All major sports suspended. Employees being told to work from home. Others who are taking precautions and going into a 14-day self-isolation, including Justin Trudeau after his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau was quarantined for COVID-19.

During this time of stress over the pandemic, which can negatively affect mental health and cause panic, especially when you’re constantly being bombarded with news online — here are some reading and streaming suggestions, recommended by Star staff.

Irene Gentle, Editor of the Star

“I’m breaking protocol to look at nothing but reading, because now is a time to remember we’re part of the arc of history. And all books, because we’ll be refreshing news hits all day and drifting into a longer narrative can remind us to breathe and of life outside this moment and time.”

Her reading recommendations:

“Circe” by Madeline Miller — Entertaining, imaginative, a female lens on Greek mythology. It kept me distracted from the pain of a reasonably sized tattoo application so hopefully you can keep your phone alerts at bay for a bit (except for Star alerts. Read those.)

Anne Carson (anything by her) —I would read her grocery list. Also easy to pick up and put down and carries you into a different world

“Hamlet” by Shakespeare – For those who love Shakespeare and those who don’t. Themes of justice, meaning, existence, power. Did I mention existence? What better time to contemplate it than amid a pandemic.

Shree Paradkar, Star Columnist

Her streaming recommendation: If you’re looking for gripping escapist fare, type “Money Heist” on your screens. A Spanish show (turn your subtitles on if you need them), the 2017 drama is about a criminal mastermind bringing together a group of eight misfits (and criminals) brought together to pull off an impossible robbery — at the Royal Mint of Spain. What’s the heist really about? What’s with all the Dali masks? Are robbers bad people and hostages good? I’m guaranteeing a binge watch and an earworm of the revolutionary Italian song “Bella Ciao.”

Here’s the trailer.

Priya Ramanujam, Digital Producer

Her reading recommendation: “Reproduction” by Ian Williams. If you haven’t gotten a chance to read the Scotiabank Giller Prize Winner, now would be the time. It centres on a multi-generational family saga and is set in the GTA. Its dialogue and everyday drama makes it easy to relate to. At a time when we aren’t able to get out and enjoy our own city, a novel that feels so much like home, brings great comfort.

Her streaming recommendation: “Hip-hop Evolution” on Netflix now in its fourth season, this docuseries traces hip-hop from its birth in the 1970s through to the 1990s. This will be of interest to life-long hip-hop lovers like myself — who will feel lots of nostalgia — and more recent or casual fans alike. Bonus: It’s made by Canadians and is hosted by Juno award-winning artist Shad.

Saba Eitizaz, Podcast Host/Producer

Her reading recommendations:

Ronan Farrow’s “Catch and Kill”: This book is about journalist Ronan Farrow’s journey to investigate Harvey Weinstein’s decades of predatory behaviour and explores how the powerful wield control over the film and tv industry. Although it’s non-fiction, the story reads like a thriller filled with conspiracies, cover-ups and even spies! It will keep you turning pages long into the night (or day).

Nino Hatischwili’s “The Eighth Life”: An epic saga and a rollicking novel spanning decades, filled with action, romance, drama, and a bit of the Russian revolution — this is the book you could totally lose yourself in to pass the time. It’s a rather hefty book and carrying it around will also totally count as a mini indoor workout!

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Trevor Noah’s “Born a Crime”: Comedian Trevor Noah’s memoir will leave you laughing out loud but also smarter. With his trademark light footed sharp wit, Noah talks about growing up in South Africa during apartheid, while also observing the absurdities of politics, race and identity. If you’re feeling a bit bored or melancholy stuck in your apartment, you will feel uplifted, inspired and strangely cheerful by the time you finish this.

Deb Dundas, Books Editor

Her reading recommendations: If you like scaring the life out of yourself, there’s one book everyone seems to be picking up right now: Emily St. John Mandel’s “Station Eleven.” It’s a completely immersive novel about a form of flu that’s ripping through the world. There are line-ups for bottled water and food (so far, so familiar). Ninety-nine per cent of the population dies within three weeks. The book cuts to 20 years later and how the world looks in the aftermath. It’s a weird one for people to read and in a tweet Mandel herself thinks people should look at something else — but in a world where we’re now practicing social distancing it has a lot to say about human connection. You might be better off waiting for her new book “The Glass Hotel” which comes out April 11 and is on the surface about corporate greed and the collapse of the financial system.

Raju Mudhar, Podcast Host/Producer

His reading recommendation: “This is How You Lose the Time War,” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone is much better than the title suggests. Beautifully written, it’s a love story told across times, and equally a love letter to letter writing. A very different science fiction book.

His streaming recommendations: I am currently down with some more subversive superhero fare, like Amazon Prime’s “The Boys” and the darkly comic “The Tick” or HBO’s “Watchmen” (which is on Crave). Two recent additions to Netflix are the film “Freaks” and the coming-of-age-but-with-powers series “I’m Not Okay With This.”

Bonus: If I had to self-isolate, I would buy myself a giant Lego set, probably of the Star Wars variety. Some of them, like the $600 Death Star set, can get awfully pricey, but It’ll definitely keep you busy.

Adrian Cheung, Podcast Host/Producer

Reading: “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel – A (fictional) story about a deadly virus that infects 70 per cent of the world’s population…it’s a bit real. And especially right now, pretty stressful. BUT it’s also a great story about the lives they lead afterward, and how people always find a way to keep going, creating art and finding ways to help one another.

Streaming: All the Bon Appétit videos on YouTube – I’m normally obsessed with them anyway but what better time to watch and try your hand at making the same thing. Plus, all the Test Kitchen chefs are basically part of a sitcom.

Netflix: “Babylon Berlin” – prestige television but GERMAN!

Crave: “The Sopranos,” which I’m finally starting.

Read more about: