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Article  •  8 June 2021

 

Five books to get you out of a reading rut

Overcoming the dreaded book slump is easy with these rad reads.

Maybe the last book you picked up didn’t draw you in. Or you’ve been distracted by your phone, the news, social media, life, the list goes on. Before you know it, weeks have passed and you haven’t turned a single paperback page. We’ve all been there.

Shake off a reading slump by picking a title that you want to read purely for pleasure. Perhaps it’s time to revisit an old favourite, try a new genre or author and ask your friends what they’re loving. Carve out some time with your morning cuppa, while you eat your lunch or just before bed and dive back into a reading routine. Read on for our top picks to get you started…

The Anthropocene Reviewed

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
The short essay style of this book means it’s perfect to dip in and out of. In each chapter, John Green reviews a different facet of modern life or the human experience. Green takes a look at everything from sunsets (five stars) to googling strangers (four stars) and the Penguins of Madagascar (four and a half stars). It’s an easy-to-read, artfully curated collection that deserves a spot on your bedside table.

Malibu Rising

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Fans of Daisy Jones & the Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo will no doubt already have Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest on their radar. If you’re not familiar with the Sunday Times bestselling author, be prepared to be wowed. Reid has a knack for writing characters that feel so realistic they have you wondering if you’re actually reading non-fiction. Malibu Rising follows the Riva siblings as they throw an annual end-of-summer party. Full of glamour, secrets, and family drama, this is an escapist read that you will want to power through in one sitting.

Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Project Hail Mary is the latest offering from the author of The Martian and it is seriously hard to put down. Full of plot twists and turns, the story starts in space with Ryland Grace, the sole survivor on a last-chance mission, except he doesn’t know that yet. He can’t even remember his own name. Andy Weir has ingenious ways of explaining complex scientific issues in easy-to-understand terms. In the words of astronaut Tim Peake, 'Brilliantly funny and enjoyable. One of the most plausible science fiction books I've ever read'. Do yourself a favour and read this one before the upcoming movie starring Ryan Gosling hits the big screen.

The Mad Women's Ball

The Mad Women’s Ball by Victoria Mas
One for fans of historical fiction, The Mad Women’s Ball is a prize-winning French debut. Set in 1885 we find ourselves in a Parisian asylum with two women – one deemed mad, the other sane – who find their salvation at The Mad Women's Ball. At 224 pages it’s a relatively short title that gives you the satisfaction of finishing a book in no time, which is great when you’ve lost your reading motivation. Paula Hawkins described it as a ‘darkly delightful Gothic treasure’.

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
This is a book you’ll want to press into the hands of your friends so that you have someone to talk about it with. An interesting mix of thriller and redemptive love story, it is about twins traveling to Scotland to reintroduce grey wolves into the remote Highlands. When a local farmer is found dead, unable to accept that her wolves could be responsible, Inti makes a reckless decision to protect them. Charlotte McConaghy is a seriously talented writer, if you enjoy Once There Were Wolves (and trust us, you're going to love it!) be sure to grab a copy of her literary debut Migrations as well.

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