Reading slumps are natural and in a never-ending lockdown like 2020, the desire to read ebbs and flows. These seven books are guaranteed to reverse your reading slump and get back between the sheets… of paper!
1. Blood Water Paint by Joy McCollough
Based on the life of Artemisia Gentileschi, a painter, this book is told in a lyrical half prose-half poetry narrative style. With its depiction of what it means to be an ambitious woman in a patriarchal world, this book is relevant and relatable though set in the 1600s. Berated by her controlling father and abused by a man she loved, Artemisia’s story is one of resilience, truth, and finding solidarity in sisterhood.
You can buy the book at Bookswagon , Kindle link
2. The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson
Written by bestselling journalist Jon Rosen, this humourous book will capture your imagination. The Psychopath Test takes you on a journey to investigate how and if influential CEOs and politicians are, in fact, textbook crazy.
If you’re into true crime, non-fiction, and serial killers, The Psychopath Test is ideal for you.
Rosen gets the idea for the novel after meeting a charming young man in the Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital in Berkshire, England. The encounter makes him confront the possibility that psychiatric diagnoses are not as accurate as they’re deemed to be by the criminal justice system. He raises questions about the validity of personality tests like the Hare Psychopathy Checklist.
The book asks: Is it is genuinely possible to classify people into rigid boxes based on a 20-item questionnaire? The prose is accessible and immersive. It will have you viewing the classification system in the field of psychology with a new lens.
You can buy the book at Bookswagon , Kindle link
3. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
A Booker Prize long-list nominee, this is a short but gripping read. At a comfortable 220 odd pages, this is the kind of book that will have you glued to one spot, eager to know how the story unfurls. The contentious ending has invited much debate, and there is no better book to read with a buddy or two!
You can buy the book at Champaca Books , Kindle link
ALSO READ: Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar’s new book tells a story otherwise overlooked
4. Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book is perfect for readers who are fascinated by Fleetwood Mac and the Rock n Roll era. Taylor Jenkins Reid chooses an interview-style to tell the story of an enigmatic Daisy Jones, a fictional star of the 70s, and her relationship with sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Reid’s conversational prose will make you care about Daisy Jones from the very first page, and she will stay with you long after you finish the book. This book has people googling “Is Daisy Jones and the Six band real” even if you know better- been there, done that!
You can buy the book at Champaca Books , Kindle link
5. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Capitalising on the fake dating trope, Alexis Hall pulls you in with his well-written characters, several heartfelt moments, and memorable one-liners. Oliver and Luc’s story in Boyfriend Material is sure to make you sit up and pay attention. Luc’s witty quips, Oliver’s verbose language and the resulting British banter will have you wiping tears of laughter and leave you wanting more.
You can buy the book at Bookswagon , Kindle link
6. A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
If you find comfort in fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, wake up your sleeping bookworm with Brigid Kemmerer’s adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.
The first book in the Cursebreakers series introduces Harper, an 18-years-old with cerebral palsy, who is abducted in a case of mistaken identity from the streets of Washington DC. She is brought to the magical, cursed land of Emberfall where she realises it is up to her to free the kingdom from the Beast. Unlike other retellings of the story, Harper knows from the very beginning that her’ purpose’ is to fall in love with the Prince.
Still, as willing as Harper is to fight wars for the kingdom, she is also hesitant to play nice with the Prince, let alone fall in love with him. The ending will leave you with unanswered questions and lead you straight to the sequel- Heart So Fierce and Broken, which was released earlier this year, and the third book is set to release in 2021!
You can buy the book at Bookswagon , Kindle Link
ALSO READ: An Excerpt from F-Rated by Nandita Dutta
7. Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbagh
In this critically acclaimed work, Vivek Shanbagh skillfully explores an Indian family’s relationships. His exploration of how connections evolve with their newfound financial status is fascinating.
Ghachar Ghochar’s strength lies in its elusive simplicity. A quick read at 118 pages, the book is excellent for a quick read, and then another one to understand it better. This novel makes for a great topic of conversation with your friends. It brings forth different perspectives and debates on what the ending means.
You could take a break from reading and focus on another activity, pick up an old, familiar read, or switch up genres to shake yourself out of a slump! I sure hope the books on this list help you do the latter.
You can buy the book at Champaca Books , Kindle link
Pri
October 26, 2020Gachar Gochar sounds interesting! On my tbr now!