Sometimes it's difficult to find a new book to get into. I have so many untouched books on my shelf with every intention to read them, but without the motivation. With everything else going on around us, taking the time to put our phones down, to stop for a minute, and to just read seems almost guilty. But it's important, and it's good for you and your brain. So here are a couple of suggestions of some easy reading books to pick up and put back down at your own leisure.
On the Road
Author: Jack Kerouac
Okay, hear me out. I read the Original Scroll version, which has no paragraphs, so there was never a good place to pause, really. What the lack of paragraphs helped with, though, was allowing me to put the book down for days, weeks, even the month I was in Europe, and pick up without losing any interest in the story.
The basic synopsis is Kerouac goes back and forth across the country with a friend three or so times, but the story is so much more than that, and it's the first book I've read in years that really made me want to go back every chance I got.
147 Things: My User's Guide To The Universe, From Black Holes to Belly Buttons
Author: Jim Chapman
This is a book of facts, anecdotes, and excerpts, so it's fast-paced, interesting, and honestly, just fun to read. I'm only about 100 pages in, but I'm LOVING it. I can't wait to pick it back up when I have the time. And the best part about it is that I can put it down and pick it back up and not have to worry about remembering a story line. It's disconnected and it's wonderful. If sequence doesn't matter much to you, you can even flip this book to a random page and read what you want to. It's the perfect book for a busy person, meaning unless you don't like books of random knowledge, there's no reason not to read it.
Egghead: or, You Can't Survive on Ideas Alone
Author: Bo Burnham
If you Google the definition of the word egghead, Wikipedia says it is a slang word "used to refer to intellectuals or people considered too out-of-touch with ordinary people and too lacking in realism, common sense...on account of their intellectual interests," and I believe whole-heartedly that this describes Bo Burnham's book to a T (with good reason).
It is a book of poems written in a similar style to many of Shel Silverstein's works, but they definitely delve deeper. The meanings aren't hidden; a poem about a dildo is a poem about a dildo; but they're smart and funny and the book is perfect to read whenever you want to, especially with friends. Take whatever you want out of it, but read it. (And then go watch all of Bo Burnham's stuff on Netflix because his comedy is just as fantastic.)
Franny and Zooey
Author: J.D. Salinger
Sorry, I had to. Salinger is my favorite author and this is my favorite book. It had to be thrown in. It's only like 200 pages, so it's a quick read (all of his books are; pick a different one if you don't wanna read this one).
The story is part of the Glass family story line and focuses on two of the Glass children, Franny and Zooey (surprise!). They're fairly cynical, but their conversations in the book drew me in so quickly I read the entire thing in a day. Busy people can probably drag it out for four days. People are inclined to either love the book or hate it, but I think it's worth figuring out for yourself. If you like books by Fitzgerald or Vonnegut, there's a good chance you'll like Salinger (and this book)!
Let me know what books you guys love so that I can add to my collection! And of course let me know what you think of any of these.
xxx
