After a week of writing about the Apocalypse for Editor Erik, Editor Evan lightens the tone with the subject of “Gratitude.” Both themes, ironically, are appropriate as 2020 folds into 2021, as we deal with our present challenges and work toward a healthier future. Elizabeth reflects back on her months of quarantine and expresses gratitude for her longtime friends: books.

By Elizabeth Shay

This past year, I’ve had more time on my hands and spent more time at home, which definitely got old fast. Scrolling through social media and browsing the internet quickly became boring and unproductive. But what else is there to do when you can’t go out? Well, there is a marvelous invention that allows you to meet people and visit different places without ever stepping foot outside of your house. What is this amazing product? It’s a book. 

As a young kid, I spent hours reading. As I grew older, I simply didn’t have the time anymore and slowly began to read less. This year has reminded me how much I enjoy reading. I’ve grown grateful for everything that I have learned and experienced through the power of words. Here are just some of my favorite books (in no particular order):

• The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

I read this book as a summer homework assignment for AP Lang in 11th grade. I found it to be fascinating. This remains one of my favorite non-fiction books. I will be checking out more of Gladwell’s works in the future.

• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

My love for mystery and detective novels started in elementary school with the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. This is the only work by Agatha Christie that I have read so far, but I am hooked. 

• The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Middle-school Elizabeth was obsessed with this series (yes, I had merch). YA dystopian novels characterized my reading list throughout those early teenage years (yikes). Still, I hold a soft spot in my heart for this genre…especially The Maze Runner series.

• Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami

This is another book that I read over the summer for AP Lang. This book is actually a collection of short stories, translated from Japanese, about male characters who lack women in their lives for various reasons. Murakami offers extremely profound and moving insights in these stories, my favorite of which is “An Independent Organ.” I highly encourage both men and women to check this collection out.

• Legend by Marie Lu

Marie Lu was inspired by Les Miserables and wanted to create a teenage version of the conflict between Valjean and Javert. This series is another YA dystopian guilty pleasure of mine. I am still awaiting a film adaptation, but the book will always be better.

• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Here’s another assigned summer read! I found this novel to be extremely enjoyable and thought provoking. I love the concept and find Oscar Wilde to be an extremely intriguing person. Discussions in AP Lit revealed complexities to this book that I never would have considered and made me appreciate the writing even more.

Over the holiday would be a perfect time for more reading, except for all those college applications requiring my attention. But, for the rest of you, pick up a good book, pull a chair close to the fire, grab your favorite cat and a hot drink.

What are you grateful for? Editor: Evan Spry