With the quarantine still being around, 2021 has proven to be a year we will curl up indoors. Feeling stuck at home and bored? Well, now is the perfect time to grab your favorite drink and curl up in bed with an awesome new book! Here are some of our recommendations:

 

If you’re looking for something new:

2021 has seen some awesome new releases in both fiction and nonfiction literature. Dip your toes into these new reads and find a new favorite book.

 

1. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishuguro

Following his 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature, Kazuo Ishuguro releases Klara and the Sun, another poignant novel that explores how humans build and deny relationships. The story follows Josie and her Artificial Friend named Klara. Ishuguro’s newest novel touches on questions of technology, humanity, and whether self-awareness is all it takes to be human.

 

2. Libertie: A Novel by Kaitlyn Greenidge

Award winning author Kaitlyn Greenidge’s second novel follows Libertie Sampson, a young Black woman living in Brooklyn during the Reconstruction. The novel explores not only the difficulties that Black women faced, but the generational gaps between Libertie and her mother. Inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States, Kaitlyn Greenidge’s Libertie is a wonderful historical fiction novel that contemplates on what freedom truly is.

 

3. Aftershocks: A Memoir by Nadia Owusu

Whiting Award-winner Nadia Owusu writes this heartfelt memoir about her own disjointed childhood. Thematically written like an earthquake, Nadia Owusu’s memoir is an account of a rootless child trying to find an anchor into this world. Incredibly heartfelt and sincere, this one is a solemn read that will make you feel loss, longing, and love among many things.

 

4. No One Is Talking About This: A Novel by Patricia Lockwood

Patricia Lockwood’s debut novel is a bizarre and timely piece that shows just how talented the author is. The story follows an unnamed female narrator who gains social media fame and ponders on the question: is there life beyond the “portal” (aka, Twitter and the Internet). This novel perfectly captures both the joys and horrors of social media and has been heralded as an absolute must-read for all of us living in the digital age.

 

If you want to learn something new:

Reading for pleasure isn’t restricted to reading novels! Enrich your mind and learn new skills this year with these recommendations:

 

5. 301 Ways to Use Social Media to Boost Your Marketing by Catherine Parker

The power of digital and social media is stronger than ever today! If you haven’t been using social media marketing in the past, now is the best time to start. In this book, Catherine Parker walks readers through quick “snapshot” lessons to help you spread your message and grow your audience. Learn how you can optimize your socials, whether that be Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube, to boost your presence.

 

6. Instagram Power: Build Your Brand and Reach More Customers with the Power of Pictures by Jason Miles

If you’re someone who loves visual content, then you’re probably already on Instagram. Jason Miles teaches you how you can leverage the social media platform to boost your brand or business. This book walks you through the basics, from setting up your account to integrating the social media platform into your complete marketing strategy. This one’s a steal for everyone who wants to create a strong visual brand!

 

7. Communicate to Influence: How to Inspire Your Audience to Action by Ben Decker & Kelly Decker

Inspire your team and co-workers with the knowledge you learn in Ben and Kelly Decker’s book. Read more about the Decker method, a framework perfected by the two that adds insights into business communication. Learn how you can inspire positive change and communicate better with this inspiring read!

 

If you want to revisit something from the past:

Whether you’re reading these books for the first time or re-reading them once more, some books are just unforgettable. Read these classic page-turners for a blast from the past.

 

8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Navigate the social atmosphere of the Regency Era and discover for yourself if it is really true that “a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”. Follow Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest Bennet daughter, as she falls in love with a man who she has sworn to loathe. It’s the ultimate slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers love story If you loved the 2005 adaptation of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s love story, then you’re sure to appreciate Jane Austen’s most famous work.

 

9. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

If you’re into something a bit more edgy and existential, check out J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. The novella follows teenage protagonist, Holden Caulfield, and his thoughts for two days after being expelled from a prep school. The novel explores the question of authenticity, critiquing what Holden viewed as superficiality. The Catcher in the Rye isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but a read through this novel will definitely give you a throwback to your angsty teenage years.

 

10. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

This novel from Louisa May Alcott remains to be one feminist favorite! In fact, this popular novel was just recently adapted on the silver screen with Saoirse Ronan as Jo March. Little Women follows the story of the March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March. This classic coming-of-age novel follows the sisters and their mother live through genteel poverty, marriages, and what it’s like to be a woman in America during the Civil War. The novel itself, while lighthearted, is a wonderful feminist read that merits a deeper look once you finish it.

 

Fill up your shelves!

Read one or read all of these recommendations. There’s absolutely nothing stopping you! If you still can’t decide on one book, there’s absolutely no pressure. After all, the more books you have, the merrier. There’s a whole lot of books out there that you can read if you still can’t find your next pick from these recommendations. Check out our catalogue for other book options!