The British Berliner
A lifestyle expat travel blog about culture, history, Brexit, the Royal Family, travels around the world, Europe, and being British in Berlin!
Stuck at home – 25 books to read in my opinion!
So how are you doing?
These are difficult times but it’s perfectly alright to feel scared, anxious or overwhelmed. If you’re an expat, a traveller, a tourist stuck in a country not your own, or simply wish to talk to someone and you feel overwhelmed, panicky or frightened, write to me at victoria@thebritishberliner.com
If you’re tired of reading bad news or anything at all about the coronavirus, check out my upbeat and funny posts here instead!
If you’re looking for a really inspiring video, the one that I would highly recommend is that of the Queen’s Speech.
And when I say, The Queen, I obviously mean no other than Queen Elizabeth II.
Her speech was lovely. I’m a loyal monarchist so I don’t mind telling you that it brought me to tears!
It’s been four weeks (we’re on the 5th) since we began to stay at home, our in Germany.
Since that time, Germany has been under quarantine.
Sort of.
In fact, most of the world is.
Or should be.
What this means is that we don’t yet have a total lockdown but social restrictions have been imposed.
Strict instructions now stipulate that people are banned of gatherings with more than two people at a time outside of workplaces, families, and people living in the same household, and that we MUST stay at home and can only venture out if absolutely necessary such as for work, health-related reasons or to go to the supermarket.
At a time like this, I am glad that we have a leader such as Angela Merkel.
A leader who is strong, efficient, straight to the point and tells it like it is.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Get the latest information from the World Health Organization about coronavirus. WHO
Because we ARE officially in the midst of a global pandemic that the World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled as a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC).
Everyone is most worried.
And we should be.
Movement of people across the planet has been grossly reduced or outright restricted.
And people are dying.
As a result, panic has struck in with people stockpiling food, looking for who is to blame by finger-pointing, reducing non-essential movement, locking down communities and closing borders.
I’m not here to tell you what rumour is right or wrong ‘cos I’m not the government and neither am I a doctor!
All I can advice you to do is NOT to go to your local doctor if you’re feeling ill, but to call or Email instead, listen to the instructions of your government as per where you should or shouldn’t go, take extra precautions with cleanliness and health, and use a bit of common sense!
If you live in America, please follow this link:
If you live in the UK, please follow this link:
If you live in Germany, please follow this link:
If you want to know what the World Health Organisation (WHO) is saying, please follow this link:
Like yourself, I’ve read so many articles about what to do and it can be scary with fake news, false rumours and even our own individual governments either wringing their hands in despair or giving out the wrong information all together!
And that’s saying something!
I’M STUCK AT HOME!
Er.
That might be so, but that’s the least of your problems.
You’ve got to live with it.
And are still dying.
Doctors and health care staff are scared, over-whelmed and ridiculously under-equipped.
People are out there every day putting their lives on the line for you and me.
People such as doctors, nurses, health care, emergency services, teachers, supermarket, food suppliers, food handling staff and delivery drivers.
Yes, delivery drivers!
Key workers without which, we probably wouldn’t get the food and supplies that we need.
Think about that.
In fact, one young lady summed it up thus:
My advice five weeks ago is still valid.
Do not travel.
Anywhere!
Because as you might have already seen, there’s a legitimate and very huge risk that if you DO travel abroad or indeed anywhere at all at the moment, you might get stuck there, your destination might have a sudden increase in outbreak, you won’t be able to get home because flights or trains have cancelled, your friends or family might get infected, you are forced into quarantine for a certain unforeseeable amount of time, and the borders have closed!
In fact, even in your own country, cities and federal states, are closing their doors to anyone going in or out!
The simple fact is, whether you like it or not, individual nations are deciding on how best to limit the spread of the Coronavirus infection.
The COVID-19 isn’t a conspiracy theory, it isn’t the end of time, but given the closeness, speed, reliance and ease in which we connect via global trade or travel, is a real legitimate worry.
In fact, forget about a staycation as most regions around the world, are under some sort of lockdown and this isn’t the time to jump in your car / on your bike, and explore where you live.
Nope!
It’s a time to go home and stay there.
It hurts me to say this but you must:
Stay.
At.
Home.
BUT I’M BORED!
We’re on the road to self-isolation and self-quarantine.
I get it.
I totally understand.
You went to the supermarket the other day, and the shelves were empty.
There wasn’t any food.
Or toilet roll!
Of course, it’s dreadful to go to the mall to be confronted with signs of “we’re closed” or rows and rows of empty shelves.
It makes you fearful.
It makes you scared.
You look at yourself and begin to wonder if you did or didn’t do, something that contributed to the nightmare that we’re all in.
It makes you look at people and wonder if they, caused this pandemic.
Don’t!
You didn’t.
And neither did they.
Don’t go there.
It’s only going to make you sick and even more fearful.
Think of happy things and breathe.
BREATHE!
Supermarkets are aware of the issue and doing everything they can, to get on top of things.
And they will.
You might have to forgo your favourite brand of sushi, gourmet tomatoes or home-made bread.
But it’s alright.
You won’t die if you don’t have Marmite or Dijon mustard.
You’ll be alright to do without.
If you’re an expat, a traveller, a tourist stuck in a country not your own, or simply wish to talk to someone and you feel overwhelmed, panicky or frightened, write to me.
LET ME HELP YOU – HERE ARE 25 BOOKS TO READ IN MY OPINION!
Firstly.
Stay on top of things by listening / reading the news, but don’t go mad. Watch or read once, then switch it off!
My honest opinion is that there’s nothing better than a physical book in your hands, that smells!
If that’s not possible the next best thing is the miracle of modern technology – a kindle!
Right. Let’s binge-read some of the books that you have always wanted to read, and didn’t have the time to.
You don’t have to leave the safety and comfort of your home, simply go online and order things for free!
Eek!
Read the preview & if you like what you see, go and look for them!
In order to make these choices easier to read, I’ve categorised them into five (5) parts, in no particular order.
Here we go!
5 BOOKS TO SCARE YOU!
01. The Teacher:
02. The Girl on the Train:
03. The Perfect Child:
04. I Am Watching You:
05. Gone Girl:
5 BOOKS TO COMFORT YOU!
01. Becoming – A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice:
02. Wreck This Journal – To Create is to Destroy, Now With Even More Ways to Wreck!
03. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine – A Novel:
04. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse:
05. Good Vibes, Good Life – How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness:
5 BOOKS TO EDUCATE YOU!
01. The Day the Crayons Quit:
02. Artisan Sourdough Made Simple – A Beginner’s Guide to Delicious Handcrafted Bread with Minimal Kneading:
03. Horrible Histories – The Horrible History of the World:
04. Think You Know It All?
05. The Secret:
5 BOOKS TO ENTERTAIN YOU!
01. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – The Illustrated Edition [Kindle in Motion]:
02. It’s on the Meter:
03. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared:
04. Box Inspector and other Important Jobs for Cats:
05. The Beast Of Buckingham Palace:
5 BOOKS TO MAKE YOU LAUGH!
01. This is Going to Hurt – Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor:
02. It’s Your Time You’re Wasting – A Teacher’s Tales of Classroom Hell (Frank Chalk Book 1):
03. No-One Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday – A Very Funny Romantic Novel:
04. A Man Called Ove – A Novel:
05. Giraffes Can’t Dance – 20th Anniversary Limited Edition:
Phew!
Put your fluffy socks on!
Once again if you can, please do stay at home, keep your distance from others, and flatten the curve!
Better to be safe than sorry.
If you want to keep up with reliable news on what’s going on around the world, you can follow me here.
Don’t forget.
Click here!
And book your luxury hotel for 2021 right here!
Don’t judge me!
STUCK AT HOME – 25 BOOKS TO READ IN MY OPINION!
This article is not sponsored, and all thoughts and opinions, are my very own!
A huge thanks goes to all the many doctors, nurses, healthcare staff, keyworkers and volunteers world-wide, who have and are still, putting their lives on the line in order to help others.
Thank you.
April is going to be something most of us have never ever seen in our lifetime before.
See you soon!
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Get the latest information from the World Health Organization about coronavirus. WHO
Watch this space!
DISCLOSURE!
Please note that The British Berliner is a participant in affiliate programmes designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to World Nomads Travel Insurance & Booking.com.
In short, there are two affiliate link companies connected to this post!
Every time one of these services is used, booked, and paid for via my link, I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
A win-win for all!
Note! I never travel without insurance as you never know what might happen.
I learnt my lesson in Spain. And obviously, in countries like Qatar, where technically the risk is higher, I can’t imagine going that far beyond WITHOUT INSURANCE. No siree! You can get yours here, at World Nomads!
So what are you waiting for?
Thanks a million!
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!
See you in Berlin.
If you have any questions, send me a Tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on LinkedIn, make a comment below or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com
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2 Comments on “Stuck at home – 25 books to read in my opinion!”
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Victoria, many great book options here. I have few books to read on my Kindle, I usually love travel books, autobiographies etc. Recently I read the fascinating Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels. Take care and stay safe.
Hi Gilda, your choices are quite similar to mine with the added plus that I also happen to like crime thrillers located in dark and windy Britain, history, architecture and academic literature! I did actually have a few that I would have recommended originally, but they seemed too heavy so I deleted them! :O
I’ll certainly take a look at Neapolitan Novels but I have this weird thing of not finding sunny locations authentic reading as they’re far too warm and merry! 😀
Thanks for reading my love.
p.s. How are you doing in Blighty? It sounds grim and does worry me a little as the British side of my family are back in Cheshire. 🙁