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Can Reading Help the New York City Blues?
Dear Literary Lady,
I’ve grown weary of New York City over the years, but I’m trapped here because of work, family, and other obligations. What can I read to help me get over my disenchantment with where I live? I want to love the City again and stop being miserable here.
–T.C., New York, NY
Dear T.C.,
Dorothy Parker once said, “As only New Yorkers know, if you can get through the twilight, you can live through the night.”
It sounds like you’re going through the twilight of your unhappiness with New York City. Feeling trapped here, whether it’s because of your job, your loved ones, or other responsibilities, can exacerbate the sense of being crushed by the City—by its buildings, its hordes of people, its constant noise and movement.
Books have always had the ability to pull people through the night, both literally and figuratively, and to bequeath upon readers new perspectives on their environment. Whether it’s New York City you’re sick of or any city in the world, from Tokyo to Middletown, reading the right books can make you a little more patient, a little more appreciative, and maybe a little happier.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Read nonfiction
Because nothing reignites a sense of wonder with a place than learning something new about it. If you’re bored of a place and think everything in New York is in the “been there, done that” category, you need a couple of good nonfiction reads. It’ll make you stop and look at the bridges, the parks, the buildings, and everything around you a little differently.
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2. Read about what irks you
Because reading about whatever frustrates you most helps you understand it and tolerate it. Hate rats? There’s a book for that. Does the subway infuriate you? There are dozens of books for that. Absurd housing prices? Read about it. Right now, all the things you dislike about the City probably feel senselessly annoying, but reading about them will calm you down and help you deal with them better.
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3. Read slice-of-life essays
Because if you don’t have time for an entire book about New York, short essays about Manhattan living are the perfect pick-me-up. There are some wonderful City-centric essays out there. Some are funny anecdotes, some are descriptive scenes from Manhattan living, some are rants and raves. All of them will make you embrace of the quirks of living where you are.
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4. Browse photography books
Because sometimes words don’t help, and beautiful pictures are good for the soul. Also, photographers have the uncanny ability to make everyday things you think are ugly (subway platforms, trash, crowds of people) look surprisingly intriguing.
5. Write
Because bottling it up does nobody any good. Write down your observations, your thoughts, and your feelings about the City. You’re disenchanted with it these days, but for all you know, you might have some very funny or insightful things to say from out of that frustration. And by venting it all on paper, you’re joining the ranks of some very distinguished writers who have long been inspired by the city that never sleeps!
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6. Read something funny.
Last of all, look for the humor in your situation. There are countless essays, novels, and literary snippets that poke fun at the absurdity of living on this overcrowded island. Read them, chuckle at them, and you’ll feel a little less sick and tired about where you are.
You’ll get through the twilight with a good book or two, and if the night still isn’t over, just keep reading.
Good luck,
Literary Lady