Happy New Year everyone! I hope that you’re doing okay and are hanging in there!
London has recently entered into a third national lockdown, with the government introducing a new set of restrictions that have left many of us feeling like it’s March 2020. All that’s left for me to do is bake some painfully mediocre banana bread and panic-cut my own bangs à la Lockdown 1.0 and the picture will be complete! As our world shrinks and my own personal definition of “daily physical activity” is reduced to the stomach-crawl from my bed to the fridge, I once again find myself turning to books for both entertainment and solace. If you’re feeling similarly but are in need of reading inspiration, Chloe is here to provide recommendations to keep you afloat. As an added bonus, she’ll also be offering some words of wisdom to anyone who is interested in reading more this year, but is feeling daunted by the task. So, grab a slice of banana bread, cut yourself a disastrous set of bangs and let’s get reading!
Sending love,
Arielle
Hi friends, and Happy New Year! I hope you're doing well, staying safe, and that you managed to enjoy something bubbly to bid farewell to 2020 (good riddance, am I right).
Last year was undoubtedly a tough one. And while I know this may sound corny, I'm being honest when I say books are what helped get me through. For me, the onset of COVID-19 coincided with many (many, many) more hours spent inside, reading as desperate means of escaping the hellhole in which we are currently residing.
With the end not yet quite in sight, I'm hoping this edition of Book Bites can help set you up for an incredible reading year. First, some bookish blessings from last year - I'll introduce three of my favourite books that were published in 2020. Then we'll chat reading resolutions, including some tips on setting meaningful reading goals that won't leave you feeling guilty once December rolls back around.
Without further ado, let's start off with what were (in my opinion) some of the highlights of 2020:
1. Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia
What it's about: Mexico, 1950. Our protagonist Noemí, socialite and aspiring anthropologist, receives a letter from her newlywed cousin. Its contents? She's seeing ghosts - oh, and she thinks her husband is trying to poison her. Noemí makes the trek to Catalina's house to get to the bottom of it...but things get weird, fast. A dark family history, strange ailments, and some mysterious fungi, this gothic horror meets colonial critique is sublime.
Read this if...you're looking for a book that delivers sheer ~vibes.~ The imagery is exquisite, Noemí is a verified badass, and the body horror and setting make you squeamish in the best way. This book is a weird one (know that going in), but this was an easy five stars for me.
2. They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up - Eternity Martis
What it's about: Journalist Eternity Martis makes her authorial debut in this memoir, detailing her experience of pursuing her undergraduate degree at a Canadian university as a Black woman. Martis expertly weaves personal narrative, statistics, and case studies, tearing to shreds any remaining notion of Canada as a racial utopia.
Read this if…you're looking for a biting, honest, and educational memoir that is sure to leave an impact. This book being set in a) Canada and b) university may make it appear niche to some, but make no mistake: everyone should read this. They Said This Would Be Fun was one of the best non-fictions I read last year, as well as an all-time favourite memoir.
3. The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
What it's about: Nora is battling depression, her cat has just died, and she's been fired from her job. Upon attempting to take her own life, Nora is transported to the midnight library, a magical place between life and death where she can live alternative lives, had she made different choices. In the quest to find her perfect life, Nora is forced to reckon with what it really means to live without regret.
Read this if...you're looking for something that manages to be both emotional and very readable. As someone who spends an inordinate amount of time worrying about whether I'm living life to the fullest, I found this book both reflective and comforting. The themes around life, choices, and regrets make this (in my view) an excellent book to start off the new year.
With a few recommendations to help you kick off your reading year, I wanted to turn to another timely topic: goals. January is the time of setting new goals for the year ahead, and like many of us, reading more might be on your list. Personally, having a set number of books per year I want to read is the pressure I need to pick up a book instead of turning on Netflix or playing Candy Crush (yes, I still play Candy Crush). At the same time, I'm here to tell you to be gentle with yourself, and that you don't need to be reading 50+ books per year to consider yourself a reader. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few bookish goals that go beyond simply reading more books (though they may help you get there):
Use your library more. Even during pandemic times, most libraries make it incredibly easy to borrow audiobooks and ebooks at no cost. I get about half the books I read from my local library using the Libby app.
Diversify your reading. Seek out books by authors whose lived experiences differ from your own, and in particular, those whose voices are systematically marginalized.
Join a book club. Even virtually, this is a great way to connect with other readers and think about what you're reading more deeply.
Declutter your bookshelf. Admit to yourself that you're never going to read the books you bought because you've convinced yourself you need to read them (I'm looking at you, 1984). Toss the books you read and didn't love. I've been giving old books a new life by donating them to my neighbourhood Little Free Library, and I love knowing my books are going to a fellow reader nearby.
Source your books differently. When you're not using the library, say no to Amazon, if you're able to. Choose a local independent shop - or look secondhand - instead.
That's all for now. Until next time, happy January, and here's to a great start of a new year. In the meantime, let me know the best book you read in 2020 in the comments. I'd love to add it to my ever-growing list!
- Chloe
P.S. Enjoyed these recommendations and goal ideas? Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more book-related content - including my own reading goals for the new year!