Books have always been our close companion at all times. Be it spending some leisure time, treating yourself after a hectic day, or distracting yourself from all the worries of life, books, have always been there. The same goes for this unusual year of 2020, where people were distressed due to a global pandemic, and many published books helped people through difficult times. Let’s see the top 10 books of 2020 that served as best companions this year.
10. The Midnight Library by Matte Haig
Matte Haig’s the midnight library redefines the importance of books and how it has been a source of finding peace and solace. It takes you through Nora’s life, who has lost her loved ones, her career and has gone through breakups. And in the matters of life and death, Nora is found in a library in the midst of hundreds of books reflecting regrets of the past and how it could have been better through certain decisions.
9. A Burning by Megha Mujumdar
A Burning, written by an Indian-born author Megha Mujumdar, is a story about a Muslim girl Jivan, who got accused of making a political comment through a Facebook post, calling the government terrorists. It was in response to the terrorist attack at a railway station in Kolkata. The novel gets interesting as it reveals the two other characters responsible for deciding Jivan’s fate. The hot-selling novel in the summer of 2020 is a must-read this year.
8. The Girl With No Names by Serena Burdick
The tale from the 1910s of New York City, when suffragettes were roaming on the streets and unions fought for their rights, girls were confined to the house of mercy for breaking the rules. And in this story were two sisters, Luella and Effie, in the mercy house, who break the rules when they discover the shocking secrets of their father. Luella vanishes mysteriously, while Eddie embarks on the journey of finding her.
7. Deacon King Kong by James McBride
The author of the national book award-winning The Good Lord Bird comes back with another book of the year, Deacon King Kong. It takes you back to September 1969, when an old deacon named Sportcoat enters into the courtyard of the cause housing project and shoots a drug dealer with a .38 from his pocket. The reasons and secrets behind the violence are hidden under the words of McBride in his book of the year.
6. The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
After his bestselling story collection, before you suffocate your own fool self, Danielle Evans returns with another hit, the office of historical correlations, consisting of six stories and a novel. Each character in every story is given a powerful voice that talks about racism, culture, womanhood, and history. It also contains the complex human relationships for which Evans is known.
5. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet
Number one at New York Times’ best-seller list, The Vanishing Half is a historical fiction that tells the struggle of black to pass for white. In this are the twin sisters of fictional land, Mallard, who escape from their town to live a better life. One twin sister remains in her black community while the other passes for white by hiding her identity. The author of the bestselling novel, the mother, Brit Benner, once again keep her readers hooked.
4. Beach Read by Emily Henry
If you’re looking for a heart turning romance read, look no further. Emily Henry gives you a remarkable romantic rollercoaster in Beach Read that takes you through the twists and turns of friendship, betrayal, secrets, rivalry, enemies, and lovers. It will keep you turning the pages to discover what’s next regardless of your day’s schedule. Once you put it down, you’ll want to pick it back up to re-read.
3. The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
Thomas Cromwell’s trilogy comes to an end in 2020 with the finale, The Mirror and The Light. Following the previous books The Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, the successfully portrayal of the life of Henry VIII’s right hand man and closest advisor, Thomas Cromwell, is brought to a close. From a self-made man to a political and influential figure, Cromwell becomes prey to conspiracies and political rivalries. The most awaited book was the hot seller of the year.
2. Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell
Maggie O’ Farrell brings Shakespeare back by a fictional story of his son Hamnet, who dies at the age of 11 due to the plague. Four years later, the famous playwright wrote his famous play, Hamlet. The story also focuses on Shakespeare’s wife Agnes and their love story. The brilliantly portrayed background of the famous play, the loss of the loved one, and the depiction of successful marriage is what made this novel hit the top 10 books of 2020.
1. Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Time magazine’s number one nonfiction book of the year caste is brilliantly written by Isabel Wilkerson, about the unspoken caste system and hierarchy in human ranking. By in-depth research about real people, Wilkerson has mentioned how the hidden caste system has shaped and affected the people’s lives.
These are the top 10 books of 2020 that served as best companions in these difficult times. Let us know if your favorite book hit the list.