With all the chaos going on right now, I’ve heard a lot of people say something along the lines, “Now is not the time to read apocalyptic fiction, or books about pandemics.” The idea being that when you’re going through something difficult, you don’t necessarily want to read about it (or watch a film about it, etc.). It makes sense, but it may not be the best advice for everyone all the time.

Sometimes when I’ve had a bad day, there is nothing more comforting or cathartic than coming home and watching a Shakespeare tragedy. Maybe there’s something about looking at it thinking, “At least things aren’t that bad.” If I’m feeling frustrating and overwhelmed, that’s all understandable, but at least I’m not Hamlet, right? Even when all this COVID-19 stuff started to get really crazy here, I didn’t reach for a comfort read or something that would completely distract me. I decided to read The Decameron – a medieval work about the Black Plague. Maybe that’s a little too on the nose for some, but I’ve generally appreciated having it hit so close to home. Digging into that experience. I would never have read The Decameron in quite the same way before, which is making it a really powerful and memorable read – but that isn’t what I always want.

There’s a big difference between reading something in order to dig in to your own experience, and reading something in order to escape it. I think both are completely valid and healthy ways of reading, and I’ve done both. Right now, I’m not ready to dig in more, so I’m going to go find something lovely and magical to read to take my brain anywhere else but March of 2020. If you would like to do the same, I recommend the following books:

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – an epic story involving time travel, 18th century Scotland, and a huge cast of fabulous characters.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer – a warm, cozy post WWII story, told through letters, that absolutely elicited squeals and giggles and “awwwww”s from me.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer – Featuring a cyborg Cinderella. In outer space. Sounds a bit bonkers, but trust me. It’s fantastic. And the good news is if you love it (and I think you will), there’s a whole series to go with it.

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman – a short, hilarious read, perfect for some afternoon fun or to read with kids. And it’s Neil Gaiman, so you know it has to be good.