Hello Hello. It’s nearly the end of the world, I mean year (slip of fingers, my bad), and here I am back with part 2 of the much awaited (I really hope so) reading list. If you have missed Part 1, fret not, it’s right here.

What a crazy year it has been for books, which I totally totally unabashedly loved. Thank you for keeping me sane and good company, when no human could.

All this reading has out forward a lot of different perspective on things, every story has something to offer, whether it’s children books, novels or biographies. After all, life is what inspires stories too

So again my fellow bookworms, here goes my top 5 picks for the second half of 2020:

(Note: Don’t worry no spoilers down, so scroll away!)

#1 1984

A friend recommended this book to me and honestly I was a little skeptical, but then I thought, why din’t I read this before? Always the case eh.

I think it just makes you think about a lot of things, blows your mind in many places and can also be quite unsettling. Set in Oceania, a bunch of brainwashed people, made to blindly follow their leader the Big brother, with a bunch of other totalitarian, political and bureaucratic aspects thrown in, is a haunting delight. Orwells perception of the modern in his make believe world is nothing but a version of hell and way ahead of its time. A classic dystopian novel one needs to get their hand’s on definitely.

#2 Hamnet

All the literature and theatre fans, who still love and idolise Shakespeare (his name though not mentioned once in the work), this book loosely based on his life will undoubtedly draw you towards it. Story of a family, their struggles, journey of grief and their moments are extremely raw, intimate and intense. O’Farrell’s rendition of the saga, is surely going to make her one of your favourite authors. Also, if you have a soft spot for emotionally driven stories, worry not, this definitely does justice to it. Some bits are going to make you bawl your eyes, that’s the only spoiler you get.

#3 All the flowers in Paris

Did I continue reading Holocaust times book in the second half of the year? yes definitely! However this book, rather than focusing on what exactly happened in camps, is a story of a mother and daughter that had to go through it on the other side of the spectrum in the Nazi times, in Paris. It’s heart-wrenching, warm, and a wonderfully handled story by Sarah Jio. 2 women in 2 different time frames, one of them discovering the other life through letters and in turn finding herself and healing. A rich and realistic story that binds people together beyond time, together with love and pain.

#4 Circe

You thought gods had it all easy? Read this and it might change your mind about a lot of things. A literary fantasy beautifully written by Miller it involves a lot of facets, of the nymph-turned-witch, Circe. We see the world through her, her struggles of acceptance, her rising back like a phoenix, fighting fate, her love lives, motherhood, pain and happiness she experiences. We live through her, it’s primarily a story of a woman, which is bang on, be it the emotional quotient or the adventure. If you are a fan of Greek mythology, some witchy stuff, magic, monsters, wars and everything thrilling, grab your copy now.

#5 The Handmaid’s Tale

Another dystopian novel making it into the list (been reading a lot of these lately, could very well be my new favourite genre). I knew from the beginning I would like this book, even though it could be a little disturbing and emotionally draining. Atwood in a very inspiring and impactful manner put across a chillingly misogynistic society followed with such fierce intensity in the new world, that it gives goosebumps. It is unarguably one of the most explicitly feminist dystopian book, besides being thought provoking. Highly Recommended! 

#6 The Year of Witching (Bonus Book!!!)

This story of a young strong witch offers a fun ride, so full points to Alexis Henderson for this gripping debut. This terrifying yet phenomenal culty tale had to make it to my top reads of 2020. The relatable characters in the dated world, still works even today in its own mad way. A breezy read with an easy going writing makes it even more enjoyable and you wouldn’t want to put it down till the end. Just the right kind of witchy tale you might be looking for.

Do let me know if you have read any of them and also what you think about them. I have just discovered some of these and other classics (it’s never too late lah!) and I am really looking forward to more of these that I have missed over the years. Really hoping to continue this for many many years to come. Books are always a great way to lose yourself into and live a story and a different life.

If you have been waiting for this year to end, we are almost there! And if it doesn’t matter and you are just going with the flow, it’s still festive time.

Until then, Happy Reading! <3

P.S. What’s that one book that changed your thought process or made a difference to the way you look at things? Leave in the comments below, coz sharing is caring.