It has to be one of my favourite memories from primary school. The tokens being passed around class, the trolley of books to pick from, the excitement of taking it home to read in bed that night, and of course dressing up as your favourite character. There’s a part of me that misses this but the enjoyment of book shopping and love for reading has stayed with me since.
Over the years I’ve had less and less free time to sit down and read a book, especially when Netflix are bringing out such binge-worthy box sets all the time, but my new year resolution is to break my couch potato tendency. Here are a few of the books I’ve recently finished reading, along with some of my all-time favourite reads.
‘The Mars Room’ by Rachel Kushner
I finished this book only two weeks ago. I picked it up on a trip to town one day; I’d brought myself a Tesco meal deal and a magazine in WHSmith, so to treat myself even more I went into Waterstones with gift card in hand. People say not to judge a book by its cover but how could I not, it was pink with quirky lettering and a label shouting ‘shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2018.’ It follows different characters surrounding the world main narrator, Romy Hall, has found herself in – a woman’s prison. I loved the plot; it is something I have never read about before, but the story becomes a little confusing as it is not always completely clear who some of the multiple narrators are. Moving forward and backwards in time you relive moments of heartache, abuse, teenage rebellion and humour.
‘The Island’ by Victoria Hislop
We follow Alexis on her journey to Crete, there to discover her mother’s past, where we then learn the stories of her ancestors. It brings us to the island of Spinalonga, a leper colony; sufferers live out their days outcasted by their loved ones on the mainland. A tale of love, loss and learning you won’t forget. This book was gifted to me by my Grandma, maybe this had something to do with my love for it but besides, I would highly recommend it for your next summer read.
‘The Power’ by Naomi Alderman
We have all dreamed of having superpowers, and in this book, women really do. The ‘power’ in these women awakens a physical electricity within their veins. With the ability to shock and even torture and kill, the novel follows different stories, counting down from “Ten years to go,” with each chapter. Full of feminist force, this book became one of my favourites two years ago while on holiday in Wales. The power, both literal and figurative, that women hold in this world where society gives the upper hand to women, not men, goes to show that today’s feminist ‘manifesto’ is not about role reversal; utopia is a levelling of power.
‘Small Great Things’ by Jodi Picoult
Set in America, Picoult tells the story of Ruth Jefferson, labour and delivery nurse for over 20 years, a black woman living in a very white neighbourhood, and widowed mother of a teenage son. It follows the events that results the death of a newborn, son of a white supremacist couple. Told from the perspectives of Ruth, the dead baby’s father, Turk, and Ruth’s white middle-class lawyer, Kennedy. This truly thought-provoking book will challenge you, because that’s what it’s intended to do; make you step back and revaluate.
‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’ by Gail Honeyman
Winning the 2017 ‘Costa Debut Novel Award’ there is endless praise for this book full of small acts of kindness. Kindness from Sammy, an elderly man Eleanor helps, the worker at the Bobbi Brown make-up counter and of course from the new IT guy, Raymond. I loved all this, but I have to admit I wasn’t completely won over by this book. Please don't @ me.
‘Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire’ by J.K. Rowling
How could I talk about my favourite books without mentioning Harry Potter at least once? The fourth book in the series, Harry is unwillingly a contestant in the Triwizard Tournament, battling arguments between friends and foes, as well as a couple creatures. Humorous and dark this book has it all.
Help me check some more books off my reading list this year and hit me up if you want to start a book club!
Comments