In case you’re having a tough time studying in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not the one one. Ever for the reason that pandemic broke out in my state, it’s been nearly unattainable for me to simply sit down and skim. I’ve loads of books round. I even purchased myself a bunch of recent books (one thing I by no means do) to assist a few of my favourite indie bookstores. However have I learn any of these shiny new books? Nope.
I’m truthfully not even positive why it’s been so laborious for me to deal with studying. I’m an introvert anyway. I even have a seasonal job, so being residence alone for a part of the 12 months, studying, writing, and baking, is simply regular life for me. However regardless of how grateful I’m to be protected and wholesome proper now, it’s laborious to disregard the anxiousness, unhappiness, anger, and overwhelm I get up with daily.
Often once I’m feeling overwhelmed and heartbroken over the state of the world or one thing occurring in my very own life, I flip to books. Books are the one factor I do know I can all the time rely on to distract me, transport me off this infuriating planet, or cheer me up. So what occurs once I discover myself studying the identical paragraph again and again, unable to focus? Or once I sit down, decided to learn, solely to seek out myself opening my laptop and searching on the information, once more?
There’s not one proper option to learn. There’s definitely not one proper option to learn throughout a pandemic. And never studying can be completely nice. Having a studying hunch doesn’t jettison you out of the guide lovers membership. You’re not doing one thing incorrect should you’re not studying.
However for me, and perhaps for different readers on the market, not studying hurts. Not studying feels icky and incorrect and doesn’t assist my psychological well being. Not with the ability to learn at a time once I desperately want consolation is exhausting and irritating and makes me wish to cry. I truthfully don’t suppose I’d have gotten by way of the final three weeks with out books. And proper now, listening to books is the one approach I can learn them. I’ve solely been in a position to end two print/digital books within the final three weeks. However I’ve learn—await it—14 audiobooks since March 17. Audiobooks have saved me.
I don’t know what it’s about my mind that’s permitting me to deal with audiobooks however not different types of studying, however that’s how it’s proper now. I pay attention whereas strolling the canine, doing puzzles, and cooking. However I’ve additionally been curling up on the sofa with a blanket and an audiobook. That is one thing I by no means do; normally I preserve my arms occupied whereas I pay attention. I haven’t been in a position to sit down and skim print books, however I’ve been in a position to sit down and pay attention. It’s a rare reward.
Audiobooks haven’t solely allowed me to proceed studying all through this disaster, however they’ve allowed me to proceed studying in the way in which that makes me happiest. I like a bit little bit of all the pieces in my studying life—science fiction, literary fiction, romance, memoirs, comics, poetry. However over the previous three weeks, the one bodily/digital books I’ve been in a position to deal with lengthy sufficient to complete have been romances. I really like romance, and I’m grateful to have the style to show to proper now. However I don’t thrive on lengthy stretches of studying just one style. I like selection.
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There’s no approach I’d have the ability to deal with a guide of poetry proper now if I wasn’t listening to it. Actually, I began a poetry guide in early March that I haven’t picked it up in weeks. However I did take heed to The Dying of Sitting Bear by N. Scott Momaday on audio, and totally loved it. Win.
I really like sophisticated novels that make me suppose. Neglect attempting to really open a kind of up proper now. However listening? No drawback. I listened to Fierce Femmes and Infamous Liars by Kai Cheng Thom, a magical and layered trans coming-of-age story. Then I listened to Claude McKay’s Romance in Marseille, a guide written within the 1930s however unpublished till now. My eyes would have glazed over studying it. However my ears took it in with delight.
Up to now weeks, I’ve listened to books as totally different from one another as books can get, which is how I prefer it. I adopted a consolation audio reread of The Martian by Andy Weir with The Girl’s Handbook For Her Mysterious Sickness by Sarah Ramey, the harrowing story of Ramey’s decades-long battle to get medical doctors to acknowledge her power sickness.
I listened to the brand new full forged recording of Charlotte’s Net, which is now one in every of my favourite audiobooks ever.I laughed out loud listening to lesbian comic Cameron Esposito’s hilarious 
and tender memoir, Save Your self. Now I’m listening to a unbelievable assortment of essays about writers’ relationships with their moms, What My Mom and I Don’t Speak About by Michele Filgate.
All of this studying is conserving me grounded. All of those totally different books are doing the issues books normally do for me: problem me, shock me, delight me, consolation me. At a time when stability and normalcy are laborious to come back by, I’m eternally grateful that audiobooks have allowed me to retain some in my studying life.
In case you, like me, are discovering that you may’t learn within the methods you usually do, I hope you’re in a position to make the identical changes I’ve made. Possibly that’s turning to audiobooks, or giving your self permission to reread consolation books, or remembering that it’s okay should you solely wish to learn comics proper now. No matter you’re doing, whether or not it’s embracing a brand new approach of studying or taking a break from studying to prepare dinner or coloration or snuggle the canine—you’re doing nice.
Want some inspiration for find out how to preserve studying in your life in the course of the pandemic? Why not strive listening to one in every of these bookish podcasts? Rachel has some nice options for bookish was to remain linked throughout quarantine. Possibly you’ll discover the proper guide on this checklist of what Rioters are studying whereas social distancing. And if all else fails, Dolly Parton is right here to learn you (and your kiddos) bedtime tales.
