With COVID taking over our lives, we are constantly sitting in front of our screens all day with school, work, or entertainment. One of my biggest goals this year has been to have more time for myself away from being on the screen all day. I made sure to find hobbies that had the theme of “mindful-me-time” meaning the things I did were projects I can pour my passion and love into. Certain hobbies I obtained this year so far included painting, meditating, cooking, working out, and even reading.
Reading especially has been the best gateway in helping me spend time away from the screen. I would either pick a comfy corner in my room, light a candle, play some ambient sounds (for example, a video that makes me pretend I’m reading in a Hogwarts library), or go to an empty park and read in the sun. Regardless, being able to read my favorite books and creating an environment for that time allowed me to not worry about anyone else but myself for once and to spend time away from the screen.
Picking a book to read that can best fit your mood is quite possibly the hardest thing. From my many “saved” books from TikTok, walks throughout the bookstore, and recommendations from other friends, I was able to compile a small list of books that you might want to grab for the spring and summer as well:
Sweetbitter by Stephaine Danler
Personally, I love reading books about NYC since it’s interesting to read about the different perspectives there are of living in the city. Not only that, but the glamourization aspect of NYC is something that is also intriguing since I can't personally live that life but I can read about it; I can pretend I am a waitress at a restaurant in NYC, dealing with the drama Tess had dealt with, going to lively bars and living in a Manhattan apartment as opposed to being a college student.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
If you love reading murder mysteries just like me, this is a great book that takes place in late 1969. It not only largely talks about the tale of murder, but it also incorporates a coming-of-age story highlighting the main character, Kya, and her rough childhood shaping the person she becomes.
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
In an interview-style book, Daisy Jones and The Six is a coming-of-age story about what it’s like for Daisy to go to bars, hang out with bands, and enter the music world herself. Not only a coming-of-age story but a story for those that imagine themselves interacting with their favorite musician (like me with One Direction) and pretending YOU are Daisy Jones. The perfect book for music lovers and concert-goers!
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
An emotional book about ancient Greece and the Trojan War, many of my friends built an attachment to this tear-jerking book. For all the Greek Mythology lovers or fans of Achilles, this book follows love, family, fear, and a kidnapping bound by blood and oath. According to another fellow WIB member, she not only read the book in one sitting but shed a lot of tears.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
An extremely emotional book following a group of college students who moved to New York City with ambition only to be hit with the hardships life had planned for each individual. You’ll be quick to build a relationship with each character, following love, light, and all the dark parts of their individual lives. Make sure you have a box of tissues ready and a comfort blanket to help you get through this book!
Happy reading! :)
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