Bookish friends are the best friends.
Yesterday, a good friend of mine posted a query on Facebook, seeking recommendations “for someone who can’t focus on a book at the moment”.
Firstly, I was blown away by the honesty of that question. Because there are plenty of times when even I, who turn to books to help me through any of life’s moments, simply can’t read. The reasons are myriad: colds and headaches make focus really tricky; so does lack of sleep and a busy schedule; being in school, sometimes I’ve just read too much in a day to focus on another plot, another paragraph, another syllable. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want literature in my life–often, it’s the best way to make all the other nonsense fade away and to ground me.
Secondly, I was thrilled with the range and thoughtfulness with which this question was answered. Because book people will find a way to book even in the most trying of circumstances. And so, it is with great thanks and appreciation that I present to you the list of things you can read, can appreciate, and can savor when you just can’t.
Probably the first and more frequent recommendation was for short stories–everything from Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, a collection of stories that deal with Indian and American culture, to tales-of-the-moment from Roxane Gay’s Difficult Women. The works of Saki (also known as the British writer H.H. Munro) were also mentioned, along with travel stories like Visit Sunny Chernobyl and The Sex Lives of Cannibals. Not only do shorter tales offer the benefits of reading without the emotional and physical commitment that a novel might ask, but their single-serving length also helps you carve out a manageable amount of time for yourself. This can be enormously beneficial for busy readers, and also for those who have some troubles focusing for a novel-length amount of time. And the sense of fulfillment in finishing a thing, whether it’s a story or a whole book, is just as sweet.
Another suggestion was cartoons and picture books. Lady Pole has sung the praises of Kate Beaton here, but let me reiterate: They are literary and feminist and smart, and you can flip through them here: http://www.harkavagrant.com/. Another of Lady Pole’s favorites, Calvin and Hobbes, came up, which just goes to show you that we here at the Free for All are harbingers of excellent taste. Another form of picture book that I hadn’t previously considered was home decor/fashion photography/pattern books. All of these books, from comics to high fashion, give your eyes something on which to focus which doesn’t require the same work as words, but stimulates the imagination just the same. Many can also give you ideas for projects to try yourself, which is always an exciting plus.
Another avenue of exploration that was suggested was audiobooks. These stunning little bits of technology leave your hands free to knit or clean or drive, while still pouring a story into your brain. For many people who aren’t visual learners, or who don’t have extra hands or the time to stop and read a printed book, audiobooks can be an ideal way to discover new stories and adventures. Best of all, these come in short versions, too! P.G. Wodehouse’s phenomenal Jeeves and Wooster series is available on Hoopla, while other classics like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes are available on CD and to download. And don’t forget Free For All favorite Neil Gaiman, whose audiobooks are the stuff of which literary dreams are made.
In the interest of full disclosure, I also added the Choose Your Own Adventure books to this growing and phenomenal list. There is nothing more empowering, especially when you are feeling a little out-of-sorts, than discovering how to escape the lost city of Atlantis, or more diverting than to explore the Cave of Time. The absurdity of these plots are often a great stress-buster in and of themselves, and the fun of finding out where your choices lead can’t be beat.
Life isn’t always considerate, dear readers, and our brains don’t always do what we would like them to do. But the Library is here to help, in these situations, as well. And never discount your friend’s recommendations, too. Sometimes, they lead to the best ideas you’ve heard all day.