Nine great books to help get you through lockdown
As the pandemic continues to affect almost every aspect of life, we take a moment to extol the virtues of disappearing into a good book, consider the benefits of reading to the creative process, and provide some suggestions from creative students and graduates for what to read next.
It should come as no surprise that the year 2020 saw a huge rise in the number of books sold around the UK. As we sat at home weathering our first national lockdown, we were buying and reading more books, watching more Netflix (other streaming services are available), and scrolling to infinity and beyond – it’s clear that none of us wished to partake in reality any more than was necessary.
The best place to be since March 2020 has been, for many of us, an alternate universe laid out in a few hundred pages. Whether it was real or imagined, we wanted to inhabit a world in which the word ‘pandemic’ was not part of everyday conversation and ‘bubbles’ were just something to put in your bath.
For many, reading is a relaxing hobby which diverts attention away from the day-to-day, an exercise in mindfulness or even avoidance, and it has certainly helped relieve some of the stress which comes with isolation and illness.
But even when the world as we know it is not crumbling around us, there are many tangible benefits to our wellbeing through reading and it can also be a useful tool in the creative process. Whether it provides direct inspiration for a project or simply allows the mind to reset, it can help give us a push toward our next venture.
I asked some creative students and graduates about things they have read which inspired, distracted, or simply meant a lot to them. Given the collective need for escapism, some inspiration for what to read next could go a long way. Amongst the recommendations there is something for everyone, from fairy tale to feminist manifesto and beyond.
My Top Read from 2021 So Far:
Red Dust Road by Jackie Kay – Recommended reading for LGBTQ+ History Month in February
This memoir from Scotland’s National Poet was a joy to read and a welcome diversion in the tumultuous first weeks of this year. Red Dust Road’s nonlinear narrative lends itself to Kay’s natural storytelling style as she recounts the emotional, decades-long process of finding her birth parents. Occasionally tragic yet consistently amusing, this is a moving meditation on the significance of family ties and the need to belong.
Buy the book here. Image via Blackwell’s.
Prae, Graphic Media Designer, London
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
“This will forever and always be the most beautiful book to exist about following your dreams and, even when you’ve failed, never giving up. It makes me sob.”
Buy the book here. Image via Blackwell’s.
Bee, Illustrator, Edinburgh
Feminism Interrupted: Disrupting Power by Lola Olufemi
“It’s a really insightful account of different aspects of feminism, and it explores the notion of feminism as a commodity, as well as how we can maintain the momentum of radical feminism in a meaningful, progressive way. The chapter, ‘Art for Art’s Sake’ is absolutely brilliant and so relevant to anyone even vaguely creative!”
Buy the book here. Image via Blackwell’s.
Kennedy, Journalist, London
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy
“Initially people may pass on it because it has so many illustrations, they might see it as ‘childish,’ but if you read each page it actually teaches you a lot about life. It’s a lovely reminder to keep going and that everything will get better, and the illustrations take on beautiful meanings because of that.”
Buy the book here. Image via Blackwell’s.
Zooey, Freelance Designer, Illustrator & Athlete, Oslo
Off-White’s Collaboration with Nike on 10 Iconic Nike Silhouettes
“I don’t tend to read a lot, so I look for more visual escapes. This collection makes me want to create; I love those iconic Nike shoes and while Off-White isn’t my absolute favourite style I love how they effectively tore the shoes down to basics and remade them.”
View the collection here. Image via Nike.
Courtney, Journalist & Creative Writer, London
Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
“The book is from the perspective of a plus-size girl and it helped me a few years ago when my eating disorder was bad. The protagonist, Libby, struggles with her mental health and her weight; she feels defined by it, but as the book goes on she realises she’s worthy of love and that there’s more to beauty than what meets the eye. This book is about seeing the person on the inside and it helped me accept myself and treat myself with kindness.”
Buy the book here. Image via Blackwell’s.
Ella, Journalist & Designer, West Midlands
Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King
“It’s about the vibrations we give and have, and how to keep them ‘high’ to be happy and content. This book helped me to remind myself to stay positive in different situations, especially when I’m planning projects. The ideas have helped me avoid being overwhelmed, to channel good vibes even when others don’t do the same, and I end up feeling good as a result. Feeling good helps with everything!”
Buy the book here. Image via Blackwell’s.
Emma, Musician & Creative, London
Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm by Philip Pullman
“I’ve been reading this recently; it’s great for bedtime as it’s full of short punchy versions of classic stories. I can get through a whole story before falling asleep which is very satisfying, and I love any type of folklore – each tale is completely removed from reality which is much needed at the moment.”
Buy the book here. Image via Blackwell’s.
Lauren, Photographer, London
Todd Hido on Landscapes, Interiors, and the Nude – The Photography Workshop Series
“These are all images of suburban housing and landscapes across America; they’re some of my favourite photos ever due to the colours and use of light. It has been a huge inspiration for one of my own projects, in which I explore the occupation of someone else’s space through photographing interiors.”
Buy the book here. Image via Blackwell’s.
Feature image by Christin Hume via Unsplash.