Books to Read in Quarantine

Gelila Negesse, Co-Editor-in-Chief
April 22, 2020

With more time on my hands, I’ve gathered a collection of books I have read in quarantine and one’s I’m looking forward to reading. All of these books were bought or rented from the library before local shelter-in-place was enforced. Libraries are closed in the Rowlett-Garland-Sachse area however e-books are still offered online.

Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley
This book, in the first couple of chapters, took a while to get into but past the stagnant parts, I finished the book in one sitting. The story follows the main character, Nathan, who, with the everyday troubles of being a teenager, deals with abuse, doubts in religion, and overall is thrown into a whirlwind in finding his true self. The story takes on many issues including the experiences many LGBT+ youth face in oppressive environments while also coming to terms with themselves.
Paper Towns by John Green
So many of John Green’s novels we’re my favorite reads in middle school and coming back to this book gave a comforting sense of nostalgia. Picking up an old book you read in what seems like lifetimes ago, provides new perspectives and opinions of the stories. The optimistic, adventure-hungry story of two characters, Quentin and Margo, transports you to a world of quirky teenage rebellion set in the ‘perfect’ suburban town.
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
With the setting of the story revolving middle-aged suburban adults, I tend to stray away from novels like this but the precarious twist of revisiting youth while also raising children of their own provides for a comforting and admirable storyline. With hints of ‘90s garage band aesthetics mixed with cooker cutter lifestyles, this book absorbs you into a story of parenthood and adulting while also holding on to the high spirits of youth.
100 Years: Wisdom From Famous Writers on Every Year of Your Life by Joshua Prager and Milton Glaser
This book is fun to sit around with your family and read excerpts from each of your ages. Some last for pages while some just a couple of sentences, yet all leave you to take a moment and think what it really means to you personally.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and The Face of Another by Kobo Abe are two books on my 2020 Books list I’ve been meaning to read for a while now. Both books are set in different parts of the world that explore how cultural philosophy can influence one’s journey on finding self-identity.