Occupation in Isolation

Thomas Seddon, Penelope "then during the day she wove..."

This post is lighter than the last. Contemplation has turned to anxiety, and the result is a list of occupations for those of us in isolation, whether by choice or by local government decree.

Books In The Time of COVID-19

Lots of lists have been published, and I'll link to a few. But here is a list of books (read by yours truly) about loneliness, isolation, and solitude to add to your growing reading list.

1 - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
No, it's not pleasant, but it's real. When the news headlines begin to feel like being in the pages of this novel [ie, GILEAD and their drug Remdesivir finding FDA approval for experimental treatment of Coronavirus under the "rare disease" provision (which grants them 7 years exclusive patent with no generic version available during that time = FULL PROFIT), abortions being suspended in many states as "elective" surgeries, and therefore not necessary during this national pandemic, and women's health remaining a low priority in many states of our union], it's time to remind ourselves that Atwood composed this novel using facts compiled from human history. She has said in interviews that she never intended it to be a road map *laughcry.* In any case, there is deep resistance, resilience, and resonance with current events, despite the fact that the novel is over 30 years strong.

2 - Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Still relevant. Yeah, you probably had to read this at some point in your past. "The first modern novel!" "The first novel written by a woman!" There is more to this book, in fact, and 200 years later there are still lessons nestled in the pages. Artificial Intelligence and other scientific advancements like medicine and drug research are teaching us that science isn't always right and that family bonds can make or break children. These times we are being given to deepen our relationships with children and loved ones will matter to them when they are asked where they were during the 2020 CV19 Pandemic.

3 - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
We must learn what we are when we are alone. Can we stand our own company, or does the thought of it drive is bats? Hearing voices on the wind? Swearing there is a madwoman in the attic? What is this pandemic trying to teach us about slowing down, solitude, enough? Will this period in history spark the next great Bildungsroman where a hero/ine of a certain age learns and further defines themselves and their "place" in society (or in this case, the natural world)? Read on, dear reader, read on!

4 - Circe by Madeline Miller
Or, how to make lemonade out of the lemons of being outcast by the Gods. Maybe you know the story of Circe, the "witch" from Homer's Odyssey who turned Odysseus' men into swine. Here, this mysterious and powerful woman is finally given the story she deserves. She is resourceful, cunning, determined, and so too must we be in the face of being responsible for the health and welfare of our communities. (For something in a similar vein, check out The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, a glimpse into what happened to Penelope when her husband Odysseus went a-gallivanting for 20 years during the Trojan War.)

5 - Ulysses by James Joyce
Probably the most polarizing novel of modern literature, for whatever reason, now is the time to read this masterpiece of Celtic lyricism, if you haven't already. Here's what you need to know: it's loosely based on, yes, The Odyssey. The characters are not necessarily physically isolated, but they all think they are isolated in their minds (very modern!), and feel they are terribly misunderstood. It's also a travelogue of Leopold Bloom through Early 20th century Dublin--a tour you can actually take once travel bans are lifted!


Other lists of note:

Top 10 Books About Loneliness (The Guardian)
Top 10 Books About Being Alone (The Guardian)
11 Stories About Isolation and Loneliness (Electric Lit)



Playlists for Social Distancing

Don't Stand So Close to Me : Songs for Social Distancing (Colorado Springs Independent)
A Playlist for The Socially Distanced (NPR World Cafe)
The Social Distance Experiment : A Collaborative Playlist on Spotify