Do you know that stack of unread books you have on your shelves? Or the list of readings that you wrote down on your phone but haven't started crossing out yet? Well, now is your time. If you're not going out for a while and need a break from the screen, give in to these books. These are the ones we're reading right now if you need more inspiration ...
Claim
Lockdown might give you more time to read, but the world has gone crazy, so no one blames you for not being able to focus on a book for a very long time. This is where the news is very useful and Claim, a collection by Jefferey Eugenides (who also wrote Middlesex and Virgin suicides), is one of the best we have ever read. From the traveler in search of enlightenment to a female taking charge of reproduction, the stories are utterly compelling and can be ended in a flash.
Why do I no longer talk about race to whites
Reni Eddo-Lodge Why do I no longer talk about race to whites is a book based on a blog post of the same name in 2014, which she wrote after being frustrated with the way conversations about race were going in this country and how structural racism was not being recognized . This is essential reading if you are looking to understand what it means to be a person of color living in Britain today.
Daisy Jones and the Six
Daisy Jones & The Six are a fictional group in the 70s in Los Angeles. The book reads like a rockumentary, bouncing from each character's perspective in and around the group with the powerful free-spirited enigma that is Daisy Jones at the forefront of this story. It's rock & roll, female led and full of sex, drugs and superstar. Written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, this tale feels like a true story and you will be completely immersed in their world as everything begins to spiral out of control.
Fleishman is in trouble
This is the debut novel by New York Times Magazine reporter Taffy Brodesser-Akner and it's a sharp and fun take on marriage, divorce, and dating in the 21st century. The story follows New York-based Doctor Toby Fleishman who divorces his wife Rachel, finding out how to co-parent their two children and exploring the whole new world of online dating. It's told (mostly) in the third person, by Toby's friend Libby, so as the book progresses the perspectives of the women in his life come to the fore, and you realize that everything the world is struggling with something. And this marriage feels like hard work.
My sister, the serial killer
This is probably the most entertaining book on a serial killer that you are likely to come across. Set in Lagos, the novel revolves around two sisters; Korede, a nurse, and Ayoola, the serial killer who just saw her third boyfriend (in self-defense, according to her anyway) as you join the story. From there, author Oyinkan Braithwaite takes you on a journey through family drama, love triangles and the chaos of life in Lagos. It's fast and crisp, so if you want something funny and exciting that won't take you too long to complete, this book is for you.