How to stay entertained during quarantine

With an order to stay home unless absolutely necessary due to the spread of COVID-19, many of us are suddenly finding a wealth of time at our disposal. What better time to catch up on that show you started months ago or dig into that pile of books you’ve been meaning to read? If you are looking for recommendations on what to read or watch, then you have come to the right place.

Books:

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Daisy Jones and the Six, the latest book from author Taylor Jenkins Reid, is a captivating tale of a seventies rock band and their alluring lead singer, Daisy. The story is told through alternating interviews with members of the band years after their mysterious breakup as they recount the details of their rise to fame and eventual falling-out. Though it is a work of fiction, Reid entwines their stories so intricately together that it is easy to believe that Daisy Jones and the Six really existed once upon a time. I even Googled them just to make sure! The book is a relatively quick read at 355 pages, and between the interview-style writing and the need to discover just what happened to the band all those years ago, you will find yourself flying through the pages. 

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

For those of you who love fantasy as much as I do, I offer you a challenge. Samantha’s Shannon’s 848 page behemoth, a classic high fantasy story complete with dragons, queens, and magic, will certainly keep you busy during the quarantine. An ancient threat has awakened in the country of Inys, and its queen suddenly finds herself surrounded by enemies. Only Ead, a young mage in hiding, can keep the queen safe and stand a chance against the threat of the rising dragons. Don’t let the page count deter you; Shannon eases the reader slowly into the story, building the plot to a satisfying crescendo as she weaves together complex characters from across the world. Even if you are not a long-time fantasy fan, this book is the perfect introduction to the genre and an excellent paperweight besides.

TV Shows:

Little Fires Everywhere

This Hulu Original show is based on the book of the same name by Celeste Ng, and adapted for TV by Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon also stars, alongside Kerri Washington of Scandal fame, and the two leading ladies battle it out on screen as the stakes grow increasingly more intense. Washington’s character, Mia, has recently moved to the deceptively quaint town Shaker Heights, and she is soon befriended by Witherspoon’s Elena and her picture-perfect family. Things are not quite as they seem, however, and both Elena and Mia must deal with the fall-out of their choices. The show is binge-worthy drama at its finest, and as season one is currently airing at the time of this writing, there is plenty of time to catch up on all the theatrics.

The Witcher

Netflix has been pumping out beloved original shows like The Crown and Stranger Things for years now, and The Witcher is poised to take a place among them. If you’re missing Game of Thrones, join Geralt of Rivia, played by Henry Cavill of Superman fame, as he travels the land fighting dark monsters. The show also explores the lives of Yennefer, a powerful sorceress, and Ciri, a princess with a hidden power of her own. The storyline manages to bring these characters and their disparate pasts together before the end of the first season, so pay attention to the timeline. The Witcher is based on a series of books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and even has its own line of video games, so if you finish season one too quickly, think about checking out the books or the games.

Movies:

Parasite

Bong Joon-ho’s thriller/comedy received plenty of buzz a few months back when it won Best Picture at the Oscars, and now is your chance to find out why. The film takes place in South Korea, following a destitute family of four as they trick their way into the household of a wealthy man and his wife and children. Joon-ho explores greed, class discrimination, and the bonds of family using comedy and terrifying thrills in equal measure, culminating in a conclusion that will leave you gaping. The dialogue of the film is almost entirely in Korean, but the subtitles do not distract from the captivating action on screen. Parasite is currently available on Hulu.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I have chosen a feel-good film as my last recommendation, as I think we can all use a little joy and hope in our lives. Who better to deliver that joy than Mr. Rogers? Tom Hanks brings Mr. Rogers to life with loving care through heartfelt interviews with disillusioned journalist Lloyd Vogel. Based on a true story, the film tackles heavy subjects like death, anger, and forgiveness in true Mr. Rogers fashion. Though it has a slower pace than a thriller like Parasite, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood allows us all a moment of reflection through director Marielle Heller’s careful instruction. The film is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime.