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Book Recommendations for the Pandemic

Hello my name is Richard Black. You may remember me from such helpful documentaries like “Your Anal Fissure and You” or “The Queen has Crabs!” but today I’d like to tell you about how to keep your children from turning into mindless drooling idiots during self-isolation.

Mental stimulation is a key component to a child’s intellectual wellbeing and reading is one of the best tools around when it comes accomplishing that end. In addition to providing a needed distraction reading can also be a great way to give children the tools to cope with an ever changing world so, without further ado, here are my top five recommended reads that children take on during the Pandemic of 2020 and, perhaps, beyond!

The Stand

First on my list is “The Stand” by Stephen King. If you’re unfamiliar with the book it’s a whimsical tale of a pandemic that wipes out more than 99% of humanity and its ensuing struggle for redemption in a post-apocalyptic world. In addition to a large cast of characters, many of whom don’t survive, the book touches on religious and socio political themes sure to provide you and your kids with some fantastic discussion topics about faith, the arbitrary nature of existence and the purpose of order in a chaotic world.

Lord of the Flies

“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding is a particularly engaging, and relatable, read for youngsters given that almost all of the characters are under the age of twelve. The plot centers around a group of children stranded on an island and the shenanigans that follow when they attempt to rule themselves. Think “Gilligan’s Island” but with more paranoia and sharp sticks or “The Bachelor” with a few people you actually care about. Things quickly fall apart without any structure or viable authority figure which, combined with the scarcity of resources, leads to a complete and utter breakdown in social mores and

The Road

Children need a bit of escapism every once in a while and “The Road” certainly delivers. After all how bad could things truly get? The answer according to Cormac McCarthy, the author of “The Road”, is “pretty fucking awful”. The book was written in the mid-2000s and focuses on the bond between a father and son during a laugh a minute romp through a post-apocalyptic world. On the way the duo meets various marauders and cannibals in their search for security in a world choked with ash and few resources. For protection the two have nothing more than a revolver with two bullets and, for added levity, the father has shown the boy how to use it in the event he needs to kill himself to avoid being eaten by the blood cults. Of course our society will never fall apart like that…or will it? I couldn’t say but just for fun engage your kids in a lengthy conversation about that very subject. It’s sure to keep their minds occupied for days, weeks or even months.

The White Plague

A little known book by Frank Herbert, the writer of the classic science fiction novel “Dune”, and a personal favorite of mine is “The White Plague”. The setting of “The White Plague” takes place in the 1990’s and its plot revolves around the life of a molecular biologist who lost his wife and child in an IRA bombing. Stricken with grief the protagonist, John Roe O’Neill, creates a plague that is carried by men but only kills women. Isn’t that something! “The White Plague” is a remarkably prescient book for its time and perfect for that little conspiracy theorist who might think that COVID-19 was brewed up in a Chinese lab by a rogue scientist or simply a vengeful authoritarian government.

The Plague

Last on my list is an oldie but a goody and, really, a must read for anyone these days. “The Plague” by Albert Camus takes place in French Algeria and describes a light hearted frolic though a city that is ravaged by disease. The cast of characters vividly represent life during the 1940s and the plot provides an excellent introduction for young minds interested in existentialism, the absurd and the meaninglessness of life.

And that’s all I’ve got. I hope everyone is coping well. Please look out for my next piece titled “Meals for the Pandemic: Things to Make Out of Beans and Fishsticks”. Until then peace out and stay safe.

CategoriesLiterature