4 books that rescued me from my reading slump

As I've mentioned previously, my year got off to a painfully slow start reading-wise. Nothing seemed to grab me and I felt like I was getting through books at a snail’s pace (and I'm not a super speedy reader to start with). I don’t know if I wasn’t really finding the right books, or if my brain was just too much elsewhere, but this reading slump was proving annoyingly difficult to shake off.

Fortunately, things started to pick up around mid-March, thanks to some really excellent books. I want to share the four that really grabbed me the most. It was an amazing feeling to all of a sudden have my enthusiasm back for reading!

1. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – This one was a re-read for me, but it has been about 5 years since I last read it, so it felt very fresh and just as terrifying and shocking the second time around. More so, in fact, given the terrifying state of affairs in the world today (it doesn't really stretch the imagination too much to consider how the events of the book could come to be). I read this for a book group, and reading and discussing a book with others was also a great way to jump-start my enthusiasm for reading again. As you can imagine, there was a lot of discussion to be had about this book! It was a very invigorating experience.

2. The Power by Naomi Alderman – This book was already on my radar (mostly because I’m a big fan of Zombies, Run!) but it was also recommended at the book group I mentioned above. I brought it almost straight away, and read it soon after. This book is gripping, thought-provoking and fascinating. It explores some really interesting themes around gender, power, control and fear, though a really creative and engaging central premise and story. Stayed with me for a long while - chilling and powerful.

3. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor - I discovered this book via a BookRiot list entitled 100 MUST-READ YA BOOKS FOR FEMINISTS AND FEMINISTS-IN-TRAINING and thought it looked like my cup of tea and brought a copy out of curiousity. I’m so glad I did – this book was a absolute joy to read, bursting with imagination, and so gripping too. I found it hard to put down. I'm now working my way through Nnedi Okorafor’s other books. I’ve read both Binti and Home (read last week), and have a ordered a copy of Who Fears Death.

4. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - I found a copy of this book for a £1 in a charity shop, which seemed far too good an offer to miss for a book I had already heard so much about. Warm, witty and deeply absorbing, this book is one of my favourites of the year so far. The plot in essence is simple, but the characterisation and world-building were so rich and exciting. Each place, each character, each detail felt so real and believable. Beautiful, moving stuff.

I am so glad I "found" these books. My reading has felt re-focused since, my tastes re-defined a little, and overall I feel so happy to spend time lost in a good book again. And off the back of these books, I have discovered so many others. I don't think I'll be at a loss for something to read any time soon.