Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview with the Vice-Chancellor
    • Country Highlight: The Netherlands
    • If You’re Moving Back Home After Uni …
    • Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever
    • All About … Period Poverty
    • My Veggie Journey: How not being strictly Vegetarian is OK
    • Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month
    • Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Interview with the Vice-Chancellor

      May 23, 2022

      Retro? Chip shortage may bring vintage tech to your car.

      May 6, 2021

      Manizha – the artist causing a stir as the Russian representative for Eurovision 2021:

      May 6, 2021
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever

      July 7, 2021

      Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month

      May 17, 2021

      Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021

      May 16, 2021
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      May 6, 2022

      If You’re Moving Back Home After Uni …

      August 3, 2021

      All About … Period Poverty

      May 17, 2021
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Manizha – the artist causing a stir as the Russian representative for Eurovision 2021:

      May 6, 2021

      Japan plan to release radioactive water into the ocean

      May 6, 2021

      The link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots

      April 29, 2021
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      The 48-hour rise and fall of the European Super League

      April 27, 2021

      The European Super League is announced

      April 19, 2021

      Formula 1’s ‘Drive to Survive S3’ is released

      April 7, 2021
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Bangor University Feminist Society

      March 30, 2021

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      March 17, 2021

      LGBT History Month in Bangor

      March 4, 2021
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Arts & Culture»Books»A year of reading: Our top books of 2020
    Books

    A year of reading: Our top books of 2020

    Holly PeckittBy Holly PeckittDecember 27, 2020No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    At the end of a groggy year, there is no doubt that we have all arrived at Christmas having spent a lot of time in other worlds, whether it be through music, TV, or books. The arts have been a lifeline to so many of us this year; a helping hand in the most uncertain of moments. Books are always a great solace and comfort in a chaotic world, and as we send gifts to friends or celebrate on Skype, we will all be sharing our favourite reads from lockdown with loved ones. The same will be said for my friends, many of whom will be sick of these recommendations by now, but to share stories is one of our greatest gifts, so here are my top four books of 2020. Maybe you’ll find something here that you or someone you know would love, in which case, have a very Merry Bookish Christmas…

    A note before we begin: Only one of the books featured below was published this year. A couple are classics, and these recommendations branch across multiple genres to share something that everyone will enjoy. Time has not aged these texts, and I hope that you find something to immerse yourself in over the winter months.

    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    Originally published in the 1960s, this is considered by many to be a staple of American literature. We may all think that we know of To Kill a Mockingbird, or perhaps you’ve heard of the plot before, but this really is a classic like no other text from its time. Harper Lee’s debut (and some may argue, only) novel is an extraordinary tale of race-relations and morality in the Deep South of Alabama. Told through the eyes of Scout, a woman looking back on her childhood, To Kill a Mockingbird is a moving tale discussing what it means to be kind, loving and, above all, human in a country engaged in the Civil Rights Movement. Scout’s father, Atticus, is regarded as one of the greatest characters in literary history; a lawyer defending a black man for a crime he has been wrongly accused of. Not only is this a beautifully-written text, but it is an essential read far ahead of its time.

    The Black Unicorn by Audre Lorde

    Audre Lorde’s extraordinary collection of poetry will shake you to your very core. Perhaps that is all I should say, but for the sake of persuading you to read this, I shall continue. Lorde’s most celebrated collection is rightfully held in such high regard, examining the world as a queer woman with ferocity and finesse. Lorde described herself as a “black, lesbian, woman, warrior, poet”, and her wit and creativity shine through in The Black Unicorn, a collection rooted in the struggles of being a woman of colour in modern America. Navigating an uncertain future, Lorde turns to the past, channeling African myth and folklore, gods and goddesses, to triumph and survive.

    Hag-seed by Margaret Atwood

    Margaret Atwood’s retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest is part comedic, part prison thriller, all wrapped up in a Shakespearean coating. The novel, part of Hogarth’s Shakespeare series, follows Felix, a washed-up theatre director, who, ousted from the Canadian theatre festival he works at, seeks revenge upon his colleagues, not through murder or crime, but through crafting a production of The Tempest in a local prison. Filled with dry humour, cunning and wisdom, Atwood’s revision of Shakespeare’s romance shines a new light onto an old play, drawing in audiences who might be reluctant to see such a complicated play. I studied this for a third-year module and fell in love with Atwood’s style. If you’re a fan of The Handmaid’s Tale or The Blind Assassin, Hag-seed is in stark contrast to Atwood’s staple novels, but is one that you’ll never forget.

    Heartstopper Volumes 1-3 by Alice Oseman

    Maybe I have cheated on this section, as Heartstopper’s first three volumes are published individually, but once you’ve read one, you, like me, will feel the urge to inhale all of Oseman’s graphic novels. Alice Oseman initially published Heartstopper as a free-to-read webcomic, but following its surge in followers, it is thankfully being published in volumes to treasure and adore. Telling the story of Nick and Charlie, two boys who fall in love in school, Oseman’s tale is a beautiful celebration of love in all its forms, shapes and sizes, making your heart swell with joy and causing you to frantically search the internet for more of your new favourite couple. Illustrations in the story are simple, sweet, and contained to black and white, but each page is bursting with colour and excitement, accurately sharing what it’s like to fall in love for the first time. Oseman says there will be at least two more printed volumes, and many other internet updates about Nick and Charlie, but it’s best to get ahead on these now, as there is no doubt you’ll adore this wonderful story. 

    2020 books Books of the year classics reading reads university reads
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Holly Peckitt

    Books Editor | 20-21 Travel Editor | 19-20

    Related Posts

    Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever

    July 7, 2021

    Shakespeariana: 5 Accessible Retellings

    May 1, 2021

    Should We Separate Books & Their Adaptations?

    April 24, 2021

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.