By Ben Robinson
They’re perfect for a warm beach day or chill day at home. Whatever your situation — sometimes you just need a book to help you pass the time, or to let you escape to a new world for a few hours. I’ve picked a selection of my favourite quick reads from the past year which are worth taking a look at.
‘Woman at Point Zero’ by Nawal El Saadawi — One of my favourite reads, Saadawi writes the story of Firdaus. A woman on death row in a Cairo prison cell. It is a devastating and pertinent display shining light on society’s brutal treatment of women. It will trap you in the emotion turmoil of Firdaus’ story. How did Firdaus end up on death row? What happened during her life to lead to that moment. All is revealed in Saadawi’s thrilling novel about the brutal lives of women in Cairo.
‘Why We Do the Things We Do’ by Joel Levy — Why do we like scary movies? Is hypnosis for real? How can you spot a psychopath? These are all questions Levy tries to answer in this book. For those of you out there wanting something a little more on the factual side, this is the book for you. It will create curiosities you’ve never thought of before and keep you wanting more.
‘Convenience Store Woman’ by Sayaka Murata — Murata will effortlessly transport you into the magical country of Japan where you will meet Keiko. Having worked in a convenience store most of her adult life Keiko is now facing a life-changing ultimatum — when the time comes to marry, will she choose happiness at her job — in a place of comfort — or conform to the traditional Japanese standards that have been set for her? This book is a perfect read for a long Sunday sat at home with a coffee, just relaxing into Keiko’s world of bliss.
Happy Reading!
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