Lockdown Literature

Lockdown Literature

If you’re living in a country, city or region that has enforced a strict lockdown, I hope you’re hanging in there. Sometimes, I can’t seem to remember what “normal” feels like – to be fair, I have always been a couch potato, but to not even have the option to go to the movies, a restaurant, the museum or the theatre is something else entirely.

While we are encouraged (or forced) to stay at home, at least our minds can travel freely. The magic of books and literature allows us to do just that: they let our thoughts roam freely and wildly, help us embark on imaginary adventures and dive into worlds both familiar and unknown.

My book purchases went through the roof over these past few months, and the pile of novels on my nightstand that I have labelled “to read” keeps growing. But even though I find it extremely exciting to discover new books and authors, I sometimes also seek comfort in re-reading stories I have fallen in love with a long time ago.

Here are some book recommendations from me to you. They may seem random at first as they are not of a particular genre, but they do have one thing in common: they helped keeping me sane throughout 2020.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

First published in 1868, this treasured American classic and coming-of-age tale follows the story of the four March sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy. I first read this book as a young teenager, watched the movies (first the one starring Katharine Hepburn as Jo, then the remake with Winona Ryder and recently, the latest cinematic offering with Saoirse Ronan playing the spirited Jo – and I truly love them all) and I never get bored. More than that, every single time, I gasp when Jo comes home with her hair cut off, I am heartbroken about Beth, and I curse Amy and Laurie, because yes, I don’t think they should be together. But even so – this is a book that can be revisited time and time again without ever losing its charm.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Another classic on this list, this beloved novel by Jane Austen has been read by generations of girls and women (and probably some men as well). At first sight, it’s a love story between Elizabeth Bennett who falls victim to her own prejudice, and one Mr. Darcy whose pride threatens to stand in the way of his own happiness. But “Pride and Prejudice” is more than just a romantic tale. It is a compelling social commentary on life in England during the late 18th and early 19th century, deliciously peeling back the complex layers of class, social norms and relationships.

A History of Islam in 21 Women by Hossein Kamaly

Associate Professor of Islamic Studies Hossein Kamaly takes his readers on a journey through time and into the lives of 21 women who have shaped Islamic history. Kamaly provide a lot of political context for the women he introduces and rightfully gives them a chance to shine; they come from Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Iraq and Russia, showing the complex, rich and diverse history of Islam.  from the first believer, Khadija, to renowned architect Zaha Hadid, Kamaly celebrates the lives and remarkable achievements of these women, many of whom remain largely unknown to the wider public. It may merely be the tip of the iceberg, but it’s a good point to start.

Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez

This is a man’s world, and award-winning campaigner and author Caroline Criado-Perez is here to prove it. “Invisible Women” shows how women are basically forgotten and/or ignored in every aspect of their lives, from government policy and medical research to workplaces and urban planning. It’s an incredibly enlightening read that often left me dumbfounded, and at the same time it’s frustrating. Did you know that car crash dummies are mostly ‘male’? I didn’t. Did you know that many drugs that are mainly given to women are often almost exclusively trialled on men? I didn’t. The list goes on. Read through to the end, because as infuriating as it is, it’s about high time that someone sheds light on this imbalance so we can actually start do something about it.

The Wandering by Intan Paramaditha

I have so much love for this book, and I won’t tire of telling everyone that they really should read Intan Paramaditha’s works – she’s an important voice in Indonesia’s literary scene, one that demands and deserves to be heard. “The Wandering” is ambitious: it comes in the almost forgotten choose-your-own-adventure format and lets the reader slip into a pair of red shoes belonging to a woman who makes a deal with the devil to escape the monotony of her life and see the world. Paramaditha cleverly weaves different themes into her tales; from the writings of Bertolt Brecht to modern day refugees and traditional folk tales. Of course, one of the best things about this book is that once you have finished your first adventure, you can go back to the beginning, choose another path and embark on another eye-opening journey.

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Back in 2000, Indian American author Jhumpa Lahiri wrote history when she won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for “The Interpreter of Maladies.” In her short stories, she follows the lives of immigrants – Indians and Indian-Americans – who are stuck between two worlds: the one they left behind, and the one they aspire to make their new home, caught between traditional values and modern struggles. The stories are tinged with melancholy and sadness, but they also convey hope. They stayed with me for a long time – and after recently rereading Lahiri’s short story collection, I understood why. She describes this feeling of being in limbo, of being displaced so delicately, and her words hit home. Roots, home and identity – these are issues that will stay with many of us throughout their whole lives.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

I blame this book for my rekindled love affair with YA novels. To be honest, I was even a little bit embarrassed to buy this at the bookstore, because why would a full-grown adult read a story about a 16-year-old girl and the trials and tribulations of falling in love for the first time? Well, now I just shrug and tell you: why not? “To all the boys…” is funny, romantic and light-hearted. The story of heroine Lara Jean is unique yet so relatable. It brings you right back to your own teenage years, and you may find yourself reminiscing about your own first boyfriend, those nights of lying awake and thinking about his dreamy eyes, his fluffy hair and his perfect lips.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Junior is an aspiring cartoonist who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend a high school with only white kids. The only other Indian he can find here is the school mascot. Based on the author Sherman Alexie’s own experiences growing up, this YA novel is witty and sharp, yet at the same time utterly heartbreaking. The drawings by Ellen Forney beautifully reflect Junior’s art. The book sheds a light on the lives of Native Americans and tackles issues like poverty, violence and alcoholism. But thanks to Junior’s sense of humour, it makes for a surprisingly entertaining read.

Chasers of the Light – Tyler Knott Gregson

What a treasure Tyler Knott Gregson’s poems are: honest, raw and emotional, and heavily pulling at my heartstrings. “Chasers of the light” belongs to Gregson’s Typewriter Series and comes with a lovely backstory: one day, Gregson stumbled across a vintage typewriter in an antique story in Montana. He put in a page and started typing a poem – spontaneously and without giving it any thought. Thus, the Typewriter Series was born. Gregson’s poems are short and simple, sometimes not even more than a few words, but enchanting nonetheless: “I have blisters on my feet from dancing alone with your ghost.”

Before Dawn – Sapardi Djoko Damono

Sapardi Djoko Damono, an icon of Indonesia’s literary scene known for his poems and works cultural criticism, sadly passed away in July last year. His legacy, however, will last forever. Hailed by many Indonesian writers as extremely kind-hearted, friendly and always willing to nurture new writing talents and help them thrive, I first came across Sapardi Djoko Damono’s work when I spent one semester abroad in Jakarta and attended daily Indonesian language classes. When I told my teacher that I enjoy reading poetry, she brought me a book of his poems, which we first translated and then discussed. To me, he will always be the poet who made me fall in love with Bahasa Indonesia; his poems “Hujan Bulan Juni” (Rain in June) and “Aku Ingin” (I Want) are among my favorites until today.