliot
Books That Will Change the Way You Think
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
Daytripper by Fabio Moon
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Romantic Reads
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Skip During Your Stay-at-Home Order
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (I'm sorry)
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