Introduction Post

[petra]

If you're joining us, please comment with:
1. Your name (your pronouns)
2. Experience with being stuck inside: newbie, been not around the block a few times, Grizzled Veteran of the Indoors Wars
3. Self-soothing: Favorite way to self-soothe at the moment
4. I hope: What you hope this community can do for you
5. I can offer: What you are bringing to the party

For example:
Petra (she/her)
Been not around the block a few times
Self-soothing: reading long fanfiction & Stardew Valley
I hope: I want to add structure and enjoyment to my days of being stuck inside, and bring the same benefits to other people
I can offer: an open, sympathetic mind and suggestions of ways to cope, e. g. "connect with new people on the internet for new perspectives"

Comments

[starshipfox]

This is a great idea, Petra, thank you!

1. Ros [she/her]
2. Regularly at home for long period due to chronic illness, but I've got used to walks / libraries / coffee shops over the past few years.
3. Spend time with cats. Take care of the plants. Watch vids of birds. Nap.
4. I hope to connect with people!
5. I can offer you So. Many. Book. Recs.

[petra]

Thanks for joining us! I'm still trying to figure out what would be useful to people, so any suggestions you have are welcome.

Regularly at home except for the times you get to not be at home feels similar to this but also...not. Losing the ability to choose is hard for me.

Cats and bird vids are good things.

What would you recommend for some escapist reading?

[starshipfox]

I've been recommending "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating" by Elisabeth Tova Bailey, which is a memoir... about being stuck inside due to illness with a snail in a terrarium for company... but hear me out -- it's a wonderful insight into spending time alone, and the unexpected beauty of small things, and it also lets you enter the world of a snail, which is a great escape from the world of a human.

Also suggest "The Hazel Wood" by Melissa Albert as an incredibly gripping creepy strange novel that takes many unexpected twists... about a young woman who discovers she is being stalked by characters from fairytales.

Also "Heartstopper" by Alice Oseman, the CUTEST and kindest love story about two British teen boys.

[petra]

I think I need escapism that's a little farther from reality than listening to a snail eat, but as time goes on it may sound more comforting to spend time with someone else who's spent time alone.

Stalked by characters from fairytales is a great hook. It reminds me of how sad it makes my mother that I can't read Jasper Fforde, a combination of his writing and his being disparaging about fanfiction while writing what he does.

*takes notes* Thank you!

[starshipfox]

Do you have any particular flavour of escapism you most enjoy? I can probably give you better recs if you do! And "Hazel Wood" is great, definitely one of my top reads of 2018, even though I'm not always hugely into YA.

[petra]

My brain defaults to P. G. Wodehouse or Lois McMaster Bujold as maximally escapist literature, so -- sheer fluff or space opera?

[starshipfox]

I assume if you're a Wodehouse fan you've read "Three Men on a Boat", but I wonder if you've tried David Lodge? I find his style of Brisish absurdist humour to be similar to Wodehouse's, but he's writing about more modern situations. His first two books are the best -- "Changing Places" and "Small World". He made me laugh so much I got kicked out of the library!

[petra]

I think I tried David Lodge at one point and didn't finish Small World, but I can see how there would be some parallels there.

I haven't reread Three Men In A Boat in a very long time, so it might be just about time to give it another go. Thanks for the reminder!