With everything that is going on in the world so far (July 2020) it is needless to say that we all want to escape reality every now and again. Sometimes I want to escape all of it, but it is also not the right thing to just ignore the world and its problems. Nonetheless if you want to distract yourself for a few days, here are some of my favorite fiction books I have read so far in 2020.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Madeline Miller has a magic touch that transforms old Greek mythology into an accessible and enjoyable reading for a simple mortal like me.
The book follows the life of Circe, the daughter of Helios and the ocean nymph Perse. She grows up feeling left out and looked down to by her family, as she finds herself powerless. Until she learns that she is a witch and then everything changes from there.
This was an intriguing, captivating read that got me emotionally invested in the characters. Definitely my top recommendation to escape into a completely different world and enjoy getting lost in it.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
I loved Circe so much that I devoured it in just three days. So I really wanted to see if “The Song of Achilles” would live up to my expectations. And it did not disappoint.
The Song of Achilles is narrated from the perspective of Achilles’ life companion and lover; Patroclus. Just as Circe, this book takes you on a whole ride as the years go by and the characters grow older. An adventurous narrative that never stops being a love story. For me it just ticks all the right boxes.
Just so you know, they are not sequels. You don’t need to read one before the other. Just pick whichever interests you the most first and enjoy the ride!
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
This one is a bit of an awkward one to recommend, because it does take you to a different reality, but it still is a very stressful one.
Offred used to have a life, a job, money of her own, a husband and a daughter. But this is such a distant memory it seems almost a dream. Nowadays she is only worthy of living if her body is able to grow a baby to help maintain the human race.
This novel is a crazy scary weird world, but nonetheless is a very intriguing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
After almost 15 years of readers bombarding Margaret Atwood with questions about what happened next, she finally made everyone’s dreams come true by releasing “The Testaments”.
The story picks up 15 years after “The Handmaids Tale” ended. And is narrated through the perspective of three different women and the testaments they left behind. Where they explained the inner workings of Gilead and a lot of details that fill in the gaps that The Handmaids Tale left in our curiosity.
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
In the last months I was really into historical fiction set in the second World War. And so far this has been one of my favorite books of that genre. Is the kind of book I could really envisioned as a movie one day.
This novel is based on the real life story of the brave British women who played an indispensable role during the war. They were trained as couriers and radio operators. Sent into a Nazi occupied France during the second World War to help the resistance.
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
I was a bit apprehensive at first about reading this book, because to be honest it just seem a bit YA and silly. And maybe it is, but it is also very entertaining. It is a bit cringy at times to read about these outrageous luxurious lives that seem so fake. Until you remember some people actually do own private planes and islands.
This humurous novel follows the relationship between American-born Chinese, Rachel Wu, and her handsome Singaporean socialité boyfriend, Nicholas Young. They decide to travel together back to Singapore for a wedding and to meet Nic’s family. What Rachel doesn’t know is just who is Nic’s family and just how rich they are.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This one is a bit of cheating because I have not finished the book yet. But even without knowing how the book will end, I wanted to include it because I adore the way Adichie writes. She has a way of describing feelings and thoughts like I never read before.
The book follows Ifemelu and her move to the United States from Nigeria as she attends university there and tries to create a better life for herself. I find it very interesting in the way that is yet another book based in the USA but still is so different since it is told from the perspective of an immigrant. So far I have really enjoyed seeing the character navigate this new country and culture.
There you go, these are some of my favorite fiction books I have read so far this year. I hope this was useful and I hope you find something right for you. Something that will take some stress away during this crazy time in the world. Happy reading!
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