Social Distancing recommendations: Best books to read during the lockdown

To imbibe the courage and not allowing the anxiety of quarantine take over, books are the best escape to dwell upon in the days of social distancing. When many would find it tough to make a choice of stepping out due to the crisis, staying indoors and reading a book can actually soothe one's mind. Correctly said by E.A. Bucchianeri, “free time is a terrible thing to waste”, so here's is a list of books based on atypical interests to exhilarate peace through the magical enigma of books.

A long petal of the sea, by Isabel Allende 

In the time of social distancing, 'A long petal of the sea' is a loving flair in times of chaos by Isabel Allende. With a touch of Spanish and Chilean history from back in 1939, the book is an experience of historical and political exposition. A story that glides from the Spanish civil war to rise and fall of Pinochet. A journey of survival through partnership, even when clashed with cultural dive, it is not only a historical memoir but purgation of writer’s understanding of survival and readers catharsis with hope, exile, and belonging. It is a promise made to oneself and a capacity to surprise one with wonders of living in the time of acute crisis and blessing hope to self. The book is full of ambition and humanity.

The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand

Penned by Ayn Rand, 'The Fountainhead' is about people of New York in their 20s-30s, and the five main characters. Howard Roark, an individualistic young architect struggles to keep his ideology in times of contrasting opinions. He is the one who opposes “second-handers”, those who comply with conformity over integrity. Rand’s faith in her character imbibes the reader with a charismatic writing narrative. The book advocates a free creative mind as well as a celebration of individualism against the common opinion of others incubating “rational selfishness”, it endorses “no man can live for another”. In times of social distancing, the book is a warm philosophical comfort.

God Is A River: A Story of Faith, by Mona Verma

This is a story of "disbelief and disappointment", revived through a three-year-old Noor’s journey, and "restoration of faith in humanity and destiny". Mona Verma set the plot in the times of India’s partition, focusing on how it wasn't only a partition of two nations, but it forever changed the meaning of family, faith, death, and inspiration for many people. 'God Is A River' is a tale of violence, betrayal, and death of humanity in the era of hatred. It doesn’t revolve around one plot but is a mix of sub-plots celebrating family, culture, religion, past, and present throughout. Questioning the importance of actions, the ghost of the past is always ready to catch up with the present and yelling for the existence of Karma. The book’s childlike essence lies when Noor asks Kabir, a Sufi saint, “what is religion?”, and attempted with an answer, “God is a river”, summarises the gist of reader's restlessness in one innocent expression.

In times when people are under lockdown for the foreseeable time, one such book is a great choice to read by an Indian author.

Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson 

For people with savors in science fiction, 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson is a cyberpunk, funny, witty and highly intelligent reading. Hiro Protagonist is the protagonist himself, despite being a pizza delivery guy, he is freelancer hacker and best swordsman of reality and Metaverse. The book coined the term “avatar” in cyberspace terms. Since it’s an influence on the World Wide Web and computing the book stands out to scramble minds in Metaverse.  

Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami 

Murakami is a plump pillow to relax with utmost dedication while reading and so is 'Norwegian Wood'. Set in the 1960s in Japan, it is a melancholic peaceful read. A dark-age-romance knit in all emotions of a grown-up in those times, Murakami brought out the intense passion in his characters. Told from the first-person perspective of Toru Watanabe, the book is a tale of loss and love, grief and causal sex, or the decisions caught by desire and the “ideal world”.  Well, the only reason to not read Norwegian Wood would be a dislike for dark romance, else the enthralling read is worth one's space in bookshelf.

Wonder, by R.J. Palacio 

“I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, It’s probably worse.”, these words sound heart-wrenching when said by a 5th-grade kid. Born with physical deformities Auggie Pullman has undergone many facial surgeries. Pullman is a “not-so-ordinary kid”, in fact, a kid with a face that makes people staring awfully. The main character of the book is 8-12 years old, yet it celebrates the inquisitiveness of reading and an impromptu self-check of an individual. A kind of story that makes you flip through the pages and make it a one read. The essence lies in a straight forward approach with a non-sentimental but practical genre called life when she says, “you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out”.

Gabriel’s Inferno, by Sylvain Reynard 

An erotic novel by anonymous Canadian author penned as Sylvain Reynard, Gabriel’s Inferno is a Trilogy. An intriguing love affair between a professor and his student are baked by passion in this book. A journey of one’s escape, and sinful explorations, forbidden love and redemption Gabriel’s Inferno is the first book of the sensual trilogy, followed by Gabriel’s Rapture and Gabriels Redemption to ease one’s interest in the genre of romance and erotic novel.