Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re most likely aware of the current situation that we’re in. One that is scary, uncertain, and unpredictable. In complete honesty, I’ve never done well in isolation. I’m a huge people person and I thrive off of human interactions. Aside from all the quarantine jokes that we’ve all been hearing, this has been a particularly difficult time for me, as I’m sure it has been for many others. Due to the absolute necessity of social distancing and being considerate of others, I’ve been doing all that is in my power to force myself to stay home, despite my anxiety that is currently sky rocketing.
Aside from staying home and self-isolating, I have found that I have such little motivation to do anything else. In contrast, my love for reading has exponentially increased as it has become the best distraction and vacation. This interesting month of March has been hectic and inconsistent, so I have turned to some novels that have helped transport me to other places. If you’re feeling isolated and anxious, just know that you are absolutely not alone! Though I can’t fix the world’s problems, – and believe me, I really wish I could, I can share some of my favorite reads of March. Yes, I can’t expect these books to change your life, but I do believe they helped change mine. Especially during these darker times, they’ve helped me find some light. Maybe you’ll find yours.
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Karma Gone Bad – Jenny Feldon
A tale of self-discovery, as Jenny relocates to India, after living in New York for the majority of her life, culture shock and ethnocentrism become obstacles between her and her experience, marriage, and general life. Jenny is forced to change her perspective on everything and re-start her life in a new country.
Side note: My university was evacuated. I felt that my life was being completely uprooted, and that the rug had been swept from under me. This read truly helped me appreciate my current situation and remind me that I am thankful for all that I have, even in times of unexpected change.
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The Doors of Perception – Aldous Huxley
An in-depth analysis of the human subconscious. Huxley explores psychedelic drugs and their impact on the human mind. Partaking in experimental Mescaline trips, Huxley elaborates of his experience, thoughts, and emotions, and how they have shaped his ego, perception, and human instinct.
Side note: The Doors of Perception truly encouraged me to reflect on how I viewed the “non-essential” and “essential” concepts in my life. I found myself changing the way that I perceived ideas and how I understood them. Basically, be prepared for a mind blower!
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I’ll Give You The Sun – Jandy Nelson
You’ll be introduced to Noah and Jude, two twins who couldn’t be more different, and now with recent life changes, have started to drift apart from each other- in the worst ways. It couldn’t be farther than the classic ‘coming of age’ story. These two twins, and their interesting families, undergo challenges with art, acceptance, and love. I can’t promise that you won’t be brought to your knees by the dense emotion in this novel.
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The Alchemist– Paulo Coelho
An absolute classic. The story of a shepherd boy from Andalusia that leaves the only home he’s ever known in search of the ultimate treasure. Along his way, he encounters life lessons and life changing characters that change his perception on his priorities and what ‘true’ treasure is. A challenge persists, the boy must learn how to read omens and follow his heart’s destiny. Upon meeting the alchemist during his travels, he is forced to confront his humility and development as a human.