Unintentional Social Distancing Readathon: I Put My Phone Away, and Read 5 Books in a Week

How's this for an unproductive use of my time: I started five books in March, but somehow, only finished two. In my defense, Covid-19 stress was keeping me permanently unfocused and forever glued to my phone, neither of which is terribly conducive to reading a lot.

Because of this inability to just get to the final page, back at the end of March, I made it a priority to actually enter into the first few weeks of April with a fair amount of reading under my sleeve. In particular, I wanted to read five books in one singular week.

I figured this was a solid enough number, because I knew it was feasible with the kinds of books I was choosing, and it would help me a lot in getting back on track with my Goodreads goal for 2020. I decided I would keep my phone in a different room - with a whole staircase between us - and continued to make plenty of time in my day for regular journaling and walking (both of which help me mitigate my stress levels, and keep my mind clear), as well as spending time with my family.

And wouldn't you know it? I actually made my goal! Truly anything is possible if you force yourself off Instagram every once in a while.

(There's still one book I'm not counting, too: my Tastee-Reads cookbook - in case you've been following - for the month of April is Alison Roman's Nothing Fancy, and I spent the week reading through it cover to cover. I got through everything, including body paragraphs, ingredients lists, and recipe intros, and still had time over to flag the recipes I wanted to tackle, and then read through it a second time. Still, I don't count cookbooks towards my personal Goodreads goals!)


Here are the five books I managed to read in one week:

The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next #1), Jasper Fforde

Just as charming, quick-witted, and fast-paced as I've always thought this balls-to-the-wall British absurdist comedy was. Time travel, dodos, the Socialist Republic of Wales, raucous and Rocky Horror-esque performances of Richard III, and most importantly, the ability to jump to the pages of a book and back... and that's not even managing the minor side plot about the vampires. Or the black hole. Truly, this book has it all.

But while its fit to burst with all manner of exciting and improbable plots, it never feels overburdened so much as in a happy kind of frenzy. You check your skepticism and rationale mind at the door when you open the cover of the book, and you're undoubtedly in for a good time. In an alternate version of England, 1985, there is war with Russia over the Crimea, having lasted for over 100 years, a super-villain who can disguise himself at will holding literary characters hostage, and the real author of the Shakespeare plays is as widely discussed and hotly debated as religion. Clearly, this is not the arena for a disparaging eye.

In truth, I acknowledge that the book is a lot, like a stage improv game that keeps asking itself "Yes, and...?" As are, what? The other seven books in this series, not to mention the several spin-offs? I would know... I've read each of them multiple times. This madcap detective series is one of my long-term favorites, and I know the plot well enough now to really adore all of its strange little quirks and eccentricities. I know its a lot to take in at first, but I still heartily encourage you to make the leap... you'll be swept along in the chase in no time!

Besides, it will make you want to pick up plenty more British literature when you're finished. Its really the perfect sort of series for a bookworm... if only everyone had such an appreciation for literature as Ms. Thursday Next!


Stardust, Neil Gaiman

Undoubtedly one of the greatest modern fairy tales of the 21st Century, Stardust is filled with familiar Fantasy elements, like witches, kings, quests, and all manner of magical creatures, but they occupy a world that feels entirely new. It carries feelings of nostalgia and comfort, due to its expert use of a craft no longer as popular as it once was, but the twists and turns that the plot takes keep it from ever getting boring. It is constructed from the well-worn clothing of Fantasy components, but as no point does it feel overly composed; it abides by Fairy Tale conventions, but is far from conventional. Gaiman is an old pro at long, involved novels, and all of his cleverness is as much as work here as it is in Good Omens or American Gods.

(Well, save for one: practically every single female characters talked about her breasts, or had them remarked upon by someone else, at least once. So much boob talk. In that way, Gaiman clearly fulfills the stereotype of a typical male Fantasy author.)

The book is a personal favorite, and would honestly be considered among the best work in his canon, save for one issue: in the late '00s, Stardust was turned into a movie. The movie version streamlines the plot a little, amps up the action in others, and gives greater animation and characterization to much of the main cast. It is - to be completely honest - my favorite, between the two formats: the movie is an underrated gem, and deserves many more fans, at least as many are fans of the book.

However, that is all still a testament to the story's construction, the compelling plot, and the engaging and evocative characters with which the novel is populated. It is so incredible, that it easily makes its way between formats, and there is something unique to each that is remarkable.

It is a genre that feels both old and new again, and a story that succeeds in two formats, about a boy and a girl who each are a part of two separate worlds.


Death on the Nile (Hercule Poirot #17), Agatha Christie

Poirot is one of my favorite Christie focal points, and for great reason: his slightly antiquated and charming demeanor makes him a pleasant companion on a no-so-pleasant trip down the Nile, as a crime of passion and predilection for revenge gives way to multiple murders.

Might I just say, the oldest among Christie's canon are some of her best work! This was written in 1937, which makes its setting and time period among the most novel... it also makes some of her characterizations among the more prejudiced and not exactly politically correct. Racial descriptions, even among Europeans, are pretty rough. The communist and a secret riot-inciter on board are also there to stir the old-timey waters.

It is a perspective that Christie is uniquely adept at maneuvering: a large cast of characters, all of whom have something to hide, plenty of moving parts with varying degrees of motivation. When you factor in that the book takes place on a grand, luxury mode of transportation, comparisons to tone of her other iconic works - Murder on the Orient Express - abound... is it any wonder that in the last moments of Kenneth Brannagh's version, he alludes to an important message sent straight from Egypt? But this story stands plenty on its own, with not only violence, murder, and intrigue, but also romance, interpersonal drama, and even a little bit of political discourse.

There were any elements I thought could be streamlined. Every piece had its place, and they filled them beautifully. And, against all reason, all of those pieces came together unexpectedly by the time you reached the end... because that's one of the best hings about Christies. The world could be chaos - like it is out here - the chips could be down and everything could be falling apart... but you can bet by the final page, everything will make sense again.


Wine, All the Time, Marissa Ross

As the daughter of a couple who used to host gourmet dinner parties with their friends, complete with beverage pairings, as a means of keeping tight with my Dad's fraternity brothers, you might also be able to tell that a love of wine runs in the family. But while my parents may have spent their early '90s newlywed years volunteering with the Washington Oenological Society for a few extra bottles of the good stuff, I've had to strike out on my own to gain entry to any kind of education. Hence: the oft-used Vivino app on my phone, and Marissa Ross' Wine All the Time: A Casual Guide to Confident Drinking. 

Casual it is: Ross' background lies in comedy writing, doing stand-up and acting as assistant to Mindy Kaling before her blog - Wine, All the Time - gained the attention of the Internet, eventually being parlayed into a gig as Bon Appetit's official wine editor. Hilarious personal anecdotes operate alongside instruction on tasting and flavor profiles; a comprehensive breakdown of global wine regions, their terroir, and the resulting varietals, comes only a few chapters before detail-specific step-by-step information on how to sneak white wine in a soda container into a sports arena. Her information is good, and her delivery is charming and conversational. She doesn't just tell you how to choose the right wine to bring to a family dinner, she also gives you advice on how to keep from getting so drunk you start a fight with your Great Aunt over some Facebook scam.

Its the kind of thing that will cause older wine enthusiasts - like my parents - to turn up their nose. But when you're young and inexperienced, Ross is like the older sister who buys you alcohol that you didn't know you had.


My Life with the Saints, Fr. James Martin, SJ

It does feel a little strange to be reviewing a Catholic memoir of a priest in the same blog where I I've also reviewed romance novels, but what can I say? I contain multitudes.

Fr. James Martin is a pre-eminent contemporary Catholic author, whose books espouse plenty of the church's more social-justice-focused progressive teachings, which is probably why I like them all so much. He is especially good at bringing the teachings of the church into arm's reach: his friendly personality, candor, and relatability make his books feel welcoming and accessible, especially to those who read with the hopes of finding a closer faith in a contemporary world.

My past year's Lenten read - A Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything - was also one of his works; one that focused on describing the Jesuit process, and how it relates to modern life, but is also filled with examples from Martin's life and faith process. This one - with chapter that find their ground in saints across the centuries - is also portrayed in a similar way, with the book laid out in a sort of progressive narrative of Martin's life experiences in the faith.

Not only is the book itself a compelling story, filled with more compelling stories, but it also provides a great jumping off point for further reading. I may have finished the book, but now, my TBR is much longer, which is exactly how faith reading should affect its readers.


Here's what I consider to be the major outcomes of this experience:

Staying the heck away from my phone was definitely the key. I was still able to check it multiple times a day - and to my chagrin, still managed a screen time record of about one to three hours a day despite the distance - but even avoiding permanent time holes like Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr freed up giant chunks of my day for things like reading.

Taking time to create meaningful routines also helped. I did most of my reading in the mornings, took a break for meals and long walks outside, and then would pick up my book again in the afternoons, leaving my evenings free. Sometimes, I'd read before bed. But I never felt like I was being pressured, or losing out on other activities.

Managing my stress was a major key in this week, too. Regular journaling and long walks helped a ton at keeping me feel open and relaxed, and semi-regular yoga and meditation really brought me into a more positive mindset, too. Overall, I got the emotional releases I needed, and also gave myself plenty of room to take my mind off of reading, as well as digest what I had been reading so much more freely.

Other things I've been doing: cutting out television (except for a few key favorites), watching the occasional movie (feels like more of a time investment, and carries a full and complete plot, instead of being strung along in an episode-based binge), playing board games with my family, spending more time outside, and daydreaming about getting back to work on my garden.

I also definitely think I chose the right kind of "short" books - two rereads, a fantasy, a mystery, something funny - but the "stretch" book I included (a 400-page Faith Memoir) was also a relatively easy read, because it was so personal and engrossing. I was really happy that I included it, even though it took a little longer.

I also think I'm going to keep reading down my shelves... now that I know that my reading focus in quarantine could be such a success, I'm more confident than I ever have been about my ability to continue going through my TBR shelves. I actually consider the fact that I did another round of "speed-dating my books" right before attempting this week of reading, one of the key factors in why it was so successful: it was like I had been given a little "preview" of each of the books ahead of time, and was now ready to read the feature event.

Important note: My heart is still with all of our first line of defense in the Covid-19 crisis - nurses, janitors, grocery store clerks, and more - as well as all who have had their regular lives uprooted, like teachers, students, and everyone who's spent the last couple of weeks wrestling with a ridiculously unhelpful unemployment office or cancelled graduation plans. However, by undertaking this challenge, I've figured out my way to separate the grief and the frustration from overtaking my daily life. I am more positive and productive because of it, and those are going to be my goals for carrying through the rest of this struggle.

How has your reading been going so far? What else have you been spending your time doing? Let me know, in the comments below!