The pandemic has put a lot of us into our own heads. We don’t socialize as much and that usually gets more prevalent in the winter months. So what can we do to prepare? Read! According to Words Alive: “a study conducted by the Reading Agency and summarized by the Independent, reading for pleasure can increase self-esteem, reduce symptoms of depression, help build better relationships with others, and reduce anxiety and stress.” So what books can help us grow as we read for pleasure? As a bookworm myself, I’ve cultivated a short but powerful list of two fiction books and one creative non fiction to help you take a break from your everyday life.
1. Heating & Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly
This is a newer genre being offered in the book department since it’s considered to be creative nonfiction. I loved reading this book since she included micro memoirs from her life. It includes poetry and short memories into her life—it is beautifully written. This is a book where you don’t have to grasp characters and a thick plot but it is no less lively than a typical book. Totaling at 52 micro memoirs, you won’t get bored. Personally this was a 10/10 rating for me and I recommend it to those who don’t even enjoy reading to begin with.
2. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
Thriller seekers this one’s for you! If you watch true crime documentaries, have read thrillers in the past, or need something to read that’s going to keep you wanting to read more…this is the one for you. A story about a newlywed couple that has everything looking picture perfect on the outside but behind closed doors…it’s a much different story. This is a page turner! Highly recommend this if you’ve never given the thriller genre a try yet.
Enjoying this article? Check out this one about books you should read before your first job or before starting a new one.
3. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
As soon as I finished this book, I bought the rest of the books by this author. This is a beautifully crafted story about a man who was a handyman on a pier. He died trying to save the life of a child on a ride that malfunctioned. He makes it to Heaven and meets the five people that he has impacted in his life. People that he didn’t even expect to ever see again. This book makes you think about every action that you have ever done in your life and from there on out. There’s also a sequel to this! I give this a 9/10!
What Will You Read?
These are very easy to read books to get you out of your reading slump. The most vital step to reading is to start! There are unlimited options in the world of books so even if none of these interest you, I suggest getting the Goodreads app and developing a list to read over the Fall and Winter months. You can also read a book about developing better habits – you can read that article here. Happy reading!
