Reading is the ultimate escape: whether you’ve just left a claustrophobic lecture hall or you’re feeling overwhelmed with coursework, pick up a book and lose yourself within its words.
A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini follows the lives of Mariam and Laila in their struggle to survive in Kabul under Taliban control. This story is about the darkest moments of life and how friendship and humanity can help in the most desperate of situations. Hosseini’s talent for story telling helps you to understand a world which is often too misrepresented. The story is full of both violence and love, and while heart breaking, it is impossible to put down.
Shona Verity Elliot
The Cuckoo’s Calling – Robert Galbraith
The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith, a pseudonym for the popular J.K. Rowling, is the first instalment of a thrilling crime series that could not be more different from the Potter franchise. Private detective Cormoran Strike is hired to investigate the mysterious death of Lula Landry. In this well-written, gripping tale, Strike uncovers the unexpected truth behind the death. I recommend this to both those who enjoy crime novels and also to those who, like myself, had never read a crime novel before. This series is bound to turn you into a crime novel enthusiast.
Emily Cunningham
1984 – George Orwell
The past few weeks have granted this novel incredible relevance. Faced with the reality of fake news, oligarchy and Brexit, it seems that George Orwell had it all figured out in his iconic dystopian novel penned some 70 years ago, in 1949. He tackles themes such as nationalism and censorship in a world where ignorance is strength and war is peace. See you in Room 101.
Lydia Blythe
The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
The Night Circus is a novel about two children who are bound to compete against each other by their guardians. As the stage for the competition, Le Cirque des Rêves – a mysterious circus that arrives in the night with no warning – is set, it becomes clear that the game has dark consequences. A tale of magic, both imagined and real, presented through the lenses of childhood fantasy and adult realism. A definite read for anyone unsatisfied with the mundane.
Molly Newhouse
Spectacles: A Memoir – Sue Perkins
Throughout this memoir, we are provided with an unsurprisingly hilarious account that touches on everything in Perkins’ life. From Mel Giedroyc and backstage Bake Off gossip to more sensitive topics such as cancer and her infertility, Perkins is open, honest and incredibly eloquent. A very satisfying read.
Katharine Cook
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