Catch up on your reading while you can.
It’s terribly sad when you finish a good book and have no one to discuss it with. Sadly in the age of television and streaming, its hard to find people with a like-minded love for reading. Ironically, its Instagram that has provided bookworms like me a platform to share and indulge our passion for books. The hashtag bookstagram has been shared over 60 million times on the social media site which goes to show that lovers of the printed word are alive, well and bursting with creativity. We reached out to eight popular Australian book accounts to ask them their favourite reads to help you and me get through the last week of being homebound with their picks of best books for lockdown.
1. Tamsien West of @babblingbooks
On running a book account:
I started Babbling Books on a whim 6 years ago and I’m so glad that I did. It’s been an incredible ride; I’ve learnt so much about the publishing industry, made life-long friends, travelled all around Australia and the world, and even got a job working at a writer’s festival. It all began with a love of reading and a desire to find ‘kindred spirits’ as Anne of Green Gables would call them. Instagram has changed so much over the years, but it’s still a great place to connect with fellow readers and discover great books.
Top 5 books for lockdown:
1. Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko (Australia): Miles Franklin Award winning literary fiction packed full of emotion and humour. Delves into racism, sexism, land rights and small town politics from a First Nations perspective.
2. Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin (Canada): Hilarious and heart-warming romantic comedy. This reimagining of Pride and Prejudice with a hijabi Muslim protagonist in modern-day Canada.
3. One Hundred Days by Alice Pung (Australia): Intense, unflinching portrait of a mother-daughter relationship. Not for the faint-hearted, as the protagonist is confined to a tiny apartment for a lot of the book,
4. It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood (Australia): Pure escapism into friendship drama and first love by the beach. This YA contemporary focuses on the liminal Summer holidays between the end of high school and receiving exam results.
5. The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V. E. Schwab (USA): For fantasy lovers, this whimsical story covers hundreds of years of history and is sure to whisk you away into Addie’s strange world. A world where a girl makes a deal with a God after dark to live forever, but to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
2. Michaela Okeefe of @crazybooklady_
On running a book account:
My experience running a book account has been really positive. I’ve had my account since January 2016 so I’ve seen a lot change and evolve since those days, including my own reading preferences; I’ve really noticed the change in growth of Australian-based book accounts in the last few years, with a particularly large emergence around the pandemic and an increased amount of time spent at home with less social connection.
Top 5 books for lockdown:
1. Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason: A little bit sad, a lot heartwarming and written in vignettes so easily digestible.
2. The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee: The perfect, immersive historical fiction taking you to another time and place.
3. The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre: Translated by Stephanie Smee, sarcastic and witty with some fun crime fiction pacing.
4. The Love of a Bad Man by Laura Elizabeth Woolett: Short stories with a great hook – all written from the perspective of women who loved a famously bad man.
5. The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright: A collection of personal essays around the concept of home, be it a physical place, the body or an idea that are poetic and deeply relatable.
3. Sephora Scott of @antisocial.influencer
On running a book account:
the highlight has been the wonderful, engaged, intelligent people I’ve met, all of whom understand what it’s like to be that embarrassing person in the bookshop offering recommendations to customers, even though ‘she doesn’t even go here’. The lowlight has been realising I’m just the sidekick to my much prettier and more beloved dog, Gary, who is the real star of my (I mean, our) Instagram account.
Top 5 books for lockdown:
Asylum Road by Olivia Sudjic: The drama was so taut you could feel the book vibrating.
Flames by Robbie Arnott: Flames’ reflection of the full gamut of human emotion is almost tinged with the divine.
Kokomo by Victoria Hannan: Kokomo will be sticking as steadfastly in my head as its titular Beach Boys song. Its characters were real and messy and perfect.
Detransition Baby by Torrey Peters: raw, dynamic, funny and eye-opening; one of the most singular stories I’ve ever read.
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder: Very strange but I loved Broder’s propulsive, witty, no-holds-barred writing.
4. Jessica Whyborn of @_readwithJess_
On running a book account:
I’ve loved being part of the Bookstagram community and connecting with people from across the globe, to discuss all things books! I never have to worry about running out of books to read anymore, with an ever-growing to be read pile, due to all the great reviews and recommendations I receive each day. Over the last year where we have found ourselves in and out of lockdown it’s been a great way to stay connected with others by taking part in ‘buddy reads’ and online book clubs.
Top 5 books for lockdown:
1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: This is by far my favourite book of all time. Owens has created a masterpiece, combining a coming-of-age story with a mystery, and incorporating the natural landscape so heavily into the storyline.
2. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: TJR had me convinced the band in this book actually existed. I loved the unique writing style of this one and how the story is told through multiple perspectives.
3. Below Deck by Sophie Hardcastle: Below Deck is heartbreaking, yet beautifully written. An exploitation of trauma and love, this book stayed with me long after the final page.
4. Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shepherd: This book was fascinating and covers some high profile cases. Dr Shepherd shares all and while there’s some gory parts, what really stands out is his dedication and compassion to his work.
5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: Taylor Jenkins Reid Jam packed with glamorous, yet relatable characters and a storyline so engaging I was hooked from the first page.
5. Courtney Dyer of @bookdyer_y
On running a book account:
My experience of running an online book account has been such a joyous experience. At the beginning, I simply had a lot of thoughts about books and needed a place to share them. Now I am a part of a community that makes me feel very loved and accepted. I love having space to talk openly and honestly about the books I am reading. I love engaging in stimulating conversations with fellow readers + friends who I wouldn’t have connected with if it wasn’t for this platform.
Top 5 books for lockdown:
6. Kristy Biggs from @sometimes_i_read_books
On running a book account:
My experience of running a book account has been all positive. I’ve loved connecting with other likeminded book lovers, being able to chat about books all the time is fantastic! It’s like a 24/7 book club.
Top 5 books for lockdown:
1. Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray by Anita Heiss: It’s an incredible look at Australia’s history, a must read for all Australians.
2. Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason: Darkly funny, deeply sad and altogether quite brilliant! A humorous heartbreaking book that is a respectful and real study of mental health
3. Pride and Prejudice: I’m not sure this needs an introduction! I’m a firm all time favourite.
4. The Boy from the Mish: A really sweet queer Indigenous YA novel
5. The Newcomer by Laura Elizabeth Woollett: A gritty, literary crime novel set on the fictional Fairfolk Island.
7. Katie Lewis of @katie.reads.things
On running a book account:
I’ve always loved to read, but didn’t always know where to find my next favourite book. Having this bookstagram account has allowed me to connect with thousands of other readers from all over the world, and I now have more book recommendations than I can count.
Top 5 books for lockdown:
8. Brooke McEllister of @brookes.bookstagram
SEE ALSO: 5 Sydney-Based Female Authors To Add To Your Reading List