Literature Lust: Love Letter for Readers and Writers April 1, 2020 / #9 / Love in the Time of Corona

Check out my article, chosen for curation in the categories of Mental Health and Self by Medium about why we shouldn't "tune out" when we hear the staggering numbers. How to Avoid "Compassion Collapse" During the Crisis You might remember a book by   Nobel Prize Winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez titled Love in the Time of Cholera.... This is "love in the time of Corona..." N o doubt about it. It's a difficult time. We are worried and scared, struggling with changing routines, jobs, and income. We are living through a time that will be remembered for eons by people all over the world. Everyone deals with the crisis differently. Some use humor. Some overdose on media. Some are organizing and cleaning like never before. (The homes in America have probably never been so clean!) Some of us escape into the world of books, letting stories carry us away. (Bet you know what my approach is!) My plea is that - even while we're frightened - we never forget the power of compassion and love.

Thanks for keeping me company here. Drop me a note about anything! Happy reading!

Looking forward to these reads!

Best-selling writer, Chris Bohjalian wrote The Red Lotus, a suspense novel about a global pandemic well before the Coronavirus was even heard of. How's that for timing? Bohjalian has written 21 books, sold film rights to three of those, and been translated into 35 languages. My first Bohjalian was Midwives that I read in 1998, then Double-Bind in 2010. I listened with Audible to The Sleepwalkers a couple of years ago. I'm ready for this one! I love history, so when I heard about a novel based on the women of the Mayflower, I was intrigued. When I read that a small historical mention found in a journal was expanded into a murder mystery, I was HOOKED. I can't wait to read Beheld , by TaraShea Nesbit. If you want to get a feel for what the book is about, check out this review by the New York Times. "Was There a Murder on the Mayflower?" 

Self-quarantine. Social distancing. What are you reading while you're staying in? Drop me a line because I'd like to know what you're reading, and then we can share favorites and pass recommendations along. I went through my book journals of the last twenty years and found eight amazing books that will make the time fly. Eight Books to Distract and Delight You Right Now |... Now is the time to stay home and catch up on all those books you've wanted to read in the past, but didn't have time. Sheltering in place does have its advantages. Since I keep a record of much of my reading in "book journals," I can go back... Read more www.literaturelust.com

" It's a particular kind of pleasure, of intimacy, loving a book with someone." - Casey Peabody speaking in Writers & Lovers by Lily King

The Writer's World Now is your moment. It's time to tell your story. Carpe Diem! Seize the day -- and the extra time you have while sheltering-at-home. Use it to write. Tell your story. No one else can. A Stunning Theory about the Creative Life That Will Make You Happy Conquer Your Notebook Chaos - With These Simple Rules I'm an award-winning teacher and writer, and I'd love to share my enthusiasm and knowledge with you. I'm available for workshops on creativity, reading, and writing. When this is all over, you'll be ready for some fun! Let's talk.

For Word-Nerds Everywhere: Vocabulary From My Latest Literary Travels

quixotic "exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, or impractical." (As in Don Quixote)

ersatz " made or used as a substitute, usually inferior to the original product." (As in coffee made with chicory or other ingredients when beans weren't available.)

dentition "the arrangement or condition of the teeth in any species." (As in, "The man's smile proved his poor dentition.")

Guess What? LiteratureLust is now on Pinterest!

Do you cheer for the underdog? Do you feel like your life is falling apart? Do you believe in following your dreams? Feeling Discouraged? Read This for a Boost Lily King's Writers & Lovers: Casey Peabody has been working on a novel for six years. Read more www.literaturelust.com This one was a stretch for me, I admit. It definitely got me out of my comfort zone. Be brave. How to Make a Book Interesting: Use Unusual Situations As in Robert Hellenga's The Snakewoman of Little Egypt A Person, A Place, and an Object It's a common creative writing assignment. In this case, you've got an anthropologist, the city of Paris, and a rattlesnake. Hellenga creates an interesting... Read more www.literaturelust.com

I forgot to tell you! We saw the movie, Call of the Wild A couple of months ago, we talked about this movie being made from Jack London's story. Interestingly enough, when we went to see it, the movie theater was filled with older couples like us, not a crowd of parents with younger boys as I had expected. The scenery was beautiful, and I'm a sucker for dogs, so we had enjoyed it. It certainly isn't as gritty and fierce as the story, but isn't that always the way? If you're a reader, you probably think that "The book is always better." Still, it was a fun afternoon enjoying Buck's adventures.

The Cellist of Sarajevo You've heard about the Italian balcony singers? But have you heard of the remarkable novel titled The Cellist of Sarajevo? It's a gritty novel that shows the power of music in times of crisis. How to Overcome Fear in Times of Crisis

A quote that people who love books will totally "get." A different way to browse through the bookstacks: Instagram - @prettybookplaces

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