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Looking For an Escape? 17 Books To Help You Avoid Reality.

April 12, 2020 By Rachel Stedman

Escape Reality Through Reading

The great thing about reading is that for a couple of hours, we get to escape. At the time of writing this, I’m desperate to escape. Because, along with most of the planet, I’m in lockdown thanks to COVID-19. Right now, reality seems over-rated.

Here’s a list of 17 of my favorite reads: these are books I’ve read and re-read. The reason I love them so much is that they take me to another place and time. It’s like travel, but without the inconvenience or danger.

(I’ve put links to other blog posts here too, so if you’re not finding here an escape that’s your flavor, then scroll down – I’m sure you’ll find something you love.)

P.S. This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. I receive a small payment if you purchase after clicking on these links.


Engaging Romance

Arabella – Georgette Heyer

Arabella, the daughter of an impoverished country parson, dreams of a new life in London. But her beauty and charm will only get her so far – and when Arabella embarks on her first London season armed with nothing but a benevolent godmother and her own notoriously short temper, she quickly runs afoul of Robert Beaumaris, Regency London’s most wealthy and eligible bachelor.

Anybody Out There? – Marian Keyes

Anna Walsh needs her old life back: her home, her glamorous career and above all the love of her life, her husband Aidan. But can things ever return to the way they were?

Always a brilliant observer of humanity, this tale is one of Keyes’ best. A bittersweet tale of love and letting go, this is Romance at its finest. If you enjoy this story, I recommend the rest of the Walsh family novels for snarky, smart, sheer Irish good fun.

The Time Traveller’s Wife  – by Audrey Niffenegger

Henry DeTamble, a dashing librarian inadvertently travels through time and meets Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare’s passionate affair endures across a sea of time and captures them in an impossibly romantic trap that tests the strength of fate and basks in the bonds of love.

The movie’s pretty awesome too!

Need more Romance?

Check out these blog posts here:

  • True Love and Book Boyfriends: 7 Great Romance Novels
  • Love Pride and Prejudice? Here are 4 Books To Read
  • Books to Read if You Love Downton Abbey

Out of This World – the Best of Science Fiction

The Peripheral – William Gibson

Set in the near future, Flynne Fisher lives in a rural America where jobs are scarce unless you count illegal drug manufacture, which she’s trying to avoid.

Gibson is known for his foretelling ability, so in some ways, this novel is kind of scary. But it’s a fantastic escape.

Snow Crash – Neal Stephenson

In reality, Hiro Protagonist delivers pizza for Uncle Enzo’s CosoNostra Pizza Inc., but in the Metaverse he’s a warrior prince. Plunging headlong into the enigma of a new computer virus that’s striking down hackers everywhere, he races along the neon-lit streets on a search-and-destroy mission for the shadowy virtual villain threatening to bring about infocalypse.

This novel is cyber-punk at its absolute best. It’s also the only book of Stephenson’s that I actually recommend. They got too long and complicated after this. Snow Crash is being made into T.V. by HBO – this will be either brilliant or disappointing – we’ll just have to wait and see.

Grass – Sheri S Tepper

Generations ago, humans fled to the cosmic anomaly known as Grass. But before humanity arrived, another species had already claimed Grass for its own. It too had developed a culture. Now, a deadly plague is spreading across the stars, leaving no planet untouched, save for Grass. But the secret of the planet’s immunity hides a truth so shattering it could mean the end of life itself.

Grass was nominated for both Hugo and Locus awards and remains a definitive work of classic Sci-Fi. It’s also a bloody great read.

Hyperion – Dan Simmons

On the eve of disaster, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth to the legendary Time Tombs on Hyperion, home to the Shrike, a lethal creature, part god and part killing machine, whose powers transcend the limits of time and space.

Winner of the Hugo Award, Hyperion is immersive Sci-fi at its finest. Personally, I didn’t enjoy the rest of the series, but this one novel is well worth reading.

Dune – Frank Herbert

The best sci-fi series EVER. Read it.

Chocky – by John Wyndham

It’s not terribly unusual for a boy to have an imaginary friend, but Matthew’s parents have to agree that his—nicknamed Chocky—is anything but ordinary. 

Almost all of Wyndham’s books make for great escapes.  I think this is his best story: it’s short but perfect.

Want More?

More reality-bending sci-fi here

  • Great Books for Brainy Boys
  • Enjoyed Ready Player One? Here’s Four Retro Books You’ll Love

Excitement, Adventure, and Real-Life

About A Boy – Nick Hornby

12 year old Marcus is looking for a grown-up. But Will Lightman refuses to grow up. Together they discover what it means to be a family.

The Broker – John Grisham

In his final hours in the Oval Office, the outgoing President grants a full pardon to Joel Backman, a notorious Washington power broker who has spent the last six years in a federal prison. Smuggled out of the country in a military cargo plane, Backman is given a new identity and a new home in Italy. He thinks he’s out. But the CIA will soon leak his whereabouts to the Israelis, the Russians, the Chinese and the Saudis, and then sit back and watch. The question is not whether Backman will survive – there’s no chance of that. The question the CIA needs answered is: who will kill him?

Set in Italy, this novel is less thriller than pure gastronomy. Read it, and eat pasta. (Grisham apparently put on 10 kg while writing this :))

The Little Drummer Girl – John Le Carre

One of Le Carre’s best, this is the story of actress Charlie, dragged into a world of espionage and terrorism. Highly recommended.

The Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency – by Alexander McCall Smith

Precious Ramotswe is drawn to her profession to “help people with problems in their lives.” Immediately upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. But the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witchdoctors.

The first in a fabulous series.


Mind-Bending Fantasy

The Belgariad – David Eddings

This is an oldie but a goodie: the adventures of scullery-boy Garion and his mysterious Aunt Polgara. If you’re sharing lockdown with kids, try reading this series aloud.

The Rivers of London – Ben Aaronovitch

Peter Grant, probationary constable, discovers an unexpected talent for magic. The entire series is outstanding, full of black English humor.

American Gods – Neil Gaiman

Gods never disappear. They just … change.

The Witcher Series – Andrzej Sapkowski

For over a century, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves have lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over, and now the races are fighting once again. The only good elf, it seems, is a dead elf.

I’m totally in love with this series. If you’re looking for a long(ish) read to take you away from reality, this is definitely a must-try.

Want More Fantasy?

  • If you loved reading American Gods, here are 6 books (plus T.V.) to try
  • Love Stranger Things? Here are some books you’ll love
  • Book Review(s): 4 Unusually Good Fairytale Retellings
  • What can I read on holiday? Here are some great books for all ages.
  • 3 Intriguing Books That Made Great Holiday Reading

Reality is Over-Rated

This list is just a taster – there are heaps of other books I recommend. But each story (or series) here is a guaranteed escape.

I hope you enjoy – and stay safe.

Filed Under: Book Review, Fantasy, Reading Tagged With: Book Review, Books, Reading

Tales For Troubled Times: 9 Books (About Pandemics) That Will Help You Escape

March 15, 2020 By Rachel Stedman

Pandemic Books Are About Survival

Right now I’m addicted to movies about pandemics.

I’m not alone: According to the Business Insider, the 1995 movie “Outbreak” was the ninth most popular title on Netflix this week – and the 4th most popular movie.

The problem with most movies about pandemics is that quite frankly – they’re stupid. The science is BS, the characters are ridiculously one-dimensional and the dialogue is pretty ropy.

However, there are HEAPS of great books centered around pandemics. Some are historical, based on actual facts – yes, facts, ladies and gentlemen. Such things do exist, much as our beloved leaders may inform us otherwise.

Pandemics Aren’t New

A slight digression here: I called my father the other day. He’s just over 80, full of ‘pre-existing conditions’ whatever that means, and lives alone.

“Are you worried?” I asked.

“Worried? Not really.”

At first, I thought this was just Dad being his usual stoic-self. But then I realized that this isn’t his first pandemic-rodeo.

Back when my father was young, the schools were closed because of a polio outbreak. (I wonder how my grandmother found this!?) Our ancestors were familiar with disease. My grandfather returned from WW1 right into the Spanish Flu. My grandfather’s grandfather (lots of great-greats there!) died of typhoid in the late 1800s. Disease has always been with us. But we humans forget so fast.

It was widespread, alarming, and then it suddenly all vanished. And by the next year, we’d almost forgotten…

Alistair Cooke on BBC World History, recounting his memories of the Spanish Influenza Pandemic

9 Great Pandemic Reads About Survivors

Please find below a list of great reads, featuring both pandemics and – get this, folks: SURVIVORS. Because that’s the thing about pandemics. People do survive. Life goes on.

About this list: it’s based in no particular order. But all the stories here are particularly well-written, exciting and (in general) highly escapist. Some are deeply thought-provoking: some just keep you turning the page.

Hope you enjoy.

The Doomsday Book - Pandemics

Doomsday Book – Connie Willis

Note: these links are Amazon Affiliate links, so I may gain a small commission if you purchase.

The Doomsday Book is one of my all-time favorite sci-fiction novels. Winner of BOTH the Hugo and Nebula Awards, this is a wonderful read.

Doomsday Book is set in a recognizable future where scientists at Oxford University, England, have discovered time travel. Historians can travel into the period they’re researching. But not all periods are safe, and until now, the 1300s have been off-limits.

But scholar Kivrin determined to visit the period before the Black Death, finally persuades her supervisor to allow her travel. Fatally though, just as she completes the jump back in time, the flu strikes Oxford, and there’s a disastrous error in her co-ordinates …

The narrative jumps back and forth, between present-day Oxford and the Middle-Ages past. The novel explores the nature of love, the purpose of humanity; the importance of faith. It is truly a wonderful read.

As a bonus, Doomsday Book is really, really long. So if you’re stuck in self-isolation, this will definitely keep you occupied.

Extra bonus: Willis’ other stories of the time-travelers at the Department of History, Oxford.

  • To Say Nothing of the Dog
  • Lincoln’s Dreams
  • Blackout
  • All Clear

The Passage Trilogy – Justin Cronin

The story of Amy, the most important girl, and how the world changed … The Passage is a story about vampires, plague and survival. Almost operatic in scale, with a diverse, exciting cast of characters, the story starts before the plague begins, and ends with the dawning of a new age.

The Passage is amazingly fun to read, but be warned: each of the trilogy’s three novels is very, very long. Don’t be ashamed if you end up skimming.

(Amazon tells me it’s also a series on Fox – but as the trailer looks pretty sh*t, it’s not surprising that there was only one season. Stick to the books: they’re way better. )

 

The Girl With All The Gifts – M R Carey

Melanie is a very special girl. Her teachers call her “our little genius.”
Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointed at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. When she jokes that she won’t bite, they don’t laugh.

Written by the extraordinarily gifted MR Carey, The Girl with All the Gifts is much, much more than a fast-paced zombie thriller. It’s a tale about endurance in a world gone mad, and the courage it takes to save a child. There’s also a sequel: The Boy on the Bridge.

Girl was made into a (disappointing) movie in 2016. It’s okay to watch, but as usual, the book is better.

Station Eleven – Emily St John Mandel

Station Eleven is a masterpiece.

Opening with the sudden death of once-great movie star Arthur Leander, the Station Eleven plays out against the backdrop of a devastating flu pandemic. The narrative moves from one time-line to another; threading the future to the past as we follow a group of traveling players as they traverse the midwest, performing Shakespeare against the eerie backdrop of civilization’s collapse.

Station Eleven is more than a disaster novel: it’s a story about the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of art. It is also brilliant. Read it.

I am Legend – Richard Matheson

A small, perfectly formed story, that became a terrible movie, I Am Legend is a tale of a lone survivor and how he comes to terms with his loneliness. I especially recommend the audiobook.

Love in The Time of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I included Love in the Time of Cholera because I mean, that title!

Personally I didn’t love the book. In fact, I’ve pretty much forgotten what happens! (Wikipedia tells me that it’s about unrequited love and a second-chance romance.) So if you like that sort of thing, knock yourself out. It’s been made into a movie, too.

A Journal Of The Plague Year (Written By a Citizen Who Continued All The While In London) – Daniel Dafoe

Published in 1722, Journal purports to be an eye-witness account of the 1665 outbreak of Bubonic Plague. (Actually, it’s probably not autobiographical, as Dafoe was only 5 in 1665. But Dafoe, who also wrote Robinson Crusoe, is a brilliant story-teller, so don’t let that stop you).

Full disclosure: I’ve not read Journal yet, but here’s a great article from The Guardian if you want to find out more: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/13/plague-coronavirus-british-panic-buying

The Breakers – Edward W. Robertson

The Breakers Series: If you thought the pandemic is bad, just wait until the aliens arrive.

The Breakers is good old-fashioned excitement. It should be made into a movie. Robertson’s written 6 books in the Breakers series, so if you enjoy fast-paced action, this series is definitely for you

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams

After all this heavy apocalyptic fare, chances are you’ll need a light and frothy dessert. Fear not, my friends – here it is!

Where’s the connection with pandemics, you ask? Don’t you remember the Golgafrinchams?

It was the absence of Golgarfincham’s telephone sanitizers (those same sanitizers that were encountered by Arthur Dent in the first book of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), that ended Golgafrinchim’s civilization: the entire planet was wiped out by a virulent disease contracted from a dirty telephone.

Finally

It’s taken me nearly two hours to write this blog post, and all the while I’ve been worrying that this content could be too much for folk in quarantine, or for those desperately concerned about family or friends.

Sometimes it’s better to escape; to forget the pandemic. I get that totally. Just don’t forget that if it’s escapism you want, book is always best!

Feel free to check out these blog posts for links to other great, escapist and light-hearted reads.

And wherever you are, stay safe.

God Bless.

 

Filed Under: Book Review, Books, Reading Tagged With: Book Review, Books

7 Images of Bookshelf Porn for Booklovers

June 9, 2016 By Rachel Stedman

Bookshelfie, Bookporn and Bookstagram.

Confession time: I have a thing about bookshelves.

I have 7 of them, scattered about my house. I’ve wasted hours organising them. I tried sorting my books by colour, by author surname, topic and height. Some systems worked better than others – the height one was a complete disaster, because half the books fell off the shelf. Now, I just try and remember where a book is located. Usually, I know.

Bookshelves are big on instagram and tumblr – just check out the #bookstagram and #bookporn hashtags. I love the way folk share pictures of their shelves; it makes me feel a lot less weird.

If you’re a bookworm like me, here are seven images of Bookshelf Porn for you to enjoy. None of these photos are my own (alas!),  but I’ve put links and further information in the picture captions to the originals.

Embed from Getty Images

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Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Conclusion

One thing’s for sure: a bookworm can never have too many books!

Feel free to check out my instagram feed – although be warned, I rarely post my own #bookshelfies. Because my bookshelves are just not as pretty as the ones here.

Filed Under: Books, Reading Tagged With: Books, Just for Fun

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