Phew. It’s been a rough year and a half or so. The pandemic has been hard on everyone. Not only have many of us lost people we love, but there also seems to be constant change at work and school, with routines upended regularly. The weather is crazy with hurricanes and wildfires. The news out of Afghanistan and Eritrea is really hard. Politics are divisive.
Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. And if you don’t have the time, the means, or the desire to travel-the Library can help you find the perfect getaway.
Here are some recommendations for the best escapes:
Characters & Setting: Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series is set in a village in Canada where I just want to live and get to know all the characters that live there – even though I hate the cold and dark. Her latest is The Madness of Crowds, but try one of the earlier ones if you want to avoid any talk of the pandemic.
Romance: Sophie Kinsella is a master of romantic comedy and her new book, Love Your Life doesn’t disappoint. If you want something a little more serious, try The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue. Is it a romance? I’m going to say yes.
Fantasy: I don’t read fantasy. I don’t usually enjoy it. But my teenager recommended Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and Netflix had made a series based on the books. I gave it a shot so I could talk to my kid about it. It was actually surprisingly good and I’ve been recommending it to lots of people.
Cooking: Nadiya Bakes by Nadiya Hussain, winner of The Great British Baking Show. We all know that baking, ummm, I mean eating, sweets relieves a certain amount of stress.
Audiobook: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid The audiobook stars the voice talent of Jennifer Beals and Benjamin Bratt among others. It’s a fictional documentary about a 1970’s rock band that is just outstanding. My favorite way to listen to library audiobooks is with the Libby app on my phone.
Movie: Bingebox-try any of our new Bingeboxes. They are sets of binge worthy movies, like The Best of the 80’s, with 10 favorites from back in the day.
Stephanie Murphy
Director