between the shelves

Let’s face it, we could all use a little distraction right now and what better distraction when there’s nowhere to go than reading! These captivating stories will have you hooked from the beginning and are sure to transport you into their worlds. Take a staycation this quarantine and pick up one of these great books (which are listed in no particular order)!

**We Read Each And Every Book We Review Thoroughly And Only Give Top Place To The Books That Deserve It; We Offer Honest Reviews. We Are Independently Owned And The Opinions Expressed In Our Posts Are Our Own. We Do Receive Compensation From The Links Found In This Article.**

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Set in post-Civil War America, Toni Morrison’s Beloved tells the story of Sethe, a Black woman born into slavery who fled to Ohio in the hopes of freedom. 18 years after her journey, Sethe, still not free, is haunted by memories of Sweet Home and the ghost of her lost baby, lying nameless in a grave marked “Beloved.” Rich in beautifully bitter poetry, Beloved is a literary triumph.

Morrison was inspired by the story of Margaret Garner, a woman from Kentucky that fled across the Ohio River to free herself from the bonds of slavery. Unfortunately, she was captured with her child. Rather than inflict such a fate as returning to slavery on her child, she killed him. Beloved is the winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1987. In 1998, it was adapted into a film starring Oprah Winfrey.

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The best way to describe the work of Erik Larson is nonfiction masquerading as historical fiction. Every book he releases has me hanging on his every word. Devil in the White City tells the intertwined stories of the 1893 World’s Fair and the serial killer who used the fair to gather victims, alluding police and even suspicion for years. This nonfiction historical account written like a novel will have you fully absorbed from page one.

Kindred by Octavia Butler

A dystopic tale like no other, Butler brings the slave narrative into the 20th century with the tale of Dana, a 26-year-old writer living in California who was inexplicably transported back in time to Antebellum Maryland repeatedly to save the life of Rufus, the son of a ruthless plantation owner. An unexplored perspective most closely akin to that of Solomon Northup, Kindred is a captivating piece whose message is very timely in the current political climate of the US.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Celebrated author and favorite of Alfred Hitchcock, Daphne Du Maurier created an incredible piece of art in Rebecca. Reminiscent of Jane Eyre and written in a Victorian style, Rebecca tells the story of scandal, deceit, murder, and treachery. This book will have you hooked from the beginning. It was also adapted into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940 with another to release in 1962.

The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia

Published in 2015, The Murmur of Bees is celebrated Mexican author, Sofia Segovia’s first work translated into English. Her skilled voice and expert character development will inspire you to learn Spanish so you can read the rest of her work. This novel is set in 1918, during the meeting point of the Mexican Revolution and the outbreak of Spanish Flu in 1918. It manages to artfully capture “the fate of a country in flux” and the tale of a family choosing to put their faith for the future in the unbelievable.

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

Lindsay Faye’s dark reimagining of Jane Eyre will have you completely absorbed from page one. We won’t give too much away, but there’s murder, prostitution, and the pages are dripping with witty sass. It’s Jane Eyre as you’ve never seen her before and always secretly wanted. Read it; you’ll thank us!

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith’s 2005 novel is loosely based on E.M. Forster’s Howard’s End. Described by The Observer as a “transatlantic comic saga,” On Beauty follows the lives of a British/American multiracial family living in the US. It probes cultural and racial differences, the nature of beauty, and the ever-present clash between conservative and liberal views in academia. This novel is a work of art that will have you craving more and more slice-of-life narratives.

The Farm by Joanne Ramos

Published in 2020, The Farm is a compelling story that deals with class, race, and power. Desperate for a better future, Jane, a Filipino immigrant, makes the decision to become a “host” (surrogate) at Golden Oaks (the farm). Consumed by fear and worry, pregnant and vulnerable, Jane is determined to reconnect with the outside world. This gripping tale will have you on the edge of your seat until the final page.

At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

This novel follows the awakening of Maddie, a privileged young American Woman traveling with her husband and his best friend to a small village in the Scottish Highlands during WWII to clear the family and restore their reputation of honor. Watch as Maddie is faced with trials she’s never had to face and learns more about herself in the process.

Whether you need a compelling read to de-stress from all the political struggles, racial injustices, or the stress and fear of COVID-19, these books are sure to transport you into the depths of their pages with their gripping stories.