Books have played a very important role in my routine especially in the crazy year that was 2020. It made me forget the claustrophobia of being confined to the home and gave me a way to escape into fancier worlds. Just like any good book these gave me a chance to live and witness the life of different people and in one case even animals. In this is two-part blog series, I am going to share some of my favorite fictional and non-fictional books I read in 2020.
Fiction
1984
by George Orwell
The most phenomenal book I read in 2020 was 1984 by George Orwell. It is a fictional story about a totalitarian society where every person is constantly under surveillance and the facts about the history and the future are manipulated to suit the government’s will. Although fiction is written in 1949, some fear tactics and manipulation used by the authorities in this book are actually being used in some countries today like North Korea and China like the spread of misinformation, controlling media, etc. If you like dystopian science fiction, you must read this masterpiece.
DUNE
by Frank Herbert
Another brilliant science fiction book is DUNE by Frank Herbert. The story revolves around a futuristic interstellar society where a planet named Arrakis plays an important role as it has a spice called Melange. This spice extends a human life as well as heighten mental abilities. Arrakis however is a desert that’s has an inhospitable atmosphere hence sparsely populated. However, people living there have unique abilities to survive and thrive in the desert. The world of Arrakis is so beautifully created that you wonder if it’s really fiction or is there a place like this one. This place also has a sand crawling monster that loves Melange spice.
I can confidently say DUNE is the lord of the rings of science fiction.
P.S- A movie is currently under development and I am super excited as it is spearheaded by my favorite director Denis Villeneuve and legendary music director Hans Zimmer.
The Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss
This book was a total surprise. I started this book thinking it would be another wannabe harry potter style fiction with magic and stuff but I was definitely wrong. This book has a refreshingly new style of narrative that is casual and does not take itself too seriously. This makes it easy for the reader to become a part of the story making the world created by Patrick Rothfuss is very much real.
The wise man’s fear
by Patrick Rothfuss
The second part continues with the journey of protagonist Kvothe as he navigates an even more complicated world of magic while struggling with his education. The first part was so compelling that I immediately took this copy to read and I was not disappointed. Wise man’s fear was even more thrilling and you just flick through the pages hungry for more. The third part is still under production and I can’t wait to pick it up.
Sacred Games
by Vikram Chandra
The Tv series based on this book established Netflix in India and even today it is one of the most successful original Netflix series made for the Indian audience. I was so impressed with the first season that I couldn’t wait until the 2nd season, hence I took the book to quench my thirst of curiosity.
The book is as gripping ( if not more ) as the tv series and I loved reading it. However do note that this is a massive book with more than 1000 pages, so you really need to commit to reading if you want to finish it.
Animal Farm
by George Orwell
Another great book by George Orwell showcases human nature and greed through animals that stay in Animal farm. It is a small yet profound book that you will thoroughly enjoy and find yourself thinking about how we humans play the game of manipulation to achieve our selfish motives.
The White Tiger
by Arvind Adiga
If other books transported me to the fantasy world of the writer, this book took me to the grim reality of hinterland India. A story about a boy who crawls his way out of poverty through whatever means possible is a great read. You feel the pain, agony, and claustrophobia of poverty, casteism and just like the protagonist, you want to break out of it.
To conclude, you can blindly pick any of these books and I can guarantee you that you will be thoroughly entertained.
What were your favorite books that you read in 2020?
Do let me know in the comment section.
