May 22, 6:47 AM

BookshopGirl: Morning! I hardly slept last night, and unfortunately I don’t have a book rec for you yet, but I can share a controversial opinion inspired by recent events.

RJ.Reads: Ooh, do tell.

BookshopGirl: Books are better than people. There, I said it. Literature >>> humanity.

BookshopGirl: Now, before you think I’m a total misanthrope, I’m not saying books are better than ALL people. And it’s not like I’d throw a person in front of a moving train to save a book.

RJ.Reads: But would you throw a book in front of a train to save a person?

BookshopGirl: Hmmm, depends on the person. And on the book. (Kidding. Mostly.)

BookshopGirl: I mean, I’ve never met a Barbara Kingsolver novel that let me down—or a person who didn’t, at least a little.

RJ.Reads: I get that (though for me it’s Abby Jimenez novels).

BookshopGirl: Books are more dependable than people. They don’t stab you in the back, they don’t gossip about you or insult you. Also, bonus—they won’t judge you for spending the whole day in pajamas crying over the death of a character.

RJ.Reads: Or for laughing out loud in the middle of a funeral (which people definitely judge. Ask me how I know).

BookshopGirl: You read during funerals?

RJ.Reads: Just once. In my defense, it was my great-great-aunt’s, and she was 102.

BookshopGirl: I’m not judging. I’m impressed.

BookshopGirl: That’s another great thing about books: they’re always there for you, and they’ll never get sick of your company.

RJ.Reads: They’ll also never complain about being ignored when life gets stressful or overwhelming.

BookshopGirl: Exactly! No matter how long it’s been, books are waiting with open pages, ready to whisk you away on an adventure or comfort you after a rough day. People may come and go from your life, but books? Books are forever.

RJ.Reads: Amen to that.

3

Josie

Growing up, countless well-meaning adults urged me to get my “nose out of that book” and go outside to “experience real life.” But from what I’ve seen, reality is vastly overrated.