Books as comfort food

or brain food

Many of us turn to books during hard, confusing, or stressful times. They can provide an escape from reality, a way to get out of your head or the physical place that you’re in. Books can also help us grieve, understand our feelings or emotions, or understand the history behind something that is happening so we can understand the present better. They are a pathway to connection and knowledge, and at any point in history there has never been a better time to read; it’s always true. I can’t pretend to have any recommendations on how to process what is happening in your life right now, or what is happening in other people’s lives that is causing you anxiety, but these are the books I’ve been enjoying as of late.

The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman

A delightful murder mystery series about four unlikely friends in a retirement community on the English coast who find themselves solving murders over and over again.

Mouth to Mouth by Antoine Wilson

A story within a story about a man who runs into a college acquaintance during a flight delay at an airport, during which the acquaintance tells him a novel-length story that he has never disclosed with anyone else. Short, propulsive and witty, the novel ends in such a surprising way that you’ll want to reread it immediately.

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

A novel about the daily routines that keep us sane, and what happens when one is upended and an unspoken community must grapple with the consequences. (It’s about swimming and so much more).

Chilean Poet by Alejandro Zambra

I’m reading this one at the moment, but I am a huge fan of Zambra and highly recommend his thoughtful, funny writing to everyone!!

New Animal by Ella Baxter

Think Kristen Arnett’s Mostly Dead Things but in Australia and with BDSM.

The Impossible City by Karen Cheung

A portrait of Hong Kong through many women who live, work, and protest there.

Heartbreak by Florence Williams

A journalist sets off on a journey to understand the science behind the pain of heartbreak when her 25-year marriage ends, taking her through mountains, rivers, electric shock therapy, experimenting with MDMA and more experiences she never expected.

My Mess is a Bit of a Life by Georgia Pritchett

A funny memoir in essays about living with anxiety.