Be it for half an hour or half a day, reading a good book is getting the chance to let your mind escape from your present reality -especially this one- for a brief period of time. In this time of extreme anxiety and self-isolation, we could all use a good distraction from our thoughts. Here are some books we recommend you check out while self-isolating:
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
The book is not only well-written with non-stuffy or cliche dialogue, which sadly can’t be said for all romance novels, but it also breaks a few romance novel tropes. The initial premise of the novel is a socially awkward woman hires an escort to help her overcome her issues with romantic/sexual relationships; however, that’s where the romance novel trope ends. The main character is an econometrician with high-functioning autism and the escort is a Vietnamese-Norwegian fashion designer doing everything he can to provide for his family. The romance that blooms between these two is a joy to read, and the sex scenes are saucy and creatively written.
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
Murakami is known for writing about eccentric themes from talking cats to female assassins, but in a way that doesn’t feel like an overplayed science-fiction plot. Norwegian Wood is one of Murakami’s first books to have hit a major foreign audience outside of Japan, and oddly enough, it is one of his only books that doesn’t have any fantastical elements to it. Norwegian Wood, inspired by the Beetle’s song of the same name, is about the story of a thoughtful twenty-something year old man caught in between his love for two very different women. It is not your typical love story or coming of age novel, but the way Murakami writes his characters out makes you emphasize with the characters and want to experience the story for as long as possible.
Vox by Nicholson Baker
Vox is one of the most classic, and enjoyable, examples of erotic literature in the recent generations. Written in the early 90s, the story explores a phone sex conversation between two strangers. The conversation between the two ranges from sensual to comedic and rather vulnerable. Even though we have technology like Snapchat or video chat apps like Zoom if we want to have a “sexy” conversation with our partner, there’s something nostalgic and very sexy about only hearing the sound of another person’s voice. Especially right now when our conversations, sexual or otherwise, are mostly restricted to phone calls or video chats, the story of attraction without physical touch is especially relatable and appealing.
Lydia Chin & Bill Smith by S.J. Rozan
This is an ongoing mystery series focusing on two characters, strong-spirited Chinese-American private investigator Lydia Chin and rugged male protagonist Bill Smith. I would recommend reading the entire series starting from the beginning, but a particularly favorite in the series is The Shanghai Moon. Rozan excels at storyline pacing, creating convincing mysteries, and has built a delightfully entertaining relationship between the protagonists of the series. If you’re looking for a book series to help fill in the extra time, we would highly recommend this mystery series.
These reads are a great way to distract and transport your mind to another place while you may not be in the most peaceful or quiet of locations. Try picking up one of these books, settle into a chair or onto your bed, and zone out for a few.
