As we all make our way through this crazy time, one bonus of self-isolation and social distancing is that we now have time to read those books that we say we never have time for. I find reading so therapeutic at the best of times, and right now it is definitely something we all need, if even just for a little bit of escapism at a time of uncertainty. These are the books I read in January and February this year (I will have another stack to talk about soon as I am also reading my way through this crazy time - a March & April books post is on the horizon).
Expectation - Anna Hope
Expectation tells the story of best friends Hannah, Cate and Lissa - first when they are young, vibrant and inseparable, living together in East London in their own little shared world, each unique and excited for the promise of what is to come for them. The story then fast forwards to ten years on, when their lives are very different and not quite what they expected. They each are trying to find their way through flailing careers, or difficult marriages and their respective dreams, desires and pain, while secretly envying parts of the others' lives.
I really liked the way this book juxtaposed expectation and reality, it was relatable and looked at the highs and lows of friendship and the fact that we cannot ever know what to expect in life, despite our dreams and however we wish our lives to turn out. Parts of the story were a little problematic to me, but overall it was a good, intriguing read.
I cannot explain how much I loved this book or how important I think it is for just about everyone to read.
Eleanor Oliphant is a woman with struggles. Throughout most of the book, we don’t know what exactly these struggles are or what caused them originally, but it is clear her life is different to others, as are her social skills and the way she thinks. Her life is scheduled down to each minute, avoiding human contact as much as possible as she drinks litres of vodka alone in her apartment each weekend and speaks to her abusive Mother on the phone, all of which she thinks is completely normal and the way her life is destined to be.
Eleanor meets Raymond - a new guy in the office - and they form an unlikely friendship, which little by little, without her noticing, starts to rescue Eleanor from her isolation and show her that people do care about her and that she doesn’t have to live with her damage forever. I really liked how the story wasn’t focused around a romantic relationship saving a woman, but a platonic friendship, one which she never thought herself capable of.
This book really tugs at the heart-strings and is in equal parts sad, heart-warming and uplifting, and shows how love heals all - in whatever form that comes.
Swing Time - Zadie Smith
Swing Time - Zadie Smith
Swing Time is a story of two young girls in West Africa with dreams of becoming dancers. As the story develops, we see that it is an unlikely friendship as the two have very different ideas about the world, morals and concepts of freedom and success, family and their roots, which ultimately causes the friendship to break down as the women reach their early twenties. However, as their lives progress, they continue to cross paths unexpectedly, between London and West Africa.
I found this book quite hard to read as it didn’t really seem to have a plot or a storyline, I kind of found it one big ramble with no real twists or point to certain parts of the story. A lot of it didn’t really add up in terms of why certain things happened or how they made sense to the story or added to the plot in any way. Definitely not a fave.
I Feel Bad About My Neck - Nora Ephron
I Feel Bad About My Neck - Nora Ephron
You may remember in my favourite books of 2019 blog post, that Heartburn by Nora Ephron was in there. As that is one of my all-time favourite books, this one had a lot to live up to, and it did not disappoint.
I absolutely love how Nora Ephron writes, not just her humour and dry wit, but how relatable and candid she is when she writes about the realities of life as a woman and the hilarious ways she describes getting older. This is a brilliant book for anyone of any age, and I imagine becomes increasingly relatable the older you get, and one I can definitely see myself re-reading over the years. She speaks frankly and truthfully - and thus hilariously - about life as a woman and her experiences, from being a White House intern during JFK’s reign, her love affair (from afar) with Bill Clinton, how much she hates her purse and her failed attempts to stop the clock.
There are so many laugh-out-loud moments (which takes a lot for me in a book), but equally moving ones, along with some stellar wisdom and advice. I only wish she lived on to write more amazing books.
This was another book that, although had lots to it, didn’t really have a storyline, if that makes sense. It was hard to follow because it had so many different storylines going on at once, but none of them really led to anything substantial.
The premise of the book is that the main character, Helen Franklin, has done something bad a long time ago. She left England and moved to Prague, destined to live a life of despair and never allowing herself anything joyful or good as she felt she didn’t deserve it after what she had done. However, a legend speaks of Melmoth the Witness, a dark figure who travels through the ages with bleeding feet, never dying, and following those whom she believes have done bad things and are destined to join her eternal damnation of timeless solitude. Helen has a feeling she is being watched, and she may just be right.
As I said, I found this hard to follow as it jumped between the characters and their life stories in quite a frantic way, never really coming to a conclusion on any of them. It is a strange story, not necessarily unlikeable, but strange in its telling. Let me know what you thought you if have read it.
I loved this book so much, it was a tie between this and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine in terms of heart-string pulling, favourite books of this current stack.
Ove is a sad, grumpy old man who has just lost his wife and no longer wants to be alive himself. Those who know him in the neighbourhood think him a bitter, anger, strict and cranky old man. Ove has decided to end his life. However, when a young family move in next door and attempt to be-friend him (which Ove detests), his many attempts to take his own life are foiled - unbeknownst to them - by the people in his neighbourhood.
The book is so moving and hilarious at times, and shows that even though Ove thinks there is no point in him being alive as long as his wife isn’t, he is shown just how much he is needed by each and every person around him - often those who he grumbles about, whom become a circle of friends in a way he least expected. It is such a touching story - one everyone should read - especially at a difficult time like this.
Although an iconic American writer, I must admit this is the first book by Joan Didion I have read, and it definitely made me want to buy a stack of her books and read them all one after the other.
This book is a true story of Joan’s life after her husband suddenly passes away one night at the kitchen table from a massive and fatal coronary, after coming home from visiting their daughter in hospital, who has gone from pneumonia to septic shock to an induced coma and life support.
Joan’s world is turned upside-down as her husband of 40 years, John, dies and her daughter battles for her life. The book depicts Didion’s journey through this time in the most honest, heart-wrenching way and is a book I would recommend to anyone, especially those who have gone through (or are going through) the loss of a loved one.
It is not a book designed to make you feel “better” per se, but rather one that acknowledges that what you are feeling is completely okay and you are not the only one to have ever felt this way. Grief and loss - while intensely personal - are also a universal experience that we will all go through at some point or another, and this book takes you through the stages that come with that, in the most truthful, raw and honest way. It follows Didion as she attempts to make sense of the weeks and months afterwards, and of death, illness, marriage, sanity and life itself. A must-read.
Let me know if you have read any of these books and what you thought, or if you have added any of these to your list after reading this post. I know most book shops aren't open right now but you can always grab some books in your local supermarket, or order online from Book Depository who are still taking orders and doing deliveries - free worldwide - (I placed an order last night which I am impatiently anticipating).
Thanks for reading as always & stay safe.
S ✗
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