Open libraries: here are 10 books to read absolutely in quarantine
Ah, the books! The beneficial powers of a good read are endless. We will spare you them, but we list the 10 novels that cannot be missing from the shelves of your library to dream, to reflect, to travel with the mind, but also - trivially - to ensure that the time in quarantine flows as much as possible. as quickly as possible (and constructively). Enjoy the reading!
Becoming - My story, Michelle Obama
Behind every great man, there is always a great woman. Wrong! Alongside every great man, there is always a great woman, if we really want to be honest. Michelle Obama teaches us this, the one who revolutionized the role of First Lady and not just for the color of her skin. Michelle, in fact, is the first African American woman to hold this "position" at the White House, but this is certainly not what makes her so special. Courageous woman, skilled speaker, philanthropist and activist, present mother, Michelle is all this and much more. With her active presence, she was able to support her husband and enter the hearts of US citizens and beyond. This book tells us about the journey that Michelle had to take - metaphorically and materially - to understand who she wanted to become and how to do it. Spoiler: in the end, he did it. So, let yourself be inspired by its story!
> Buy it on Amazon
See also
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
How many times have we stopped at appearances without going further? How many times have we stifled a feeling because of goddamn pride? How many times have we been Elizabeth Bennet? How many times have we come across a Darcy, the man you can't stand but you inevitably end up falling in love with? It was all already written in this classic that your library just can't do without.
> Buy it on Amazon
Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
Well, I would say that, by substituting the Coronavirus for Cholera, this novel fits perfectly. A love consummated through the words of two young lovers imprinted with ink on paper, a love hindered, extinguished and, finally, rediscovered. If at this moment you are distant from your partner and you miss him, do not hesitate to get lost in the pages of this compelling story, hoping not to have to wait "fifty-three years, seven months and eleven days, including nights" before being able to rejoin.
> Buy it on Amazon
Story of a seagull and the cat that taught her to fly, Luis Sepúlveda
What better homage to the recently deceased writer than the rediscovery of his most important works? One of all, this one. All of us (I hope) have seen the cartoon at least once in our life, but - perhaps - not all of us have had the opportunity to read the book from which it was based. This is the right opportunity to be enchanted by a timeless fairytale. With exceptional literary mastery, Sepúlveda reveals the saving power of solidarity with the other, the different, from which we can always learn something, and invites us to reflect, from an environmentalist point of view, on a rather current theme, such as respect for Mother Nature.
> Buy it on Amazon
1984, George Orwell
At the heart of the dystopian novel par excellence, a totalitarian society where there is no freedom and man lives under the constant surveillance of Big Brother, an invisible but always present entity. Winston Smith, the protagonist, despite his profession as a censor, begins to tolerate the methods adopted by the regime badly and decides to vent his frustration in a diary. With the hope that this is not the reality that awaits us post-pandemic, we invite you to read or reread one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of literature.
> Buy it on Amazon
Hygge. The Danish way to happiness, Meik Wiking
What's better than training yourself to be happy at a time when - let's face it - it's not at all easy to succeed? With this book, it will no longer seem like an impossible undertaking, quite the contrary. Wiking, who is also director of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, introduces us to the Danish philosophy of "hygge", for which it is impossible to find the exact equivalent in Italian. The word Hygge, in fact, refers to an abstract concept of happiness, a feeling that originates from small things, which, however, often things are not. Enjoy a cup of tea in the company of yourself, snuggle up on the sofa under a blanket, spend time in long chats with our favorite people and much more. A reading that will help you make the most of this particular period, during which we are called to rediscover the value of what we took for granted. Once the book is finished, we will realize how, after all, happiness is such a simple concept.
> Buy it on Amazon
Pippi Longstocking, Astrid Lindgren
Although the publication dates back to 1945, this Swedish novel remains firmly established in our hearts. And it couldn't be otherwise. The amazing adventures of the rebellious girl with red braids not only serve to entertain us, but also to reflect. Maybe we were too young to realize it, but Pippi perfectly embodies an ante-litteram model of women-empowerment. She is independent, she does not yield to the conventions that would like her to be combed and dressed in a "modino" style, like a respectable young lady, and she does not hesitate to try her hand at all those activities traditionally relegated to men. Take the opportunity to reread it in this light and, even better, if you have children at home, you can entertain them with a hilarious and at the same time educational reading.
> Buy it on Amazon
Behind every great woman there is always a great cat, Lulu Mayo
We all have a cat friend and, if you don't have one, it means that that friend could be you. If so, this is the book for you. Inside you will find the stories of 30 great women, whose common denominator is not just a bursting personality, but the presence of a feline friend by their side. Elsa Morante, Elizabeth Taylor, Yoko Ono, Audrey Hepburn, to discover the complete list, you just have to read the book! Note of merit for the illustrations, it would be worth buying it even for the graphics component alone.
> Buy it on Amazon
The magical power of tidying up. The Japanese method that transforms your spaces and your life, Marie Kondo
Spring cleaning, change of season (even if it is not yet clear which), a lot, too much free time to spend staying at home. Rely, then, on the expert guidance of Marie Kondo and enter the magical world of decluttering, whose ultimate goal is to free yourself from the superfluous to regain inner balance. In short, mens sana in the house tidy and clean.
> Buy it on Amazon
Nobody saves himself alone, Margaret Mazzantini
Sitting at a restaurant table, Delia and Gaetano, the protagonists of the novel, relive their love, which is now over, through a series of flashbacks that take them back in time. Theirs is the story of many other couples, first devoured by a burning passion and then worn down by misunderstandings. How can such overwhelming love turn into hate? This book tries to explain it by illustrating the terrible consequences of an encounter between unresolved conflicts. A title that is also a warning to keep in mind, especially in dark times like these.
> Buy it on Amazon
