"In this time of plague, those of us not afflicted with the illness and, due to a lack of medical expertise or other essential skills, not toiling painfully on the battleground against it either, suffer instead a lesser torment: long periods of boredom. Punctuated mostly by frustration. Also work, for some. Tedious household tasks. Unwashed Zooming preceded by frantic three-minute flurries of facial and/or hair grooming. Plus the odd spike of virus fear, job anxiety, interpersonal friction, useless longing for absent friends or pleasures, or sudden grief....Some people may argue this isn’t the time for levity. Those people, like so many others before them, are wrong. It’s always a time for levity."

"I think there’s a certain kind of magic in human connection, and its ability to transcend the barriers of time, space, and distance. Even when we can’t be physically close to the people we love and care about, whether it’s because of social distancing during a pandemic, or because they live half a world away, we do everything in our power to still feel close to them. Here are a few books that show that, whether it be through handwritten letters, group chats with close friends, or a pair of jeans (that magically fit ONE girl, let alone FOUR)."