By Rachel Wade, Writer
With this extended period of national quarantine, why not while away the time by reading some books from this list?
From a psychologist’s expertise to a unique romance, these books will leave you wanting more. It’s very rare you find a book that has the potential to make you completely addicted and make you feel rather empty after finishing the very last page. However, now that we have lots (perhaps too much) time on our hands, the opportunity of a new obsession is easier than ever.
Since January, I have read a grand total of five books, which is four more books than my previous personal record of books read in a year. The possibility of me accomplishing this would not have been nearly as achievable were it not for the enthralling nature of these chosen books, so finely written it is impossible to put them down. As someone who is not an avid reader, it is rare for me to confidently say I was willing to read chapter after chapter of these books everyday.
With no further ado, here is my list of books that I recommend to you all to read. I hope there is a book in this list you’ll see and think “I’ll give it a go”.
M. Scott Peck - ‘The Road Less Travelled’
Self-Help Book
Enjoy reading about a psychiatrist telling you how to change your mindset? Or perhaps something to make you face life head-on and feel simultaneously more intelligent? This magnificent book offers not only the best advice, but anecdotes with hidden morals that make you go ‘Hm, never thought of that’.
The very first sentence of the very first chapter is ‘Life is difficult’. Immediately, I nodded in agreement, and read on. Chapter one, Problems and Pain, provides the important lesson that you cannot simply run away from your problems. ‘Problems are the cutting edge that distinguishes between success and failure’, it reads, ‘Problems call fourth our courage and our wisdom; indeed, they create our courage and our wisdom’.
It seemed that as I read through only the first chapter, I was being scolded on my misinterpretation on handling hardships. This book could be the ‘slap in the face’ people need, and soon you’ll find yourself feeling more confident, and will allow yourself to strive for success rather than wait for it to come to you.
This book also dedicates itself to love: an annoyingly complex thing. Peck writes ‘Love is too large, too deep ever to be truly understood or measured or limited within the framework of words’, which summarises the fact that love cannot be simply defined and one basic emotion. Therefore, Peck personally defines love as: ‘The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth’. Love can be something as simple as giving the last Rolo in a pack to your best friend, or giving up your time to comfort your dog who’s afraid of fireworks. In this book, this topic is explored much deeper and in a context one would have never thought of.
So, if you want to change your life and mindset, then I strongly suggest you give this one a go. I’m a firm believer that self-help books such as these should not go unnoticed.
Victoria Aveyard - ‘Red Queen’
Fantasy Fiction/Young Adult
Mare, Maven and Cal: three characters I never knew I needed in life until now. Having picked up this book after reading the wonder which is ‘Throne of Glass’ by Sarah J Maas, a period of obsession with high fantasy fiction and mystical alternate universes allowed me to keep reading this book. If you want a book to read where you can take time out of reality and transport yourself into a more exciting and wonderful world, then don’t hesitate to give this one a read.
‘Red Queen’ is set in a universe where people are divided by the colour of their blood, the red-blooded people living in poverty and disgrace and the silver-blooded people living in luxury and upper-class dominance. Mare Barrow, a red-blooded venturesome girl finds herself in the wrath of the Silvers and under the influence of the Silver princes: Cal and Maven, as well as living a lie. Dramatic, I know. With a binding storyline and a great plot twist, Aveyard could not have gone wrong with this iconic book. The Silvers also dominate with their individual powers: Maven and Cal with their ability to control fire, Queen Elara with her telepathic control, and along with several different powers such as water bending, metal yielding and controlling wind. Along the way, you will discover hidden abilities Mare herself possesses, and a whirlwind of lies and betrayals that will make you feel personally stabbed in the back (I know it certainly made me feel like this).
If you love the Twilight series, Harry Potter series, Throne of Glass series or the Hunger Games, then don’t let yourself miss out on this read: it’s a great one, I promise.
Stacey Halls - ‘The Familiars’
Historical Fiction
Set in 1612, with King James VI and I ruling, the mistress of Gawthorpe - Fleetwood Shuttleworth - experiences a life-threatening pregnancy after already having miscarriages - if she does not produce an heir then she is at risk of losing her husband. Fleetwood meets an odd wise woman, Alice Gray, who becomes her midwife. Despite performing successful herbal remedies and treatments whenever Fleetworth developed a sickness, Medieval England’s prejudice against ‘witches’ always hung over them. As Fleetwood rides her horse through valleys and forests, she goes to dramatically confront men in power and shows her passion for protecting Alice - it’s no lie that not becoming attached to this book is impossible. As a history lover, the accuracy and detail of this book was heartwarming, with subtle details such as travel routes, choice of outfits, technology and description of houses, it is almost as if it were a non-fiction tale in that sense.
During times when I was not reading, I would still be thinking of Fleetwood. For instance, I would be sitting in maths class and suddenly wonder why Stacey Halls mentioned a fox with bright eyes staring at Fleetwood from the woods, or in English class questioning the disappearance of Fleetwood’s ruby necklace. Pieces of information would suddenly be dropped, only for the purpose to be revealed at the end and it would eventually make the pin drop.
Beautifully written and an absolute wonder to read, the story line was quite unique and I cannot wait to read the second book ‘The Foundlings’. This genre was out of my comfort zone as despite having a passion for all things historical, I’m not one to willingly pick up a historical fictional book. However, this was spot on in terms of accuracy and life at the time.
Carrie Hope Fletcher - ‘In The Time We Lost’
Psychological Romance Novel/Magical Realism
I’m not going to lie: this book had me confused. Once you have read it, you will understand what I mean however, the way it is structured makes you keep flicking through previous chapters and makes you wonder if you have missed anything. Nonetheless, I was enticed.
Compelled by Luna Lark’s (the main character) state of mind, I grew envious of her ability to simply move to a desolate island called Ondingside off the coast of Scotland - but the island has a dark and disturbing twist. Luna meets a series of odd characters, yet she mainly grows close to Beau and Wendy. Wendy is a heavily pregnant woman and the owner of a bookstore with wonderfully curly hair and a strange obsession for indoor plants; Beau is a coffee shop owner who always provides Luna with her daily flat white. One can say this book is a dramatic love story between Luna and Beau however, others may say it is a story simply filled with magic and mystery yet either way, it’s alluring. Definitely try this book if you’re struggling to find that one genre of book you enjoy reading, or if you want a book that will always keep you guessing.
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