If you follow me on Instagram then you may have gathered that my reading habits have become borderline obsessive. However, in the light of our current situation let me rephrase that: I have taken advantage of this mass of time to consume all the literature I have wanted to for the past few years without any interfering forces. I was thinking of doing one of these every month but then the optimist in me thinks that how many months will I be writing this type of post for (?), to which the answer is hopefully only a few. My monthly posts feature a few of the books I’ve been reading throughout the month, although here are a few more for your consumption. I’ve tried to make them a lockdown friendly affair; there will be no dystopias featured. 

My first recommendation and by far my favourite book of the year so far has to be Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo. The prose, the lack of punctuation, the variety of stories; it never ceased to grab my attention. Writing from the perspective of twelve women who are all subtly linked in one way or another, the book is also an examination of contemporary Britain through the experiences of black British women. Presented with an examination of race, class, families within their past, present and future contexts – it is simultaneously profound and deeply moving. All you really need to know is: it’s a book that should make for essential reading.

Olivia Laing is one of my favourite writers and The Lonely City, a book I have never mentioned on my blog despite it being one of my favourites, was no exception. It felt fitting to mention in this blog post because although it is primarily a book that focuses on loneliness in the city and through the looking glass of various people; for example Andy Warhol, and social experiments, there was a unitary quality about it. Perhaps, through reading about the loneliness of other people we feel less lonely in ourselves. It is a non-fiction book that I would highly recommend during this period.

One of many classics borrowed from the library was Lolita, written by Vladimir Nabokov. The way in which the characters are both repulsing, yet intriguing is why this book features in this post. I’m glad I’ve finally read it in the sense it is a literary great, but in no way am I hailing is as a lockdown must read if you are after a classic that is more positive or touches on less triggering topics. As a follow on from Lolita, I would very much like to read Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. The book focuses on eight women in Iran, who meet every week to discuss literary greats and in doing so, they reveal their own stories and hopes within the oppression they face. The memoir is a testimony of the power of books to transform lives during dark periods; perhaps this is one of the reasons why this book features in this post.

Non-fiction reading during my gap year has been primarily dominated by Art History books. It has, in part, influenced my change in university course for September (although not to History of Art) and has opened up a whole new world. You really do not have to learn a new skill during this quarantine period, as toxic pressure can sometimes suggest, but I have honestly loved finding out more about art and Art as Therapy by Alain de Botton and John Armstrong is one of those books cultivating that love. The part philosophical venture into the why we need art, alongside an examination of the economic, natural and political aims unite this study in why art is intrinsic to our individual needs, as well as changing public ones. My favourite anecdote has to be how art displays the quality of resilience, the example being Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea. The design, as well as the story itself is a tale of resilience in the face of small problems that can often be considered great. Botton and Armstrong examine the art in a much more eloquent way than I ever could yet it was by no means wordy or particularly dense.
I would also highly recommend Julian Barnes’ Keeping an Eye Open, an endeavour into the history of both the art and the artist. I mentioned it in my February post and it will, no doubt, feature again at some point.

The final book in today’s, somewhat lengthy, book recommendation post is Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. Keiko, who’s been working in the same job for eighteen years and has never had a boyfriend, is on the outskirts of what is considered ‘acceptable’ in society. It’s funny yet incredibly insightful in the way it suggests that perhaps society has not progressed from the Stone Age ideals to the extent we feel we have. It’s not the longest read either so perfect for a long evening to divulge in.

In terms of actually getting hold of the book to read, there are lots of independent booksellers still selling online such as The Guardian Bookshop or The Book Depository. It’s also worth seeing if your local independent bookshop is now selling online as well. My favourite indie bookshop in my local town is doing order by email, with free delivery to the surrounding postcodes. 

Buying books can still be expensive which is why I have a pile of 17 library books still waiting to be read, borrowed in the pre-lockdown panic. That doesn’t mean libraries have become redundant though as most have an online scheme called Borrow Box, with thousands of ebooks that can be borrowed for free. I’m not the biggest fan of reading a whole book through a screen but equally it is important to take advantage of the resources to hand.

My next book recommendation post, whenever that may be, will hopefully feature some more creative shots as I finally endeavour to master my camera… only three years after originally purchasing. I hope you’re all staying safe and inside if you can and happy reading! 

Lots of love, Eleanor xx

ps. more book recommendations are always welcomed, if you have any then leave them below!