If there's one thing 2020 has taught us, a good book sure is a nice distraction and goes a long way.
And, of course, a good book is so much more than a mere diversion. At its best, a book won't simply be a respite from reality, but will rather throw it into sharper relief, and allow you to better understand the people, events, and environment around you.
That's exactly what the following books have done for us this year. They have given us glimpses into the world's these authors want to show us.
The New Wilderness by Diane Cook - Living in an overpopulated, polluted metropolis, Bea realises she and her daughter cannot stay in the city, and so join a group of volunteers to take part in an extreme experiment. The group must settle in the Wilderness State, a huge, untamed expanse of land that has never been inhabited by humankind, until now. Dystopian novel The New Wilderness has been shortlisted for the Booker. The Booker Prize describes it as: “At once a blazing lament of our contempt for nature… and what it means to be human, The New Wilderness is an extraordinary, compelling novel for our times.”
Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagan - Andrew O’Hagan’s latest novel is inspired by real events, and the friendship between two men, Jimmy and Tully. In a small Scottish town in the 1980s, the two teenagers bond over their love of music and films, and a rebellious teen spirit. They share a magical, euphoric weekend in Manchester. Thirty years later, and Tully has some news. The Telegraph calls Mayflies “a delightful nostalgia trip of enduring friendship.” The Times says: “A joyful, warm and heart-filling tribute to the million-petalled flower of male friendship.”
More Than a Woman by Caitlin Moran- The British journalist and author Caitlin Moran is already known for her funny, smart observations about girlhood and womanhood. Her 2011 book How to Be a Woman was hugely influential; her latest, More Than a Woman, is a reflection on what it means to be a woman in middle age. Themes include multi-tasking, caring for teenaged children, gender stereotypes and long-term relationships. The Observer says: “Moran proves herself, once more, a sage guide in the joys, as well as the difficult bits, of being a woman – of being a partner, mother, friend and feminist.”
As any avid book reader can tell you, immersing yourself in a great book can make your brain come alive. Did you know that when we read, not only are we improving memory and empathy, but research has shown that it makes us feel better and more positive too.
