With people experiencing unaccustomed periods of enforced leisure in their homes, the question of how to find a congenial distraction from the longueurs of isolation has become urgent for many. Of course, in this electronic age, millions will already be engaging on social media or accessing videos online from a variety of sources. There is, however, one invaluable means of escape from present miseries that should not be underrated: reading books, especially fiction, at a time when the mind craves intelligent distraction.