Books to the rescue!

One of the positive outcomes of COVID-19 and being under lockdown is the amount of time that I had to keep aside for reading. For someone like me, keeping aside time for reading is a luxury! But I was able to rekindle my love for reading and also explore new genres, authors and even read non-fiction books! The four books mentioned here are books I’ve had the chance to read during the lockdown! 

‘The Choice’ – Nicholas Sparks

Even though I'm not usually a fan of Nicholas Sparks books, this book was an exception as it really took me through a rollercoaster of emotions and wow, what a ride that was. One might even say it’s ‘the longest ride’ of emotions I've ever been taken on!

The story follows Travis Shaw, who is quite literally the boy next door, and Gabby Holland, a pretty but somewhat introverted general physician. Even though Gabby is in a long-term relationship with Kevin, she quickly discovers that she may not be the Eve to his Adam and that the good long veterinarian next door may be her soulmate. As I neared the ending of the book I feared that this book may not end up like his other books because of the enormous plot twist but I was pleasantly surprised, although it’s a running theme that this book does end up with a happy ending. All in all it was a lovely book to read during the lockdown. 

‘The Tea Planter's Wife’ – Dinah Jeffries

This book was, simply put, an easy read. Plot wise, it’s not a complicated one although one does gasp at the number of secrets that are thrust into the spotlight through the book. 

The story follows the life of Gwen who is a mere 19-year-old who has come to Sri Lanka and lives in a bungalow surrounded by the lush forests and tea plantations. 

We see how much growth she goes through, both physically and mentally, as the story goes on. With the loss of a child, the distance between herself and her husband and also dealing with her difficult relationship with her sister-in-law, one gets a glimpse into the life of a coloniser. 

Ultimately this is a love story, one that proves love’s power to overcome vindictiveness, jealousy, grief and pain, and can give the heart the fortitude to forgive, accept, change, and move on with renewed hope. 

It’s a book that has a happy ending which is refreshing because we live in a time where happy endings aren’t always available! 

‘The Viscount Who Loved Me’ Bridgerton Book 2 – Julia Quinn

This book was absolutely addictive and I just couldn’t put it down! Lots of peers had mentioned that it wasn't as good as the other books but I found it absolutely lovely! Although the plot was similar to the first book from the Bridgerton series (‘The Duke and I’) with the whole somewhat “arranged marriage” and “enemies to lovers” trope, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book  because I for one am very excited for Anthony's season of the Netflix live action version of this book series.

One may call Kate Sheffield a heroine of her time, because of her knack for voicing out her opinions and not holding anything back, which is something that most regency novels don’t have when it comes to their female characters. Anthony Bridgerton on the other hand is a young man who is quite aware of the position he has in society and also of the effect he has on the women of said society, so it is absolutely amusing to see the two of these main characters get together even though they seem ill-fitted for each other at the beginning of the book. 

I would recommend going through the book series in order to really understand the storyline and plot and I can't wait to read the third book as soon as I get my hands on it!

‘The Cavendon Luck’ – Barbara Taylor Bradford

‘The Cavendon Luck’ is a book that is part of a series by Barbara Taylor Bradford. In all honesty I didn't expect to actually like this book but when I saw it on the bookshelf at a reputable bookshop I was willing to give it a go and I’m glad I did! 

The book revolves around the characters of Miles and Ccily Ingham as they lead the Inghams through the arrival of World War Two. The war acts as a challenge that will push the Inghams and Swanns to protect each other and the villagers, and reveal their true capacity for survival and rebirth. You will fall in love with the characters and reader beware, the author has thrown in some pretty unexpected plot twists throughout the story! 

All in all, it's a good book to curl up in bed with on a rainy evening. This book is an absolute delight for those who enjoy heart-warming stories with happy endings!

‘Twelve Red Herrings’ – Jeffrey Archer

This book is a collection of some of the famous author's best short stories; from murder mysteries to romance, this book takes the reader from situation to situation in a matter of pages. Having been oblivious to Archer’s masterpieces, I had the absolute pleasure of stumbling upon a huge collection of J. Archer books. I loved flipping through the pages and it was the perfect companion for my boring and hot lockdown evenings! 

I would definitely recommend reading this book for those who look for easy and light reads to pass time. In addition to this book you must explore Archer’s other books such as ‘The Clifton Chronicles,’ ‘Cat O’Nine Tales’ and many more of his world famous books.