8 Book Recommendations: Lockdown Edition

'...getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.'

- If I should have a daughter... by Sarah Kay

Due to the extension of the UK lockdown, I thought I would give some recommendations to some books which I thought may help to take your mind off of the current situation. This is a mixture of YA books, as well as poetry and more, and these are all books that I believe not only would be easy distractions but are also books that I recommend everyone read.

1. Looking For Alaska by John Green

One of my absolute favourite books, is 'Looking for Alaska'. But , in this time of uncertainty, I feel 'Looking for Alaska' is a book that we can laugh at due to the pranks they pull, and groan at the awkwardness of first relationships, and while it’s also heart wrenching it is beautiful. It's the story of young love, finding your place in the world, working for what you have, and not rolling over and taking it when people belittle you. But it's also more than that, because 'Looking for Alaska' is an exploration into complexities of individuals, and the manner in which we cannot know each other fully but can be a part of the great possibilities that occur in each others lives.

There’s so much uncertainty at the moment, that I feel like a coming of age story is a level of normality in society while also allowing a reprieve. But alongside that, John Green's work might just make you think about the trajectory in which you wish your life to go, and whether your relationship with self may prohibit you from getting there.

2. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

We follow Ponyboy, who values his brothers and his friends more than anything in the world. 'The Outsiders' follows 'greasers' like Ponyboy - those who have less money than the rich Socs and seem to be their constant targets. It's not much, but it's normal. Until one night things are taken too far and Ponyboy must decide between doing what is right and doing what is easy.

An engaging book about friendship and loyalty, and about what it means to not fit into the constructs of society. The treatment of those on the fringes often creates a self-fulling prophecy for their future, but that does not mean they wish for it to end that way. If you're looking for a story about friendship and belonging, that could help in making people feel a little less alone, then definitely check out 'The Outsiders'.

3. Dear Martin by Nic Stone

'Dear Martin', while being heartbreaking, is also inspiring for the power a single voice can have within a world of darkness. It’s uplifting and focuses on the remarkable impact that hope can have when left to face the unknown. Follow Justyce's story of grappling with the fact that although he is a smart student who is set for the Ivy Leagues, the police only seem to care about the colour of his skin. When one night he finds himself in handcuffs, Justyce begins a journal to Martin Luther King Jr. in an attempt to make sense of where his voice fits in the world. But things escalate when Justyce and his friend Manny get caught in the crossfire at the hands of a white off-duty police officer.

'Dear Martin' is socially aware and timely, and I think may be a useful push to spread the message that even once we can go about our lives as usual, it might be time to bring a little more kindness and understand into the world, and a little less presumption and hate.

4. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

'Of Mice and Men' was one of the first texts which I studied at school and, while studying it rather than in hindsight, truly engaged with. The premise is the exploration and pursuit of the American Dream between two friends, George and Lennie, who are travelling in an attempt to find work. However, once they find work on a ranch, it becomes clear that the cruelty Lennie faces at the hands of others, and his inability to understand his own strength, may be their downfall. There is an exploration of the theme of loneliness and the experience of those who are outsiders in society, as well as the hard choices that are to made to protect the people we care about.

'Of Mice and Men' is truly a book about friendship and the power of understanding, and the opportunities that it can award people. It also indicates the vulnerability of people who don’t conform to societies ideals.

5. Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody

Take a walk through the high stakes world of New Reynes, a combination between Las Vegas casinos and New York underworld, and commonly known as the City of Sin. Join Enne, leaving the world of finishing school that she knows so well, in search of her missing mother and following her old lead, Levi who just so happens to be a street lord and con artist, the complete antithesis of all that Enne has ever known. Over ten days, Enne and Levi's search for clues brings more revelations and mysteries than they ever could have anticipated. And by the end, Enne may just have more questions than she knew to ask in the beginning?

'Ace of Shades' is a fun novel to immerse yourself in, with a fleshed out setting and the beautiful chemistry between characters. Alongside this, Foody presents a grittier take on the YA genre, building complex characters and lineages, and an even more in-depth city where few ever win the game, but everyone seems to be playing.

6. The collected poems of Robert Frost

Robert Frost is one of my favourite poets due to his ability to not only find beauty in the minute feature of nature, but also how he reflects humanity through nature. Weather imagery and pathetic fallacy play key roles within Frost's work, and there is a distinct sense that the subject of a poem always reaches deeper than the objects described. Truly, it is poetry with a heartbeat of it's own, that exists to reflect humanities existence.

Some of my favourite poems from Frost are: 'Fire and Ice', 'Revelation', and finally 'Wind and Window Flower'.

7.The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

I recommend this book because it’s something different. It’s the story of a Latino family and their moving parts and complicated relationship,s specifically mother and daughter relationships and their complexities, but told entirely in verse. Our main character, Xiomara, has always loved poetry and joins a spoken word poetry club - which becomes a source of conflict - but due to it being a key part of the main characters window into the world, the story is told as if you are reading her poems. It’s a really interesting medium and the rhythm made it a very quick read, I finished it in one sitting.

'The Poet X' is the magnifying glass for the message of finding and lifting up your own voice, and the voices of others. The world may not be ready to hear her words, but X is done staying silent.

8. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

'Fahrenheit 451', the temperature at which paper burns and the key indication that the burning of pages is Montag's motivation in the salvation of ideas. This is set in post-literary society which truly reminds readers of the importance of engaging with thoughts and ideas through reading which differ from our own, and to widen our mental horizons in order to embrace the freedom of individualism. Society in 'Fahrenheit 451' is taught how to do things rather than why they are done, and while it is a timely reminder in the impact that ready has on us, it also acts as a symbol for the bravery that is takes to act against the current in order to attempt to follow what you believe.

I recommend this to read at the present time, because we have such opportunity to widen our knowledge and understanding of each other, and this book drives home the message that engaging with literature can be a stepping stone to engaging with the world.

So those are 8 books which I recommend to read during lockdown. I'd definitely be interesting in hearing any recommendations from other people.

Enjoy it all

Hollie x

#bookrecommendations #lockdownreads #books #literature