Subway Book Review: During the holidays, reflecting on the world and our place in it
PERSPECTIVE | What women in New York, London and Mexico City are reading
As this year comes to an end, the mood softens and a gentler spirit reigns underground. Don’t get me wrong. There are also plenty of shopping bags and elbows to be found, but people are ready to relax into the holidays.
In New York City, I am noticing that classics and romance novels are having a moment on the subway. These books seem to expose a taste for nostalgia and a desire to escape into simpler times. The holidays are all about guilty pleasures, and New Yorkers are ready to indulge.
In London, readers are reflecting on the world and their place in it.
“The tube is packed with both tired and festive faces, as Londoners dive headfirst into the Christmas season,” says local contributor Marta Bausells. “People read more nonfiction than usual. A lot of readers are learning about new ways to be consumers — from food, to fashion and health.”
In Mexico City, women honor tradition, but give it their own twist.
“I see a lot of new classics on the metro in Mexico City,” says local contributor Laura García Sandoval. “Our parents read them, because they were in vogue during their youth. I imagine younger generations looking through old bookstores, finding that these stories are still dear to Mexicans today.”
Read on to find out what women in New York, Mexico City and London are reading.
New York
Tatjana
“White Fur” by Jardine Libaire
“It’s a romance novel that takes place in the ’80s in Connecticut. The boy has a rich family and goes to an Ivy League school. The girl comes from a blue collar family and dreams of finding love. I don’t mind that it’s a simple, traditional story. It makes light of the harsh winter months and the political climate. When you’re in love even the worst things aren’t as bad. We’re so bombarded by everyday madness that it’s nice to read a story where love knows no bounds. I really enjoyed reading “This Is How You Lose Her” by Junot Díaz. I read that earlier this year when things were also not great.”
— Uli Beutter Cohen for Subway Book Review in New York
Mexico City
Lourdes
“Maximilian” by Carlos Tello Díaz
“There was going to be a TV show about the emperor Maximilian of Habsburg. This book about his life was going to be sold at the same time. The TV show was never made, but the book was published. I just started it and am already reading the second chapter. It reminds me of my time in Manchester where I studied to get my PhD in Human Geography. I’m back home in Mexico to do research on wind power for my thesis. What is Human Geography? It is about the multitude of relationships between human beings and nature. It’s very important, especially in cities.”
— Laura García Sandoval for Subway Book Review in Mexico City
London
Sarah
“Food and the City” by Jennifer Cockrall-King
“This book is about urban agriculture, how people are becoming more aware of food shortage, and how they are taking it upon themselves to build community farms instead of relying on big supermarkets. My interest is in growing food and getting everyone involved in it. If there ever comes a time where we can’t rely on supermarkets, we have to have tools to keep ourselves alive. This movement is not just about food, it’s about community: getting people from different cultures to interact, when they usually don’t. And connecting back to nature is good for your mental health. I don’t want to live in a city. I live outside of London — I’m actually just here for comedy night.”
— Marta Bausells for Subway Book Review in London
