You may be finding yourself with extra time on your hands these days – or, if you’re like many parents, you’re actually swamped with remote work, attempting to homeschool and/or exhausted from parenting your stir-crazy offspring 24 hours away with no break to speak of (can you guess which camp I’m in?). The year 2020 has been magical, yes? What a time to be alive!
No matter what your situation, reading is always a great idea. If you can sneak in a chapter before bed or (gasp) manage to read while soaking in a hot bath, do it – your mental health will thank you and you won’t regret the downtime.
You may be able to borrow these great books as audio files from your local library. If not, you can order online from a major retailer or choose to buy from a small business in your neighbourhood. Consider reaching out to your local independent book shop to see if they’re offering online shopping or phone orders, home delivery or contactless pick-ups. It’s great to support local business at this time!
And now, some recommendations. Happy reading!
Ask Again, Yes (Mary Beth Keane)
This beautifully written novel tells the story of two families whose lives and relationships are forever intertwined after a tragic incident. With a plot spanning several decades, it’s a deeply engaging read with interesting, believable characters and a tender core. If you’re looking for a great book club pick, this could be it.
Three Women (Lisa Taddeo)
This exceptional work of non-fiction isn’t for the faint of heart. The author interviewed three female subjects over the course of eight years, exploring their sexual histories and looking at how these experiences have shaped their lives. Covering everything from first love to marriage, divorce and abuse, it’s a powerful look at relationships, power and sex.
The Last Resort (Marissa Stapley)
If you’re a fan of contemporary fiction, The Last Resort is a smooth, engaging read that will keep you entertained and get you thinking about what makes a marriage tick. In its opening pages, the author writes that every person has thirteen secrets – five of which they’ll never tell a soul. From there, the plot and characters veer between relatable and outrageous – a great escape you’ll thoroughly enjoy.
Little Weirds (Jenny Slate)
To call this a book of essays would be both accurate and wrong, because it is truly a collection of strange delights from inside Jenny Slate’s brain. It’s quirky, non-linear, charming and totally weird. More melancholy than I expected, it’s also hopeful and warm. If you’re up for some earnest ramblings and delicate musing on life and love (and the ghost of a sea captain), this is a lovely read.
The Lonely Hearts Hotel (Heather O’Neill)
If you’ve read any other works by Heather O’Neill, you’ll know to expect a few things: disarmingly good writing, a cast of very tragic characters brimming with hope, and childhood trauma that follows the protagonists throughout the story. This novel is slightly more fantastical than some of O’Neill’s other works (there are a lot of mobsters and clowns) but just as beautiful, heartfelt and moving.
Happy Parents, Happy Kids (Ann Douglas)
Being confined to your house with your children is as good a time as any to read a parenting book, if only for your own sanity. This particular tome is a comforting, encouraging love letter to all parents that addresses self care, mom guilt and anxiety while offering practical tips around screen time, work-life balance and mindfulness.
How To Be A Happier Parent (KJ Dell’antonia)
Another excellent parenting book is How To Be A Happier Parent by New York Times parenting blogger KJ Dell’antonia. Like Douglas, Dell’antonia recognizes that happier parents are the best parents and helps us find ways to get there. This book delves into why we parent the way we do, what it means for our families and how we can make changes. It’s positive, practical and incredibly smart.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (Michelle McNamara)
Not into a family drama, a feel-good read or a parenting book? Fine, here’s a real life murder mystery for you. This deeply researched and engaging nonfiction book was written by Michelle McNamara, an acclaimed true crime blogger who died shortly before the book’s release. Following the crimes and subsequent investigation of the Golden State Killer, it’s truly McNamara’s final triumph and is well-deserving of the accolades it has received. We only wish the author had lived to see the killer captured and charged for his crimes – something that happened shortly after her death, with thanks to McNamara for keeping the case in the public eye.
…
