Books to read to escape from the world
It took a global pandemic to get me back to blogging, but here I am. I've missed this blog so much, but for various reasons, I just hadn't been making the time to write and share and create in this format. I've stayed a little more consistent on YouTube and Instagram, and of course, I've been pouring into CVTD Beauty.
The news about COVID-19 can be pretty anxiety-inducing and terrifying at times, so I'm sure you all know why I've been wanting to escape from the world lately. But, you may not know that escaping into a good book is my go-to coping mechanism. When I think back on some of the most challenging times in my life, there's always a book (or several) that has distracted, entertained and inspired me. So, I'm sharing the books that have allowed me to escape from tragic, confusing, scary and challenging times in hopes that one of these books might uplift you the way that they've uplifted me.
In no particular order, here are the best books to read when you need to escape.
- Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. I spent a lot of time reading as a kid. This series tops this list because this was the first time I was truly transported by a book. Sure, I'd read and loved a lot of books but I don't remember experiencing the pure pleasure of escaping into a good book until I read The Lord of the Rings.
- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. The first of many Michael Crichton books that I read when I was younger. If you haven't read this book, please do yourself a favor and add this to your list. Crichton's books are incredibly well-researched and he has a knack for dialogue. Even though you know you're reading fiction, you almost wonder...are you really?
- A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin. When I moved back to the Bay Area almost six years ago, I really struggled adjusting to how much my life had changed. The 2-year period after moving to Oakland was one of the hardest in my life and these books kept me company on many a lonely Saturday afternoon. I relished being to escape into world of dragons and dire wolves to take a break from worrying about making new friends and fitting in at work. These books literally gave me life and I'm still annoyed Martin didn't finish the series.
- Any of the Easy Rawlins mysteries by Walter Mosley. Whew...Walter Mosley is probably my favorite author. I love how he brings the nuances of Black culture and relationships to life in his books, and the Easy Rawlins series is such a gem. They're set in L.A. in the 1960s but they feel timeless. Mosley elevates the mystery genre by making you love the characters just as much as you love figuring out whodunnit.
- Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan. Talk about some fun books! I saw Crazy Rich Asians on a flight and soon after I downloaded all three books on Audible. I was going through a period of feeling anxious and unfocused, and it was nice to focus on Rich People Problems instead of my own for a bit.
- The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin. Wow. This series was incredible. I can't remember being so impressed and captivated by a book as I was by The Fifth Season, which is the first book in the trilogy. I've always been drawn to science fiction because I love the balance between creating a "fantasy" world that's totally different from our own, and crafting stories and themes that feel relevant and timely. The great authors manage to do this, and Jemisin is absolutely one of the sci-fi greats.
- The Legacy of Orisha series by Tomi Adeyemi. These books kept me totally captivated while traveling to Ghana and Mozambique this past winter. Sci-fi with an Afro-futuristic twist is the best way I can describe these books. In Orisha, magic was practiced by "maji" until they were murdered or imprisoned by the king. Magic seems to be dead, until a few descendants of maji with unknown magical abilities are able to re-activate their powers. The meaning of family, forgiveness, love inclusion and healing are the main themes, but the best part is how you just can't put the books down. The second book just came out in December and I'm sad I'll probably be waiting for another year or so for the third.
- The Illuminae Files trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. I cheated and listed to this on Audible, and these are significantly enhanced by being listened to rather than read. This series takes place in a future where humans have colonized different planets and "artificial" intelligence is frighteningly real. The story is told in a series of captain's logs and different points of views, so having different voices really brings the story to life.
- Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French. Admittedly there are some ups and downs in this series (my favorites by far are In the Woods and The Likeness), but I'm a sucker for a crime drama. French does a great job at keeping you in suspense until the end, and I appreciate that the characters are realistic (read: flawed) and the twists and turns are believable as well. The first two books are the basis for the Starz series Dublin Murders but, unsurprisingly, the books are much better.
I'm currently getting through the Lilith's Brood trilogy by Octavia Butler and then I'll be diving in to The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin. As you can probably tell, I love sci-fi and am taking advantage of these slow days to dive deep into some new worlds.
I know we're in the midst of a really strange and scary time, and I hope this post provides a little distraction or helps you navigate your day in some way. We'll get through this.
What are you reading these days? Please leave some suggestions!