Circa 2020—in the height of the pandemic—I found myself struggling to combat the boredom that many of us suffered through at home. I thought trying to get out of my reading slump might help my boredom, so I decided to order some books from Indigo and give them a try. Little did I know these 4 books would transform me back into a reading addict. If you’re looking to get out of a reading slump or just trying to find something to do in your free time, then these books are for you.
1. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
This was the first book of the four, and the first chapter had me hooked right from the get go. This book follows the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue who bargains to live forever but in return is cursed, and everyone she meets forgets her. Around 300 years later everything changes when a young man working at a bookstore in New York remembers her name.
When I finished this book, it was everything I had expected to be and more. It gets the reader thinking about what it means to truly live and how our memories essentially make up who we are. Despite not loving historical fiction as a genre, I would say this is one of my favourite books. It has elements of romance, history, travelling and fantasy, all blended together to make a compelling story. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a beautifully written page-turner that personally had me in a trance.
2. Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Know My Name is a memoir written by Chanel Miller about her own sexual assault. She writes a statement about her experience and it goes viral, taking over the media. This book tells the story of the impact the publicity of her article had, especially after her assaulter was only given 6 months in a county jail. Her letter was translated globally and read by Congress, inspiring change in California law and the annulment of the judge in her case.
Society has built a world made to benefit the man, consequently creating a female experience devoid of any personal autonomy. Victim blaming persists alongside gender norms and stereotypes, as female survivors are disparaged and male violence is legitimized. Through Miller’s story, it is evident that women are subject to injustice and bigotry as a result of society’s misogynistic constructs, which also elicit the contempt of survivors and strip them of agency regarding their stories.
I found this memoir to be extremely powerful, as well as honest. Miller transforms the way we think about sexual assault and challenges what is acceptable. It reveals the truth about the tumultuous reality of healing.
3. Where Rainbow’s End by Cecelia Ahern
If you’ve watched the rom-com film Love, Rosie then you might recall this plot line. After I learnt that this novel was adapted from Love, Rosie (my favourite romance movie), I had to give it a read. This Irish author does an amazing job of telling a beautiful story through epistolary structure in the form of letters, emails, instant messages and newspaper articles.
The story centers around the lives of two best friends, Alex and Rosie, as they grow up, and the turbulence in their lives as a result of Alex moving to Boston and leaving Rosie behind in Dublin. Where Rainbow’s End is a heartwarming story that reminds me of the importance of friendship and family. This is the ultimate love story, and is my definition of the perfect feel-good book.
4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is a classic novel that I have always wanted to read, as I have heard nothing but great things about it. It was also a relatively short read of 163 pages, so I didn’t have a problem committing to it.
This story follows an Andalusian sheep shepherd, Santiago, on his quest in search of worldly riches. His travels lead him to different treasures that are far more valuable than he ever could have imagined.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something to inspire them to pursue their goals and dreams. This book shows that having faith in destiny will ultimately lead you to achieve it. I found it to be thought-provoking and overall very inspiring.
The experience of becoming entranced in a book may not happen often, but when it does, it’s so special. These books helped me get back into reading and maybe they can help you too, so don’t be afraid to give them a try.