14 fantastic books to read while you have more free time

Here are 14 fantastic books I think you’ll enjoy reading while you have more free time during this quarantine. Or any other time, really. Because in addition to all of the cooking, cleaning, working, grocery shopping and enjoying a quick walk outdoors, I’m sure I’m not alone in my continual search for what to read next.

I might well have recommended some of these books before, but I wanted to put together a list of the books that I’ve read recently that made the biggest impression on me. So here goes, in no particular order.

14 Fantastic Books to Read While You Have More Free Time

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (aff link)

This book is set in Alaska in 1920. Jack and Mabel are new arrivals to this brutal wilderness landscape. They come with their own grief stemming from a pregnancy ending in stillbirth. On top of that, the harshness of their surroundings makes it difficult to earn a living causing them to become melancholy. One evening, however, their spirits improve slightly and together they build a snowgirl. In the morning, nothing remains of their creation except for a trail of small footprints leading away. Then a pale girl appears from the forest and becomes part of Jack and Mabel’s lives. Is she real or a figment of their imaginations? Eowyn Ivey’s intriguing story and the feeling it evoked has stayed with me for many years.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer (aff link)

Oskar Schell is nine years old when his father is killed in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre. In the following days, Oskar discovers a key in his father’s closet and sets out to solve the mystery of that key. This journey takes him all over New York City, and also on an inward journey as he slowly comes to terms with his loss. A beautifully written book which tells this part of history from a 9-year-old boy’s viewpoint. I loved it.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (aff link)

This is the story about Marie-Laure, a blind girl living in Paris with her father who works at the Museum of Natural History. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and they flee to Saint-Malo to the home of her great uncle. With them, they take a very valuable jewel. Meanwhile, in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan growing up with his sister becomes an expert at building and fixing radios which eventually leads him to help the Nazis track down the Resistance. The story tells of their lives and subsequent meeting. This is a beautifully written book and a truly captivating story.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (aff link)

Set in England in the 1520s, this book tells the story of King Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell, Anne Boleyn and various other fascinating characters and their lives during this harsh, turbulent time. I love a good historical fiction book and this one did not disappoint.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (aff link)

The story about Ove and his life will creep into your heart bit by bit. And that grumpy man will transform within your heart over time until you understand people a little more. I learnt more about life and love and what makes the world go around while reading this book.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (aff link)

“In love, we find out who we want to be. In war, we find out who we are.” This story, set in France, 1939 tells a heart-wrenching tale of WWII, relationships and survival. The main characters in this book, Vianne and her sister, Isabelle show the war from a woman’s point of view which may be why this book resonated so much with me. The description of their war experiences felt so real, not like a distant unrelatable event.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (aff link)

In 1939, in Memphis, twelve-year-old, Rill Foss lives with her parents and siblings on their family’s shanty boat on the Mississippi River. One day her father leaves the children alone to take their mother to the hospital. That’s when disaster strikes. Found living alone, the children are placed into the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage. This book is based on a real-life scandal and details the story of how poor children were kidnapped and sold to rich families all over America. Whoa. This book was a real eye-opener.

Related Post: The 7 Books About Midlife That I Want to Read

Educated by Tara Westover (aff link)

Tara Westover’s parents, survivalists living in Idaho, isolated their daughter and her siblings from society. Her father forbade going to school or to hospitals and Tara endured much hardship while living in that limited, sexist, often violent environment. Despite her upbringing and against all odds, she managed to get an education. She studied at Brigham Young University, Harvard and Cambridge. This is her incredible story.

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (aff link)

Set in Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast, this book is about the life of Kya Clark. Often referred to as the “Marsh Girl” because of where she lives, Kya’s life fascinates everyone because she has lived alone out in the marsh for so many years.  This book has it all – secrets, intrigue, murder, love and nature. And so much beauty.

Circe by Madeline Miller (aff link)

I didn’t know I could enjoy a book about a goddess as much as I did this book. This story is so different from what I normally seek out, but I loved this one. Circe is a goddess who lives a difficult life and must eventually decide whether she belongs with her family of deities or with the mortals she befriends and grows to love.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne (aff link)

This book broke my heart because the storytelling was so incredibly beautiful. I fell in love with the main character, Cyril Avery. And when I thought I couldn’t love him any more, I did. This book reveals how Ireland evolves from the 1940s to the present, as seen by Cyril as his life unfolds. Life is truly beautiful and I felt grateful to experience this snippet.

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (aff link)

This book opened my eyes to personal anguish. Five-year-old Claude is the youngest of five brothers, loves to wear a dress and when he grows up he wants to be a girl. This is the story about a family, their secret, and their struggle to know whether the world was ready to hear it. This one cracked my heart right open.

Normal People by Sally Rooney (aff link)

A tale of the lives of ordinary people made to seem so extraordinary. Connell and Marianne come from different walks of life and yet they are inexplicably woven together over the course of many years. This book looks at the class difference, first love and relationships while dipping in and out of each character’s lives over time. This was a real, somewhat sad, yet fascinating story.

Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield (aff link)

Once upon a time,  on a stormy winter’s night,  a man stumbles into an inn on the Thames River with the lifeless body of a small girl in his arms. A few hours later the girl comes back to life, leaving everyone wondering whether this was a miracle, magic or something else. Three families want to claim her. Each has mysteries surrounding the reasons why they want her. And many secrets must be unveiled before the girl’s true identity can be known. This story takes you deep into ‘olden day’ England,  touching on folklore, magic and even photography. I thoroughly enjoyed the escapism and storytelling of this book.

The End

I hope you find something that appeals to you and that you go on to enjoy reading it as much as I did. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Have you read any of these books already? Did you love it?

Feature Photo by Perfecto Capucine from Pexels

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