We are now almost a month into the nationwide coronavirus lockdown, and the situation still seems to be on the darker side. With the number of victims in the country increasing by the day, the situation only seems to have become all the more uncertain. Most of us, have by now, tried out everything that is trending and are now running out of ideas to kill time.
Be it cooking, cleaning or raiding OTT platforms for newer content, little seems to be left unexplored.
With the new normal changing our lives dramatically, bedrooms have become the new workplace and pyjamas are the new workwear. But the one thing that hasn’t gone out fashion is reading.
Books have the ability to take you places, spark your imagination and introduce you to new characters, making every turn of a page a new experience. With the radical change in the way we spend time, reading can help you stay entertained for hours together.
So why not catch up on some long-pending reading.
Books to read
Real Life by Brandon Tylor
The coming-of-age story of an introverted boy – Wallace, studying biochemistry in a midwestern university town. The young boy, hailing from Alabama, has managed to leave everything behind, but his bitter childhood.
The story follows his life in the new town and encounters with the new people. But to his surprise, on a late summer weekend, an unexpected encounter with a white classmate changes a lot of things.
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Based on a profound study of the little-known story of Shakespeare, O’Farrell writes a novel, on the playwright’s only son who died at the age of 11.
The novelist, with her words, draws the tale of loss, tragedy and parental suffering.
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
Once inseparable, two sisters from Philadelphia find themselves at odds, as their lives change dramatically. Now, one lives on the street in the vice of drugs, while the other walks the same block as a police officer. But suspicion rises as one goes missing.
Liz Moore presents a gripping tale of suspense wrapped around family history, love and addiction.
Amnesty by Aravind Adiga
From the author of The White Tiger, comes another compelling tale. The story of a man standing the test of time.
Danny – formerly Dhananjaya Rajaratnam – is an illegal migrant in Sydney. Working as a cleaner, for three years, Danny has been trying to create a new life for himself. But what awaits is worst than his past. With the news of the murder of a client, comes the fear of deportation. What does the future behold?
Apeirogon by Colum McCann
Apeirogon is a shape with a countably infinite number of sides, and the book resonates with its name.
Bassam Aramin is Palestinian, and Rami Elhanan is Israeli. They live in a world surrounded by conflict and terror. But their world shifts irreparably, as they face the death of dear ones. Now their grief is their only weapon for peace.
Apeirogon is a story of friendship that blooms amidst the feeling of love, loss and fear.
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Apart from these, a variety of e-books can be accessed from various portals.
Find free books
Amidst the lockdown, a few portals also have come forward to provide cost-free services to ensure easy access to several books. Ranging from national to international authors – the site has a wide range of selection all categorised according to genres.
The open library – Launched by the Internet archive, the portal allows users to access public domain and out-of-print books.
Project Gutenberg – The one place to find classic literary work. Project Gutenberg offers a wide range of books on crime and mystery.
Seagull books - A Kolkata-based publishing house, Seagull books are offering a variety of e-books on their website for a free read.
Manybooks – With more than fifty thousand e-books, this website is a cost-free alternative to variety reading.
Celebrate this World Book Day by finding something new to read.
