Your Next Quarantine Read (or Five)

I went into this year thinking that reading 20 books was a lofty goal... and then I ended up with a lot more time on my hands than I’d thought. My eyes were bleary from too many hours of Netflix (and a two-year-old glasses prescription). My hands were raw and numb from kneading dough. My apartment was lousy with half-built projects I abandoned. I did what anyone would do: I turned my hope to my second home, our local bookstore. Going into October, I’ve read 27 books this year, and I’m here to tell you, sweet sourdough-starting, project-abandoning, Netflix-crazed friend, about some books you should pick up before you have a meltdown.

#1: Wild // Cheryl Strayed

I read this book the first time as a senior in high school and the writing is so good it made me consider running away from home straight to the Pacific Crest Trail. Seriously. It’s good. When I’m low on energy, motivation, or creativity, this is one of the books I run to to restore me.

If you haven’t seen the fabulous movie starring Reese Witherspoon or picked this blessing up before, here’s what you’re in for: a true story of a woman, life in shambles, who escapes to a hiking trail called the PCT to put it back together. Addiction, infidelity, and loss are enough to destroy a person, but Cheryl took that pain and channeled it into a hike through desert, snow, and forest to heal herself and figure out what she wanted her life to look like coming out of it. It’s a refreshing story with a message for anyone feeling stuck or hopeless: you are in charge of your own happiness.

#2: Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered // Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

Murder! Friendship! Sass! All you could ever want in a truly obscenity-laced book that will make you laugh out loud and snort until your boyfriend gives you a look and says, “what?” Karen and Georgia are the hosts of My Favorite Murder, a true-crime podcast close to my heart, and now authors of this awesome book. Their voices are just as audible in their writing as they are through my car speakers every morning as spit-fire Karen and sweet baby angel Georgia walk us through some of the terrors they’ve lived and the lessons they have to impart to us all. Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered is a quick, funny, and brazen read with unsuspected levity in all the important parts. You will fall in love with these ladies just as I have. Guaranteed.

#3: Mom & Me & Mom // Maya Angelou

Friendly reminder to call your mom, especially if you haven’t in a while, brought to you by this astoundingly heartfelt account of the relationship between Maya Angelou and her mama. This is a collection of stories that will make you smile, cry, and set it down to journal on it-- and then call your mom. Angelou’s writing is beautiful and smooth and hits home in all the right ways, and this book of essays is no exception.

#4: Becoming // Michelle Obama

To hear Michelle Obama speak, to read the words she’s written about growing up and how it’s made her see the world, is to absolutely adore her. In her memoir, the former First Lady talks about growing up in downtown Chicago, about the lengths she had to go to for a quality education, about the dream of working so hard to make it to the top only to realize that money doesn’t trump relationships. There is something relatable in every story she tells and something powerful in her vision for America. Side note: the documentary on Netflix is pretty amazing, too.

#5: Big Magic // Elizabeth Gilbert

And finally, one of the greats, Elizabeth Gilbert. As obsessed as I am with City of Girls and Eat, Pray, Love, this is the one that made the list because I think it’s most relevant for this year. Big Magic is about regaining creativity when you’re scared you’ve lost it. It’s about going back to that childlike mindset that there is something beautiful and inspiring in every little mundane thing. If you’re feeling sucked dry, this is the book you need to pick up. Let Elizabeth Gilbert talk some magic back into you.

My favorite way to keep track of what I’ve read or what I want to read is my Goodreads account. If you need more recommendations or want to see what I’m reading now, check it out!