SLOW DAYS AT HOME; MY BOOK AND FILM RECOMMENDATIONS.

As we’re all spending more time at home at the moment I thought now would be a perfect time to share a list of all of my recommendations– my favourite books and films– that I think make for these slow, uncertain days where you might be looking to escape for a while or to take your mind off of things or just to keep you entertained. I hope you can find something new to read or watch amongst my favourites & I really hope you’re keeping safe & well! I’d love to hear about your go to book/film/tv/music/podcast… picks and what you’re turning to at the moment so feel free to recommend them in the comments.

Books

If you’re wanting to escape for a while with a book that you won’t want to put down and that’ll keep you intrigued then I’d definitely recommend The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. It features a mysterious book that unravels the life of the person who finds it– it had a hold on me from page one. And if you’ve read The Starless Sea and you’re looking for something with a similar mood then I’d recommend giving The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon a read too.

If you’re looking for more of a slow burn, historical fiction then I’d definitely recommend Burial Rites by Hannah Kent– another beautifully written story that is perfect to spend a quiet afternoon with– it follows the story of a young woman in Iceland who is accused of murder in 1829.

One of my favourite books of all time– Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is a another historical fiction that takes place over three hundred years, from 18th century Ghana to 21st century America and tells the story of two step sisters and their family and how through the years they connect. Perfect if you’re already a fan of Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is the book I recommend to everyone and one I’m sure you could read in one sitting– if you’re looking for a book that you can’t put down then this is it. It follows two different families who’s lives become intertwined and how their character dynamics and secrets unravel as the story goes on. My favourite contemporary pick!

If you’re looking for a memoir to pick up then I always recommend The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon– I still don’t think I’ve read a book that’s as vivid and beautiful as this one. Walls tells her story in a way that is so moving that I think it’ll stay with me forever– I always have to include this on a list of any recommendations I share. Two more memoir recommendations I wanted to include– Becoming by Michelle Obama and I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai.

Even more recommendations; Circe by Madeline Miller, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara & The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

Films

My favourite quiet, slow, beautiful films–

Short Term 12, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Marriage Story, Frances Ha, Before Sunrise, Arrival, The Florida Project, Her, Columbus, Blue Jay, At Eternity’s Gate, If Beale Street Could Talk, Room, Your Name.

Feel good/comedy picks–

Lady Bird, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Knives Out, The Grand Budapest Hotel (basically any Wes Anderson), Little Miss Sunshine, Booksmart, Crazy Stupid Love, La La Land, About Time.

Nostalgia and classics–

Singin’ In The Rain, Roman Holiday, Mary Poppins, Star Wars, Dead Poets Society, The Secret Garden, Mrs Doubtfire, Clueless, Matilda, The Parent Trap, You’ve Got Mail.

Top fave period dramas–

Emma (2020), Little Women (2019), Pride and Prejudice (2005), The Young Victoria, War and Peace (Limited Series, 2016).

Drama, dark comedies–

Parasite, Billy Elliot, Blindspotting, Prisoners, The Social Network, Blackkklansman, The Farewell, When They See Us (Limited Netflix Series) Captain Fantastic, Beautiful Boy, Roma.

Some documentary favourites–

Free Solo, 13th, For Sama, Three Identical Strangers, OJ Made in America.