Another quarantine weekend; these are the 10 books that I am really going to read now
Let's be honest: I haven't finished a book in these two quarantine weeks. I was supposed to do puzzles in the evenings, I was going to chase my inner kitchen princess around the kitchen, I was going to do the household very efficiently, I was supposed to read endless books and so on. But my score is falling asleep on the couch every evening with the news and Netflix.
This week I'm going to turn my life around. I'm not going to open the wine every afternoon at five (it turns out I'm a stay-at-home drinker) and I'm going to keep the TV off (except for a movie from Pathé Thuis). Bol, here I come, these are the books I'm going to read.
1. I will never see the world again – Ahmet Altan
The best book of 2019, if you ask me. It really puts having to sit at home on the couch into perspective.
2. The last train to freedom – Meg Waite Clayton
A tip from the DWDD book panel is always an asset for your bookshelf. The last train to freedom tells the story of Truus Wijsmuller (Aunt Truus), who saved thousands of Jewish children in the late thirties. One to read that.
3. Labyrinth – Esther Verhoef
With this book by Verhoef, you get to read not one but thirteen stories. And this is one that you should give a chance even if you're not a fan of short stories.
4. Nouveau Fuck – Stella Bergsma
Because I find her so great at Ladies Night and now I want to read something by her. The summary on Bol reads as follows: ‘not giving a damn with style’. I'm already looking forward to it. By the way, you need to hurry, because the book is almost sold out.
5. The seven sisters: Sun – Lucinda Riley
Because the whole world is reading her books and this series seems extremely suitable for quarantine, because: it revolves around seven sisters. Sun is the sixth in the series, so you can get ahead.
6. Finnish Days – Herman Koch
And May already said it: masterful. Don't expect a hymn of praise about Finland, but rather a story about a teenager who loses his mother.
7. Most people are good – Rutger Bregman
It's been sitting on top of the pile for a while, but this time seems like an excellent moment to start. It also came because he said very wise things at the table with Matthijs van Nieuwkerk last week. In this book, Bregman sheds new light on the depravity of man, because maybe we actually tend towards the good? Something I want to believe.
8. All in – Ron Simpson
A book about love is basically all you need right now. Also very suitable for the person who panics at thick books.
9. The lessons of Mr. Picquier – Marc Roger
From the title, I could already tell I wanted to read this book and then it turned out to be a recommendation for fans of Jonas Jonasson, whose books I have devoured. One takes an older man, three thousand books, and a boy who reads to him. The book reads already without me having started.
10. Where the crawdads sing – Delia Owens
The Times calls Delia's latest book breathtaking. It seems to have it all. It's accessible, it's thrilling, and the two intertwining storylines are begging to be read.
