Having spent much of 2020 at home with more free time than ever before, I was able to become reacquainted with the joys of spending my days with a good book and not putting it down until I finished. The following are some of the best books I read while at home and I think that, regardless of your preferred genre, the following books can be enjoyed by anyone.
1. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
By: Gail Honeyman
Genre: Fiction
This book follows the daily life of oddball Eleanor and her life in Glasgow, where she has difficulty navigating daily life and breaking out of her strict routine and goes on to form a wonderful friendship with her co-worker, who pushes her to resolve her past trauma and become her best self. This book received the 2017 Costa Debut Novel Award and is a great, quick read that will have you laughing and crying and shocked at the ending.
2. All the Light We Cannot See
By: Anthony Doerr
Genre: Historical Fiction
Set in both France and Germany during WWII, this book follows the story of a blind, French girl named Marie-Lurie and a German orphan named Werner. As both of their lives are impacted by the war, it follows their journey until their paths ultimately cross. All the Light We Cannot See was the recipient of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.
3. Educated
By: Tara Westover
Genre: Autobiography
Educated is a memoir by Tara Westover detailing her upbringing in a survivalist family, which she eventually overcomes to pursue an education. Her parents’ apocalyptic beliefs prevented her from being able to gain a proper education and be well-read. The story expands on her experiences and her love of education, which eventually blossomed as a result of leaving her family. In addition to being named the Book of the Year by the American Booksellers Association, it was also nominated and the recipient of dozens of awards.
4. Little Fires Everywhere
By: Celeste Ng
Genre: FIction
You may recognize the name from the TV show on Hulu, but the story actually came from a book written by Celeste Ng. The story follows two families in Shaker Heights, Ohio as their lives become intertwined through the lives of their children. The book starts with a depiction of a house fire in one of the family’s homes and it is believed to be arson. As the book progresses and the stories of each character unfold, it all ultimately leads up to the cause of the fire and what pushed the characters to their breaking point.
5. Slaughterhouse-Five
By: Kurt Vonnegut
Genre: Satire, FIction
I may be slightly biased because this is my favorite book of all time, but I truly believe that everyone needs to believe this book. Vonnegut’s character, Billy Pilgrim, is an incredibly entertaining character who really has a story like no other. He was a soldier in WWII and suffered from PTSD, which caused him to jump through all his memories in no particular order, and at one point he even convinced himself he was abducted by aliens. The writing style makes for an incredibly enjoyable and humorous read that will make you not want to put this book down.
6. The Great Gatsby
By: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Genre: Tragedy
The Great Gatsby is a 20th-century classic that is so good you may finish it all in one night. The book is even more spectacular than the movie starring Leonardo Decaprio as it tells the story of Jay Gatsby and the extravagant parties he throws in hopes that one day his old love, Daisy, will come. The book beautifully describes the elegance and excitement of the roaring 20s and makes you feel for Gatsby and his frustration over his separation from Daisy.
7. The Crucible
By: Arthur Miller
Genre: Tragedy, Historical fiction
While it may technically be a play, The Crucible, is a fascinating story about the Salem witch trials in the 17th century. The play is exciting and slightly horrifying, but a great page-turner if you are looking for something thrilling, but not too scary, to read. Arthur Miller is an incredible playwright and wrote this story in such a way that you will truly feel like you are there and you will feel the emotions of each character during this tragedy.
While most of these books may fall into the fiction category, there are plenty of great resources that you can use to find books that fall within your preferred genre. I highly recommend GoodReads, New York Times, and even the Barnes and Noble website. Additionally, Reese Witherspoon leads an incredible book club with a new book selected every month.