American author Jhumpa Lahiri once said, “That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” After the coronavirus outbreak this spring, many in the community are feeling more comfortable staying home this summer but longing for a temporary escape. If you're finding yourself in this situation, the staff at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library has the perfect cure: books.
According to Main Library Branch Manager Jeff Crocker and his colleagues, reading about new settings is beneficial because it offers people a break from their own setting.
“New settings can be entertaining, informative, uplifting, thought-provoking and inspiring,” Crocker said in an email back in May. “Sometimes you end up in the shoes of someone else, so you are able to see things from a different perspective than your own.”
Crocker and his colleagues shared three reading recommendations for each age group: adult, teen and youth. All three of the following books take place in different settings, allowing readers to temporarily “step out” of West Bloomfield and into somewhere new.
The Glass Hotel
Written by Station Eleven and former Great Michigan Reads author Emily St. John Mandel, The Glass Hotel is a great novel for adults looking for a compelling, character-driven story that takes them to locales around the world, including campgrounds for the near-homeless, underground electronica clubs, the business of international shipping, service in luxury hotels and life in federal prison.
Ready Player One
For the teens, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is a fun read because of its unique and futuristic setting. It mostly takes place in virtual reality and contains a ton of 80s references. It is fast-paced, and the movie is exciting, too.
The Doughnut Fix
Those in third grade and up will love Jesse Janowitz’s book The Doughnut Fix. It’s about a boy who must adapt to change in his day-to-day life. 11-year-old Tristan is put into a tough situation when he moves from the big city to a small town where he has to make do without the creature comforts he’s accustomed to.
