When most of the nation went into lock-down late in March, people explored all sorts of pursuits they had neither the time nor the inclination for until then. That all seems like a dream now, but last week I noted an article on pandemic reading. What makes good reading during 2020–the year that has been a time warp? The clock is moving so fast, and yet it seems not to move at all.
Pandemic Reading Together
Several online book clubs were formed and some continue today. #TolstoyTogether was one such club that set out to read War and Peace. While the club completed its task, you still can read the observations of the club leader, Yiyun Lee, by clicking on the link above. He even takes photos of his margin notes and underlinings.
There’s The Quarantine Book Club with an apropos logo.
Weekly discussions with authors continue.
A Translated Fiction Book Club also was founded, but it seems to be defunct.
By searching for “pandemic book clubs” you’ll find other offerings.
Pandemic Reading Alone
Writer Talia Lavin started a podcast in January that was a virtual book club formed to read Moby Dick, considered the best American novel ever written. You can listen to the podcast should you accept the challenge to read it alone.
And, finally, the article that started my pandemic reading thoughts explored why reading Proust now makes so much sense. The article’s author explains: “Proust’s work has many qualities that might recommend it for pandemic reading: the author’s concern with the protean nature of time, the transportive exploration of memory and the past, or simply the pleasure of immersing oneself in the richly detailed life of another.” But apparently the writer found Proust a much richer read than he had anticipated. Click on the link above to read the article.
And You
What sort of reading habits have you adopted during our other-worldly 2020? Any particular title that you’d recommend to others?
TWEETABLES
What books make for perfect pandemic reading? Click to tweet.
Join the conversation: What books have you read during the pandemic? Click to tweet.
During this pandemic, I’m reading primarily fiction, and fiction set in Greece. I’m seeking escape and virtual travel.
That sounds like marvelous escapist reading.
The pandemic started off for me with a Becky Wade and an Amanda Dykes (I was able to read Set the Stars Alight to my mom before she passed away and she loved it, time I’ll treasure forever). No better way. But then my daughter delved into a season of mythology for a literature class, and I hadn’t read anything of that sort since I was forced to in seventh grade. I missed the Iliad initially, but I jumped in with The Odyssey, The Saga of the Volsungs, Things Fall Apart, and now I’m reading American Gods. I’ve enjoyed them all, but American Gods has some bad parts, so I can’t recommend that one. However, we’ve enjoyed our own little book club here at home.
What’s not to love about Amanda Dykes’ books? Reverting back to middle school to read mythology…hm, not so sure about that. But what a fun book club to form with your daughter.
I’m walled around by mire and pain,
cancer’s glacial screed;
to stay alive and to remain,
hope is what I need,
Dark fate would seek to clip my wings;
well-meaning folk do, too,
by saying true and awful things,
like “Face it, mate, you’re through,
and gentle now your striving heart,
wait unto the night;
there’s no call now to take part
in this unequal fight,”
and thus it’s now to books I turn
that yet the flame of dreams may burn.
Books can offer much solace.
Janet, books are my lifeline now.
Along with some films, like “The Martian”. It’s the cinematic embodiment of Churchill’s dictum:
“Never give up. Never, never give up. Never, never, never give up.”
Since I am a regular reader anyway, my reading has stayed the same. I have several things going at once. Some Christian fiction (historical romance right now), one of my husband’s hard-boiled detective novels, funny literary fiction that a friend bought for me, a book on writing craft, a parenting book, a middle grade novel that I borrowed from my youngest son, and a pile of 17 chapter books I’m reading as research as I am attempting to write my first chapter book during NaNoWriMo … right after I finish the middle grade novel I started November 1st. Will I finish them all? Yes, to all of the fiction, and eventually to the non-fiction. But this is how I always read … so I don’t think the pandemic has changed anything reading-wise for me. Unless you count that I allowed my friend to talk me into two literary offerings this year instead of one, even though I was not successful in talking her into two genre books, ha!
You have lots of books that you’re reading all at once. I’ve never attempted such a feat!
I’ve been rereading favorite children’s books. It has been so refreshing. Right now I’m reading Anne of Green Gables. Next on my list is Sarah Plain and Tall.
What delightful choices, Jeanette!
Jeanette, I’ve been rereading some of my childhood favorites too, such as the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Haven’t quite been able to reread Anne of Green Gables yet. My September trip to Prince Edward Island was, of course, canceled.
I have discovered Patricia Wentworth, one of the British Golden Age of Mystery authors. I’ve read all her Miss Silver mysteries and am now tackling her stand alone suspense novels. They whisk me away back in time and are totally engrossing. But I did have to laugh when I discovered that the first in the Miss Silver series is titled, GREY MASK.
🙂
Shirley, I’m not familiar with Patricia Wentworth, but she sounds like an author I would enjoy. But then…we just can’t get away from masks, can we!?
I’ve been reading new Christian fiction titles in a variety of genres. My “comfort” reads include childhood favorites and cozy mysteries set in libraries or bookstores. Favorite authors are Jenn McKinlay (“Library Lover’s Mysteries”) and Lorna Barrett (“Booktown Mysteries”).
My wife and I have been reading some Agatha Christie books we found in our storeroom. Some belonged to our son and one had my grandfather’s signature in it. We alternate that with Christian non-fiction and Bible studies.
On my own I’ve dug back into my Thomas Carlyle studies. Have been working chronologically through his works to trace his development as a writer and thinker. I’m finally up to “Sartor Resartus”, which some consider his greatest work. For sure it was his first major book. Four chapters in and I’m, so far, not impressed.