Summers are finally here! However, unlike most summer vacations of yesteryears, many of us still have to go to classes and work to make up for lost time due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Don’t worry! You can still trick your brain into thinking you’re on a vacation by engrossing yourself with a good book. A book written so well that it makes you lose yourself between its pages and takes you on a journey without having to leave the comfort of your own bed.
Here are some books that we recommend you read ASAP to get your fix!
1. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (2017)
This book chronicles the desolate, weary and lonely existence of Eleanor. However, if you ask Eleanor how she’s feeling she’ll tell you she’s completely fine no matter how far it is from the truth. This book made it to our list because this is exactly how many of us felt during the lockdown – suffocated and anxious. Moreover, just like Eleanor, once we made it back into the real world after the lockdown was relaxed we felt disoriented and confused. This book is full of mystery and there’s even a little romance tucked in beneath all the existential dread. This book has all the elements that’ll make you never want to put it down.
Purchase Your Copy Here
2. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (2019)
This book is about children on fire. Yes, you read that right. The two main protagonists in this book are children who catch fire whenever they’re agitated. The cover is definitely not misleading in that regard. This book was simultaneously dark and wholesome and highlights how loneliness feels and the need for acceptance from your family. However, the humour was something I was not expecting and so I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely a must-read.
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3. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty (2015)
I think death has been on our minds constantly over the past year. No matter how morbid it might sound, there’s a certain fascination and curiosity that we feel around the subject of death. This book does a fantastic job of demystifying death and the death industry, in particular cremation practices. Now you might be wondering, why should we read this, we don’t do that here in Pakistan? Well, you’re right, but there’s a section in this book that talks about how we (i.e.: Muslims) bury the dead and how that’s more beneficial and convenient for the environment and I think everyone should read it at least once. Moreover, it’s always interesting to see how other cultures differ from ours, books like this are definitely a great learning opportunity.
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What are you going to read this summer? Let us know in the comments, we’re always looking for more book recommendations! Moreover, if you’ve read any of these books let us know how they made you feel.
