Which books should you read while self-isolating from coronavirus?

Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: Which books should you read while self-isolating from coronavirus?
Position‹4 of 6›: Short stories
Argument‹3 of 3: The Thing Around Your Neck

Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche is best known for her illuminating novels on women, marriage, politics, and race. But her short stories are also powerful. In this collection, she examines the nuances of human relationships and how they fall apart.

The argument

You should read The Thing Around Your Neck because it causes readers to think about human relationships. In a time of self-isolation, readers are in need of finding connections to the world. Through the painfully raw storytelling of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, readers are immersed in the internal conflicts posed by familial and cultural relationships. Readers can connect to the shared fear and loneliness that characters endure. In addition, The Thing Around Your Neck helps readers connect to diverse perspectives. Although the reader may never go to Nigeria, they come to understand the struggles of Nigerian men, women, and children. This causes the reader to develop a sense of empathy for others. It encourages the reader to develop a wider perspective on the world by observing the universal struggles of those of different backgrounds. This can be especially beneficial during a time of self-isolation since it helps the reader realize that everyone has experienced struggles in their lives. The Thing Around Your Neck is also a great read because of its format. As a collection of short stories, the reader is given a glimpse at a spectrum of emotional depth from each story. This allows the reader an escape from the world while diving into the various stories of others. Due to the short story format, the reader will not grow bored with the same characters and storyline. Therefore, The Thing Around Your Neck should be read while self-isolating.

Premises

[P1]During self-isolation, readers benefit from books that foster human connection, empathy for diverse perspectives, and engaging variety. [P2] The Thing Around Your Neck delivers raw portrayals of familial and cultural relationships that let readers connect to shared fear and loneliness. [P3] Its short story format exposes readers to diverse Nigerian perspectives and varied emotional depth without the monotony of a single storyline. [C] Therefore, The Thing Around Your Neck is an ideal book to read while self-isolating from coronavirus.

Counter-arguments

In a time of self-isolation, there are other ways to find connections in the world, like chatting with family and friends online. The stories' characters also face numerous struggles, which may discourage self-isolating readers. In addition, people may prefer novels over short stories. A reader will get bored if they are not given enough depth and information about the characters to stay engaged.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] What readers need in isolation is not uniform. Connection is available directly, through calls and messages with family and friends, and some readers turn to fiction for escape rather than for immersion in loneliness and fear — which the premise treats as a single need. [Rejecting P2] Rawness cuts both ways. The collection's characters move through displacement, bereavement, violence and isolation, and a reader already confined may find that heavier rather than consoling; the premise assumes recognition is always a comfort. [Rejecting P3] Variety and depth trade against each other. A reader who wants sustained company gets a few dozen pages with each set of characters before starting again, which is the objection some readers make to short story collections rather than the advantage claimed. One writer's collection also offers particular perspectives, not Nigerian perspectives in general.