16 books to read in isolation

If you are finding that your self-isolation crew of husband/ wife/ kids/ parent are starting to get on your nerves, we would highly recommend investing in a good book and pretending that you are far far away from the four walls that have slowly been driving you crazy. Whether you want to find solace in distant beaches or find out how others have coped in loneliness, take a look at our handy guide of books that we recommend you read whilst you have all this free time …

The Martian - Andy WeirTurned into a pretty decent film starring Matt Damon, Andy Weir’s The Martian tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney who becomes one of the first people to walk on Mars. Without spoiling things, he becomes stranded and compl… — *The Martian* - Andy Weir
Turned into a pretty decent film starring Matt Damon, Andy Weir’s The Martian tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney who becomes one of the first people to walk on Mars. Without spoiling things, he becomes stranded and completely alone.

Lord of the Flies - William GoldingAn absolute triumph of a debut novel, a group of young school children are alone on a desert island. At first, they do their best to install some sense of society which starts to crumble in pretty speedy and epic s… — *Lord of the Flies* - William Golding
An absolute triumph of a debut novel, a group of young school children are alone on a desert island. At first, they do their best to install some sense of society which starts to crumble in pretty speedy and epic style.

Not Now, Bernard - David McKeeThe oldies are the best aren’t they? Released over 35 years ago, this kids book involves poor Bernard who finds a monster in his back garden but his Mum & Dad are too busy to help him deal with it. It might help the… — *Not Now, Bernard* - David McKee
The oldies are the best aren’t they? Released over 35 years ago, this kids book involves poor Bernard who finds a monster in his back garden but his Mum & Dad are too busy to help him deal with it. It might help the kids deal with how you are too busy on a conference call from 9-5.

Jane Eyre - Charlotte BrontëJane has the right spirit to deal with a global pandemic. The always plucky heroine has many a challenge to deal with and faces them all with good grace and courage. An icon for modern times and we could all take a leaf o… — *Jane Eyre* - Charlotte Brontë
Jane has the right spirit to deal with a global pandemic. The always plucky heroine has many a challenge to deal with and faces them all with good grace and courage. An icon for modern times and we could all take a leaf out of her book.

The Plague - Albert CamusThe townspeople of Oran are in the grip of a deadly plague, which condemns its victims to a swift and horrifying death. Fear, isolation and claustrophobia follow as they are forced into quarantine. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? — *The Plague* - Albert Camus
The townspeople of Oran are in the grip of a deadly plague, which condemns its victims to a swift and horrifying death. Fear, isolation and claustrophobia follow as they are forced into quarantine. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?

Papillon - Henri CharrièreHe didn’t do it, but the feds think that he did. What follows is an epic story of prison life in France, escape and adventure and a brilliant Man Friday character, excellently played by Rami Malek in the recent film adaptat… — *Papillon* - Henri Charrière
He didn’t do it, but the feds think that he did. What follows is an epic story of prison life in France, escape and adventure and a brilliant Man Friday character, excellently played by Rami Malek in the recent film adaptation.

Life of Pi - Yann MartelAfter the sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a 16 year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orangutan - an… — *Life of Pi* - Yann Martel
After the sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a 16 year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orangutan - and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. Will make you itch for adventure.

Waiting for Godot - Samuel BeckettPlays are hard to read but maybe you could act this out with your housemates? Godot never arrives but Vladimir & Estragon will wait for him nonetheless, arguing and conversing over two acts. — *Waiting for Godot* - Samuel Beckett
Plays are hard to read but maybe you could act this out with your housemates? Godot never arrives but Vladimir & Estragon will wait for him nonetheless, arguing and conversing over two acts.

A Moveable Feast - Ernest HemingwayA masterclass in how to be alone, Hemingway writes, drinks, eats and takes long walks. Paris never looks and feels as desirable as it does here and his self-sufficiency is a sort of recipe book on how we ought to b… — *A Moveable Feast* - Ernest Hemingway
A masterclass in how to be alone, Hemingway writes, drinks, eats and takes long walks. Paris never looks and feels as desirable as it does here and his self-sufficiency is a sort of recipe book on how we ought to be dealing with each day.

Leaving the Atocha Station - Ben LernerAdam Gordon is a brilliant, if highly unreliable, young American poet on a prestigious fellowship in Madrid, struggling to establish his sense of self and his attitude towards art. Over a year, he is always alo… — *Leaving the Atocha Station* - Ben Lerner
Adam Gordon is a brilliant, if highly unreliable, young American poet on a prestigious fellowship in Madrid, struggling to establish his sense of self and his attitude towards art. Over a year, he is always alone whether in a crowded space or in bed with a Spanish woman.

Nausea - Jean-Paul SartreAntoine Roquetin, lives in Bouville, a small seacoast town in France. He is working on a biography of an obscure political figure and starts to notice a subtle change in his perceptions of himself and others. He grapples wit… — *Nausea* - Jean-Paul Sartre
Antoine Roquetin, lives in Bouville, a small seacoast town in France. He is working on a biography of an obscure political figure and starts to notice a subtle change in his perceptions of himself and others. He grapples with his existence, and the existence of objects and others.

Heart of Darkness - Joseph ConradCharles Marlow, the narrator of the small novel, tells the dark story of his trip from London to Africa, where he meets ivory dealer Kurtz, immortalised by Marlon Brando in the just as terrific as the book, Apocalyps… — *Heart of Darkness* - Joseph Conrad
Charles Marlow, the narrator of the small novel, tells the dark story of his trip from London to Africa, where he meets ivory dealer Kurtz, immortalised by Marlon Brando in the just as terrific as the book, *Apocalypse Now*.

Decameron - Giovanni BoccaccioA group of 10 young people flee Florence in 1348 for the countryside because the plague, known as the Black Death, has struck the city. Each day for ten days, these ten young people tell a tale, a hundred in all, to kee… — *Decameron* - Giovanni Boccaccio
A group of 10 young people flee Florence in 1348 for the countryside because the plague, known as the Black Death, has struck the city. Each day for ten days, these ten young people tell a tale, a hundred in all, to keep their spirits up and entertain each other.

Great Expectations - Charles DickensIn this writers humble opinion, Dickens is the greatest of English writers. No list of literature would be complete without one of his books and Great Expectations is one of the best - the loss of home, the allure… — *Great Expectations* - Charles Dickens
In this writers humble opinion, Dickens is the greatest of English writers. No list of literature would be complete without one of his books and *Great Expectations* is one of the best - the loss of home, the allure of London and the things we do for love are central themes.

Station Eleven - Emily St. John MandelIf you want to wallow in isolation and the end of the world theories, pick up a copy of Station Eleven in which a fictional flu pandemic has wiped out most of the population and devastated much of the world. — *Station Eleven* - Emily St. John Mandel
If you want to wallow in isolation and the end of the world theories, pick up a copy of *Station Eleven* in which a fictional flu pandemic has wiped out most of the population and devastated much of the world.

The Baron in the Trees - Italo CalvinoA young Italian nobleman, Cosimo gets so annoyed at his parents after they cook snail soup for dinner that he makes the decision to climb into the trees and vows to live in the canopy for the rest of his life. T… — *The Baron in the Trees* - Italo Calvino
A young Italian nobleman, Cosimo gets so annoyed at his parents after they cook snail soup for dinner that he makes the decision to climb into the trees and vows to live in the canopy for the rest of his life. The story stretches on for years and is brilliant.

Tajinder HayerApril 6, 2020literature, book, isolation, illustration, art, fashion illustration