Hey everyone,

With the world in a panic over soap and toilet paper, with a virus that can attatch to someone by contact. Instead of touching people, try touch books. Some are soft and hard, big or small, you can slap them or gently caress them (if you follow Daniel Greene on Youtube then you know why 🤦‍♀️) and some are just so pretty that there is nothing else to compare.

I tried really hard not to make it sound dirty but here we are.

I thought since people might be isolating in their homes, stocking their homes with toilet paper and soap, why not as you are shopping, go into your nearest bookstore and buy a few books to keep you company during this month of madness. I have a few books that would definitely keep you company.

1. A Darker shade of magic by V.E. SChwab

If you are interested in reading something that is completly different to our current world status, how about this book? This book is set in the 1760s when King George the third was on the throne but not only that, this book is about parrallel worlds. It follows a character named Kell who is the only one to have the ability to jump into different worlds, he even colour codes them. Red London is a world filled with magic and humanity, Grey London is like our own world where magic is just a rumor or just plain fiction, White London is a world that magic has been over-used and abused and finally Black London a place that no one can enter as a dark force killed everyone.

It is a great book and is one of my favourites, I even have four different copies of the series. I have the UK edition, US Edition, UK collectors edition and the US Collectors edition. (Don’t tell me that I have a problem, you have too much soap)

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

So, you finally have time to pick up that classic book you have been wanting to read. But also continously make excuses that you don’t have time for. Well, now you do. Jump in time to the regency era and take a walk around the room with the Bennet family. This is a really good book and when I first read it I wasn’t sure that I would be able to understand it compaired to the screen adaptations. This book is funny, sarcastic, romantic and beautiful. And you can play the soundtrack while reading it, better than listening to silence.

If not Jane Austen, how about any of the other classics that you haven’t picked up.

3. The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

If you are a person that reads crime/thriller novels then this book is perfect for you. A man killing women and disfiguring them into snowomen is a bit gross. Harry Hole is a great detective (not like Sherlok) and is respected for his way of solving cases. This was the first book that I had ever read by him and this book still haunts to me, I am not joking but I have three copies of the book.

4. Vision in White by Nora Roberts

If your into romance novels or even Nora Roberts, she has a lovely series called The Bride Quartet which follows four girls who co-own a wedding planning buisness. Mac is the photographer, Emma the florist, Laurel the baker and Parker the organiser. I just stumbled upon this book in Waterstones and I just adored it, I love the characters and the storylines each character has their own book.

I mostly like Robert’s standalones and I haven’t tried any of her other series but I mostly enjoy this one.

5. The Ancient Magnus Bride by Kore Yamazaki

When someone mentions manga, people automatically think of Bleach, Naruto, Sailor Moon or FullMetal Alchemist. But this series I stumbled upon and grew to love the world that Kore Yamazaki has created. This book follows a young girl named Chise, she has been bought by a powerful mage named Elias who is a man with a dear skull head. If you think about it, it is close to Beauty and the Beast but much much different. There is magic, good and bad, there are dragons and sheep bugs (you’ll understand once you reach vol 4).

If you are struggaling or just fed up of entering into your Netflix account for the 10,000th time. Finding other things to do could be helpful, you could start writing that book you have been thinking of writing. You could start a series that you have collected without having to wait for the next book to be released. You could reorganise your shelves or put them back to where they were before. If you don’t want to read, then try out some new TV shows or Kdramas if you are feeling for something different.

I just want to mention, while you are self-isolating or have nothing to do, just know that there are other people who are either willing or know that they have to go into work, like doctors and nurses, supermarket staff, bus and train staff and even people who work in small buisness. I work in a Post Office and as of a couple of days ago, we are considered as key workers which means we have to be open for the public, sure it is a scary time at the moment but you can’t allow the virus get to you so severly, you don’t need to buy all the milk and just freeze it.

I hope that you are all OK, just keep washing your hands when needed and to not rush to the supermarket for toilet roll or soap. I think you have enough.

XX